36°58′26″N 122°01′45″W / 36.97395°N 122.0292°W / 36.97395; -122.0292
78-456: The Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium is an event and convention venue located in downtown Santa Cruz, California . It is owned by the City of Santa Cruz and is located at 307 Church Street. Opened in 1940, it was built in what was described as, " Mission-style in architecture with a modern touch and an arrangement of open porches on the corners and sides." Its style has also been described as Art Deco . It
156-481: A 2007 estimate ). Males had a median income of $ 44,751 versus $ 32,699 for females. The per capita income for the city was $ 25,758. About 6.6% of families and 16.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.5% of those under age 18 and 4.8% of those age 65 or over. The 2010 United States Census reported that Santa Cruz had a population of 59,946. The population density was 3,787.2 inhabitants per square mile (1,462.2/km ). The racial makeup of Santa Cruz
234-436: A dozen buildings being vandalized and numerous storefronts being damaged. Property damages are estimated to top roughly $ 100,000. Prior to the riot, a May Day rally was being held for worker and immigrant rights. According to police, the rally was infiltrated by a local anarchist group, who used the rally as a cover for attacking corporate premises. Occupy Santa Cruz formed as an autonomous organization in solidarity with
312-603: A few years after 1833. Even before secularization, the Native American population had declined. Following secularization, mission grazing lands, which once extended from the San Lorenzo River north along the coast to approximately today's Santa Cruz County border, were taken away and broken up into large land grants called ranchos . The grants were made by several different governors between 1834 and 1845 (see List of Ranchos of California ). Two ranchos were totally within
390-605: A fully professional ensemble of 65 members which presents an annual concert series at the Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium and the Mello Center in Watsonville. By the 1860s, Pacific Avenue had become the main street of downtown Santa Cruz, and remains so today. Local architect Kermit Darrow and landscape architect Roy Rydell were engaged in 1969 to convert several blocks of Pacific Avenue into a semi-pedestrian street named
468-418: A parish church, the former Santa Cruz mission was unable to maintain its building complex after secularization, and the adobe buildings slowly began to fall apart from wet weather and lack of maintenance. The chapel tower fell in 1840 and the entire front wall was destroyed in the 1857 Fort Tejon earthquake . In 1858 a "modern" church was built next door to the remaining rear portion of the chapel. That remainder
546-434: A public safety crisis, a situation that has gathered national attention. The principal industries of Santa Cruz are agriculture, tourism, education (UC Santa Cruz) and high technology . Santa Cruz is a center of the organic agriculture movement, and many specialty products as well as housing the headquarters of California Certified Organic Farmers . Tourist attractions include the classic Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk on
624-421: A rift between the two cities. The death toll of the smallpox epidemic lead to the local press publishing of the latest remedies available for home use as well as methods to prevent the spread of smallpox and inoculations . By 1872, Claus Spreckels , a sugar millionaire, began buying the land from Castro. He built a hotel near the beach and a summer mansion and ranch with a racetrack for his horses. A large area
702-524: A series of test flights pilot Daniel J. Maloney was able to demonstrate the control and flight of the Montgomery glider design. These flights, with starting altitudes over 3,000 feet above the ground, were the first high-altitude flights in the world. A marker was placed at this location in 2005 honoring the centennial of these accomplishments. After Spreckels' death, Seacliff Park and Rio Del Mar Country Club (today's Seacliff State Beach ) were developed in
780-563: A settlement grew up near the mission called Branciforte , which came to be known across Alta California for its lawlessness. With the Mexican secularization of the Californian missions in 1833, the former mission was divided and granted as rancho grants . Following the American Conquest of California and the admission of California as a U. S. state in 1850, Santa Cruz was incorporated as
858-745: A slew of other entheogenic plants on the Federal Schedule 1 Substance List. In 1998, the Santa Cruz community declared itself a nuclear-free zone , and in 2003, the Santa Cruz City Council became the first city council in the U.S. to denounce the Iraq War. The City Council of Santa Cruz also issued a proclamation opposing the USA PATRIOT Act . Notable feminist activists Nikki Craft and Ann Simonton resided in Santa Cruz, where they formed
