I suspect Silicon Valley industry has shaped Silicon Valley culture more than the other way around. After all, much of California was settled by displaced midwe

I suspect Silicon Valley industry has shaped Silicon Valley culture more than the other way around. After all, much of California was settled by displaced midwesterners during the Dust Bowl. Silicon Valley (does anyone there even touch silicon anymore?) became the tech capital in much the same way that Detroit became the auto capital: historical accident. Once tech became established there, it became a virtuous cycle as employees of successful startups cashed out and became the founders and investors for the next generation. Now there's a mature network of venture capital, skilled workers and emergent tech culture that would be difficult for any other city to catch up to.