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Santa Cruz, California

Located in Santa Cruz County, California, Santa Cruz was founded in 1791. UC Santa Cruz's mascot is the Banana Slug. The Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk is the oldest amusement park in California.
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Founded 1791 | Population 65,000 | Peak 65,000 (2024) | County Santa Cruz County

Top 10 Most Important Events for Santa Cruz, California

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1791Mission: Spanish mission founded.
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1924Higher Education: Educational institutions helped define Santa Cruz's character and economy.
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1965UC Santa Cruz: University opens.
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1989Loma Prieta Earthquake: 6.9 quake devastates area.
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2010Modern Era: Santa Cruz continued to develop as part of the region, with new infrastructure and community amenities.
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Complete Historical Timeline

1791 Culture
Mission
1924 Culture
Higher Education
1965 Culture
UC Santa Cruz
1989 Disaster
Loma Prieta Earthquake
2010 Culture
Modern Era

Did You Know?

1
UC Santa Cruz's mascot is the Banana Slug.
2
The Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk is the oldest amusement park in California.
3
The Giant Dipper roller coaster has been running since 1924.
4
Santa Cruz is located in Santa Cruz County, California.
5
Santa Cruz was founded in 1791.

Famous People from Santa Cruz, California

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Adam Scott
Screenwriter, Actor · Born Apr 3, 1973 · Age 52
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Marisa Miller
Model · Born Aug 6, 1978 · Age 47
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Beverly Garland
Actor, Television Actor · Born Oct 17, 1926 · Died Dec 5, 2008 (age 82)
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Luke Rockhold
Thai Boxer, Judoka · Born Oct 17, 1984 · Age 41
OT
Oliver Tree
Singer, Record Producer · Born Jun 29, 1993 · Age 32
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