name	Santa Cruz de la Palma
settlement type	Municipality
official name
native name
image shield	Escudo de Santa Cruz de La Palma.svg
pushpin map	Canary Islands
pushpin map caption	Location in the Canary Islands
subdivision type	Country
subdivision name
subdivision type1	Autonomous community
subdivision name1
subdivision type2	Province
subdivision name2	Santa Cruz de Tenerife
subdivision type3	Island
subdivision name3	La Palma
seat type
coordinates type	region:ES_type:city
coordinates display	inline,title
elevation m	4
area total km2	43.38
established title	Founded
established date	3 May 1493
population total	17132
population as of	2008
population demonym	Santacrucero,ra
population density km2	auto
blank name sec1	Official language(s)
blank info sec1	Spanish
timezone	WET
timezone dst	WEST
postal code type	Postal code
postal code	38700
area code type	Dialing code
leader title	Alcalde
leader name	Juan Ramón Felipe San Antonio
leader party	CC
website
footnotes	}}

Santa Cruz de la Palma () is located on the eastern part of the island of La Palma in the province of Santa Cruz de Tenerife of the Canary Islands. Santa Cruz de la Palma is the second largest city (after Los Llanos de Aridane) and is the capital of the island. Santa Cruz de La Palma is linked with a main highway encircling every part of the island and is located north of the La Palma Airport. It is located along an old lava flow coming out from the Caldereta (small caldera) a volcano located just south of the city.

The population of the municipality is 17,265 (2001 census), its population density is 398/km² and the area is 43.38 km². Around 15,000 people live within the city limits, with the remaining population residing in other settlements. The city is located at sea level and the highest elevation is around 1,800 m.

Subdivisions

City neighborhoods:

*La Luz

*San Telmo

*San Sebastián

*El Puente

*Benahoare

*La Alameda

*La Calle Real

*El Pilar

*El Marquito

Settlements:

*Velhoco

*Las Nieves

*La Dehesa

*La Encarnación

*El Planto

*El Carmen

*Mirca

History

The city was founded by Alonso Fernández de Lugo on May 3, 1493. It was located between a river which is situated by a cave named ''Tedote'' (now ''Cueva de Carías'', located north of the city). The city, originally called ''Villa del Apurón'', served as a port that connected routes to the Americas, exporting goods from the island such as sugarcane. The city was sacked by pirates and was later reconstructed and fortified against future pirate attacks. Famous fortifications include the ''Castillo de Santa Catalina'' and ''Castillo de la Virgen''. The economic crisis that affected the agriculture sector brought the greatest loss of population in the city's history, which limited its expansion and caused the population to stabilize and drop to 11,000. The population did not approach its original 18,000 again for the next hundred years.

Land Use & Tourism

The coastline and the valley areas are made up of farmlands, the remaining areas around Santa Cruz de la Palma and the east central core are urban areas especially hotels, apartments, and colorful homes uphill northwest.

Santa Cruz de la Palma has the only major port in the island, serving ferry routes to Cádiz in Spain, as well as to Tenerife, Los Cristianos and Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Las Palmas on Gran Canaria and Arrecife. The main ferry operators in the port are Naviera Armas and Fred. Olsen Express, and many cruise line firms visit the port.

==Sites of interest==-->

Historical population

11,000 17,205 17,265 17,265 18,228 18,201 17,857

Year !! Population !! Change !! Density
Late-19th century	around 18,000	-
1900	|	-	-
1991	|	-	-
1996	|	-	-
2001	|	-	401.51/km²
2002	|	-	-
2003	|	-	216.26/km²
2004	|	-	399.40/km²

The 1996 population plunged slowly and from 1996 to 2001 read unchanged but boomed again but a little faster but from the 2002 to the 2004 census, the population slightly fell.

Other

Santa Cruz de La Palma has schools, a few lyceums, a gymnasium, churches, a small beach, a small port, a post office and a few squares ''plazas''.

