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Watsonville, California

Located in Santa Cruz County, California, Watsonville was established in 1852. Major strawberry producing area — 'Strawberry Capital.'. The 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake devastated Watsonville's downtown.
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Founded 1852 | Population 54,000 | Peak 54,000 (2024) | County Santa Cruz County

Top 10 Most Important Events for Watsonville, California

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1852Founded: Pajaro Valley.
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1942Military Presence: Military installations became a major part of Watsonville's identity and economy.
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1989Loma Prieta: Earthquake devastates downtown.
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1989Higher Education: Educational institutions helped define Watsonville's character and economy.
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2010Modern Era: Watsonville continued to develop as part of the region, with new infrastructure and community amenities.
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Complete Historical Timeline

1852 Culture
Founded
1942 Government
Military Presence
1989 Disaster
Loma Prieta
1989 Culture
Higher Education
2010 Culture
Modern Era

Did You Know?

1
Major strawberry producing area — 'Strawberry Capital.'.
2
The 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake devastated Watsonville's downtown.
3
Pajaro Valley agricultural community.
4
Watsonville is located in Santa Cruz County, California.
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Watsonville was founded in 1852.

Famous People from Watsonville, California

TC
Tony Carey
Composer, Singer · Born Oct 16, 1953 · Age 72
BS
Bob Scott
Engineer, Racing Driver · Born Oct 4, 1928 · Died Jul 5, 1954 (age 25)
JN
Jerry Norman
University Teacher, Linguist · Born Jul 16, 1936 · Died Jul 7, 2012 (age 75)
KS
Ken Sears
Basketball Player · Born Aug 17, 1933 · Died Apr 23, 2017 (age 83)
LS
Lynn Silliman
Coxswain · Born Apr 24, 1959 · Age 66
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