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#1732845476327936-429: A small stream, which has about four varas of deep running water. It has on its banks a good growth of cottonwoods and alders; on account of the depth at which it runs it may be that it cannot be utilized to water some plains through which it runs." Crespi diary translator Herbert Bolton speculated that the location was Soquel Creek, but it could have been Aptos Creek. In 1833 the government of Mexico granted Rafael Castro
1014-466: A total of seven registrations for the "Surf City USA" trademark. None of these registrations of the trademark are on the principal register , but on the secondary register , which means that Huntington Beach has no exclusive right to assert ownership over the "Surf City USA" trademark. Two Santa Cruz surf shops, Shoreline Surf Shop and Noland's on the Wharf, sued the city of Huntington Beach in order to protect
1092-638: A town in 1866, and became a charter city in 1876. The completion of the South Pacific Coast Railroad in 1880 and the creation of the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk in 1904 solidified the city's status as a seaside resort community , while the establishment of the University of California, Santa Cruz in 1965 made Santa Cruz a college town . Indigenous people have been living in the Santa Cruz region for at least 12,000 years. Prior to
1170-438: Is also stage to many street performers, musicians, and artists, oftentimes creating the presence of background music and miscellaneous street side entertainment when visiting downtown. Consequently, Pacific Avenue serves as an outlet for the artistic and unique culture that Santa Cruz possesses. As of 2023 , the top employers within the city were: Santa Cruz has a number of cultural institutions and other attractions, including
1248-638: Is an annual festival of contemporary music for orchestra that has been called a "new music mecca" by The New York Times . Santa Cruz Shakespeare is an annual summer festival that performs William Shakespeare plays every summer. Other notable events include the Santa Cruz Film Festival, the Santa Cruz Blues Festival, the Santa Cruz Digital Arts & New Media Festival, and Santa Cruz Pride. The O'Neill Cold Water Classic
1326-399: Is annual surfing event that draws crowds at the popular Steamer Lane . The Open Studios Art Tour is an art fair has been run for more than three decades and draws artists and patrons from around the area. First Friday Santa Cruz is a monthly event features dozens of art openings in the Santa Cruz area on the first Friday of the month. The Santa Cruz County Symphony , founded in 1958, is
1404-498: Is commonly accepted to be anything west of the San Lorenzo River and the "eastside" east of the San Lorenzo River all the way to neighboring towns of Soquel and Capitola . And the beginning of Aptos is seen as the end boundary for the "eastside". Santa Cruz has mild weather throughout the year, experiencing a warm-summer Mediterranean climate characterized by mild, wet winters and warm, mostly dry summers. Due to its proximity to Monterey Bay , fog and low overcast are common during
1482-727: Is made up of several small villages, which together form Aptos: Aptos Hills-Larkin Valley , Aptos Village, Cabrillo, Seacliff , Rio del Mar , and Seascape. Together, they have a combined population of 24,402. Aptos was traditionally inhabited by the Awaswas tribe of Ohlone people. The name is one of only three native words that have survived (in Hispanicized form) as place names in Santa Cruz County (the others are Soquel and Zayante ). The first European land exploration of Alta California ,
1560-514: Is the home of the Santa Cruz County Symphony as well as other concerts, expos, conferences, and sporting events. A carillon was installed in 1963. In 1956, the Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium was the location of a rock and roll concert that drew national attention after the local police stopped the event because of what they characterized as the dancers' "suggestive, stimulating and tantalizing motions". The Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium
1638-535: Is the largest city and the county seat of Santa Cruz County , in Northern California . As of the 2020 census , the city population was 62,956. Situated on the northern edge of Monterey Bay , Santa Cruz is a popular tourist destination, owing to its beaches, surf culture , and historic landmarks. Santa Cruz was founded by the Spanish in 1791, when Fermín de Lasuén established Mission Santa Cruz . Soon after,
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#17328454763271716-563: The 30th Assembly District , represented by Democrat Dawn Addis . In the United States House of Representatives , Aptos is in California's 19th congressional district , represented by Democrat Jimmy Panetta . Aptos is home to both the Forest of Nisene Marks State Park and Seacliff State Beach California state parks. Hidden Beach has a playground and a path that leads to