Notable Natives & Residents

Manolo Blahnik, world-famous shoemaker

Gallery

External links

Official website

Map and aerial photos

*Street map: Street map from Mapquest, MapPoint or Google

*Satellite images: Google

Coordinates:

See also

La Gomera

List of municipalities in Santa Cruz de Tenerife

Category:Municipalities in Santa Cruz de Tenerife Category:1493 establishments Category:Populated places established in the 1490s Category:La Palma

ca:Santa Cruz de La Palma de:Santa Cruz de La Palma es:Santa Cruz de La Palma eu:Santa Cruz de La Palma fr:Santa Cruz de La Palma gd:Santa Cruz de La Palma gl:Santa Cruz de la Palma it:Santa Cruz de la Palma nl:Santa Cruz de la Palma pt:Santa Cruz de la Palma ro:Santa Cruz de La Palma ru:Санта-Крус-де-Ла-Пальма fi:Santa Cruz de La Palma uk:Санта-Крус-де-ла-Пальма vi:Santa Cruz de la Palma war:Santa Cruz de la Palma

Official name	Santa Cruz
Native name
Nickname	Surf City, The 831
Settlement type	City
Motto
Image seal	Seal_of_the_City_of_Santa_Cruz.jpg
Map caption	Location in Santa Cruz County and the state of California
Pushpin map	California
Pushpin label position	right
Pushpin map caption	Location in California
Coordinates region	US-CA
Subdivision type	Country
Subdivision name
Subdivision type1	State
Subdivision name1
Subdivision type2	County
Subdivision name2	Santa Cruz
Subdivision name4
Leader title	Mayor
Leader name	Ryan Coonerty
Leader title1	Senate
Leader name1	Joe Simitian (D)
Leader title2	Assembly
Leader name2	Bill Monning (D)
Leader title3	U.S. Congress
Leader name3	Sam Farr (D)
Established title
Established date	August 28, 1791
Established title2
Established date2	1850
Established title3
Established date3	1856
unit pref	US
area footnotes
area total sq mi	15.828
area land sq mi	12.740
area water sq mi	3.088
area total km2	40.996
area land km2	32.997
area water km2	7.999
area water percent	19.51
Area blank1 sq mi
Population as of	2010
Population total	59,946
Population density km2	auto
Population density sq mi	auto
Population density blank1 sq mi
Timezone	PST
Utc offset	−8
Timezone dst	PDT
Utc offset dst	−7
Area code	831 831
Elevation footnotes
Elevation m	11
Elevation ft	36
Postal code type	ZIP codes
Postal code	95060-95067
Area code	831
Blank name	FIPS code
Blank info	06-69112
Blank1 name	GNIS feature ID
Blank1 info	1659596
Website	http://www.cityofsantacruz.com/
Footnotes	}}

Santa Cruz (, ) is the county seat and largest city of Santa Cruz County, California in the US. As of the 2010 U.S. Census, Santa Cruz had a total population of 59,946. It is located on the northern edge of the Monterey Bay, about 72 mi (115 km) south of San Francisco.

The present-day site of Santa Cruz was the location of an American Indian settlement since ancient times. It was also one of the earliest settlements of the Spanish during the exploration of Alta California in the later part of the 18th century, including a California Mission, Mission Santa Cruz. During the late 19th century, after California became part of the United States, Santa Cruz became widely popular for its idyllic beaches and coastal redwood forests, establishing itself as a resort community.

Santa Cruz is now known for its moderate climate, natural beauty, educational institutions, alternative community lifestyles, and socially liberal leanings. It is also home to University of California, Santa Cruz, a premier research institution and educational hub, as well as the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, an oceanfront amusement park.

History

The Ohlone and pre-contact period

Prior to the arrival of Europeans in the 18th century, Santa Cruz was home to the nomadic Ohlone Native Americans.

Mission and Pueblo period

In 1769 the Spanish explorer Gaspar de Portolà accidentally arrived in the vicinity while attempting to travel to Monterey. He named the river ''San Lorenzo'' for Saint Lawrence and he named a local creek "Arroyo de Santa Cruz" which translates as "Holy Cross Creek". In 1791, Father Fermín Lasuén continued the use of Portolà'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. Santa Cruz was the twelfth mission to be founded in California.

