The 1854 Gazetteer of the United States by Thomas Baldwin shows:

SANTA CLARA, a county in the W. central part of California, has an area estimated at above 1200 square miles. It is bounded on the N. E. by the Coast Range, and is drained by the Guadalupe river and several other smaller streams flowing into San Francisco bay, which extends a few miles into the county. Soil well adapted to cultivation, and very fertile along the streams. Barley, wheat, potatoes, hay, onions, cattle, and horses are the staples. In 1852 this county produced 415,340 bushels of barley; 122,192 of wheat; 656,700 of potatoes; 3175 tons of hay, and 8,356,600 pounds of onions. There were 4201 cows, 16,020 beef-cattle, and 4371 horses. The county is partly intersected by the route of the proposed railroad from San Francisco to San Jos?, the capital. Population, 6664.