California Real Estate & Relocation Guide

Santa Cruz, California

Population: 58,982

Located in Santa Cruz County

The City of Santa Cruz, California, is situated on the northern part of Monterey Bay about 74 miles south of San Francisco and 30 miles from San Jose. Santa Cruz is the quintessential California beach town. It was here that Hawaiian royalty first introduced surfing to the mainland--and locals and visitors alike have been riding the waves ever since. Not far from the surf break, screams of delight and laughter fill the air at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, the West Coast's oldest seaside amusement park. A few blocks from the beach is Santa Cruz's downtown area. The pedestrian-friendly, tree-lined streets are filled with vibrant shops and galleries, outdoor bistros and sidewalk musicians - all in keeping with "the Original Surf City's" free-spirited personality.

Santa Cruz showcases an array of talent through its art galleries, museums, festivals, and outdoor theater performances. Premiere cultural events like Open Studios, Shakespeare Santa Cruz, the Capitola Art & Wine Festival, Cabrillo Music Festival, the Santa Cruz Film Festival and others draw visitors to this vibrant, eclectic area. Discover Santa Cruz's countless cultural events and venues offering live music, outdoor theater and more!

Santa Cruz beaches offer the perfect setting for seaside fun. Whether you enjoy surfing, playing beach volleyball, or hiking along the coastal bluffs, our beaches offer something for everyone. Looking for a dog-friendly beach, a place to picnic with the kids, or the perfect place for a romantic sunset stroll? From dramatic windswept cliffs to the charming ambiance of a picturesque seaside town, you're sure to find a beach in Santa Cruz that is unforgettable.

The University of California, Santa Cruz campus was opened in 1965 and has grown to become a world leader in astrophysics, adaptive optics, bioinfomatics, genomics, ocean & environmental sciences. From the founding of the UCSC arboretum and Center for Agroecology (the farm) UCSC has been at the forefront of the environmental and social entrepreneurship movements. The UCSC main campus consists of approximately 2,000 acres of land overlooking Monterey Bay.

Its 556 buildings (including residential facilities) provide approximately 5.8 million gross square feet of space. UCSC leases almost 357,000 square feet of space at 9 difference locations in Santa Cruz, and 3 locations in Silicon Valley. The campus has research facilities located on Monterey Bay.

The major industries include agriculture, tourism, manufacturing, food processing, and high tech firms. About 10% of the land area of the County is devoted to State Parks, several of which are within or adjacent to the City limits. The climate is mild. The average high/low temperature is 60/38 degrees Fahrenheit in January and 76/51 degrees Fahrenheit in August.

Information courtesy of Santa Cruz County Conference & Visitors Council. For more information or assistance with relocation visit http://santacruzcounty.travel/