1794-626: The American Civil War . The extensive complex built on the San Lorenzo River upstream of Santa Cruz used charcoal and powder kegs manufactured from local forests. The Works later manufactured smokeless powder used in United States Army Krag-Jørgensen rifles and guns of the United States Navy Pacific and Asiatic fleets. Santa Cruz was hard hit by the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake that killed three people. It
1872-501: The California Register of Historical Resources include Mission Santa Cruz , Villa de Branciforte , and the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk . After Huntington Beach, California , trademarked the "Surf City USA" name, Santa Cruz politicians tried to stop the mark from being registered by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office because of a 10-year-old controversy over Santa Cruz's nickname "Surf City." Huntington Beach has obtained
1950-633: The Great Depression and World War II. In the early 1960s Aptos began a period of rapid development, including Cabrillo College , Rancho Del Mar Shopping Center, the Seascape Resort development, and many residential developments. In 2020s, Microsoft named a new Windows font after this community. For statistical purposes, the United States Census Bureau has defined Aptos as a census-designated place (CDP). The census definition of
2028-410: The Mexican secularization act of 1833 , governor Figueroa attempted to rename the community that had grown up around the mission after himself, to Pueblo de Figueroa . The pueblo designation was never made official, however. The new name did not catch on and Santa Cruz remained Santa Cruz. The Santa Cruz mission, along with the rest of the twenty-one Alta California missions, was secularized within
2106-653: The Santa Cruz Railroad , and routed it through Aptos where they both had development interests - Hihn with the Loma Prieta Lumber Company, and Spreckels with his Aptos Hotel resort. The railroad tracks ran directly adjacent to the Santa Cruz Watsonville road, whose route was originally established by the 1769 Spanish exploratory expedition led by Gaspar de Portolá . In 1878 Augustia Castro, daughter of Rafael Castro, and her husband José Arano built
2184-723: The University of California, Santa Cruz, Arboretum ; Mission Santa Cruz ; the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History ; the Santa Cruz Museum of Art and History ; the Santa Cruz Art League (which includes an art gallery, theater, and classroom); the Santa Cruz Surfing Museum (housed in a lighthouse near Steamer Lane ); and the Tannery Arts Center. Santa Cruz hosts numerous cultural events and festivals every year. The Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music
2262-561: The ZIP codes 95001 and 95003. The 2010 United States Census reported that Aptos had a population of 6,220. The population density was 978.9 inhabitants per square mile (378.0/km ). The racial makeup of Aptos was 5,420 (87.1%) White , 58 (0.9%) African American , 43 (0.7%) Native American , 247 (4.0%) Asian , 8 (0.1%) Pacific Islander , 175 (2.8%) from other races , and 269 (4.3%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 611 persons (9.8%). The census reported that 98.7% of
2340-685: The "Praying Mantis Brigade". This collection of activists organized the "Myth California Pageant" in the 1980s protesting the objectification of women. Myth California was staged concurrently with the Miss California pageant held in Santa Cruz since the 1920s. The protests ran for nine years and eventually contributed to the Miss California pageant leaving Santa Cruz. Riots occurred on May 1, 2010, sparked when anarchist extremists threw paint at police cars and painted anarchist symbols and anti-capitalist phrases onto buildings, resulting in more than
2418-455: The 6,656-acre (26.94 km ) Rancho Aptos . Initially Castro raised cattle for their hides, but after California became a state in 1850, Castro leased his land to Americans who built a wharf, general store, and lumber mill. The original town was located where Aptos Village Square is now. In 1853 a leather tannery was built, and the main building is a bed & breakfast inn . In 1875, Frederick A. Hihn and Claus Spreckels partnered to build
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2496-594: The Pacific Garden Mall. The Loma Prieta earthquake of 1989 destroyed nearly all of the 19th-century buildings in the downtown area. The Pacific Avenue Historic District had been recognized by the National Register of Historic Places ; it was delisted in 1991. After the earthquake, the Pacific Garden Mall theme was eliminated, and an updated downtown design plan by ROMA Design Group was implemented. As of 2016, only one empty lot remains on Pacific Avenue from
2574-768: The Santa Cruz Cannabis Buyers Club opened its doors in April 1995. Santa Cruz also became one of the first cities in California to test the state's medical marijuana laws in court after the arrest of Valerie Corral and Mike Corral, founders of the Wo/Men's Alliance for Medical Marijuana , by the DEA . In January 2020, Santa Cruz became the third city in the US and second city in California to decriminalize psilocybin mushrooms in addition to
