text:
Freedom, California

Freedom is a census-designated place (CDP) in Santa Cruz County, California, United States. The population was 3,070 at the 2010 census.

Geography
Freedom is located at 36.94056°N, -121.78944°W (36.940452, -121.789376). According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 1.1 sqmi, all of it land. It is adjacent to and blends with the incorporated city of Watsonville.

2010
The 2010 United States Census reported that Freedom had a population of 3,070. The population density was 2,780.8 PD/sqmi. The racial makeup of Freedom was 1,452 (47.3%) White, 44 (1.4%) African American, 31 (1.0%) Native American, 100 (3.3%) Asian, 1,285 (41.9%) from other races, and 158 (5.1%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2,170 persons (70.7%).

The Census reported that 99.8% of the population lived in households and 0.2% were institutionalized.

There were 776 households, out of which 394 (50.8%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 445 (57.3%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 124 (16.0%) had a female householder with no husband present, 73 (9.4%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 63 (8.1%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 11 (1.4%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 102 households (13.1%) were made up of individuals, and 44 (5.7%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.95. There were 642 families (82.7% of all households); the average family size was 4.12.

The population was spread out, with 904 people (29.4%) under the age of 18, 347 people (11.3%) aged 18 to 24, 891 people (29.0%) aged 25 to 44, 655 people (21.3%) aged 45 to 64, and 273 people (8.9%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30.2 years. For every 100 females, there were 103.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.7 males.

There were 806 housing units at an average density of 730.1 /sqmi, of which 65.6% were owner-occupied and 34.4% were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.4%; the rental vacancy rate was 2.2%. 60.9% of the population lived in owner-occupied housing units and 38.9% lived in rental housing units.

2000
As of the census of 2000, there were 6,000 people, 1,596 households, and 1,182 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 4,480.0 PD/sqmi. There were 1,619 housing units at an average density of 1,208.9 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the CDP was 44.42% White, 0.48% African American, 1.87% Native American, 3.35% Asian, 0.22% Pacific Islander, 43.72% from other races, and 5.95% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 69.42% of the population.

There were 1,596 households, out of which 41.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.8% were married couples living together, 12.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.9% were non-families. 21.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.75 and the average family size was 4.23.

In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 30.8% under the age of 18, 11.5% from 18 to 24, 29.8% from 25 to 44, 17.1% from 45 to 64, and 10.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females, there were 102.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 102.3 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $40,600, and the median income for a family was $43,056. Males had a median income of $27,083 versus $23,056 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $13,690. About 12.9% of families and 17.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.3% of those under age 18 and 8.2% of those age 65 or over.

Government
In the California State Legislature, Freedom is in, and in.

In the United States House of Representatives, Freedom is in.

title: Freedom, California


text:
Interlaken, California

Interlaken is a census-designated place (CDP) in Santa Cruz County, California, United States. The population was 7,368 at the 2020 census.

Name
Interlaken is named for the town of Interlaken, Switzerland, meaning "among the lakes". Like its namesake, it is situated amongst College Lake, Pinto Lake, Kelly Lake, Lake Tynan, and Drew Lake.

Geography
Interlaken is located at 36.95639°N, -121.74556°W (36.956293, -121.745433).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 10.2 sqmi, of which 9.8 sqmi (96.11%) is land and 0.4 sqmi (3.89%) is water.

Climate
Interlaken has a warm summer Mediterranean climate (Köppen climate classification Csb) typical of coastal areas of California. Based on those records, average January temperatures range between 61.5 °F and 40.0 °F, and average September temperatures range between 74.9 °F and 52.4 °F. Annual precipitation averages 30.29 in.

There are an average of 63.4 days annually with measurable precipitation, most of which falls from October through May. Summer fogs often produce light drizzle in the night and morning hours. Condensation from the fogs also produces fog drip from trees overnight. No measurable snowfall has been recorded since records began.

2010
At the 2010 census Interlaken had a population of 7,321. The population density was 717.6 PD/sqmi. The racial makeup of Interlaken was 3,856 (52.7%) White, 58 (0.8%) African American, 128 (1.7%) Native American, 302 (4.1%) Asian, 2 (0.0%) Pacific Islander, 2,573 (35.1%) from other races, and 402 (5.5%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5,261 persons (71.9%).

The census reported that 98.5% of the population lived in households and 1.5% lived in non-institutionalized group quarters.

There were 1,690 households, 885 (52.4%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 1,075 (63.6%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 227 (13.4%) had a female householder with no husband present, 123 (7.3%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 92 (5.4%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 11 (0.7%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 179 households (10.6%) were one person and 88 (5.2%) had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 4.27. There were 1,425 families (84.3% of households); the average family size was 4.43.

The age distribution was 2,138 people (29.2%) under the age of 18, 853 people (11.7%) aged 18 to 24, 2,039 people (27.9%) aged 25 to 44, 1,658 people (22.6%) aged 45 to 64, and 633 people (8.6%) who were 65 or older. The median age was 30.5 years. For every 100 females, there were 109.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 106.7 males.

There were 1,759 housing units at an average density of 172.4 /sqmi, of which 71.4% were owner-occupied and 28.6% were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 0.7%; the rental vacancy rate was 1.8%. 68.6% of the population lived in owner-occupied housing units and 29.8% lived in rental housing units.

2000
At the 2000 census there were 7,328 people, 1,684 households, and 1,433 families in the CDP. The population density was 758.0 PD/sqmi. There were 1,736 housing units at an average density of 179.6 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the CDP was 51.88% White, 1.01% African American, 1.28% Native American, 5.59% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 34.98% from other races, and 5.19% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 62.10%.

Of the 1,684 households 48.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 67.8% were married couples living together, 12.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 14.9% were non-families. 10.3% of households were one person and 4.9% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 4.30 and the average family size was 4.44.

The age distribution was 32.3% under the age of 18, 11.7% from 18 to 24, 30.3% from 25 to 44, 18.0% from 45 to 64, and 7.6% 65 or older. The median age was 29 years. For every 100 females, there were 107.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 106.6 males.

The median household income was $53,875 and the median family income was $50,756. Males had a median income of $25,644 versus $26,750 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $13,791. About 6.6% of families and 8.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.6% of those under age 18 and 5.8% of those age 65 or over.

Government
In the California State Legislature, Interlaken is in, and in.

In the United States House of Representatives, Interlaken is in.

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

title: Interlaken, California


text:
Live Oak, Santa Cruz County, California

Live Oak is a census-designated place (CDP) in Santa Cruz County, California between the cities of Santa Cruz and Capitola and north of the former Union Pacific railroad. Live Oak sits at an elevation of 102 ft. The population was 17,038 at the 2020 census. The population of the greater Live Oak area, including Twin Lakes and Pleasure Point, was 27,921.

Geography
Live Oak is located at 36.98139°N, -121.98056°W (36.981363, -121.980476).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 3.2 square miles (8.4 km2), all of it land.

History
For several thousand years, the Awaswas-speaking Ohlone people inhabited the area from Half Moon Bay to Aptos, including the area now known as Live Oak. When missionaries established the Mission Santa Cruz in 1791, they noted "an area to the east of the San Lorenzo River "in sight of the Sea" that was crisscrossed by "steep gulches containing running water" and three "reed-lined" lagoons. Spanish colonial settlers, who later established the secular pueblo of Villa de Branciforte on the east side of the San Lorenzo, ran their herds of cattle and horses in the "common lands" of this area.

In 1834 and 1837, territorial governors divided these lands between two brothers, Alejandro and Francisco Rodriguez. Alejandro Rodriguez was granted Rancho Arroyo del Rodeo, named for the rodeo (cattle roundup) area located in a low-lying natural amphitheater along Rodeo Creek. (These grounds were later filled in during the construction of Highway 1.) Francisco Rodriguez was granted a rancho bearing the name "Los Esteros" (never patented) because of the sizeable estuaries forming two of its boundaries. Originally known as Twin Lakes, the westernmost of the "twins" is now the Santa Cruz Harbor.

