Santa Cruz County

City of Santa Cruz. Santa Cruz County is located on the California coast, situated at the north end of the Monterey Bay, 65 miles south of San Francisco, 35 miles north of Monterey, and 35 miles southwest of Silicon Valley. Its natural beauty is present in the pristine beaches, lush redwood forests, and rich farmland. It has an ideal Mediterranean climate with low humidity and sunshine 300 days a year. The City of Santa Cruz was discovered in 1769 when the Spanish explorer Don Gaspar de Portola came upon the beautiful rolling hills above the San Lorenzo river and named it Santa Cruz, which means holy cross.Santa Cruz County is the gateway to the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, has 29 miles of beaches and includes six state parks and six state beaches. Its quaint shops and restaurants, coupled with a multitude of cultural and recreational activities, including sailing, fishing, golf, tennis and hiking, provide a wealth of leisure activities. The State of California owns and maintains 42,334 acres of parks in the coastal and mountainous areas of Santa Cruz County.  [Top]

Cultural Amenities. Santa Cruz County maintains an additional 850 acres of parks, and numerous parks are also found within the cities. Cultural amenities include the Santa Cruz County Symphony, the Cabrillo Music Festival, Shakespeare Santa Cruz, the McPherson Museum of Art and History, the University of California Performing Arts Center, and the Henry J. Mello Performing Arts Center.  [Top]

Services. Santa Cruz County's strong local economy is anchored by vibrant high technology, agriculture, and tourism, and the school system includes and the University of California, Santa Cruz and Cabrillo Community College. Santa Cruz also hosts the Long Marine Laboratory, the Lick Observatory, the National Marine Fisheries service, and the Oiled Wildlife Veterinary Care and Research Center. Santa Cruz County is served by the San Jose International Airport, the San Francisco International Airport, Oakland International Airport, Monterey Peninsula Airport, and the Watsonville Municipal Airport.  [Top]