Morgan Hill is approximately south of downtown
San Jose, north of
Gilroy, and inland from the
Pacific coast. Lying in a roughly southern extension of the
Santa Clara Valley, it is bounded by the
Santa Cruz Mountains to the west and the
Diablo Range to the east. At the
valley floor, Morgan Hill lies at an elevation of about above
MSL. According to the
U.S. Census Bureau, the city encompasses an area of , all land. Although there are no natural lakes or ponds within the city limits, there are several flood-control and water storage reservoirs in the adjacent hills which are operated by the
Santa Clara Valley Water District, with recreational activities such as boating, etc., administered by the Santa Clara County Department of Parks and Recreation. Morgan Hill is located within the seismically active
San Francisco Bay region. The significant earthquakes in the region are generally associated with crustal movements along well-defined, active fault zones. The nearest known
active faults are the
San Andreas Fault, approximately southwest, and the
Calaveras Fault, approximately northeast. Both faults have produced major earthquakes in the past, and have estimated maximum credible
Richter magnitudes of 8.3 and 7.3, respectively. The
1984 Morgan Hill earthquake registered at a 6.2 magnitude. Within Morgan Hill's area are a number of lakes and reservoirs, including
Anderson Lake (eastern Morgan Hill),
Uvas Reservoir (west),
Chesbro Reservoir (west), and
Coyote Lake (south). The Sargent-Berrocal Fault, a potentially active fault, lies away from the sites and has an estimated maximum credible Richter magnitude of 7.4. The Coyote Creek Fault is located in Morgan Hill and is classified as potentially active as well. In addition, several unnamed faults traverse the western slopes of the upland areas. Geomorphic evidence suggests that these faults were active during recent geologic time. However, these fault-related geomorphic features are not as fresh as those of the active Calaveras Fault and are considered to be somewhat older. , Morgan Hill is well known for its
vineyards and
wine-growing, as a part of the
Santa Clara Valley designated AVA. Morgan Hill is one of very few sources for a type of semi-precious gemstone marketed under the name "Morgan Hill
poppy jasper". According to geologists, this local variety of orbicular jasper formed through a combination of volcanic and seismic activity on the slopes of El Toro. Known extant deposits of the mineral are located on private lands, not accessible to the public. A local business, El Toro Brewing Company, has a collection of poppy jasper on display at their rural Morgan Hill brewery and on a large bar top inlaid with the stone at their brewpub in downtown Morgan Hill. Examples are also on display at the Morgan Hill Museum and at the Morgan Hill Community and Cultural Center. The local Poppy Jasper Film Festival is also named after the mineral. Visitors, not aware of the origin of the town's name, often mistakenly assume that El Toro is "Morgan" Hill. It is USGS Feature ID# 223063 in the Geographic Names Information System (GNIS), maintained by the
United States Board on Geographic Names. Elevation at the summit is about . The hill, overshadowing the town to the west, has been incorporated into the city's seal and official logo.
Neighborhoods Morgan Hill is divided into numerous neighborhoods, which can in turn be divided into smaller communities or areas. Morgan Hill's principal neighborhoods are: • Downtown (Morgan Hill's central entertainment and business district) •
Madrone (former
township which constitutes Morgan Hill's northwestern district) • Paradise Valley and
Chesbro Lake • Llagas Valley •
San Martin/South Morgan Hill (including unincorporated San Martin) •
Coyote Valley/North Morgan Hill (including unincorporated Coyote Valley) •
Anderson Lake (including residents of
Henry W. Coe State Park)
Climate Due to the moderating influence of the Pacific Ocean, Morgan Hill experiences a mild,
Mediterranean climate. Temperatures range from an average midsummer maximum of to an average midwinter low of . The average annual precipitation is , and the summer months are typically dry. Snowfall is rare within Morgan Hill; there have only been two reported cases of snow. Summer months contain coastal fogs, while winter months have many sunny and partly cloudy days, with frequent breaks between rainstorms. The local terrain is inconducive to
tornadoes, severe windstorms and thunderstorms. The local climate supports
chaparral and grassland
biomes, with stands of
live oak at higher elevations. ==Demographics==