With the discovery of gold in California in 1848 and American statehood in 1849, legal maneuvering turned the Rodriguez brothers' holdings over to a handful of white settler-farmers. Their farms produced wheat, oats, and barley, supporting small households of adobe and rough-cut lumber. The farmers prospered, establishing a Grange Hall and, in 1872, a small schoolhouse called the "Live Oak School", named for the evergreen live oak trees that dot the area. The Live Oak School District has maintained a facility at this location, now the intersection of 17th Avenue and Capitola Road, to the present day.

By the start of the 20th century, fifty years of wheat and oat farming had depleted the soil such that farmers turned to cultivating fruits and vegetables. Owing to the irrigation needs of these crops, these farms eventually failed and were replaced by a large poultry operation near the present-day intersection of Capitola Road and Soquel Drive, and a floriculture bulb nursery (specializing in callas, narcissus, freesias and begonias) near the present-day intersection of 17th Avenue and East Cliff Drive.

Around 1910, two Santa Cruz real estate agents, the brothers Frank and David Wilson, purchased and subdivided several of the old 19th century wheat farms. The new lots were long and narrow, normally of 2.5 acre, and came with a "poultry unit" that included a kit for a two-bedroom house, and one or two large chicken coops stocked with a flock of 500 or 1,000 hens and roosters. The layout and shape of these lots has left a distinctive mark on the area's subsequent development. A feed mill to serve the area soon followed.

Egg and poultry prices plummeted in the early years of the Great Depression, and this difficulty was compounded by a double plague of Pullorum Disease and Coccidiosis, which swept through the chicken coops of Live Oak in 1931.

Paved roads and utilities were brought to the area during the 1940s, which also saw the incorporation of Capitola to the east. Bulb nurseries, particularly those specializing in begonias, thrived throughout this period and into the 1950s, when the area was beginning to develop into a residential suburb of Santa Cruz. The west-to-east serial numbering of Live Oak's north–south streets during that period reflected the expectation that the area would soon be annexed to the city of Santa Cruz. Annexation never came, and a movement for Live Oak to incorporate itself as a municipality was abandoned too, in light of the expense of providing the needed services to the area. In the 1970s, Capitola expanded westward, incorporating the tax-rich commercial neighborhood along 41st Avenue. Residential and commercial development in Live Oak continued at a steady pace, under the direction of Santa Cruz County.

Live Oak today
Sporadic infill development in Live Oak over the last half century has contributed to the area's eclectic patchwork of trailer parks, ranch-style houses, townhome condominium complexes, and single-family homes in cul-de-sacs, with the 2½ acre plots and their two-bedroom kit houses left over from the chicken farming days (the farms are no longer operating).

Live Oak has no downtown center, but 17th Avenue between Highway 1 and East Cliff Drive is the address for several schools, the Santa Cruz Live Oak Grange Hall, the Fire Department, a Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Department, the Family Swim Center, and the majority of Live Oak's business establishments.

While identified as part of Live Oak, Pleasure Point, Santa Cruz, California, has its own history and developed out of El Rancho Arroyo del Rodeo rather than Rancho Encinalitos.

2010
The 2010 United States Census reported that Live Oak had a population of 17,158. The population density was 5,291.4 PD/sqmi. The racial makeup of Live Oak was 12,636 (73.6%) White, 240 (1.4%) African American, 171 (1.0%) Native American, 773 (4.5%) Asian, 41 (0.2%) Pacific Islander, 2,444 (14.2%) from other races, and 853 (5.0%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4,796 persons (28.0%).

The Census reported that 16,714 people (97.4% of the population) lived in households, 193 (1.1%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 251 (1.5%) were institutionalized.

There were 6,441 households, out of which 2,083 (32.3%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 2,669 (41.4%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 836 (13.0%) had a female householder with no husband present, 353 (5.5%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 480 (7.5%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 91 (1.4%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 1,817 households (28.2%) were made up of individuals, and 746 (11.6%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.59. There were 3,858 families (59.9% of all households); the average family size was 3.16.

The population was spread out, with 3,668 people (21.4%) under the age of 18, 1,667 people (9.7%) aged 18 to 24, 4,738 people (27.6%) aged 25 to 44, 4,907 people (28.6%) aged 45 to 64, and 2,178 people (12.7%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38.8 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.5 males.

There were 6,726 housing units at an average density of 2,074.2 /sqmi, of which 3,601 (55.9%) were owner-occupied, and 2,840 (44.1%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.8%; the rental vacancy rate was 1.9%. 9,291 people (54.1% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 7,423 people (43.3%) lived in rental housing units.

2000
As of the census of 2000, there were 16,628 people, 6,216 households, and 3,785 families residing in the Live Oak CDP. The population density was 5,142.4 PD/sqmi. There were 6,405 housing units at an average density of 1,980.8 /sqmi. The racial makeup of Live Oak was 77.61% White, 1.37% African American, 1.02% Native American, 3.82% Asian, 0.11% Pacific Islander, 11.07% from other races, and 5.01% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 21.98% of the population.

Live Oak comprised 6,216 households, out of which 32.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.1% were married couples living together, 13.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.1% were non-families. 26.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size in Live Oak was 2.58 and the average family size was 3.11.

In Live Oak the population was spread out, with 23.5% under the age of 18, 9.6% from 18 to 24, 32.3% from 25 to 44, 23.0% from 45 to 64, and 11.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.1 males.

The median income for a household in Live Oak was $47,949; the median income for a family was $53,607. Men had a median income of $39,921 versus $32,955 for women. The per capita income for Live Oak was $23,333. About 7.3% of families and 10.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.6% of those under age 18 and 9.6% of those age 65 or over.

Government
In the California State Legislature, Live Oak is in, and in.

In the United States House of Representatives, Live Oak is in.

title: Live Oak, Santa Cruz County, California


text:
Opal Cliffs, California

Opal Cliffs is an unincorporated community in Santa Cruz County, California, United States.

The population was 6,458 at the 2000 census. For statistical purposes, the United States Census Bureau defined Opal Cliffs as a census-designated place (CDP). The Opal Cliffs CDP was abolished prior to the 2010 census and replaced with the Pleasure Point CDP. The census definition of the area may not precisely correspond to local understanding of the area with the same name.

Geography
Opal Cliffs is located at 36.96139°N, -121.97083°W (36.961500, -121.970920).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP had a total area of 2.0 sqmi, of which, 0.8 sqmi of it was land and 1.2 sqmi of it (61.50%) was water.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 6,458 people, 2,843 households, and 1,410 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 8,353.9 PD/sqmi. There were 3,169 housing units at an average density of 4,099.3 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the CDP was 84.87% White, 0.98% African American, 0.77% Native American, 2.20% Asian, 0.14% Pacific Islander, 6.41% from other races, and 4.63% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 12.51% of the population.

There were 2,843 households, out of which 24.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 33.5% were married couples living together, 10.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 50.4% were non-families. 33.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.24 and the average family size was 2.84.

In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 18.5% under the age of 18, 9.8% from 18 to 24, 36.7% from 25 to 44, 24.9% from 45 to 64, and 10.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 104.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 102.6 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $42,673, and the median income for a family was $48,258. Males had a median income of $43,705 versus $31,729 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $29,617. About 8.9% of families and 14.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.6% of those under age 18 and 11.9% of those age 65 or over.

Government
In the California State Legislature, Opal Cliffs is in, and in.

In the United States House of Representatives, Opal Cliffs is in.

title: Opal Cliffs, California


text:
Rio del Mar, California

Rio del Mar (Spanish: Río del Mar, meaning "River of the Sea") is an unincorporated village in Santa Cruz County, California. Rio del Mar is one of several small villages that form the unincorporated community of Aptos, California. Its population was 9,128 as of the 2020 United States census. For statistical purposes, the United States Census Bureau has defined Rio del Mar as a census-designated place (CDP).

Etymology
The name, from Spanish: Río del Mar, meaning river of the sea, was chosen to promote real estate in the area during the 1920s.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 4.6 sqmi, of which, 3.0 sqmi of it is land and 1.6 sqmi of it (34.94%) is water. For statistical purposes, the United States Census Bureau has defined Rio del Mar as a census-designated place (CDP). The census definition of the area may not precisely correspond to local understanding of the area with the same name.

Aptos Creek goes through Rio del Mar and empties into the Monterey Bay.