In 1797, Governor Diego de Borica, by order of the Viceroy of New Spain, Miguel de la Grúa Talamanca y Branciforte, marqués de Branciforte, established the ''Villa de Branciforte'', a town named in honor of the Viceroy. One of only three civilian towns established in California during the Spanish colonial period (the other two became Los Angeles and San Jose), the Villa was located across the San Lorenzo River, less than a mile from the Mission. Its original main street is now North Branciforte Avenue. Villa de Branciforte later lost its civic status, and in 1905 the area was annexed into the City of Santa Cruz.

In the 1820s, newly independent Mexico assumed control of the area. Following the secularization of the Mission in 1834, the community that had grown up around the Mission was renamed ''Pueblo de Figueroa''. The name didn't catch on, however, and later reverted back to Santa Cruz. After 1834, immigrants from the United States began to arrive in steadily increasing numbers. In 1848, following the Mexican-American War, Mexico ceded the territory of Alta California to the U.S. in the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. California was the first portion of the territory to became a state, in 1850. Santa Cruz became a city in 1866.

Social activism

As a center of liberal and progressive activism, Santa Cruz became one of the first cities to approve marijuana for medicinal uses. In 1992, residents overwhelmingly approved Measure A, which allowed for the medicinal uses of marijuana. Santa Cruz also became one of the first cities in California to test the state's medical marijuana laws in court after the arrest of Valerie Corral and Mike Corral, founders of the Wo/Men's Alliance for Medical Marijuana, by the DEA. The case was ruled in favor of the growers. In 2005, the Santa Cruz City Council established a city government office to assist residents with obtaining medical marijuana. In 2006, Measure K was passed by voters, making marijuana enforcement "lowest priority" for law enforcement.

Santa Cruz has an activist Veteran community. The United Veterans Council sponsors a community-based program for Veterans dealing with re-entry into society as an alternative to government remedies. The Bill Motto VFW post #5888 sponsors anti-war and peace efforts in Santa Cruz and throughout the country. The Veterans Memorial Building is host to punk, reggae, and hip-hop acts from Santa Cruz and around the world. It is also the home of the Bill Motto Post sponsored Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners. These dinners were started by post #5888 in the late seventies. In 2006, the Thanksgiving dinner served 1,400 people. 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 center is "dedicated to promoting the principles of nonviolent social change and enhancing the quality of life and human dignity". In 1998, Santa Cruz declared itself a Nuclear-free zone, and in 2003, the Santa Cruz City Council became the first City Council in the U.S. to denounce the Iraq War. The City Council of Santa Cruz also issued a proclamation opposing the USA PATRIOT Act.

Notable feminist activists Nikki Craft and Ann Simonton resided in Santa Cruz where they formed the "Praying Mantis Brigade". This collection of activists organized the "Myth California Pageant" in the 1980s protesting "the objectification of women and the glorification of the beauty myth." Myth California was staged concurrently with the Miss California pageant held in Santa Cruz since the 1920s. The protests, including women dressed in meat and pouring the blood of raped women across a pageant entryway, ran for nine years and eventually contributed to the Miss California pageant leaving Santa Cruz. Simonton founded and coordinates the non-profit group "Media Watch" which monitors and critiques media images of women and ethnic minorities. Beginning in 1983 Santa Cruz has hosted an annual Take Back the Night candlelight vigil, rally, march, and protest focusing on the issue of violence against women.

Santa Cruz has an active community of independent media makers as demonstrated by the Santa Cruz Independent Media Center and many other do-it-yourself media projects. ''Incendio'' is a bi-lingual journal to connect English- and Spanish-speaking anarchists throughout the world to anarchist, indigenous, ecological, and social struggles occurring throughout Latin America. Santa Cruz also has an active independent media outlet.

