51-544: The Santa Cruz and Monterey Bay Railroad (SCMB), or Santa Cruz Branch Rail Line (SCBRL) , is a historic railway running through Santa Cruz County, California . It once ran operationally from Davenport to the Watsonville Junction where it connected to the Union Pacific Coast Line . Over the years it has had many splays and connections to other local railroads over, through, and around
102-404: A Safer Economy. The park then re-opened select rides to California residents on April 1, 2021. The Boardwalk's Cocoanut Grove conference center includes banquet rooms and a performing arts venue. Food, drink, and theater were profitable aspects of the resort since the original Casino of Swanton in 1904. Although gambling was never legal, it was generally known that guests could take boats from
153-472: A female householder with no husband present, and 37.3% were non-families. 25.1% 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 2.71 and the average family size was 3.25. In the county, the population was spread out, with 23.8% under the age of 18, 11.9% from 18 to 24, 30.8% from 25 to 44, 23.5% from 45 to 64, and 10.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age
204-545: A large building originally known as The Plunge, now Neptune's Kingdom, a pirate-themed recreation center which contains a video arcade and an indoor miniature golf course. Next to this is the Casino Fun Center which includes a laser tag arena and next to that is the Cocoanut Grove banquet room and conference center. A Laffing Sal automated character, from San Francisco 's Playland , is viewable near
255-597: A parking fee is charged when the rides are open. Season or day passes can be purchased or tickets for $ 1; each ride costs between 3 and 7 tickets. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic , the park shut down in mid-March 2020. The park reopened on November 7, 2020. The park then subsequently shut down on November 10, 2020, due to Santa Cruz County re-entering the Substantial tier of the California Blueprint for
306-627: A resource for navigating labor law through the Economic Justice Alliance of Santa Cruz County, a local organization that educates community members on issues of "sustainable wages and working conditions." In 2002, the National Association of Realtors reported that Santa Cruz was the most unaffordable place to live in the United States. This statement remains true with 2017 data that shows that Santa Cruz
357-581: A rising concern to local politicians, who have proposed parking restrictions to discourage short term renters. Rent control has been attempted as a policy in Santa Cruz three times between the 1970s and 1980s, but it never passed. National policies since the 1980s have deregulated rental markets, which decreased the rights of tenants and exacerbated frustrations for renters all across the country as well as in Santa Cruz. 27% of surveyed Santa Cruz County renters experience "overcrowding" in their homes, which
408-475: A surplus labor area by the U.S. Department of Labor. A surplus labor area has an unemployment rate 20% higher than national unemployment. As of 2024, Watsonville city was still on this list. 10% of jobs in Santa Cruz County are food producing/processing jobs. These employees make less than an average of $ 10 an hour. As of 2003, 21% of residents work outside of Santa Cruz County. This is down form
459-546: A theater. The beach was a destination for railroads and trolleys from 1875. From 1927 to 1959, Southern Pacific Railroad ran Suntan Special excursion trains to the beach from San Francisco, Oakland , and San Jose every summer Sunday and holiday. A short passenger service to Roaring Camp via the San Lorenzo river canyon in Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park was restored in 1985 by
510-492: Is a public general aviation airport. There are two air carriers based at the airport offering on-demand air charter: There is a notable private airport, Monterey Bay Academy Airport , which is a former military base. The nearest airports for scheduled commercial travel include San Jose International Airport , Monterey Regional Airport , San Francisco International Airport , and Oakland International Airport . Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk The Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
561-722: Is an oceanfront amusement park in Santa Cruz, California . Founded in 1907, it is California 's oldest surviving amusement park and one of the few seaside parks on the West Coast of the United States . The boardwalk extends along the coast of the Monterey Bay , from just east of the Santa Cruz Municipal Wharf to the mouth of the San Lorenzo River . At the western edge of the park lies
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#1732788042388612-492: Is described as when there is more than one person per room of a house, which includes all rooms not just bedrooms. One of the constraints on Santa Cruz's development are environmental protections. The restrictions on land prevent development from responding to housing and employment demands, which is an issue particularly politically relevant in the Watsonville jurisdiction. This conflict between residents wanting to protect
663-558: Is land and 162 square miles (420 km ) (27%) is water. It is the second-smallest county in California by land area and third-smallest by total area. Of California's counties, only San Francisco is smaller by land area. 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