2010
At the 2010 census Rio del Mar had a population of 9,216. The population density was 1,998.3 PD/sqmi. The racial makeup of Rio del Mar was 8,310 (90.2%) White, 61 (0.7%) African American, 50 (0.5%) Native American, 313 (3.4%) Asian, 7 (0.1%) Pacific Islander, 188 (2.0%) from other races, and 287 (3.1%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 899 people (9.8%).

The census reported that 9,210 people (99.9% of the population) lived in households, 6 (0.1%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and no one was institutionalized.

There were 3,916 households, 1,050 (26.8%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 2,082 (53.2%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 337 (8.6%) had a female householder with no husband present, 139 (3.5%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 228 (5.8%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 32 (0.8%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 1,008 households (25.7%) were one person and 486 (12.4%) had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.35. There were 2,558 families (65.3% of households); the average family size was 2.82.

The age distribution was 1,820 people (19.7%) under the age of 18, 549 people (6.0%) aged 18 to 24, 1,932 people (21.0%) aged 25 to 44, 3,221 people (35.0%) aged 45 to 64, and 1,694 people (18.4%) who were 65 or older. The median age was 47.0 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.2 males.

There were 4,924 housing units at an average density of 1,067.6 per square mile, of the occupied units 2,848 (72.7%) were owner-occupied and 1,068 (27.3%) were rented. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.9%; the rental vacancy rate was 8.4%. 6,686 people (72.5% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 2,524 people (27.4%) lived in rental housing units.

2000
At the 2000 census there were 9,198 people, 4,008 households, and 2,549 families in the CDP. The population density was 3,077.3 PD/sqmi. There were 5,022 housing units at an average density of 1,680.2 /mi2. The racial makeup of the CDP was 91.74% White, 0.61% African American, 0.53% Native American, 2.58% Asian, 0.16% Pacific Islander, 1.87% from other races, and 2.51% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.46%.

Of the 4,008 households 25.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.0% were married couples living together, 7.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.4% were non-families. 26.0% of households were one person and 10.4% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.29 and the average family size was 2.74.

The age distribution was 19.2% under the age of 18, 5.8% from 18 to 24, 26.8% from 25 to 44, 31.9% from 45 to 64, and 16.3% 65 or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.9 males.

The median household income was $75,282 and the median family income was $85,355. Males had a median income of $70,612 versus $41,449 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $39,034. About 3.1% of families and 6.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.5% of those under age 18 and 4.6% of those age 65 or over.

Government
In the California State Legislature, Rio del Mar is in, and in.

In the United States House of Representatives, Rio del Mar is in.

Parks

Rio del Mar neighbors Seacliff State Beach, which features the remains of the cement ship, the SS Palo Alto. The ship was launched May 29, 1919. It was too late for duty in World War I, and after the war was beached as an entertainment boat, with amenities including a dance floor, a swimming pool and a cafe. The SS "Palo Alto" historically adjoined the beach by a fishing pier which was heavily damaged in the January 2023 storm and subsequently demolished.

title: Rio del Mar, California


text:
Scotts Valley, California

Scotts Valley is a small city in Santa Cruz County, California, United States, about 30 mi south of downtown San Jose and 6 mi north of the city of Santa Cruz, in the upland slope of the Santa Cruz Mountains. As of the 2020 census, the city population was 12,224. Principal access to the city is supplied by State Route 17 that connects San Jose and Santa Cruz. The city was incorporated in 1966.

History
Approximately ten thousand years ago there was a lake in the lowest elevation of Scotts Valley. Archeological excavations of site CA-SCR-177 (Scotts Valley Site) in 1983 and 1987 support dates for human settlement of this area as between 9,000 and 12,000 years before present (YBP). The lake drained during the Mid-Holocene warming period (4,000-5,000 YBP) forming what is now known as Carbonera Creek. When the lake drained, the people moved downslope following the lake water's transformation as in became the creek. Around 2000 BC, Ohlone people occupied areas along the remaining creeks, spring and seep areas, along with permanent and seasonal drainages, and on flat ridges and terraces. Permanent villages were usually placed on elevations above seasonal flood levels. Surrounding areas were used for hunting and seed, acorn, and grass gathering. Therefore, areas along watercourses are considered likely locations for prehistoric cultural resources. Several watercourses, including portions of Carbonera Creek, Bean Creek, and MacKenzie Creek, are within the city. Scotts Valley was named after Hiram Daniel Scott, who purchased Rancho San Agustin, including the valley, in 1850 from Joseph Ladd Majors. Before Majors, the property was owned by José Bolcoff. Bolcoff was the original settler and first European to claim title and live in what was to be Scotts Valley. He was born Osip Volkov around 1794 in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, Siberia. Working as a fur trader around 1815, Bolcoff jumped ship on the Monterey Bay shoreline, quickly assimilated into the Spanish culture, and was well received by the Spanish authorities. Volkov had his Russian Orthodox baptism validated in Mission Soledad in 1817, and was given the Spanish name José Antonio Bolcoff. Bolcoff lived with and traveled with Alta California's governor Pablo Vicente de Solá, acting as an interpreter.

Becoming a Mexican citizen in 1833, Bolcoff moved his family to his 4400 acre land grant building, an adobe casa historians speculate was located near present-day Kings Village Shopping Center. Bolcoff relinquished his interest in the Rancho San Augustin, selling and accepting $400 from Joseph Ladd Majors, also known as Don Juan José Mechacas. July 7, 1846, marked the shift of power in the region from Mexico to the United States.

Hiram Scott built the Greek revival style Scott House in 1853. Situated behind City Hall, it is a Santa Cruz County Historical Trust Landmark and is on the National Register of Historic Places. The house originally stood on Scotts Valley Drive, near where a Bank of America branch is now located.

From the 1840s, money-making activity in Scotts Valley centered on several industries: lumber, grain, the milling of grain, and most importantly the tanning of hides and working of leather. Beginning in the 1930s, peat moss was removed from Scotts Valley and taken to San Francisco to supply soil for difficult indoor plants such as gardenias. When the peat ran out, sand and gravel were quarried and sold.

The area was the site of Santa's Village, a Christmas-themed amusement park which opened on May 30, 1957, on a 25 acre site which was formerly Lawridge Farm, part of the former Rancho San Augustin. "Residents" of the park included Santa, Mrs. Santa, and elves and gnomes who operated the rides and sold tickets. There was a petting zoo, a bobsled ride, a whirling Christmas tree ride, and a train ride, as well as a Fairy Tale Land. The park was sold in 1966 but continued to be operated under lease by the Santa's Village Corporation. When that corporation went bankrupt in 1977. the owner considered launching a Knott's Berry Farm type of complex but was denied a permit by the city of Scotts Valley, and the park closed for good in 1979.

Scotts Valley's most famous resident was film director Alfred Hitchcock, who lived in a mountaintop estate above the Vine Hill area from 1940 to 1972. Florence Owens Thompson, made famous by Dorothea Lange's Migrant Mother photograph, died in Scotts Valley in 1983.

Netflix was founded in Scotts Valley by Reed Hastings and Marc Randolph in 1997.

Tourism
From its early years as a stop on the stage route across the mountains, the Scotts Valley area has provided services to travelers. With the growing usage of the automobile in the early 20th century, the area became commercialized and tourism developed as a local industry.

In the early 1920s, Edward Evers established Camp Evers at the junction of the State Highway and Mt. Hermon Road. Camp Evers consisted of a small store, gas pumps, dance hall and tents, becoming a resort and rest stop for travelers.

The Beverly Gardens were established in the 1930s and featured a collection of exotic birds and animals, a restaurant, and cabins.

Axel Erlandson opened The Tree Circus in 1947, featuring trees grafted and trained in strange and unusual shapes. Bright "life size" painted dinosaurs overlooking Highway 17 were added to the Tree Circus in 1964 when it changed its name to The Lost World. Surviving trees have since been moved to Gilroy Gardens.