2652-505: The Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium. The auditorium was used as a temporary shelter for displaced and homeless people following the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake . It was used for this purpose again in 2020 during the CZU Lightning Complex fires . This article about a California building or structure is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Santa Cruz, California Santa Cruz ( Spanish for "Holy Cross")
2730-457: The Spanish Portolá expedition , passed through the area on its way north, camping at one of the creeks on October 16, 1769. The expedition diaries don't provide enough information to be sure which creek it was, but the direction of travel was northwest, parallel to the coast. Franciscan missionary Juan Crespi , traveling with the expedition, noted in his diary that, "We stopped on the bank of
2808-573: The Spanish colonial period (the other two became Los Angeles and San Jose), the Villa was located across the San Lorenzo River , less than a mile from the Mission. Its original main street is now North Branciforte Avenue. Villa de Branciforte later lost its civic status, and in 1905 the area was annexed into the City of Santa Cruz. In the 1820s, newly independent Mexico assumed control of the area. Following
2886-599: The Victorian, Bayview Hotel in Aptos village. The hotel is a Santa Cruz County landmark. It is Santa Cruz county's oldest operating hotel. It has been a State Historic Monument since 1974 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1993. Since being originally built, the hotel was moved to its current location. In the mid to late 1800s, a series of major epidemics hit the area. A particularly bad one occurred in
2964-437: The age of 18 living in them, 7,310 (33.8%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 1,833 (8.5%) had a female householder with no husband present, 862 (4.0%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 1,802 (8.3%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships , and 379 (1.8%) same-sex married couples or partnerships . 6,773 households (31.3%) were made up of individuals, and 1,862 (8.6%) had someone living alone who
3042-426: The age of 18 living with them, 37.0% were married couples living together, 9.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 49.1% were non-families. 29.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 2.98. In the city, the age distribution of the population shows 17.3% under
3120-451: The age of 18, 20.5% from 18 to 24, 32.6% from 25 to 44, 21.0% from 45 to 64, and 8.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.9 males age 18 and over. The median income for a household in the city was $ 50,605, and the median income for a family was $ 62,231 (these figures had risen to $ 59,172 and $ 80,496 respectively as of
3198-585: The area is limited in contrast to the local understanding of the area with the same name. The population of the CDP was 6,220 at the 2010 census . The CDP has a total area of 6.4 square miles (17 km ), all land. The southwestern geographical boundary is Monterey Bay , while the northeast boundary is the Santa Cruz Mountains . Aptos is bisected northwest-to-southeast by the State Route 1 freeway and includes
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3276-430: The arrival of Spanish soldiers, missionaries and colonists in the late 18th century, the area was home to the Awaswas nation of Ohlone people, who lived in a territory stretching slightly north of Davenport to Rio Del Mar. The Awaswas tribe was made up of no more than 1,000 people and their language is now extinct. The only remnants of their spoken language are three local place names: Aptos , Soquel and Zayante ; and
3354-402: The arrival of immigrants from the eastern United States. Elihu Anthony (1818–1905) arrived in Santa Cruz in 1847 and opened many firsts for the city, including the first Protestant Church and the first blacksmith foundry. He built the first wharf and was the first postmaster. He developed the first commercial blocks in downtown Santa Cruz with his early blacksmith foundry located at what is now
3432-402: The average family size was 2.78. In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 19.3% under the age of 18, 6.5% from 18 to 24, 30.9% from 25 to 44, 29.4% from 45 to 64, and 14.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.0 males. The median income for a household in the CDP
3510-539: The beach, the redwood forests in the Santa Cruz Mountains above the town, and Monterey Bay, which is protected as a marine sanctuary . Technology companies have made Santa Cruz their home since the 1980s. Examples from that era include the Santa Cruz Operation (later Tarantella, Inc. ), Plantronics , and Parallel Computers, Inc. Downtown Santa Cruz houses a variety of storefronts and businesses. It
