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

Mar 22, 2026
Parolee with Prior Double-Murder Conviction Sentenced to Life Without Parole in Killing of South Los Angeles Woman
LOS ANGELES—A man previously convicted of two murders in 1998 was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole …
Mar 16, 2026
Study: Cannabis Ineffective for Most Mental Disorders
A major review of past studies has delivered a clear verdict on the role of cannabis-based medicines in treating mental health and…
Mar 16, 2026
Investigator Exposes $170M Fraud in California
Investigator Nick Shirley has brought to light a massive $170 million fraud scheme operating within California, representing a sig…
Mar 15, 2026
NYPD Captain Arrested for Assaulting Alleged Child Predator
NYPD Captain Kai Bowen is now facing serious legal repercussions following an off-duty incident that escalated into violence. Repo…
Mar 13, 2026
What’s Behind Trump’s Push to Revive California Oil?
The Trump administration’s directive to Sable Offshore Corp. to restore the Santa Ynez oil unit in California represents a s…
Mar 10, 2026
CBS Investigation Reveals Hospice Fraud Hotspot in Los Angeles
CBS News has exposed a troubling epicenter of hospice fraud in Los Angeles, California, shedding light on a systemic issue that ha…

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

AS
Adam Scott
Screenwriter, Actor · Born Apr 3, 1973 · Age 52
MM
Marisa Miller
Model · Born Aug 6, 1978 · Age 47
BG
Beverly Garland
Actor, Television Actor · Born Oct 17, 1926 · Died Dec 5, 2008 (age 82)
LR
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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SF
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F
Fresno
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S
Sacramento
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