Santa's Village, one of three locations in America's first theme park chain, was established in 1956. It was the most popular of the many attractions, attracting millions of visitors to Scotts Valley for over twenty years, and it was the last of Scotts Valley's theme parks to close its doors, in 1979. H. Glenn Holland, who had already developed a Santa's Village elsewhere the previous year, leased 25 acre at the former Lawridge Farm, which was a portion of the former Rancho San Augustin for the Scotts Valley location of Santa's Village. The park maintained a historically correct team of Mexican burros that lived on the back 20 acre field. Four reindeer from Unalakleet, Alaska, pulled Santa's sleigh. All the buildings were designed to look like log chalet-type structures, replete with snowy roofs and gingerbread trim. One chalet housed a legendary fresh gingerbread bakery. Theme-appropriate music flowed from speakers hidden in towering redwood trees. In 1977 the Santa's Village Corporation had filed for bankruptcy, and in 1979 the park's gates were finally closed. The site is currently a playing field at the former headquarters of Borland.

Scotts Valley is also near Big Basin Redwoods State Park, Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park, and Roaring Camp Railroads. The town is surrounded by coast redwood forests. The city of Santa Cruz lies to the south. A relatively large municipal skateboard park, where pro skateboarder Eric Costello died in October 2005 due to improper helmet use, is near Skypark, the site of a former airport, in central Scotts Valley.

Three hotels operate in Scotts Valley: a Best Western hotel located near the Granite Creek entrance to Highway 17, a Four Points by Sheraton located on Scotts Valley Drive, and a Hilton hotel located near the Mount Hermon junction with Highway 17.

Redevelopment and high technology
Evidence regarding blighted conditions in the Redevelopment Area of Santa's Village and the Skypark Airport was established in the year 1990.

E-mu Systems, Seagate Technology, Sessions, and Borland Software Corporation were all formerly headquartered in Scotts Valley.

Zero Motorcycles manufactures all-electric motorcycles in Scotts Valley.

Netflix's first headquarters were established in Scotts Valley by Reed Hastings, a Stanford graduate, in 1997. The headquarters were later moved to nearby Los Gatos, California.

In May 2016, the University of California, Santa Cruz signed a 20-year lease to occupy the former Borland headquarters establishing its Scotts Valley Center. The center serves as the professional offices for three of its divisions — Information Technology services, Business and Administrative services, and University Relations.

Top employers
According to Scotts Valley's 2021 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the top employers in the city are:

2010
The 2010 United States Census reported that Scotts Valley had a population of 11,580. The population density was 2,520.4 PD/sqmi. The racial makeup of Scotts Valley was 9,958 (86.0%) White, 101 (0.9%) African American, 57 (0.5%) Native American, 590 (5.1%) Asian, 18 (0.2%) Pacific Islander, 292 (2.5%) from other races, and 564 (4.9%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1,158 persons (10.0%).

The Census reported that 11,308 people (97.7% of the population) lived in households, 264 (2.3%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 8 (0.1%) were institutionalized.

There were 4,426 households, out of which 1,588 (35.9%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 2,423 (54.7%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 474 (10.7%) had a female householder with no husband present, 189 (4.3%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 206 (4.7%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 43 (1.0%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 1,054 households (23.8%) were made up of individuals, and 516 (11.7%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55. There were 3,086 families (69.7% of all households); the average family size was 3.03.

The population was spread out, with 2,863 people (24.7%) under the age of 18, 969 people (8.4%) aged 18 to 24, 2,513 people (21.7%) aged 25 to 44, 3,660 people (31.6%) aged 45 to 64, and 1,575 people (13.6%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41.7 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.0 males.

There were 4,610 housing units at an average density of 1,003.4 /mi2, of which 3,248 (73.4%) were owner-occupied, and 1,178 (26.6%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.4%; the rental vacancy rate was 3.2%. 8,558 people (73.9% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 2,750 people (23.7%) lived in rental housing units.

2000
As of the census of 2000, there were 11,385 people, 4,273 households, and 2,969 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,473.7 PD/sqmi. There were 4,423 housing units at an average density of 961.0 /mi2. The racial makeup of the city was 88.63% White, 0.48% African American, 0.40% Native American, 4.62% Asian, 0.18% Pacific Islander, 2.15% from other races, and 3.53% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.40% of the population.

There were 4,273 households, out of which 36.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.3% were married couples living together, 7.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.5% were non-families. 23.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 3.05.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 25.8% under the age of 18, 7.0% from 18 to 24, 30.2% from 25 to 44, 23.2% from 45 to 64, and 13.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.6 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $72,449, and the median income for a family was $88,573. Males had a median income of $74,183 versus $40,492 for females. The per capita income for the city was $35,684. About 0.9% of families and 2.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.2% of those under age 18 and 4.0% of those age 65 or over.

Government
In the state legislature, Scotts Valley is in the 17th Senate District, represented by Democrat John Laird, and in the 28th Assembly District, represented by Democrat Gail Pellerin.

Federally, Scotts Valley is in.

Education
From 1950 to 2011, Scotts Valley was home to Bethany University, a four-year private Christian university. The campus was leased to Olivet University for the 2011–2012 school year, but Olivet was unable to complete a purchase and moved back to San Francisco in May 2012. The parent Assemblies of God denomination is seeking another buyer for the campus.

The Scotts Valley Unified School District operates four public schools: Scotts Valley High School (grades 9 to 12), Scotts Valley Middle School (grades 6 to 8), and two elementary schools: Vine Hill School (grades Kindergarten to 5) and Brook Knoll School. They also operate an Independent Study/Home School program. Together these schools serve more than 2,600 students each year.

Baymonte Christian School serves students from pre-Kindergarten through eighth grades. Baymonte is a non-denominational Protestant Bible school that was founded in 1968. In 2003, it earned the distinction of being a Blue Ribbon School, a distinction awarded to one school in 25 across the nation.

Monterey Coast Preparatory School, a private school offering a college preparatory curriculum for middle and high schoolers with learning differences, moved from its original location in Santa Cruz to Scotts Valley in 2014.

The Barn
In the fall of 1965, Eric Nord, proprietor of coffee houses including the Hungry I in San Francisco, and the Sticky Wicket in Aptos, also opened The Barn (1965–1968), an art gallery and coffee house, with a large area for concerts, on the site of the Frapwell Dairy Barn (1914–1948), in Scotts Valley. Janis Joplin and the Grateful Dead performed at The Barn. Tom Wolfe describes the Merry Pranksters and Ken Kesey, from La Honda, at The Barn, in the last chapter of The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test. At Scott's Valley Drive, just off Highway 17, The Barn as a nightclub closed by 1968, with the Baymonte Christian School taking control of the property. The Barn resurrected as a dinner theater in an RV park in the 70s, and eventually a warehouse for Seagate Technologies. The Barn was torn down in 1991.

Santa's Village
Unrelated to the prior Santa's Village (Jefferson, New Hampshire) (1953—), Santa's Village (Scotts Valley) (1957–1979) was an amusement park, built after Santa's Village (Lake Arrowhead) (1955–1998, 2016–present), San Bernardino County, and built before Santa's Village AZoosment Park (1959–2006, 2011–present), East Dundee, Illinois, located near highway 17, Borland would later built its campus on the site.

Geography and environment
Scotts Valley is in the west hills of the Santa Cruz Mountains. State Route 17 connects Scotts Valley to Santa Cruz to the south and to Los Gatos, San Jose, and the South Bay area to the north.

Scotts Valley is located at the southern end of the WWF-designated Northern California coastal forests ecoregion.

According to the United States Census Bureau, it has a total area of 4.6 sqmi, all land. It is in central Santa Cruz County, in the northern portion of the North Central Coast Air Basin.

Climate
Air in Scotts Valley is typically maritime in origin, as it moves over the land from the Pacific Ocean. Summers are warm and dry, while winters are mild and generally rainy. Most rain falls as a result of winter Pacific storms between the months of November and April. Sound levels in Scotts Valley are typically in the range of 57 to 65 dBA, except for somewhat higher levels within 150 ft from Highway 17.

Scotts Valley has mild weather throughout the year, enjoying a Mediterranean climate (Köppen Csb) characterized by cool, wet winters and warm, mostly dry summers. Due to its proximity to Monterey Bay, fog and low overcast are common during the night and morning hours, especially in the summer.