714-774: Is north of Davenport, California ). Additionally, there is a "Cañada del Ciervo" ( ciervo is Spanish for elk ) close to the boundary between Rancho de los Corralitos and Rancho San Andrés , near the present-day Larkin Valley Road. This "Elk Valley" place name was given by José Antonio Robles who rode down, roped, and killed elk there in 1831. Lastly, elk remains dating from the Middle and Late Periods in Northern California were found in at least four late Holocene archeological sites in Santa Cruz County, all coastal: SCR-9 ( Bonny Doon site) and SCR-20 (Brown site) on
765-542: Is studying the possibility of rehabilitating the rail line for a new commuter rail service or rebuilding the corridor for bus rapid transit . A demonstration streetcar operated over the branch in October 2021. The line sustained major damage in the 2022-2023 storms . in June 2024, the public was given a chance to weigh in on future passenger rail and a trail . The plan could include rerouted sections and an elevated portion at
816-489: Is the least affordable county for renters. In Santa Cruz County, 60% of residents rent and a median monthly rent is $ 3000. UCSC's No Place Like Home Project reports that in Santa Cruz County, 2.5 minimum wage jobs would be needed to afford renting a 2 bedroom apartment. UCSC's "No Place Like Home" project identifies four main rental markets: agricultural workers, UCSC students, Silicon Valley tech workers, and short term vacation rentals. Short term rentals in particular have been
867-497: The 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake . The line came under ownership of Union Pacific in 1996. The Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission purchased the rail corridor in 2012. At that time, freight operations were contracted out to Iowa Pacific Holdings , commencing service in November 2012. In 2018, Progressive Rail, Inc. was chosen as the replacement freight operator under a 10-year contract. The Transportation Commission
918-647: The California Central Coast , south of the San Francisco Bay Area region. The county forms the northern coast of the Monterey Bay , with Monterey County forming the southern coast. Santa Cruz County was one of the original counties of California, created in 1850 at the time of statehood. In the original act, the county was given the name of " Branciforte " after the Spanish pueblo founded there in 1797. A major watercourse in
969-629: The County of Santa Cruz , is a county on the Pacific coast of the U.S. state of California . As of the 2020 census , the population was 270,861. The county seat is Santa Cruz . Santa Cruz County comprises the Santa Cruz– Watsonville , CA Metropolitan Statistical Area , which is also included in the San Jose – San Francisco – Oakland , CA Combined Statistical Area . The county is on
1020-743: The Paris Wine Tasting of 1976 ( Tabor, p.167-169 ). School districts include: Unified: Secondary: Elementary: Santa Cruz County is served by the Santa Cruz Metropolitan Transit District bus system. An Amtrak Thruway "Highway 17 Express" bus between Santa Cruz and San Jose is jointly operated by Amtrak , the SCMTD and the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority . Watsonville Municipal Airport
1071-481: The Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk from July 1947 to September 1959. There was a railway turntable and 5-stall roundhouse in Santa Cruz, but steam locomotives were replaced by EMD GP9s in 1955. Daily local freight service was replaced in 1982 by tri-weekly branch line trains operating at 20 mi (32 km) per hour including a caboose until 1986. The Pajaro River bridge was damaged by
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#17327880423881122-557: The Santa Cruz Mountains . The active line includes a connection with the Roaring Camp Railroads line that makes regular trips between Felton and the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk . The line was constructed as the Santa Cruz Railroad between 1873–1876 and was laid with narrow gauge rail. After foreclosure, it was sold to Southern Pacific (through a subsidiary Pacific Improvement Company) who converted
1173-491: The Santa Cruz, Big Trees and Pacific Railway , which stops in front of the park. As of 2011 , the park is headed by Charles Canfield, the son of Laurence Canfield, the president of the park from the 1950s until the early 1980s. It has won the Best Seaside Amusement Park Award from Amusement Today every year since 2007 except for 2015. Although there is no admission and the beach is public,
1224-555: The State Assembly , Santa Cruz County is split between the 28th , 29th and 30th Assembly districts, represented by Democrat Gail Pellerin , Democrat Robert Rivas and Democrat Dawn Addis , respectively. In the State Senate , Santa Cruz County is entirely within the 17th Senate District , represented by Democrat John Laird . The following table includes the number of incidents reported and
1275-453: The census of 2000, there were 255,602 people, 91,139 households, and 57,144 families residing in the county. The population density was 574 people per square mile (222 people/km ). There were 98,873 housing units at an average density of 222 units per square mile (86 units/km ). There were 91,139 households, out of which 31.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.0% were married couples living together, 10.2% had
1326-612: The miniature golf course. East of the casino, the boardwalk portion of the park stretches along a wide, sandy Main Beach visitors can access easily from the park. The eastern end of the boardwalk is dominated by the Giant Dipper , a wooden roller coaster that is one of the most visible landmarks in Santa Cruz. The Dipper and the Looff Carousel , which still contains its original 342-pipe organ built in 1894, are both on