Recent history

On March 11, 2011, Santa Cruz was hit by ocean surges caused by the Tōhoku earthquake off the coast of Japan. The Santa Cruz Small Craft Harbor sustained an estimated $10 million of damage, with another $4 million of damage to docked boats there.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP covers an area of 15.8 square miles (41.0 km²), 12.7 square miles (33.0 km²) of it is land, and 3.1 square miles (8.0 km²) of it (19.51%) is water.

Climate

Santa Cruz has mild weather throughout the year, enjoying a Mediterranean climate characterized by cool, wet winters and warm, mostly dry summers. Due to its proximity to Monterey Bay, fog and low overcast are common during the night and morning hours, especially in the summer.

Economy

The principal industries of Santa Cruz are agriculture, tourism, education (UCSC) and high technology. 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. Tourist attractions include the classic Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk on the beach, the redwood forests, and Monterey Bay, which is protected as a marine sanctuary.

Top employers

According to Santa Cruz's 2009 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the top employers in the city are:

! #	! Employer	! # of Employees
1	University of California, Santa Cruz	4,679
2		2,497
3	City of Santa Cruz	1,108
4	Plantronics	518
5	Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk	347
6	Costco	255
7	Community Bridges	250
8	Crow's Nest	199
9	Santa Cruz Biotechnology	190
10	United Parcel Service	155

Demographics

{| class="wikitable" style="float:right; margin-left:15px;" |+ Santa Cruz Population by year

2010

The 2010 United States Census reported that Santa Cruz had a population of 59,946. The population density was 3,787.2 people per square mile (1,462.3/km²). The racial makeup of Santa Cruz was 44,661 (74.5%) White, 1,071 (1.8%) African American, 440 (0.7%) Native American, 4,591 (7.7%) Asian, 108 (0.2%) Pacific Islander, 5,673 (9.5%) from other races, and 3,402 (5.7%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 11,624 persons (19.4%).

The Census reported that 51,657 people (86.2% of the population) lived in households, 7,910 (13.2%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 379 (0.6%) were institutionalized.

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. There were 1,802 (8.3%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 379 (1.8%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 6,773 households (31.3%) were made up of individuals and 1,862 (8.6%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39. There were 10,005 families (46.2% of all households); the average family size was 2.92.

The population was spread out with 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. The median age was 29.9 years. For every 100 females there were 100.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.7 males.

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. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.2%; the rental vacancy rate was 3.4%. 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.

2000

Recorded from the census of 2000, there were 54,593 people total with 20,442 households and 10,404 families residing in the city. The population density includes 1,682.2/km² (4,356.0/sq mi). There were 21,504 housing units at an average density of 1,715.8 per square mile (662.6/km²). 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.

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. 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. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 2.98.

In the city the population was spread out with 17.3% under the age of 18, 20.5% from 18 to 24, 32.6% from 25 to 44, 21.0% from 45 to 64, and 8.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 99.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.9 males age 18 and over.

The median income for a household in the city was $50,605, and the median income for a family was $62,231 (these figures had risen to $59,172 and $80,496 respectively as of a 2007 estimate). Males had a median income of $44,751 versus $32,699 for females. The per capita income for the city was $25,758. 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.

Law and government

In the state legislature Santa Cruz is located in the 11th Senate District, represented by Democrat Joe Simitian, and in the 27th Assembly District, represented by Democrat Bill Monning. Federally, Santa Cruz is located in California's 17th congressional district, which has a Cook PVI of D +17 and is represented by Democrat Sam Farr.

Sister cities

Santa Cruz has six sister cities, as designated by Sister Cities International, Inc., including Alushta, Ukraine, which was established in the waning days of the Soviet Union before the fall of Communism and was controversial at the time, Jinotepe, Nicaragua; Puerto La Cruz, Venezuela; Sestri Levante, Italy; Shingū, Japan, which was established in 1974 when three Santa Cruz college students resided in Shingu for a year (1973–74) doing intensive Aikido training at the historic Kumano Juku Aikido school, and Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain. A monument next to the downtown Santa Cruz post office has a small circular plaza surrounded by marble posts topped with bronze maps of each of the sister cities.