Infrastructure
Drinking water is supplied to the City of Scotts Valley by the Scotts Valley Water District and the San Lorenzo Valley Water District. Domestic water supplies are obtained solely from groundwater sources extracted by wells. Wastewater in Scotts Valley is treated at the Scotts Valley Wastewater Treatment Plant at Scotts Valley and Mount Hermon Roads. Treated wastewater effluent is pumped via the city of Santa Cruz into the Pacific Ocean.

Bus service from Scotts Valley to Santa Cruz, California; the San Lorenzo Valley; and San Jose, California; is provided by the Santa Cruz Metropolitan Transit District.

The Santa Cruz Sky Park, a small recreational airport, closed in 1983.

Sister cities

 * 🇯🇵 Nichinan, Japan

title: Scotts Valley, California


text:
Soquel, California

Soquel (Ohlone: Sokel) is an unincorporated town and census-designated place (CDP) in Santa Cruz County, California, located on the northern coast of Monterey Bay. The population was 9,980 at the 2020 census.

History
Osocalis was the Spanish phonetic rendering for the name of the creek which runs through the area, as transcribed from the local Native American Indian language of the Ohlone peoples. The later name "Soquel," which was subsequently derived from the name of that creek, is first known to have appeared in 1833 as the name of the Mexican land grant which included this creek and adjacent lands.

The first European land exploration of Alta California, the Spanish Portolà expedition, passed through the area on its way north, camping at one of the creeks on October 15, 1769. The expedition diaries don't provide enough information to be sure which creek it was, but the direction of travel was northwest, parallel to the coast. Franciscan missionary Juan Crespi, traveling with the expedition, noted in his diary that "We stopped on the bank of a small stream, which has about four varas of deep running water. It has on its banks a good growth of cottonwoods and alders; on account of the depth at which it runs it may be that it cannot be utilized to water some plains through which it runs." Translator Herbert Bolton speculated that the location was Soquel Creek.

Martina Castro was granted Rancho Soquel by Alta California governor José Figueroa in 1833. Martina was one of the daughters of Santa Cruz fundadore José Joaquín Castro, who came as a boy with his family to Alta California from Mexico with the second De Anza expedition in 1775. Several of Martina's Californio brothers and sisters also became rancheros.

The town of Soquel is notorious for its flooding. The lowlands in and around the Soquel Creek have flooded many times. The most recent flood was in January 1982, and it nearly topped its banks in 1986. Uncleared log jams downstream in the city of Capitola have been blamed for the flooding. Capitola City Planner Richard Steele implemented a debris removal program after the near flooding in 1986.

In 1965, Soquel was the location of the first "Acid Test" party.

Geography
Soquel is located at 36.98694°N, -121.94556°W (36.986991, -121.945636).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 4.6 square miles (11.9 km$2$), all of it land.

Soquel Creek flows through Soquel.

2010
At the 2010 census Soquel had a population of 9,644. The population density was 2,097.4 PD/sqmi. The racial makeup of Soquel was 7,898 (81.9%) White, 85 (0.9%) African American, 71 (0.7%) Native American, 356 (3.7%) Asian, 21 (0.2%) Pacific Islander, 693 (7.2%) from other races, and 520 (5.4%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1,606 persons (16.7%).

The census reported that 9,595 people (99.5% of the population) lived in households, 49 (0.5%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and no one was institutionalized.

There were 3,912 households, 1,156 (29.6%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 1,758 (44.9%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 467 (11.9%) had a female householder with no husband present, 174 (4.4%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 266 (6.8%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 39 (1.0%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 1,128 households (28.8%) were one person and 411 (10.5%) had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.45. There were 2,399 families (61.3% of households); the average family size was 3.00.

The age distribution was 1,942 people (20.1%) under the age of 18, 880 people (9.1%) aged 18 to 24, 2,215 people (23.0%) aged 25 to 44, 3,392 people (35.2%) aged 45 to 64, and 1,215 people (12.6%) who were 65 or older. The median age was 43.2 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.4 males.

There were 4,107 housing units at an average density of 893.2 per square mile, of the occupied units 2,750 (70.3%) were owner-occupied and 1,162 (29.7%) were rented. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.4%; the rental vacancy rate was 2.4%. 6,654 people (69.0% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 2,941 people (30.5%) lived in rental housing units.

2000
At the 2000 census there were 5,081 people, 2,043 households, and 1,229 families in the CDP. The population density was 4,710.3 PD/sqmi. There were 2,103 housing units at an average density of 1,949.6 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the CDP was 82.94% White, 1.57% African American, 0.63% Native American, 4.00% Asian, 0.18% Pacific Islander, 6.18% from other races, and 4.51% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 13.99%.

Of the 2,043 households 32.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.1% were married couples living together, 14.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.8% were non-families. 27.7% of households were one person and 8.7% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 3.02.

The age distribution was 24.6% under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 32.3% from 25 to 44, 24.6% from 45 to 64, and 10.1% 65 or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 87.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.5 males.

The median household income was $55,230 and the median family income was $61,167. Males had a median income of $48,750 versus $32,721 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $28,360. About 6.5% of families and 7.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.8% of those under age 18 and 8.2% of those age 65 or over.

Government
In the California State Legislature, Soquel is in, and in.

In the United States House of Representatives, Soquel is in.

Recreation
Anna Jean Cummings Park is the largest park in Soquel, with playfields for soccer, baseball, and softball, playgrounds, picnic areas, and a large open space of coastal prairie terrace. It is operated by the Santa Cruz County Parks Department. Recently completed in downtown Soquel, Heart of Soquel Park includes wooden walkways along Soquel Creek, bocce ball courts, and outdoor event spaces. Others include Richard Vessey, Soquel Lions, and Willowbrook Park. Based on a 1990 proposal, a park with a community center is under development on a property known as "The Farm". The Land Trust of Santa Cruz County also owns two protected lands on Fairway Drive, the Greenspace Garden and the Fairway Drive Coastal Prairie Terrace.

title: Soquel, California


text:
Twin Lakes, California

Twin Lakes is a census-designated place (CDP) in Santa Cruz County, California, United States. The population is at an estimated 5,378 as of 2016 which is up by 461 in 2010.

Geography
Twin Lakes is located at 36.96333°N, -121.99361°W (36.963450, -121.993498).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 1.2 sqmi, of which, 0.7 sqmi of it is land and 0.5 sqmi of it (42.98%) is water.

Twin Lakes also has Twin Lakes State Beach. It is a mile long beach popular for swimming and picnicking. It has some hiking trails, but it also known for stand-up paddle boarding, and other beach activities.

2010
At the 2010 census Twin Lakes had a population of 4,917. The population density was 4,060.7 PD/sqmi. The racial makeup of Twin Lakes was 3,900 (79.3%) White, 70 (1.4%) African American, 61 (1.2%) Native American, 126 (2.6%) Asian, 8 (0.2%) Pacific Islander, 534 (10.9%) from other races, and 218 (4.4%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1,109 persons (22.6%).

The census reported that 4,782 people (97.3% of the population) lived in households, 35 (0.7%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 100 (2.0%) were institutionalized.

There were 2,223 households, 463 (20.8%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 669 (30.1%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 232 (10.4%) had a female householder with no husband present, 102 (4.6%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 227 (10.2%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 21 (0.9%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 813 households (36.6%) were one person and 274 (12.3%) had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.15. There were 1,003 families (45.1% of households); the average family size was 2.84.

The age distribution was 770 people (15.7%) under the age of 18, 651 people (13.2%) aged 18 to 24, 1,572 people (32.0%) aged 25 to 44, 1,220 people (24.8%) aged 45 to 64, and 704 people (14.3%) who were 65 or older. The median age was 36.8 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.4 males.

There were 2,741 housing units at an average density of 2,263.7 per square mile, of the occupied units 820 (36.9%) were owner-occupied and 1,403 (63.1%) were rented. The homeowner vacancy rate was 3.5%; the rental vacancy rate was 3.9%. 1,673 people (34.0% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 3,109 people (63.2%) lived in rental housing units.

2000
At the 2000 census there were 5,533 people, 2,409 households, and 1,038 families in the CDP. The population density was 7,928.9 PD/sqmi. There were 2,745 housing units at an average density of 3,933.6 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the CDP was 78.84% White, 0.90% African American, 0.63% Native American, 2.30% Asian, 0.18% Pacific Islander, 12.43% from other races, and 4.72% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 22.54%.