3588-424: The boundaries of today's city of Santa Cruz. Rancho Potrero Y Rincon de San Pedro Regalado consisted mostly of flat, river-bottom pasture land north of Mission Hill ("potrero" translates as "pasture"). Rancho Tres Ojos de Agua was on the west side. Three other rancho boundaries later became part of the modern city limits: Rancho Refugio on the west. Rancho Carbonera on the north, and Rancho Arroyo del Rodeo on
3666-520: The census of 2000, there were 9,396 people, 4,055 households, and 2,428 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 1,339.6 inhabitants per square mile (517.2/km ). There were 4,486 housing units at an average density of 639.6 per square mile (247.0/km ). The racial makeup of the CDP was 90.38% White , 0.56% African American , 0.65% Native American , 2.39% Asian , 0.11% Pacific Islander , 2.49% from other races , and 3.42% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.97% of
3744-479: The city. The population density includes 1,682.2/km (4,357/sq mi). There were 21,504 housing units at an average density of 1,715.8 units per square mile (662.5 units/km ). The racial makeup of the city was 78.7% White , 17.4% Hispanic or Latino , 1.7% African American , 0.9% Native American , 4.9% Asian , 0.1% Pacific Islander , 9.1% from other races , and 4.5% from two or more races. There were 20,442 households, out of which 25.1% had children under
3822-582: The corner of Pacific Avenue and Mission Street. With Frederick A. Hihn , Anthony built the first private water supply network in the city and serving nearby communities. The establishment of railroad lines in Santa Cruz in 1875–76 with the Santa Cruz & Felton Railroad and the Santa Cruz Railroad provided market access for the city's timber, leather and limestone industries. California Powder Works began manufacturing blasting powder for California mining when normal supplies were interrupted by
3900-856: The destruction of the 1989 earthquake. Landmarks on the National Register of Historic Places listings in Santa Cruz County, California include the Branciforte Adobe , the Cowell Lime Works Historic District , the Golden Gate Villa , the Hinds House , Mission Santa Cruz , the Neary-Rodriguez Adobe , the Octagon Building , and the Santa Cruz Looff Carousel and Roller Coaster , among others. Landmarks on
3978-551: The early winter of 1868. Cases of smallpox were reported among the poor of San Juan Bautista . Efforts were made to localize the rapidly spreading disease, such as, barricading the roads leading in and out of San Juan Bautista. These efforts failed however, and when cases appeared in Watsonville , Santa Cruz citizens attempted to again quarantine the disease by destroying the Aptos Bridge. These efforts again failed and only created
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#17328454763274056-627: The east. After secularization put most California land into private hands, immigrants from the United States began to arrive in steadily increasing numbers, especially in the 1840s when overland routes like the California Trail were opened. In 1848, following the Mexican–American War , Mexico ceded the territory of Alta California to the U.S. in the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo . Demoted to
4134-726: The festival, including B.B. King , Buddy Guy , John Lee Hooker , Ray Charles , Leon Russell , Los Lobos , Gregg Allman , the Doobie Brothers , Bonnie Raitt , and Al Green . Cabrillo College is a two-year community college in Aptos. Aptos has three public elementary schools: Valencia Elementary, Rio Del Mar Elementary, and Mar Vista Elementary. It also has one junior high school, Aptos Junior High School, and one high school, Aptos High School . Private schools include Santa Cruz Montessori School, Orchard School, and Twin Lakes Christian School. Aptos Academy,
4212-533: The late 1920s. Rio Del Mar Country Club included a clubhouse, a grand hotel on the bluffs, a beach club, a polo field, and a golf course. The estuary was filled in (now Rio Beach Flats) and the SS Palo Alto cement ship was moored and converted into an amusement pier with restaurants, swimming pool, and a dance pavilion. Both Rio Del Mar and Seacliff were popular during Prohibition as drinking and gambling were discreetly available. These amusements were interrupted by
4290-565: The name of a native shellfish – abalone . At the time of colonization, the Indigenous people belonged to the Uypi tribe of the Awaswas -speaking dialectical group. They called the area Aulinta . The first European land exploration of Alta California , the Spanish Portolá expedition led by Gaspar de Portolá , passed through the area on its way north, still searching for the "port of Monterey" described by Sebastian Vizcaino in 1602. The party forded
4368-562: The name, and is known today as Laurel Creek because it parallels Laurel Street. It is the main feeder of Neary Lagoon . In 1797, Governor Diego de Borica , by order of the Viceroy of New Spain , Miguel de la Grúa Talamanca y Branciforte, marqués de Branciforte , established the Villa de Branciforte , a town named in honor of the Viceroy. One of only three civilian towns established in California during
