PALO ALTO

city, Santa Clara county, California, U.S., on the western shore of San Francisco Bay. Gaspar de Portol's 1769 expedition is said to have camped near El Palo Alto (referring to the tall tree). The site was developed in 1891 as a dry village for Stanford University (opened 1891), and deeds still prohibit liquor sales. The city received its name from Senator Leland Stanford's Palo Alto farm. Stimulated by the university and by urban growth of the west bay shore area, Palo Alto developed research-oriented light industries including aerospace, communications, and electronics. Inc. 1939. Pop. (1990) 55,900.