History
Santa Cruz County was one of a original counties of California, created within 1850 at the instance of statehood.

In a original work, a county was given the title of "Branciforte" after the Spanish pueblo founded there in 1797. Less than 2 months late, a title was changed to "Santa Cruz". Mission Santa Cruz, established in 1791 and completed in 1794, was destroyed by an earthquake in 1857, but the smaller-shell reproduction was erected inside 1931. Santa Cruz means "holy cross" within Spanish.

Geography
Based on data from the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,573 km² (607 mi²). 1,153 kilometre² (445 mi²) of these are l& and 419 kilometer² (162 mi²) of these are a body of water. A number metropolitan area is Xxvi.67% a lake. Of California's counties, just San Francisco is physically smaller.

Lying within a narrow strip, astir x miles wide, between a coast & the crest of the Santa Cruz Mountains, a mountainous terrain typifies virtually all of the county, sustaining a bit of coastal lowlands. Virtually all of the coastline is flanked by drop.

Demographics
When of the census² of 2000, there are 255,602 people, 91,139 households, and 57,144 families residing in the county. A population density is 222/km² (574/mi²). There are 98,873 housing units at an typical density of 86/km² (222/mi²). A racial makeup of the county is 75.09% White, 0.97% Black or African American, 0.96% Native American, 3.44% Asian, 0.15% Pacific Islander, 15.02% from other races, and 4.37% from two or more races. Twenty-six.79% of the people are Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There are 91,139 family away from which 31.90% own toddlers under a age of Xviii swallow the children, 48.00% come married couples living together, 10.20% have a female homeowner using there is no married man present, & 37.30% come non-families. Xxv.10% of completely house come processed higher of people & Octad.20% develop somebody dwelling alone world health organization is 65 years aged or even older. A typical family size is Two.71 & a typical personal size is Trio.Twenty-five.

In a county the people is spread retired sustaining Xxiii.80% under a age of Eighteen, Xi.90% from either 18 to Two dozen, Thirty.80% from either 25 to 44, Xxiii.50% from either 45 to 64, & Tenner.00% world health organization come 65 years aged or even older. A median age is 35 years. For each One c females there are 99.Seventy males. For each C females age Xviii & complete, there are 97.Fourscore males.

the median income for a home in the county is $53,998, & the median income for a personal is $61,941. Males have a median income of $46,291 versus $33,514 for females. A per capita income for the county is $26,396. Eleven.90% of the people & Vi.70% of families come in a image below the poverty line. Away from a sum people, Twelve.50% of victims under a age of 18 & 6.30% of victims 65 & older come residing following a poverty level.

Transportation
Santa Cruz County is served per Santa Cruz Metropolitan Transit District bus system & AMTRAK bus and rail service to San Jose, California.

A county has a single public apply general aviation airport as shown in the list of Santa Cruz airports. A close airdrome for commercial travel include San Jose International Airport, Monterey Peninsula Airport, San Francisco International Airport, and Oakland International Airport.

Recreation
Watch: List of Birds of Santa Cruz County, California

Cities and towns
Amesti Aptos Aptos Hills-Larkin Valley Ben Lomond Bonny Doon Boulder Creek Capitola Corralitos Day Valley Felton Freedom Interlaken Live Oak Mount Hermon Opal Cliffs Rio del Mar Santa Cruz Scotts Valley Soquel Twin Lakes Watsonville