Of the 2,409 households 21.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 30.1% were married couples living together, 8.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 56.9% were non-families. 37.2% of households were one person and 12.7% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.24 and the average family size was 2.99.

The age distribution was 17.0% under the age of 18, 15.5% from 18 to 24, 35.7% from 25 to 44, 17.9% from 45 to 64, and 13.8% 65 or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.9 males.

The median household income was $39,057 and the median family income was $47,198. Males had a median income of $35,417 versus $31,538 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $25,342. About 7.5% of families and 14.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.0% of those under age 18 and 3.5% of those age 65 or over.

Government
In the California State Legislature, Twin Lakes is in, and in.

In the United States House of Representatives, Twin Lakes is in.

title: Twin Lakes, California


text:
Watsonville, California

Watsonville is a city in Santa Cruz County, California, in the Monterey Bay Area of the Central Coast of California. The population was 52,590 at the 2020 census. Predominantly Latino and Democratic, Watsonville is a self-designated sanctuary city.

History
Watsonville's land was first inhabited by an Ohlone nation of Indigenous Californians. This tribe settled along the Pajaro Dunes since the land was fertile and useful for the cultivation of their plants and animals.

Spanish era
In 1769, the Portolá expedition, the first Europeans to explore the area, arrived from the south, where soldiers described a big bird they saw near a large river. The story survived in the river's name, Rio del Pajaro (River of the Bird).

The Portolá expedition continued north through the area, camping at one of the lakes north of town for five nights, on October 10–14, 1769. Many of the expedition's soldiers had scurvy, so progress was slow. While the sick recuperated, scouts led by Sergeant Ortega looked for the best way forward. On the fifth day, Franciscan missionary Juan Crespi, traveling with the expedition, wrote in his diary, "This afternoon the explorers returned. The sergeant reported that he had gone ahead twelve leagues without getting any information of the harbor that we are looking for, and that he went to the foot of a high, white mountain range."

During the October March 10, the explorers first saw the Coast redwood tree (Spanish: palo colorado). A bronze plaque at Pinto Lake (now a city park) commemorates the event. On October 15, the expedition continued to the northwest past today's community of Freedom, camping that night at Corralitos Lagoon.

The area became part of the Spanish colonial province of Las Californias, and in 1804 the northern part was split off to form Alta California. The area's pasture lands were assigned to the Spanish mission to the south, in Carmel.

Mexican era
When Mexico gained independence, it took possession of Alta California. The Spanish missions were secularized in the 1830s, and the future Watsonville area became Rancho Bolsa del Pajaro, a land grant made to Sebastian Rodríguez in 1837. Under Mexico's more liberal land-ownership laws, immigration to the area from Europe and the U.S. increased.

In 1833, Governor José Figueroa granted Rancho San Andrés to José Joaquín Castro, who came to California as part of the 1776 Anza Expedition and later became patriarch of a locally prominent Californio family. His son, Juan José Castro, built the Castro Adobe, the only two-story hacienda in the area at the time. Today, the adobe is owned by California State Parks and is undergoing restoration to serve as the Rancho San Andrés Castro Adobe State Historic Park.

Post-Conquest era
Following the American Conquest of California and the ratification of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo in 1848, the region began to receive large waves of migrants, mainly Americans from the East Coast and Europeans.

John H. Watson and D. S. Gregory laid out the town in 1852. The community was incorporated as the Town of Watsonville on or about March 30, 1868, named after Watson. It became the City of Watsonville about 1889. Voters adopted a charter in 1903.

Modern era
From 1904 to 1913, the Watsonville Railway and Navigation Company operated an interurban railway to Port Watsonville on Monterey Bay, where it connected with an overnight produce packet boat to San Francisco.

The Watsonville riots was a race riot that occurred in January 1930. The riots were preceded by efforts of a local justice of the peace, D.W. Rohrback to stoke anti-Filipino sentiments. Filipino American farmworkers, then-U.S. nationals, were attacked by White Americans, including the killing of Fermin Tobera. In May 2023, the Monterey County Board of Supervisors issued an apology for the riot in form of a resolution during Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month.

Watonsville's present city charter was adopted on February 16, 1960.

In 1985, cannery workers in Watsonville went on strike for 18 months to protest a decrease in their wages and benefits. In the end, they won a new contract. The movement was led by primarily Latina women, and was noted as a historic labor rights win for the Mexicano/Chicano community.

Geography
Watsonville is in the Monterey Bay area, at the southern end of Santa Cruz County.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has an area of 6.8 sqmi, of which 6.7 sqmi is land and 0.1 sqmi is water.

Watsonville has habitat areas that support the endangered species Santa Cruz Tarweed on the California coastal prairie ecosystem. Population has grown considerably since 1980, requiring preparation of a number of Environmental Impact Reports, with resultant development removing certain lands of the city from productive natural habitat.

Most of the coastal land adjacent to Watsonville is part of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Another protected natural resource is the Watsonville wetlands, a system of fresh water sloughs with open water and native vegetation that extend from the city to the ocean. The slough system is only one of a few remaining wetland areas of its kind in the California Coastal Region. Not only are the wetlands home to approximately nine species of fish and over 200 species of waterfowl, raptors and songbirds; they are also a vital stop on the Pacific Flyway for thousands of migrating birds. In 1990, private and municipal organizations worked together to stop development and protect this resource. The Watsonville Wetlands Watch was established at that time with the task of restoring and protecting the slough's natural habit.

Climate
The National Weather Service cooperative station at the Watsonville Waterworks reports cool, relatively wet winters and mild, dry summers. Fog and low overcast is common in the night and morning, especially in the summer, when warmer air from inland areas mixes with the cool, moist air near Monterey Bay. Its Köppen classification is cool-summer mediterranean climate.

January, normally the coldest month, has an average maximum of 59.9 °F and an average minimum of 38.5 °F. September, normally the warmest month, has an average maximum of 73.2 °F and an average minimum of 51.7 °F. There are an average of 4.9 days annually with highs of 90 °F or higher and an average of 13.5 days annually with lows of 32 °F or lower. Cool nights are common in the summer, due to the influence of chilly Monterey Bay. The record high temperature from the late 20th century onward was 106 °F on October 2, 1980. (An earlier June day has been recorded as 110 °F.) The record low temperature from the late 20th century onward was 12 °F on December 22, 1990, though a 2 °F low was previously recorded.

Average annual rainfall is 22.42 in, with measurable precipitation falling on an average of 61 days each year. The wettest year on record was 1983, with 48.35 in, and the driest was 1976, with 10.66 in. The most rainfall in one month was 15.99 in in February 1998. The most rainfall in 24 hours was 5.93 in on February 14, 2000. Although significant snowfall occurs several times a year on the higher mountains nearby, measurable snowfall is a rarity along Monterey Bay. On February 26, 2011, there was slight snowfall in Watsonville, but there was so little snow that it could not be measured.

2010
The 2010 United States Census reported that Watsonville had a population of 51,199. The population density was 7,547.7 PD/sqmi. The racial makeup of Watsonville was 22,399 (43.7%) White, 358 (0.7%) African American, 629 (1.2%) Native American, 1,664 (3.3%) Asian, 40 (0.1%) Pacific Islander, 23,844 (46.6%) from other races, and 2,265 (4.4%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 41,656 persons (81.4%).

The Census reported that 50,671 people (99.0% of the population) lived in households, 322 (0.6%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 206 (0.4%) were institutionalized.

There were 13,528 households, out of which 7,130 (52.7%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 7,231 (53.5%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 2,375 (17.6%) had a female householder with no husband present, 903 (6.7%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 890 (6.6%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 107 (0.8%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 2,466 households (18.2%) were made up of individuals, and 1,213 (9.0%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.75. There were 10,509 families (77.7% of all households); the average family size was 4.17.

The population was spread out, with 16,111 people (31.5%) under the age of 18, 6,001 people (11.7%) aged 18 to 24, 14,834 people (29.0%) aged 25 to 44, 10,014 people (19.6%) aged 45 to 64, and 4,239 people (8.3%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 29.2 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.2 males.

