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Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz History

   Santa Cruz is known for its raucous boardwalk and its laid-back University of California campus. But this fun-loving city had surprisingly traditional beginnings.
   The Ohlone Indians were the original inhabitants of the land along the San Lorenzo River. In 1769, Spanish explorer Don Gaspar de Portola visited the area and named the rolling hills above the river "Santa Cruz," which means "holy cross."
   In 1791, Father Fermin de Lasuen established a mission at Santa Cruz, the 12th in a chain of 21 historic Spanish-Franciscan missions. By the 1820s, Mexico claimed control of the area. California became a state in 1849, and Santa Cruz County was created in 1850 as one of 27 original counties.
   The city of Santa Cruz began as a ranching and agricultural community that was known for its tanneries and vegetable crops. (Even today, most of the world's brussels sprouts are grown in Santa Cruz County.) But tourism and recreation soon became the city's claim to fame.
   In 1865, John Liebrandt built a public bath house near the mouth of the San Lorenzo River. Tourists flocked to the area, convinced of the river's health benefits, and a boardwalk soon sprang up nearby. In 1904, developer Fred W. Swanton built an onion-domed casino on the beach northwest of the river. Within three years, the beach was home to a new casino, ballroom, "pleasure pier" and expanded boardwalk. This area, formally known as the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, remains a popular attraction and is home to California's oldest amusement park.
   The University of California, Santa Cruz campus opened in 1965 and has a current enrollment of more than 14,000 students. The school's mascot -- the Fighting Banana Slug -- is a colorful addition to this vibrant city. The shiny yellow mollusks once lived in the surrounding redwood forests, but you're most likely to see them these days on bumper stickers and T-shirts (like the one John Travolta sported in "Pulp Fiction").

Activities

   Santa Cruz is an eclectic city with a variety of cultural and recreational activities.
   Foremost among local attractions is the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. Built in 1904, the boardwalk houses two National Historic Landmarks: the 1911 Looff Carousel and the 1924 Giant Dipper roller coaster. You'll find more than 30 rides and attractions, miniature golf, and historical displays at this popular beachfront location, which was prominently featured in the 1987 film "The Lost Boys."
   Santa Cruz has been a top surfing spot for more than 100 years. You can learn more about the history of the sport at the Santa Cruz Surfing Museum, or try it out for yourself at nearby Cowell's Beach.
   The Santa Cruz Harbor has a full-service marina that houses more than 1,200 vessels. Boat rentals are available for fishing, sailing and whale watching.
   The Seymour Marine Discovery Center at Long Marine Laboratory is home to fish, sea lions, starfish and hermit crabs. The facility, which is part of the UC Santa Cruz's research lab, also offers hands-on exhibits that are suitable for all ages.
   The Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History has Ohlone Indian artifacts, rocks and fossils, a tidepool exhibit, and examples of local flora and fauna. The museum sponsors programs, field trips and events such as the winter Fungus Fair and Native Animal Day.
   And Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park comprises several buildings erected around the original Santa Cruz Mission. The Neary-Rodriguez Adobe is the last of the original mission's buildings to survive. Today, the mission is a local Roman Catholic parish that's open to visitors.

Santa Cruz Fast Facts

   Location: Santa Cruz is located on Monterey Bay, about 74 miles south of San Francisco
  *Total area: 15.61 square miles (12.53 square miles land area; 3.07 square miles water area)
  *Population: 54,593
  *Housing units: 21,504
   Average annual rainfall: 30.67 inches
   Average temperatures: 64ºF in summer, 50ºF in winter
*Information provided by 2000 Census

Schools

   There are 27 public schools in Santa Cruz, including 13 elementary schools, three alternative schools and a youth conservation camp.
   The University of California, Santa Cruz campus is also located within the city.

Beaches

   Santa Cruz is home to several beaches, the most famous of which lies along the city's boardwalk. Although Santa Cruz Beach is usually packed with locals and tourists, it's definitely worth a visit.
   Seabright/Castle Beach, which is located near Santa Cruz Harbor, is a less-crowded alternative to the boardwalk. This beach features fire rings and picnic areas, and dogs are permitted on leashes.
   Cowell Beach is popular with surfers, but it also welcomes swimmers, sunbathers and volleyball players.
   If you're looking for a more peaceful getaway, visit Natural Bridges State Beach. This stunning locale is home to huge arches that were cut from the sandstone by strong ocean waves. The beach is also backed by a eucalyptus grove that's home to the annual migration of monarch butterflies each fall.

Maps of Santa Cruz

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