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Arroyo San José de Cupertino

The Spanish name of Stevens Creek, honouring Saint Joseph of Cupertino, from which the city takes its name.

Anza’s diary for March 25, 1776, records the expedition’s halt at the arroyo of San Joseph Cupertino, and Font’s diary describes the camp. The city credits Font, the expedition’s cartographer, with the name.

The arroyo was designated California Historical Landmark No. 800 on December 23, 1964. It became known as Cupertino Creek and later as Stevens Creek.

Sources

Questions people ask

Where does the name Cupertino come from?

From Arroyo San José de Cupertino, the name given to Stevens Creek in honour of Saint Joseph of Cupertino.

Related terms

  • Stevens CreekThe 20.9-mile creek that gave Cupertino its name, running from Black Mountain through the city to the Bay.
  • Juan Bautista de AnzaThe Spanish commander whose 1776 expedition camped on the creek that gave Cupertino its name.
  • Pedro FontThe Franciscan priest, diarist and map-maker of Anza’s expedition, credited with naming the creek.
  • Saint Joseph of CupertinoThe Italian saint of Copertino for whom the creek, and so the city, was named.

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