There were 14,089 housing units at an average density of 2,077.0 /sqmi, of which 5,957 (44.0%) were owner-occupied, and 7,571 (56.0%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.9%; the rental vacancy rate was 2.5%. 21,365 people (41.7% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 29,306 people (57.2%) lived in rental housing units. As reported by the 2007-2011 American Community Survey, the median income for a household in the city was $46,073, and the median income for a family was $49,550. Male full-time year-round workers had a median income of $31,758 versus $31,155 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,407. About 18.6% of families and 20.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.6% of those under age 18 and 15.6% of those age 65 or over. Therefore, although the median household income did rise significantly between 2000 and 2010 (unadjusted for inflation), the percentage of city residents experiencing poverty rose at a faster rate.

2000
As of the census of 2000, there were 44,265 people, 11,381 households, and 8,865 families residing in the city. The population density was 6,969.4 PD/sqmi. There were 11,695 housing units at an average density of 1,841.3 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 43.00% White, 0.75% African American, 1.74% Native American, 3.29% Asian, 0.12% Pacific Islander, 45.92% from other races, and 5.18% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 75.12% of the population, with the majority of these being of Mexican origin.

Watsonville also has an Asian-American presence consisting of Chinese, Japanese and Filipinos despite the fact that the percentage of city residents of Asian descent has dropped since 1960. The Chinese, Japanese and Filipinos had residential sections and opened many businesses to serve their customer base in town during the mid 20th century. The history of East Asians in Watsonville dates back to the late 19th century and are involved in the local agricultural industry. It is presumed that as a result of Japanese-American internment during WWII, local farm companies began to attract Mexican migrant labor to the area in higher numbers and the town's racial-ethnic composition became more Hispanic in the 1980s and 1990s. There was also medium-sized Sikh population in Watsonville during the late 1990s to early 2000s that were involved mostly in the trucking industry, but most have moved away to the Central Valley for cheaper housing. There were 11,381 households, out of which 49.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.3% were married couples living together, 16.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.1% were non-families. 17.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.84 and the average family size was 4.26.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 34.0% under the age of 18, 11.8% from 18 to 24, 30.5% from 25 to 44, 15.1% from 45 to 64, and 8.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 27 years. For every 100 females, there were 101.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.4 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $37,617, and the median income for a family was $40,293. Males had a median income of $26,701 versus $22,225 for females. The per capita income for the city was $13,205. About 15.4% of families and 19.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.8% of those under age 18 and 8.8% of those age 65 or over.

Economy
Watsonville's main industries are construction, agriculture and manufacturing. Some of the largest companies headquartered in Watsonville are Monterey Mushrooms, Driscoll's, Martinelli's, Nordic Naturals, Graniterock, Granite Construction, West Marine, California Giant, A&I Transport Inc. and Orion Telescopes & Binoculars.

Watsonville is known for producing crops and goods in the agricultural business along the Northern Pacific Coast. Its economy depends on its agro-business market and on distributing crops to different parts of the world. Crops fundamental to the economy include strawberries, cauliflower, broccoli, lettuce, natural plants, and raspberries. Companies such as Driscoll's and California Giant spend around $280 million every year to processing and transport fresh food to cities in the area, such as San Jose, Castroville, and Santa Cruz, where the numbers of these fruits and vegetables do not meet the demand. The city ranks among the most important U.S. farming cities for its agro-business market. Watsonville is the nation's 21st-largest city in which Latino workers are 75% of the total population.

Top employers
According to the City of Watsonville's 2019 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the city's top employers are:

Parks and recreation
Watsonville maintains 28 parks, including a skate park, indoor soccer field, lake with boat rentals and RV camping, BBQ areas, handball courts, an art gallery, tennis courts, and volleyball courts. It also provides a wide variety of recreational opportunities, including hiking, boating, sports, bird-watching, and beach access.

Watsonville Wetlands
There are hiking trails throughout the city, and a nature center provides an intimate view of The Watsonville Wetlands.

Pajaro River
There are several trailheads in the city that provide access to the Pajaro River and its tributaries via The Pajaro River Levee Trail Park. The levee trails are a popular spot for walking, running, and biking. In 2010, the City of Watsonville received a $424,000 grant to create a public access point to the Pajaro River for canoes and kayaks, including a parking lot, trail and public restroom.

Pinto Lake
The city operates one of two parks at Pinto Lake, which includes a small watercraft launch ramp, group picnic areas, an RV park, a baseball field, volleyball, children's playground, boat rentals, fishing, and bird watching. Because Pinto Lake often turns a thick green due to different types of algae, the city prohibits the eating of fish caught in Pinto Lake. The second park at Pinto Lake is operated by the County of Santa Cruz and includes nature trails, disc golf, sports fields, and the UC Master Gardeners of Monterey and Santa Cruz Counties's Demonstration Garden.

Pajaro Dunes
The Pajaro Dunes area of Watsonville attracts tourists to its high-end beachfront condos and timeshares.

Culture
Watsonville is home to the annual Strawberry Festival, which includes a wide variety of strawberry-based foods, live music, vendors, and rides.

Near the end of every summer, the Santa Cruz County Fair draws visitors from across and outside the county to its attractions, including rides, food, art exhibits, flower exhibits, pony rides, petting zoos, dog shows, and live music performances.

The Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds host a number of other events, including car races at the Ocean Speedway, dog training programs, wedding receptions, the annual Santa Cruz County Science Fair, and the Scottish Renaissance Festival. The fairgrounds also host concerts and trade shows. Notable past performers include Whitesnake, Dio, and Joan Jett.

Government
Watsonville uses the council–manager government model. The city is divided into seven districts, each of which elects a representative to the city council. The mayor is not elected; the office rotates annually in December. , the mayor is Vanessa Quiroz-Carter. Watsonville became a sanctuary city on April 11, 2017.

Watsonville's overall crime index is 24.1% lower than Santa Cruz's, 15.4% lower than Salinas's, and 38.4% higher than Gilroy's.

State and federal representation
In the California State Legislature, Watsonville is in, and.

In the United States House of Representatives, Watsonville is in.

Education
Watsonville's public schools fall under the jurisdiction of the Pajaro Valley Unified School District, which has an enrollment of about 18,000 students in kindergarten through 12th grades. Local high schools include Watsonville High School and Pajaro Valley High School.

Cabrillo College operates a branch campus in Watsonville.

Most charter schools in Watsonville are under the jurisdiction of the Pajaro Valley Unified School District. They include Diamond Technology Institute, Alianza Charter School, Linscott Charter School, Pacific Coast Charter School, Watsonville Charter School of the Arts, and Ceiba College Preparatory Academy, with the exception of Watsonville Prep School, a proposed TK-8 charter school operated which is operated by Navigator Schools.

Private schools in the city include Green Valley Christian School, Moreland Notre Dame, Monte Vista Christian, Mount Madonna School, Potter's House Community Christian School, St. Francis Central Coast Catholic High School, and Salesian Elementary and Junior High Schools.

Media
Watsonville and the surrounding area is served by the local newspaper, The Pajaronian. KQET operates in Watsonville as a simulcast of the Bay Areas's KQED.

Radio stations based in Watsonville include KSCO, KLVM, KAPU, and KPIG-FM.

Notable people

 * Donald Barnhouse, Christian preacher, pastor, theologian, radio pioneer, and writer
 * Tony Carey, musician, composer
 * Jaime Cortez, Chicano novelist and LGBT activist
 * Annie Law, conchologist
 * Laurie R. King, author
 * Marv Marinovich, football player and coach
 * Charlene Pryer, baseball player
 * Ty Sambrailo, football player
 * Ken Sears, professional basketball player
 * Todd Souza, racing driver
 * Cody Webb, motorcycle racer
 * Adrián Zamora, basketball player

Sister cities
Watsonville's sister cities are:

 * Velas, Sáo Jorge Island, Azore Islands, Portugal
 * Cavtat, Croatia
 * Jocotepec, Mexico
 * Kawakami, Japan
 * Pinghu, China
 * San Pedro Masahuat, El Salvador
 * Tangancícuaro, Mexico

title: Watsonville, California


text:
Anderson, California

Anderson is a city in Shasta County, California, approximately 10 miles south of Redding. Its population is 11,323 as of the 2020 census, up from 9,932 from the 2010 census.

