In 1876, Leland Stanford, Jr., in whose memory the university was founded, bought the first parcel of land on the San Francisco Peninsula that would be the celebrated
Palo Alto Stock Farm and later the site of Stanford University.
Along with his wife, Jane, the Stanfords settled on creating a great university, one that, from the outset, was untraditional: co-educational, in a time when most were all-male; non-denominational, when most were associated with a religious organization; avowedly practical, producing "cultured and useful citizens" when most were concerned only with the former.
Perhaps the most famous landmarks on the campus is the tall redwood dubbed "El Palo Alto", ("the high tree" in Spanish).
The University is located in Santa Clara County and has an enrollment of about 16,000. Student housing is available for 8824.
Stanford has won the Sears Directors Cup, which honors the most successful program in NCAA Division I sports, the last seven years (prior to '02).