1377-422: The poverty line , including 12.50% of those under age 18 and 6.30% of those age 65 or over. Santa Cruz County residents tend to be well-educated. 38.3% of residents age 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree at least, significantly higher than the national average of 27.2% and the state average of 29.5%. Santa Cruz County was a Republican stronghold for most of the 19th and 20th centuries; from 1860 through 1980
1428-425: The "pleasure pier" to a ship in the harbor to play games of chance in the early days. During Prohibition from 1920 to 1933, serving alcoholic drinks was also outlawed and the casino changed its name to Cocoanut Grove. The name includes an old spelling of Coconut , Cocos nucifera , which was used in the popular Marx Brothers movie The Cocoanuts of 1929. The name was also used by a number of popular nightclubs of
1479-531: The 1769 Portola Expedition near the mouth of the Pajaro River both on the way north on October 6, and on the way south on November 25. Later, elk were also described by nineteenth century American hunters. They were also described in Santa Cruz County by Jlli tribelet Awaswas Ohlone people , who utilized elk along with pronghorn ( Antilocapra americana ) and lived on the Jarro Coast (El Jarro Point
1530-497: The 28% outside employment rate of 1989. The agriculture businesses are significant enough to be prominent in local politics, where they influence issues of water, pesticide use, and labor. There are mandated living wages for Santa Cruz county, and individually in the cities of Watsonville and Santa Cruz. These occurred after The Santa Cruz Living Wage Coalition campaigned to set up ordinances. The low wage sector of Santa Cruz experiences workplace abuse. Data from 2015 show that in
1581-531: The Beach Street roundabout, before turning onto its own tracks at the Santa Cruz Wye towards Felton on the former South Pacific Coast Railroad mainline. After leaving Santa Cruz, the line runs parallel to California State Route 1 until Davenport, where the tracks end. Santa Cruz County, California Santa Cruz County ( / ˌ s æ n t ə ˈ k r uː z / ), officially
Santa Cruz and Monterey Bay Railroad - Misplaced Pages Continue
1632-645: The Ocean Street exit of California State Route 1 , which is the southern terminus of California State Route 17 . Fred W. Swanton formed the Santa Cruz Beach, Cottage, and Tent City Corporation in 1903 and the following year, the City of Santa Cruz granted permission for commercial buildings to be built. On 14 June 1904, the Neptune Casino opened with an arcade, grill and dining room, and
1683-533: The Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. The right of way begins at Watsonville Junction, where it interchanges with Union Pacific's Coast Line. The line features street running sections in Watsonville and Santa Cruz where trains interact directly with roadway traffic. The Santa Cruz, Big Trees and Pacific Railway operates part of its heritage railway service along SCMB tracks from the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk to that railroad's main line east of
1734-532: The US National Register of Historic Places . They were, together, declared to be a National Historic Landmark in 1987 and the park is California Historical Landmark number 983. There are old-fashioned carnival games and snack booths throughout the 24-acre (9.7-hectare) park. It is located at 400 Beach Street in Santa Cruz, 36°57′51″N 122°01′04″W / 36.96417°N 122.01778°W / 36.96417; -122.01778 south of
1785-436: The coast of Santa Cruz County. Like underwater parks, these marine protected areas help conserve ocean wildlife and marine ecosystems. Santa Cruz County borders four other counties: San Mateo to the northwest, Santa Clara to the north and east, Monterey to the south, and San Benito with a small border to the south. The county of Santa Cruz has experienced demographic fluctuations in recent history. Between 1990 and 2000,
1836-472: The county, Branciforte Creek , still bears this name. Less than two months later, on April 5, 1850, the name was changed to "Santa Cruz" ("Holy Cross"). Mission Santa Cruz , established in 1791 and completed in 1794, was destroyed by the 1857 Fort Tejon earthquake , but a smaller-scale replica was erected in 1931. According to the U.S. Census Bureau , the county has a total area of 607 square miles (1,570 km ), of which 445 square miles (1,150 km )
1887-437: The county, 38% of Agricultural workers have experienced overtime pay violation, 14% of tipped workers reported tips stolen by their employers, and 50% of service sector workers reported violations on receiving breaks. It is California law for employers to make written workplace policies available. However, in a county wide survey, 30% of workers reported that they did not receive an employee handbook. Service sector laborers have
1938-401: The crisis that was exacerbated by UCSC growth and Silicon Valley encroachment. Debates about land use in Santa Cruz were particularly important after the 1989 Loma Prieta Earthquake , which destroyed the central business district of Santa Cruz and led to the loss of an estimated 2,000 jobs. Already contentious debates about land were present in the area due to its large tourism industry and
