Palo Alto, California is located in the southwest of the United States.
Palo Alto ( [ ˌpæloʊ_ˈæltoʊ ] ; [ ˈpalo ˈalto ] ; from palo , literally `` stick '' , colloquially `` tree '' , and alto `` tall '' ; meaning : `` tall tree '' ) is a charter city located in the northwest corner of Santa Clara County , California , in the San Francisco Bay Area of the United States .