How did Sunnyvale change from a fruit-processing centre into part of Silicon Valley?
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Silicon Valley
Silicon Valley highlighting key historic tech offices, major tech headquarters, and offices with headquarters elsewhere.
Sunnyvale, which was incorporated in 1912, initially developed as a fruit-processing centre. Its economic foundation began to shift toward an industrial pattern in the 1930s with the construction of a nearby U.S. Navy dirigible base. This transition accelerated in 1942 with the expansion of the Joshua Hendy Iron Works, later known as Westinghouse Electric.
These developments laid the groundwork for the city's eventual evolution into a key part of Silicon Valley. Today, the city's economy is defined by high-technology industries, including the production of computer components, software, and guided missiles, which fueled its rapid growth during the late 20th century.1