Welcome to Santa Cruz County
General
Santa Cruz County is set snugly against the Pacific coastline and the neighboring counties of San Mateo County, Santa Clara County and Monterey County. It has a commanding view of the Pacific Ocean, as well as of the northern portion of the Monterey Bay with a backdrop of redwood encrusted mountains that soak up the sea fog. The County of Santa Cruz has a population of roughly 271,000.
The county is situated on a wide coastline with over 29 miles (47 km) of beaches. It is a strip about 10 miles (16 km) wide between the coast and the crest of the Santa Cruz Mountains at the northern end of the Monterey Bay. It can be divided roughly into four regions: the rugged "north coast"; the urban City of Santa Cruz, Soquel, Capitola, and Aptos; mountainous Bonny Doon, San Lorenzo River Valley; and the fertile "south county", including Watsonville and Corralitos. Agriculture is concentrated in the coastal lowlands of the county's northern and southern ends. Most of the north coastal land comprises relatively flat terraces that end at steep cliffs
Business and the Economy
In the 19th century, Santa Cruz's economy was based on milling lumber, making lime cement from limestone, and tanning leather. By the mid 19th century, Santa Cruz was the second largest manufacturing area in the state. As natural resources depleted, tourism became the more important economic sector in the area.
In the 21st century, the leading industry segments in this County have a different balance to that of neighboring San Mateo County and Santa Clara County. They are focused on Technology, Tourism, Sports, Artisanal, Marine Sciences, Agriculture, Genomics, Creative and Retail.
Living and Visiting
Despite containing only 4 cities, with populations varying from 10,000 to 60,000, the County of Santa Cruz has plenty of communities to choose from: there are a further 4 unincorporated communities and 26 census-designated places.
Welcome to Santa Cruz County
General
Santa Cruz County is set snugly against the Pacific coastline and the neighboring counties of San Mateo County, Santa Clara County and Monterey County. It has a commanding view of the Pacific Ocean, as well as of the northern portion of the Monterey Bay with a backdrop of redwood encrusted mountains that soak up the sea fog. The County of Santa Cruz has a population of roughly 271,000.
The county is situated on a wide coastline with over 29 miles (47 km) of beaches. It is a strip about 10 miles (16 km) wide between the coast and the crest of the Santa Cruz Mountains at the northern end of the Monterey Bay. It can be divided roughly into four regions: the rugged "north coast"; the urban City of Santa Cruz, Soquel, Capitola, and Aptos; mountainous Bonny Doon, San Lorenzo River Valley; and the fertile "south county", including Watsonville and Corralitos. Agriculture is concentrated in the coastal lowlands of the county's northern and southern ends. Most of the north coastal land comprises relatively flat terraces that end at steep cliffs
Business and the Economy
In the 19th century, Santa Cruz's economy was based on milling lumber, making lime cement from limestone, and tanning leather. By the mid 19th century, Santa Cruz was the second largest manufacturing area in the state. As natural resources depleted, tourism became the more important economic sector in the area.
In the 21st century, the leading industry segments in this County have a different balance to that of neighboring San Mateo County and Santa Clara County. They are focused on Technology, Tourism, Sports, Artisanal, Marine Sciences, Agriculture, Genomics, Creative and Retail.
Living and Visiting
Despite containing only 4 cities, with populations varying from 10,000 to 60,000, the County of Santa Cruz has plenty of communities to choose from: there are a further 4 unincorporated communities and 26 census-designated places.
