Santa Cruz is the county seat and largest city of Santa Cruz County. It is located on the northern edge of the Monterey Bay, about 72 mi south of San Francisco and 30 miles from San Jose.
Santa Cruz is rich with parks and a greenbelt with trails for outdoor enthusiasts seeking hiking, picnicking, sports, wildlife, and more. From the foothills, to the coast, and in neighborhoods, there are plenty of parks from which to choose.
Santa Cruz showcases an array of talent through its art galleries, museums, festivals, and outdoor theater performances. Premiere cultural events like Open Studios, Shakespeare Santa Cruz, the Capitola Art & Wine Festival, Cabrillo Music Festival, the Santa Cruz Film Festival and others draw visitors to this vibrant, eclectic area. Discover Santa Cruz's countless cultural events and venues offering live music, outdoor theater and more!
Santa Cruz beaches offer the perfect setting for seaside fun. Whether you enjoy surfing, playing beach volleyball, or hiking along the coastal bluffs, our beaches offer something for everyone. Looking for a dog-friendly beach, a place to picnic with the kids, or the perfect place for a romantic sunset stroll? From dramatic windswept cliffs to the charming ambiance of a picturesque seaside town, you're sure to find a beach in Santa Cruz that is unforgettable.
The University of California, Santa Cruz campus was opened in 1965 and has grown to become a world leader in astrophysics, adaptive optics, bioinfomatics, genomics, ocean & environmental sciences. From the founding of the UCSC arboretum and Center for Agroecology (the farm) UCSC has been at the forefront of the environmental and social entrepreneurship movements. The UCSC main campus consists of approximately 2,000 acres of land overlooking Monterey Bay.
Its 556 buildings (including residential facilities) provide approximately 5.8 million gross square feet of space. UCSC leases almost 357,000 square feet of space at 9 difference locations in Santa Cruz, and 3 locations in Silicon Valley. The campus has research facilities located on Monterey Bay.
The major industries include agriculture, tourism, manufacturing, food processing, and high tech firms. About 10% of the land area of the County is devoted to State Parks, several of which are within or adjacent to the City limits.
Housing
Estimated median house or condo value in 2009: $657,815
Mean prices in 2009: All housing units: $751,152; Detached houses: $809,198; Townhouses or other attached units: $644,348; In 2-unit structures: $734,279; In 3-to-4-unit structures: $442,857; In 5-or-more-unit structures: $558,351; Mobile homes: $75,650; Occupied boats, RVs, vans, etc.: $141,494
Demographics
Population in July 2009: 56,810. Santa Cruz covers 12.5 square miles. It sits at an elevation of 20 feet above sea level. Area code 831.
Weather
Santa Cruz, CA climate is mild during summer when temperatures tend to be in the 60's and cool during winter when temperatures tend to be in the 50's.
The warmest month of the year is September with an average maximum temperature of 75.60 degrees Fahrenheit, while the coldest month of the year is December with an average minimum temperature of 39.60 degrees Fahrenheit.
Temperature variations between night and day tend to be moderate during summer with a difference that can reach 22 degrees Fahrenheit, and moderate during winter with an average difference of 21 degrees Fahrenheit.
The annual average precipitation at Santa Cruz is 30.67 Inches. Winter months tend to be wetter than summer months. The wettest month of the year is January with an average rainfall of 6.49 Inches.
Information provided by idcide.com and city data.com
, sports, wildlife, and more. From the foothills, to the coast, and in neighborhoods, there are plenty of parks from which to choose.