1989-422: The environment and those wanting more housing is also racially divided, as most residents favoring environmental protection are white, while the population on the side of developing housing is more heavily Latino. A 2010–2011 report by a Santa Cruz County grand jury states that Watsonville had no policy for assessing environmental hazards, and would give out land use and building permits without any investigations of
2040-494: The environmental conditions of the land in question. One of the housing solutions that residents have resorted to is the occupation of accessory dwelling units. Commonly known as "mother-in-law" units, these secondary housing spaces on residential property used to be illegal to build. In 2002, Santa Cruz leaders changed the law and encouraged construction with affordable mortgages. The goal was to contain urban sprawl while still finding housing alternatives for residents in light of
2091-971: The line to standard gauge and operated until the merger into Southern Pacific on May 14, 1888. The 3.7-mile (6.0 km) Aptos branch from Aptos to Loma Prieta was built as the Loma Prieta Railroad in 1883 and abandoned in 1928. The line was extended to Davenport in 1905. Until 1940, the line connected in Santa Cruz with the former South Pacific Coast Railroad to San Jose, California as an alternative Southern Pacific Coast Line route north of Watsonville Junction. A cement kiln in Davenport provided one hundred carloads weekly of inbound coal and outbound cement. Inbound lumber and outbound refrigerator cars of locally grown Brussels sprouts , artichokes , and lettuce provided additional freight traffic. Suntan Special summer excursion trains carried 900 passengers per trip from San Francisco to
Santa Cruz and Monterey Bay Railroad - Misplaced Pages Continue
2142-421: The north coastal land comprises relatively flat terraces that end at steep cliffs like those shown in the photo below. Santa Cruz County is home to the following threatened or endangered species : Historically, tule elk ( Cervus canadensis nannodes ) were native to the coastal grasslands of Santa Cruz County. Elk, sometimes confused with bison , were initially described by Miguel Costansó in his diary of
2193-409: 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
2244-407: The only Democrats to carry Santa Cruz were Woodrow Wilson in 1916, Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1932 and 1936, Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964, and Jimmy Carter in 1976. However, the opening of UCSC in 1965 caused the county's political landscape to dramatically change. Today, it is a strongly Democratic county in presidential and congressional elections. The last Republican to carry the county
2295-513: The political elite and economic elite were monopolizing control over the rebuilding movement. According to Santa Cruz County's 2020-21 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the top employers in the county are: Winemaking —both the growing of the grapes and their vinting—is an important part of the economic and cultural life of Santa Cruz County. The wines of the David Bruce Winery and Ridge Vineyards were selected for tasting in
2346-541: The population increased by 11.3%. This is primarily because of new births, rather than immigration or migration. The 2010 United States Census reported Santa Cruz County had a population of 262,382. The racial makeup of Santa Cruz County was 190,208 (72.5%) White , 2,766 (1.1%) African American , 2,253 (0.9%) Native American , 11,112 (4.2%) Asian , 349 (0.1%) Pacific Islander , 43,376 (16.5%) from other races , and 12,318 (4.7%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 84,092 persons (32.0%). As of
2397-403: The rate per 1,000 persons for each type of offense: 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 1989, Santa Cruz was named as
2448-431: The relatively new UCSC campus, but after the quake both private interests and public servants had a stake in how rebuilding would go. This led to a necessary compromise, a public-private partnership that debated the how to rebuild the pacific garden mall space, with considerations of green space, timely implementation, and supporting local business and economy. Many constituents felt left out of this process, and reported that
2499-587: The western slope of Ben Lomond Mountain , SCR-93 (Sunflower site) a coastal terrace on the north shore of the San Lorenzo River in Santa Cruz , and SCR-132 ( Scott Creek site) 4 miles inland. Pronghorn antelope ( Antilocapra americana ) remains were found at the SCR-20 (Brown site) on the western slope of Ben Lomond Mountain dating to about 1500 A.D. Año Nuevo State Marine Conservation Area , Greyhound Rock State Marine Conservation Area and Natural Bridges State Marine Reserve are marine protected areas off
2550-524: Was Ronald Reagan in 1980 , and the last Republican to win a majority in the county was Richard Nixon in 1968 . The last Republican to represent a significant portion of Santa Cruz in Congress was Burt L. Talcott , who was defeated in 1976 by Leon Panetta . Santa Cruz County is split between California's 18th and 19th congressional districts, represented by Zoe Lofgren ( D – San Jose ) and Jimmy Panetta ( D – Carmel Valley ), respectively. In
2601-410: Was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 99.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.8 males. The median income for a household in the county was $ 53,998, and the median income for a family was $ 61,941. Males had a median income of $ 46,291 versus $ 33,514 for females. The per capita income for the county was $ 26,396. About 6.7% of families and 11.9% of the population were below
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