4446-473: The next industry. The Hihn Apple Barn is a historic building from that era; in 2016-2017, the building had been relocated nearby to be used as a grocery store and make way for a shopping complex. On March 16–20, 1905, the Leonard Ranch near La Selva was the site of experiments with a new tandem-wing glider designed and built by John J. Montgomery . Hoisted aloft by hot-air balloon to considerable heights, over
4524-460: The night and morning hours, especially in the summer. Santa Cruz frequently experiences an Indian summer , with the year's warmest temperatures often occurring in the autumn. Since the city faces south rather than west with mountains to its north, temperatures are usually several degrees warmer than in coastal areas to its northwest. Recorded from the census of 2000, there were 54,593 people total with 20,442 households and 10,404 families residing in
4602-437: The northern edge of Monterey Bay . The area is losing several feet of beach a year. According to the United States Census Bureau , the city covers an area of 15.8 square miles (41 km ), of which 12.7 square miles (33 km ) is land, and 3.1 square miles (8.0 km ) (19.51%s) is water. To Santa Cruz locals the area is often discussed in terms of distinct regions: east side and west side. The "westside" of Santa Cruz
4680-489: The ocean. Nisene Marks is popular with hikers and mountain bikers. The San Andreas Fault Zone passes nearby and the epicenter of the M6.9 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake lies within. Aptos is also home to the annual Fourth of July "World's Shortest Parade," so called because the parade route is about 0.6 miles (1 km) long. Aptos Park is the site of the annual Aptos Blues Festival. Several well-known performers have performed at
4758-489: The population lived in households and 1.3% lived in non-institutionalized group quarters. There were 2,549 households, out of which 686 (26.9%) had children under the age of 18 living, 1,353 (53.1%) were married couples living together, 192 (7.5%) had a female householder with no husband present, 95 (3.7%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 142 (5.6%) unmarried . 665 households (26.1%) were made up of individuals, and 268 (10.5%) had someone living alone who
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#17328454763274836-405: The population. There were 4,055 households, out of which 25.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.1% were married couples living together, 8.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.1% were non-families. 27.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.29 and
4914-629: The public use of the term "Surf City." The parties reached a confidential settlement in January 2008, in which neither side admitted liability and all claims and counterclaims were dismissed. The Santa Cruz surf shops continue to print T-shirts, and the Visitor's Bureau retains the right to use the trademark. Aptos, California Aptos ( Ohlone for "The People") is an unincorporated town in Santa Cruz County, California , United States. The town
4992-522: The river (probably near where the Soquel Avenue bridge now stands) and camped nearby on October 17, 1769 . Franciscan missionary Juan Crespí , traveling with the expedition, noted in his diary that, "This river was named San Lorenzo." (for Saint Lawrence ). Next morning, the expedition set out again, and Crespi noted that, "Five hundred steps after we started we crossed a good arroyo of running water which descends from some high hills where it rises. It
5070-400: The worldwide Occupy movement , a broad-based protest against economic and social inequality. The organization gained most of its notoriety when members barricaded themselves in an empty bank building owned by Wells Fargo and occupied the building for 72 hours, causing $ 30,000 in damages. Eleven criminal charges were filed, at least seven of which have since been dropped. Santa Cruz is on
5148-530: Was $ 61,843, and the median income for a family was $ 73,515. Males had a median income of $ 51,848 versus $ 40,050 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $ 33,210. About 2.5% of families and 7.1% of the population were below the poverty line , including 3.4% of those under age 18 and 6.2% of those age 65 or over. In the California State Legislature , Aptos is in the 17th Senate District , represented by Democrat John Laird , and in
5226-856: Was 1.2%; the rental vacancy rate was 3.4%. 22,861 people (38.1% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 28,796 people (48.0%) lived in rental housing units. The median price of a home being $ 640,000 as of April 2013. Santa Cruz has one of the highest rates of homelessness in the US, with 9,041 estimated homeless in Santa Cruz county in 2011, approximately 3.5% of the total county population. with over 52% of homeless experiencing some form of mental illness, including clinical depression or PTSD and over 26% suffering unspecified mental illness . Additionally, 38% of homeless surveyed in Santa Cruz county in 2011 experienced drug and/or alcohol dependency . In recent years, citizen groups such as Take Back Santa Cruz, established in 2009, have lobbied city government and officials to address what they view as