Transportation

State Routes 1 and 17 are the main roads in and out of Santa Cruz. Geographically constrained between the Santa Cruz Mountains and the Monterey Bay, the narrow transportation corridor served by SR 1 suffers mild congestion. 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. A project to widen the highway and this interchange was begun in 2006 and completed in the fall of 2008.

The Santa Cruz Metropolitan Transit District provides bus service throughout Santa Cruz County. Metro also operates bus service between Santa Cruz (city) and San Jose by way of a partnership with the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority and Amtrak California. Connections are possible in San Jose. Greyhound Lines bus service is another option for visiting Santa Cruz.

The nearest airports served by major commercial airlines are San Jose International Airport, Monterey Peninsula Airport, San Francisco International Airport, and Oakland International Airport. The nearest public airport of any kind is Watsonville Municipal Airport, about eight miles to the southeast, which serves general aviation users.

Santa Cruz has an extensive network of bike lanes and bike paths. Most major roads have bike lanes, and wide, luxurious bike lanes were recently installed on Beach Street, near the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. Additionally, there are levee bike paths along the San Lorenzo River. A Rail Trail – a bicycle and pedestrian path beside an existing coastal train track—is under consideration.

The Santa Cruz, Big Trees and Pacific Railway operates diesel-electric tourist trains between the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk and Roaring Camp in Felton, through Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park, with its famous Redwood Grove walking trail.

Education

Santa Cruz is home to several notable educational institutions, including Harbor High School, Pacific Collegiate School (a grade 7–12 charter school), Cypress Charter High School, Georgiana Bruce Kirby Preparatory School (a grade 6–12 private school), Monterey Coast Preparatory (also a 6–12 private school), Santa Cruz High School, the University of California, Santa Cruz, Bethany University, Cabrillo College, (which is located in nearby Aptos and holds some classes within Santa Cruz city), and Five Branches University.

The Long Marine Laboratory is a marine research facility on the western edge of the city.

Attractions

Downtown

Roy Rydell was engaged as the landscape architect for the former Pacific Garden Mall and other notable places in Santa Cruz including: Abbott Square beside The Museum of Art & History and Lulu's at the historical Octagon, Plaza Branciforte on Soquel Avenue, the Town Clock Plaza, the Communication Building at UCSC, Deer Park Center, Santa Cruz City Hall Annex, and the Alfred Hitchcock estate.

During the Loma Prieta earthquake in 1989, several buildings along what was known as the Pacific Garden Mall were destroyed, including the former beaux arts courthouse renamed and reopened in the 1960s as the Cooper House. The Cooper House was widely regarded as the heart of the downtown area and featured outdoor music played each day by Don McCaslin's band "Warmth". The Cooper House had a restaurant and bar that went through several owners throughout the 1980s but consistently attracted the townspeople, their guests, and local characters such as "Rainbow Ginger" to the outdoor patio where cocktails, food, music, and people watching were always on the menu. Since the earthquake, the old "Pacific Garden Mall" theme was eliminated, and an updated downtown design plan by ROMA Design Group was implemented. The few remaining empty lots on Pacific Avenue are currently in the process of being developed.

Parks, beaches, and greenbelt districts

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.

Santa Cruz has five greenbelt districts, including Arana Gulch, Lighthouse Field, Moore Creek, Neary Lagoon, and Pogonip. Pogonip is a city-run park and open space located adjacent to the University of California, Santa Cruz. It includes second-growth redwoods and meadows as well as several streams, and is crossed by several hiking trails. The Pogonip also includes a former country club, with its golf courses and polo fields. The name for the park is derived from the Ohlone Native American word ''pogonip'' meaning "icy fog". There are also three regional parks and twenty-one neighborhood parks.

