Board a boat tour from the wharf for whale-watchingâgrays, blues, or humpbacks, depending on the time of yearâor take a winding drive in the Santa Cruz Mountains to see the ancient trees at Big Basin Redwoods State Park. The Santa Cruz Sentinel is Santa Cruz's only daily newspaper. Santa Cruz is about 100 miles (60 km) south of San Francisco. [17], 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. The Costanos (anglicized as "Costanoan") people spoke eight known dialects, each defining a different tribelet area. Some backpack it and camp overnight. [22] Anthony with Frederick A. Hihn, built the first private water supply network in the city and serving nearby communities. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. [81] It is the home of O'Neill Wetsuits and Santa Cruz Surfboards, as well as Santa Cruz Skateboards and Santa Cruz Bicycles. It was here that surfing was first brought to the mainland by Hawaiian royalty. A project to widen the highway and this interchange was begun in 2006 and completed in the fall of 2008.[74]. A powder mill built on the San Lorenzo River upstream of Santa Cruz used charcoal and powder kegs manufactured from local forests. There were 23,316 housing units at an average density of 1,473.0 per square mile (568.7/km2), of which 9,375 (43.3%) were owner-occupied, and 12,282 (56.7%) were occupied by renters. [47] The scene then intensified when a group of about ten people began breaking storefront windows at approximately 11:05 pm. The majority of Ohlone or Coastanoan tribes had no written language, and lived in small villages scattered around the Monterey Bay and San Francisco Bay regions. Note: As of time of writing, Big Basin State Park is closed after suffering damage in recent fires. Dogs are permitted on leash. This trail is secluded and also features a waterfall. Day pack: A compact day pack is helpful to have when backpacking so you can easily put everything you need accessible and handy. The diverse and numerous tribes of this region were also earlier referred to by the Spanish as Coastanoan. [67][68], In the California State Legislature, Santa Cruz is in the 17th Senate District, represented by Democrat Bill Monning, and in the 29th Assembly District, represented by Democrat Mark Stone. The chapel tower fell in 1840 and the entire front wall was destroyed in the 1857 Fort Tejon earthquake. Jewel Theatre Company – Year-round theater, offering both familiar and lesser known plays. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 2.98. "[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. The Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, shown in May 2020, is mostly closed again amid a countywide increase in coronavirus cases. Two Santa Cruz surf shops, Shoreline Surf Shop and Noland's on the Wharf, sued the city of Huntington Beach in order to protect the public use of the term "Surf City. It is family-operated, and celebrated its Centennial in 2007. Picnic areas and restrooms are available, as is drinking water. Competition from automobiles ended streetcar service in 1926. [23] The establishment of railroad lines in Santa Cruz in 1876 until 1881 with the Santa Cruz Railroad, brought workers to Santa Cruz and provided market access for the city's timber, leather and limestone industries. Other highlights include UC Santa Cruz, the Santa Cruz Surfing Museum, and nearby redwood forests. [61], A 2013 news article noted that Santa Cruz had the highest property crime rates per capita for medium and large-sized cities in the state of California,[62][63] in addition to some of the highest violent crime rates in the state of California for medium and large-sized cities. However, it is a good hike if you want a long hike that starts in the redwood forest, passes Berry Creek Waterfall, and ends at the Pacific Ocean. If you do the latter, make sure your phone is fully charged or you bring an external battery pack. Home to the legendary Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, a pedestrian-friendly, tree-lined downtown area, and the historic Santa Cruz Municipal Wharf, which stretches out a half-mile into the waters of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. There were 21,657 households, out of which 4,817 (22.2%) had children under 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. The population density includes 1,682.2/km2 (4,356.0/sq mi). Within fifty years of the Spaniards' arrival, the Ohlone or Coastanoan culture and way of life had virtually disappeared in the Bay area. First, there’s family fun at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, a yesteryear-style esplanade lined with arcade games, corn dogs, a wooden roller coaster, and a historic carousel. California Crossroads is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon. 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. Fee required. DeLaveaga was the disc golf and discathon venue for the WFDF-sanctioned World Disc Games overall event held in Santa Cruz in July 2005. The Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk is California's oldest amusement park and a designated State Historic Landmark. 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. This trail can be done in one day if you have the stamina. LAPD bars use of third-party facial recognition systems, launches review after BuzzFeed inquiry, LAPD bars the use of outside facial recognition platforms after learning some detectives had used a commercial software platform, Appeals court grants stay in lawsuit over Gov. Like underwater parks, marine protected areas help conserve ocean wildlife and marine ecosystems. Today, two of the Coastanoan tribes, the Awaswa people 'missionized' in Santa Cruz and the Mutsun people 'missionized' at San Juan Bautista, have joined together as the Amah Mutsan Tribal Band in an effort to protect and maintain the authentic and distinct cultural history and practices.[15][16]. 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. [28] In 1998, the Santa Cruz community declared itself a Nuclear-free zone,[29] and in 2003, the Santa Cruz City Council became the first City Council in the U.S. to denounce the Iraq War. You will enjoy eucalyptus trees and a view of the Monterey Peninsula. As of 2019 the U.S. Census Bureau estimated Santa Cruz's population at 64,608. 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. However, it is a great hike when the conditions are right! Choose from difficult, moderate, or easy hikes near Santa Cruz to find the perfect adventure for you. Compass: In an absolute worst case scenario, it’s essential to have, and it weighs next to nothing. Reyes said that although rides and most attractions at the boardwalk were closed, the colonnade and main plaza remain open for the time being. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.9 males age 18 and over. The ramp from SR 1 northbound to SR 17 southbound, onto Ocean Street, is commonly known as the "fish hook" due to its tightening curve. Weather appropriate gear: Pack in thin, breathable layers. Bring your headlamp so you can see when you step inside this tree! Bring a picnic or go for a swim! [34] The case was ruled in favor of the growers. Homes for sale in Santa Cruz, CA have a median listing price of $939,000. Places to see, ways to wander, and signature experiences. In the 1820s, newly independent Mexico assumed control of the area. There were also diary farming and leather production. This is a must-do Santa Cruz hike if you want to get the full experience of the big trees and old growth of Henry Cowell. The Santa Cruz Railroad was a narrow gauge railroad that operated between Santa Cruz and Pajaro, California.[77]. Pacific Coast Highway Itinerary: 7 Day California Coast Road Trip, Local’s Guide to the 10 Best Beaches in San Diego, California, The 12 Best Outdoors Things to Do in Los Angeles: Socially Distant Edition, The 10 Best Santa Barbara Wineries & Wine Tours, Where to Find San Francisco Christmas Lights & Other Bay Area Lights (2020 Guide). This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. It is a beautiful location featuring chaparral, oak forests, and steep ravines. There are also equestrian-only campsites.