Santa Cruz was first settled by Ohlone Indians, Native American hunter-gatherers. From coastal hiking to redwood forests, any adventurer is sure to find excellent locations for short and long hikes. Teixeira, Lauren S. The Costanoan/Ohlone Indians of the San Francisco and Monterey Bay Area: A Research Guide. [69][70], State Routes 1 and 17 are the main roads in and out of Santa Cruz, with the latter being the primary route north to San Jose and the rest of the San Francisco Bay Area. The Costanos (anglicized as "Costanoan") people spoke eight known dialects, each defining a different tribelet area. Hiking boots: You’ll absolutely need good hiking shoes if you do anything more than an easy hike! Check here for the most up-to-date information. That remainder was demolished in 1889, when today's Holy Cross church was built on the site, in a gothic style. Santa Cruz hosts several surf contests drawing international participants each year, including the O'Neill Cold Water Classic, the International Longboard Association contest, and many others. After opening for a single weekend, rides and most other attractions at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk have been closed amid a countywide increase in coronavirus cases. The average household size was 2.39. 709,000 seek U.S. jobless aid as pandemic escalates, The Pandemic’s Toll: Lives Lost in California, If you must travel over Thanksgiving, here’s how to minimize the risk, Two LAPD officers sue over ‘Blue Flu’ discipline after calling out sick over July 4 holiday. 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. It is the main feeder of Neary Lagoon.[18]. Dogs are permitted on leash. In the 1820s, newly independent Mexico assumed control of the area. The famous Fremont Tree is on this short loop. "[65], 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. COVID-19 is a reminder that we share responsibility to prevent transmission of disease. 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 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. From Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, The "Town Clock" tower at the head of Pacific Avenue, Counties in italics sometimes included in the definition of the Central Coast, "California Cities by Incorporation Date", Santa Cruz Wiki – The People's Guide to Santa Cruz, California, https://simple.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Santa_Cruz,_California&oldid=6872907, 18th-century establishments in California, Pages with non-numeric formatnum arguments, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License. New coronavirus surge pushes California to the brink of 1 million cases. People on the beach boardwalk’s Facebook page reacted to news of the closures with both sadness and support. There were 20,442 households, out of which 25.1% had children under 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. Also, there is a gorgeous redwood tree that is 277 feet tall and 1500 years old which you can see on this hike near Santa Cruz. It’s easy to find adventure within Santa Cruz proper and the surrounding vicinity. Hayley Smith is a Metro reporter covering breaking news for the Los Angeles Times. As the missions closed, most of the remaining neophytes living at the missions became laborers on the ranchos that inherited the former mission lands. Santa Cruz was colonized in the mid-1700s by the Spanish. “The number of active cases has doubled in recent weeks,” public health officials said, “with a weekend increase in case counts that appears related to Halloween.”. Other highlights include UC Santa Cruz, the Santa Cruz Surfing Museum, and nearby redwood forests. Their populations began to decline because of diseases and overworking. 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. Santa Cruz’s economy is built around seasonal tourism and the UC Santa Cruz. Additionally, there are levee bike paths along the San Lorenzo River. Rancho Carbonera on the north, and Rancho Arroyo del Rodeo on the east. Restrooms and showers are available. Need more proof? Amtrak serves Santa Cruz via Amtrak Thruway Motorcoach from rail connections at Amtrak San Jose Diridon Train Station operated by the Santa Cruz Metropolitan Transit District by way of a partnership with the Amtrak, Capitol Corridor, and Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority. Start on the fire road and head to Big Slide Trail to reach Five Fingers Trail. Americans first arrived in Santa Cruz in the 19th century. Rancho Tres Ojos de Agua was on the west side. (for Saint Lawrence). By the 1860s, Pacific Avenue had become the main street of downtown Santa Cruz, and remains so today. However, it is a great hike when the conditions are right! The parks are required to offer a reservation system, and masks are mandatory. Getting state legislatures to enact straightforward vaccine-consent legislation regarding minors would help accomplish that. Enjoy her many gifts. A project to widen the highway and this interchange was begun in 2006 and completed in the fall of 2008.[74]. [31], As a center of liberal and progressive activism,[32] Santa Cruz became one of the first cities to approve marijuana for medicinal uses. Water: Bring plenty of water in a reusable bottle for any shorter hikes. Then thereâs downtown Santa Cruz, where college students browse for vintage and boho chic, and down-to-earth restaurants focus on healthful meals made of organic, local ingredients. First aid kit: You’ll want to pack a small kit with the things you need — but in my opinion, it’s better to buy a pre-made first aid kit as it’ll likely cover things you might forget. Natural Bridges State Marine Reserve is a marine protected area off the coast at the northern edge of Santa Cruz. 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. [25], Santa Cruz was hard hit by the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake that killed three people. Villa de Branciforte later lost its civic status, and in 1905 the area was annexed into the City of Santa Cruz. [103] University of California has its own publication, City on a Hill Press, and an alternative humor publication, Fish Rap Live!. GPS: This offline GPS tracker with the ability to emit an SOS call is essential packing if you plan on hiking solo on any of the longer hikes. Bring a picnic or go for a swim! The ultra-mellow beach town of Santa Cruz along Highway One has a decided split personality, and both sides are cool. Kid-friendly hikes available, and dog-friendly hike on leash on Aptos Creek Fire Road ONLY. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Fee required. Create a Trip to save and organize all of your travel ideas, and see them on a map. Santa Cruz Film Festival — An annual event for independent filmmakers to share their work with film enthusiasts. The following is a short reference list of other great places to check out: Quick Park Info: Hiking, biking, camping all available. It was here that surfing was first brought to the mainland by Hawaiian royalty. Extra socks: A spare pair is useful in case yours get wet while wading through streams/creeks or walking alongside beachside trails. Officials are trying to slow this latest spike while minimizing further business closures. California faces new wave of restrictions and business limitations amid coronavirus surge. [26], Founded in 1976, The Resource Center for Nonviolence is one of the oldest and most centrally located non-profit organizations committed to political and social activism in Santa Cruz County. 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. She currently resides in Aptos, Santa Cruz County, CA. [80] There are also five community parks and eighteen neighborhood parks. [64], In 1973, with the discovery of four bodies in Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park, then District Attorney Peter Chang mumbled a comment about "Murderville, USA." Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti has nominated attorney William Briggs to replace nonprofit executive Shane Murphy Goldsmith on the city’s five-member Police Commission, his office said Tuesday. Competition from automobiles ended streetcar service in 1926. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. The misnomer Ohlone, while often used to describe the native people of the Santa Cruz area, is a generalized name for the many diverse groups that lived in the region stretching from San Francisco to the Monterey Bay. Santa Cruz is home to several state parks and beaches, including Lighthouse Field State Beach, Natural Bridges State Beach, Santa Cruz Mission State Historic Park, Twin Lakes State Beach, and Seabright State Beach. This year’s Castle fire killed hundreds of giant sequoias, the latest in a string of Sierra Nevada wildfires that is taking an alarming toll on the world’s most massive trees. The City of Santa Cruz was incorporated in 1866 and chartered in April 1876. [66] 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 a public safety crisis, a situation that has gathered national attention. Stroll past the fresh fish restaurants and souvenir shops and strike up a conversation with fishermen angling for perch, rockfish, and lingcod. The Spanish forced the Ohlones in the mission. She holds a master’s degree in journalism from USC. 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. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Around the same time, forestry and commercial fishing were the first industries.