Recreation

Santa Cruz is well-known for watersports such as sailing, diving, swimming, paddling, and is regarded as one of the best spots in the world for surfing. It is the home of O'Neill Wetsuits and Santa Cruz Surfboards, as well as Santa Cruz Skateboards and Santa Cruz Bicycles. Santa Cruz also houses Derby skate park. The Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk is California’s oldest amusement park and a designated State Historic Landmark. Home to a National Historic Landmark, a 1911 Charles I. D. Looff Carousel and 1924 Giant Dipper roller coaster, the Boardwalk has been owned and operated by the Santa Cruz Seaside Company since 1915.

In one of the first published descriptions of surfing in California, three Hawaiian princes, Prince Edward Keliiahonui, Prince David Kawānanakoa and Prince Jonah Kalanianaole, surfed on locally milled redwood boards at the mouth of the San Lorenzo River in July 1885. Santa Cruz has 11 world-class surf breaks, including the point breaks over rock bottoms near Steamer Lane and Pleasure Point, which create some of the best surfing waves in the world. The Santa Cruz Surfing Museum at Steamer Lane is staffed by docents from the Santa Cruz Surfing Club who have surfed Santa Cruz waves since the 1930s. 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.

The Santa Cruz Wharf is known for fishing, viewing marine mammals and other recreation. Local parks offer many opportunities for birding and butterfly watching, as well as outdoor sports such as skateboarding, cycling, camping, hiking, and rock climbing. In addition to its reputation in surfing and skateboarding, Santa Cruz is known for other alternative sports such as disc golf. The Santa Cruz Skatepark is open to the public 7 days a week and is free. The De Laveaga Disc Golf Course hosts PDGA tournaments, including the annual Masters Cup. De Laveaga was the disc golf and discathon venue for the WFDF-sanctioned World Disc Games overall event held in Santa Cruz in July 2005.

The city also is often said to be a huge hot spot for Volkswagen Beetle enthusiasts, featuring many in local auto shows annually. One of the Volkswagen Beetle's custom variations, the "So-Cal" Bug, has received nationwide attention as a true California surf car. Many of these are seen on the beaches in Santa Cruz, as well as the occasional Volkswagen Bus.

Cultural attractions

Santa Cruz has several smaller attractions, including the University of California, Santa Cruz, Arboretum, Mission Santa Cruz, the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History, the Santa Cruz Museum of Art and History and the Santa Cruz Surfing Museum which is housed in a lighthouse near Steamer Lane.

Cultural events

Santa Cruz County Symphony — Founded in 1958, the Santa Cruz County Symphony is a fully professional ensemble of 65 members which presents an annual concert series at the Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium and the Mello Center in Watsonville. Additional offerings include musician school visits, free concerts for area school children, family concerts, and pops concerts. Shakespeare Santa Cruz — An annual summer festival at UC Santa Cruz, the event typically performs two Shakespeare plays and one other play every summer, many of which are performed in a unique outdoor space among the redwoods. Santa Cruz Film Festival — An annual event for independent filmmakers to share their work with film enthusiasts Santa Cruz Pride — The annual parade is a celebration of sexual preference and diversity in Santa Cruz, held on the Pacific Avenue mall. Open Studios Art Tour — The art fair has been run for more than three decades and draws artists and patrons from around the area. O'Neill Cold Water Classic — An annual surfing event that draws crowds at the popular Steamer Lane. Wharf to Wharf Race — An annual race which has been held for more than three decades. Woodies on the Wharf — An annual woodies show that takes place on the Santa Cruz Wharf. Santa Cruz Farmers Market – Several year-round outdoor markets showcasing the agricultural diversity of the Central Coast region with emphasis on sustainable agriculture and organic food. Regional specialties include strawberry, apple, artichoke, artisan goat cheeses and brassica. The main market is held downtown on Wednesdays.