5304-536: Was 29.9 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.7 males. By one estimate, Santa Cruz had in 2023 the least affordable rental market in the United States, pushing past San Francisco which was previously the most unaffordable rental market. There were 23,316 housing units at an average density of 1,473.0 units per square mile (568.7 units/km ), of which 9,375 (43.3%) were owner-occupied, and 12,282 (56.7%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate
5382-547: Was 44,661 (74.5%) White , 1,071 (1.8%) African American , 440 (0.7%) Native American , 4,591 (7.7%) Asian , 108 (0.2%) Pacific Islander , 5,673 (9.5%) from other races , and 3,402 (5.7%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 11,624 persons (19.4%). The Census reported that 51,657 people (86.2% of the population) lived in households, 7,910 (13.2%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 379 (0.6%) were institutionalized. There were 21,657 households, out of which 4,817 (22.2%) had children under
5460-471: Was 46.9 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.8 males. There were 2,711 housing units at an average density of 426.7 per square mile (164.7/km ), of which 75.6% were owner-occupied and 24.4% were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.5%; the rental vacancy rate was 0.8%. 75.2% of the population lived in owner-occupied housing units and 23.5% lived in rental housing units. As of
5538-430: Was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39. There were 10,005 families (46.2% of all households); the average family size was 2.92. The age distribution of the population shows 8,196 people (13.7%) under the age of 18, 17,449 people (29.1%) aged 18 to 24, 15,033 people (25.1%) aged 25 to 44, 13,983 people (23.3%) aged 45 to 64, and 5,285 people (8.8%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age
5616-415: Was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41. There were 1,640 families (64.3% of all households); the average family size was 2.86. The population was spread out, with 1,150 people (18.5%) under the age of 18, 436 people (7.0%) aged 18 to 24, 1,342 people (21.6%) aged 25 to 44, 2,189 people (35.2%) aged 45 to 64, and 1,103 people (17.7%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age
5694-410: Was again hit by ocean surges caused by 2022 Hunga Tonga–Hunga Haʻapai eruption and tsunami , that caused damages to the harbor. Santa Cruz became one of the first cities to approve marijuana for medicinal uses. In 1992, residents overwhelmingly approved Measure A, which allowed for the medicinal uses of marijuana. Santa Cruz was home to the second above-ground medical marijuana club in the world when
5772-480: Was also hit by ocean surges caused by the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami , wherein the Santa Cruz Small Craft Harbor sustained an estimated $ 10 million of damage, with another $ 5 million of damage to docked boats there. Following the earthquake, a former building chief urged the city government to consider relocating to a safer location with lower risk of damage from seismic activity. It
5850-442: Was demolished in 1889, when today's Holy Cross church was built on the site, in a gothic style. California was the first portion of the former Mexican territory to become a state, in 1850. Santa Cruz County was established the same year, and Santa Cruz became the county seat. Santa Cruz was incorporated as a town in 1866, and became a charter city in 1876. Following the U.S. Conquest of California , Santa Cruz steadily grew with
5928-476: Was fenced and stocked with deer for hunting, and became known as "the Deer Park," home of today's Deer Park Center. From 1880 to 1920 redwood timber harvesting became the major industry, and Aptos became a boom town. The Loma Prieta Lumber Company logged all of what is now The Forest of Nisene Marks State Park . The Valencia Mill logged everything to the east. Within 40 years the hills were bare, and apples became
6006-586: Was named "El Arroyo de la Santísima Cruz, which translates literally as "The Stream of the Most Holy Cross". In 1791, Father Fermín Lasuén continued the use of Crespi's name when he declared the establishment of La Misión de la Exaltación de la Santa Cruz (also known as Mission Santa Cruz ) for the conversion of the Awaswas of Chatu-Mu and surrounding Ohlone villages . Santa Cruz was the twelfth mission to be founded in California . The creek, however, later lost
6084-423: Was the site of the annual Miss California beauty pageant from 1966 until 1985, when the pageant left Santa Cruz after years of protests and a "Myth California" counter-pageant organized by local feminist activists led by Ann Simonton and Nikki Craft . In 1984, artist Guillermo Wagner Granizo donated a ceramic tile mural entitled, "A Gift of Appreciation to this Area," which featured imagery of past events at
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