Historic places

Landmarks on the National Register of Historic Places:

A. J. Hinds House (8/25/1983)

Allan Brown Site (6/25/1981)

Bank of Santa Cruz County (3/15/1982)

Branciforte Adobe (1/31/1979)

Carmelita Court (3/20/1986)

Cope Row Houses (1/28/1982)

Cowell Lime Works Historic District (11/21/2007)

Elias H. Robinson House (1/9/1998)

Garfield Park Branch Library (3/26/1992)

Glen Canyon Covered Bridge (5/17/1984)

Golden Gate Villa (7/24/1975)

Hotel Metropole (5/23/1979)

Live Oak Ranch (7/10/1975)

Looff Carousel and Roller Coaster (2/27/1987)

Mission Hill Area Historic District (5/17/1976)

Neary-Rodriguez Adobe (2/24/1975)

Octagon Building (3/24/1971)

Santa Cruz Downtown Historic District (7/27/1989)

US Post Office-Santa Cruz Main (1/11/1985)

Veterans Memorial Building (4/27/1992)

Landmarks on the California Register of Historical Resources:

* Mission Santa Cruz

* Center of Villa de Branciforte

* Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk

Media

Television

The Monterey-Salinas metropolitan statistical (or service) area (MSA) is served by a variety of local television stations, and is the 124th largest designated market area (DMA) in the U.S. with 222,900 homes:

KLFB – Channel 21: – Salinas

KOTR – Channel 2: – Monterey/Salinas-(Comcast Cable 11) Santa Cruz (Comcast Digital Cable 187)

KSBW – channel 8: – (NBC; ABC on DT2) – Salinas

KMUV – channel 15: – (Telemundo) – Monterey/Salinas/Santa Cruz (Simulcast of KSTS 48)

KQET – channel 25: – (PBS) – Watsonville (Simulcast of San Francisco's KQED)

KDJT – channel 33: – (Telefutura) – Monterey

KCBA – channel 35: – (Fox Broadcasting Company) – Salinas

KMCE – channel 43: – (Azteca América) – Monterey/Salinas

KION – channel 46: – (CBS) – Salinas

KSMS – channel 67: – (Univision) – Monterey

KYMB – channel 27: – (This TV) – Monterey

Radio

KSCO, 1080 AM

KUSP, 88.9 FM

KZSC, 88.1 FM

KHIP, 104.3 FM

KAPU, 104.7 FM

KPIG-FM, 107.5 FM

KDON, 102.5

Newspapers

The Santa Cruz Sentinel is Santa Cruz's only daily newspaper. The area is also served by weeklies: Santa Cruz Weekly (formerly called Metro Santa Cruz) and Good Times. University of California has its own publication, ''City on a Hill Press'', and an alternative humor publication, ''Fish Rap Live!''. There is also an online newspaper called Santa Cruz Wire.

Notable Santa Cruzans and Santa Cruz-based organizations

Due to being the home of University of California, Santa Cruz as well as being bustling with local musicians, Santa Cruz has a number of notable residents.

Businesses headquartered in Santa Cruz

Notable businesses that are headquartered in Santa Cruz include Cruzio, Fullpower Technologies, O'Neill, Plantronics, RF Micro Devices, Giro, and Santa Cruz Skateboards. Several businesses which used to be headquartered in Santa Cruz include Odwalla and Santa Cruz Operation.

"Surf City" nickname Controversy

After Huntington Beach, California, trademarked the "Surf City USA" name, Santa Cruz politicians tried to stop the mark from being registered by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office because of a 10-year-old controversy over Santa Cruz's nickname "Surf City." Huntington Beach has obtained a total of seven registrations for the "Surf City USA" trademark. None of these registrations of the trademark are on the principal register, but on the secondary register, which means that Huntington Beach has no exclusive right to assert ownership over the "Surf City USA" trademark. 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." The parties reached a confidential settlement in January 2008, in which neither side admitted liability and all claims and counterclaims were dismissed. The Santa Cruz surf shops continue to print t-shirts, and the Visitor's Bureau retains the right to use the trademark. In 2009 Steve Marble, of Los Angeles Times' L.A. Now news blog, wrote an article ''The real Surf City? It's Santa Cruz, says magazine'' saying: "But ''Surfer'' magazine proclaims Santa Cruz to be 'The Real Surf City, USA,' after it considered the surf, food and vibe of the nations' best known surf towns." Steve Marble quotes Surfer: "Huntington Beach may have won the right to the name ‘Surf City, USA’ in the California courts, but any surfer who’s ever paddled out at Steamer Lane knows the judge got it wrong.”

Pop culture references

In the 1963 Beach Boys song "Surfin' USA", one of the verses features the lyrics, "You'd catch 'em surfin' at Del Mar, Ventura County Line, Santa Cruz and Trestles."

Much of the Clint Eastwood movie ''Sudden Impact'' takes place in Santa Cruz.

Irish indie/rock band, The Thrills, released a single called "Santa Cruz (You're Not That Far)," from their 2003 album ''So Much for the City''.

Much of the 1985 Peter O'Toole film ''Creator'' was filmed at UC Santa Cruz.

Several scenes from the 1987 film ''The Lost Boys'' were filmed at distinctive locations in Santa Cruz, including the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, Pogonip club house and the Santa Cruz Wharf.

In the 1988 drama film ''The Boost'', starring James Woods, Sean Young, John Kapelos, Steven Hill, June Chandler, Lenny and Linda move to Santa Cruz, after they have lost everything, to "clean up."

The 1996 independent film Glory Daze takes place in Santa Cruz. Various characters are students at UC Santa Cruz.

Fatboy Slim has a song named "Santa Cruz," from his 1996 album ''Better Living Through Chemistry.''

Buffy the Vampire Slayer writer and producer Marti Noxon is a UCSC graduate and many of the UC Sunnydale dorm buildings shown in the fourth season are named after colleges at UCSC, including Kresge, Stevenson, and Porter.

Quentin Tarantino references the City of Santa Cruz in ''Reservoir Dogs'' and the University of California, Santa Cruz in ''Pulp Fiction.''

Gillian Welch references the destruction of the Santa Cruz Garden Mall in her song "Wrecking Ball," off her 2003 album, ''Soul Journey.''

"Paddle Out" by Sublime is about surfing in Santa Cruz. It mentions Natural Bridges, Steamer Lane, Mitchell's Cove and Stockton Avenue.

JJ Cale sings a song about Santa Cruz

The 2008 Pearl Jam Christmas Single was a song named "Santa Cruz."

A 2009 video on YouTube depicted a woman struggling to make a speech at a City Council meeting. The woman is now known as the "Brilliant woman of Santa Cruz."

In The Game Tony Hawk's American Wasteland, Santa Cruz is featured as a level in classic mode. Santa Cruz is also available in Tony Hawk's Underground 2 on PlayStation Portable.

Robert Earl Keen's song "I'm Coming Home" recalls a trip to Monterey Bay and includes the line "Life is good out in Santa Cruz."

Good Riddance was a punk rock band formed in Santa Cruz.

The Expendables are a popular ska/rock band formed in Santa Cruz who play nationally and worldwide and still play semi-regularly in Santa Cruz each year.

The Devil Makes Three are a folk punk band that formed and remains based in Santa Cruz.

Songwriter and guitarist Leo Kottke has a song called "The Other Day (Near Santa Cruz)" on his 1991 album "Great Big Boy." Its narrator wants to meet "hippie chicks" in Santa Cruz who "comb their hair with porcupines, and loofah up their feet/And (...) become indignant when you threaten them with meat."

See also

List of birds of Santa Cruz County, California

Pichilemu, Chile, called the South American Santa Cruz

References

External links

Santa Cruz City official site

Santa Cruz Wiki – The People's Guide to Santa Cruz, California

Via Riva Trigoso Sister City street

Pogonip Open Space Preserve

Santa Cruz Chamber of Commerce

Category:Busking venues Category:Incorporated cities and towns in California Category:Populated coastal places in California Category:Cities in Santa Cruz County, California Category:County seats in California Category:Municipal parks in California Category:University towns in the United States Category:2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami

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