Located 138 miles north of Sacramento, the city's roots are as a railroad town near the northern tip of the Central Valley of California.

The city was named after ranch owner Elias Anderson, who granted the Oregon and California Railroad trackage rights and land for a station. Elias Anderson was a farmer, hotel owner, and postmaster. Elias married Elizabeth Summers in 1839 and built the Prairie House in the community of Cottonwood in 1856 on the south side of Cottonwood Creek (now Tehama County).

Elias Anderson purchased the American Ranch from Thomas Freeman in 1856 and built the American Ranch Hotel in what would become downtown Anderson, California. The post office was inside the hotel. Elias Anderson purchased 210 acres from Pierson B. Reading in 1865 and deeded a right-of-way through his property to Central Pacific Railroad in 1872; in return the railroad gave the depot his name. Elias and Elizabeth Anderson built their new home at 2865 East Street in 1873; it no longer exists. While it stood, the house was designated as California Historical Landmark No. 12. In 1876 the Andersons moved their ranch hotel to the corner of Main and Ferry Streets.

History
Railroad activity came to the area in 1872. Anderson is named after Elias Anderson, who owned the largest land grant in the vicinity. The city's Anderson River Park sits on part of the original land grant owned by Anderson.

Geography
Anderson is located at 40.45209°N, -122.29656°W.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 6.6 sqmi, of which 6.4 sqmi of it is land and 0.2 sqmi of it (3.74%) is water.

Climate
According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Anderson has a Hot-summer Mediterranean climate, abbreviated "Csa" on climate maps.

2010
At the 2010 census Anderson had a population of 9,932. The population density was 1,500.3 PD/sqmi. The racial makeup of Anderson was 8,273 (83.3%) White, 70 (0.7%) African American, 426 (4.3%) Native American, 256 (2.6%) Asian, 17 (0.2%) Pacific Islander, 353 (3.6%) from other races, and 537 (5.4%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1,070 persons (10.8%).

The census reported that 9,920 people (99.9% of the population) lived in households, 12 (0.1%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and no one was institutionalized.

There were 3,944 households, 1,453 (36.8%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 1,503 (38.1%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 771 (19.5%) had a female householder with no husband present, 254 (6.4%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 364 (9.2%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 25 (0.6%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 1,163 households (29.5%) were one person and 490 (12.4%) had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.52. There were 2,528 families (64.1% of households); the average family size was 3.07.

The age distribution was 2,746 people (27.6%) under the age of 18, 934 people (9.4%) aged 18 to 24, 2,565 people (25.8%) aged 25 to 44, 2,420 people (24.4%) aged 45 to 64, and 1,267 people (12.8%) who were 65 or older. The median age was 34.1 years. For every 100 females, there were 87.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.2 males.

There were 4,211 housing units at an average density of 636.1 per square mile, of the occupied units 1,888 (47.9%) were owner-occupied and 2,056 (52.1%) were rented. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.8%; the rental vacancy rate was 4.6%. 4,727 people (47.6% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 5,193 people (52.3%) lived in rental housing units.

2000
At the 2000 census there were 9,022 people in 3,372 households, including 2,319 families, in the city. The population density was 1,412.0 PD/sqmi. There were 3,579 housing units at an average density of 560.2 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 86.51% White, 0.62% African American, 4.13% Native American, 1.77% Asian, 0.12% Pacific Islander, 2.33% from other races, and 4.51% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7.30%.

Of the 3,372 households 39.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.6% were married couples living together, 20.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.2% were non-families. 26.5% of households were one person and 12.0% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.64 and the average family size was 3.14.

The age distribution was 31.6% under the age of 18, 9.2% from 18 to 24, 27.1% from 25 to 44, 18.3% from 45 to 64, and 13.9% 65 or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females, there were 87.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 79.6 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $24,558, and the median family income was $29,259. Males had a median income of $28,074 versus $20,745 for females. The per capita income for the city was $11,744. About 22.2% of families and 28.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 43.3% of those under age 18 and 9.5% of those age 65 or over.

According to a 2006 estimate, the population is 10,677. The report by the California Department of Finance lists the annual percentage change population estimate at 1.4%.

In 2007, the population dropped from 10,677 to 10,580.

In areas north of Anderson, 4,036 live in unincorporated urban areas along Highway 273. Another 8,342 live in rural areas, including at least 3,500 people in the communities of Olinda and Happy Valley, which is west of Anderson and southwest of Redding. A total of 21,400 people live in the entire Anderson area, including Olinda, Happy Valley, and some areas south of Churn Creek Bottom.

Politics
In the state legislature Anderson is located in, and.

Federally, Anderson is in.

High schools

 * Anderson Union High School
 * North Valley High School
 * Anderson New Technology High School

Elementary schools

 * Anderson Heights Elementary School
 * Anderson Middle School
 * Northern Summit Academy
 * Meadow Lane Elementary

Recreation
The city is home to Anderson River Park, North Volonte Park, and South Volonte Park.

Anderson River Park
Anderson River Park is located off of Stingy Ln. down Rupert Rd. The park is situated on the Sacramento River. The park consists of athletic fields, picnic areas, fishing access, play structures, and a disc golf course.

In fall 2020, the city added River Splash a Splash pad, Shasta County's newest water play park to the park. River Splash has three large shade structures, picnic tables, seating, lawn areas, restrooms, and a 106-feet diameter water play area. The water features include above-ground items such as water spray tunnels, a tipping bucket of water and water jets. All 35 water jets that are cast into the concrete play area have LED lights that are timed with the water spray.

North Volonte Park
North Volonte Park is located off South St. on Emily Rd. North Volonte Park is separated from South Volonte Park. North Volonte Park is a developed park which consists of softball and baseball fields. It also has a skate park.

South Volonte Park
South Volonte Park is located behind North Volonte Park. South Volonte Park is wetlands that are outlined by a jogging trail. It also contains exercise equipment.

title: Anderson, California


text:
Big Bend, California

Big Bend of the Madesi Valley is the indigenous homeland of the Madesi tribe, located in Shasta County, northeastern California. It is named for a major change in course of the Pit River.

Its population is 79 as of the 2020 census, down from 102 from the 2010 census. For statistical purposes, the United States Census Bureau has defined Big Bend as a census-designated place (CDP).

Native Americans
For several thousand years prior to the 19th century, Big Bend was the heart of the territory of the Madesi tribe (pronounced Mah-day-see) tribe (or "band") of Pit River Native Americans. The Madesi is one of nine bands (also called "tribelets") that spoke the Achomawi language. (Early anthropologists mistakenly called all nine bands in the language group "Achomawi," although only one of the bands was actually called Achomawi.)

The Madesi band's territorial region included Big Bend and the surrounding area of the Lower Pit River (Ah-choo'-mah in the Madesi dialect, which has few or no speakers still living), and several of its tributaries, such as Kosk Creek (An-noo-che'che) and Nelson Creek (Ah-lis'choo'-chah). The main village of the Madesi was on the north bank of the Pit River, east of Kosk Creek, and was called Mah-dess', or Mah-dess' Atjwam (Madesi Valley), and was directly across the river from the smaller villages that surrounded the hot springs on the river's south bank, which were called Oo-le'-moo-me, Lah'-lah-pis'-mah, and Al-loo-satch-ha.

The Madesi people enjoyed great abundance of food sources, which mainly consisted of acorns, deer, salmon, and other fish from the river.

Euro-American settlers
The Big Bend area is so remote and isolated that the Madesi was one of the last indigenous peoples of California to be invaded and pushed out of their ancestral homeland.

As white settlers began to come to Big Bend in the 1860s, few Madesi were left in the area, and the newcomers began to claim the conquered land as their own. By the 1890s, Big Bend was becoming a small quiet town of white settlers, centered around the hot springs. It was originally called Elena (1890) by the Euro-Americans settlers, and then changed to Henderson, (1906) before they began calling it "Big Bend" (1922).

Early white settlers built a log hotel with a post office and a saloon just above the main hot springs. Many visitors around the turn of the 20th-century came to Big Bend to soak in the hot springs, seeking the reputed healing qualities of the hot mineral water baths.

Big Bend grew slowly until the late 1930s, when Pacific Gas and Electric Company began construction on the and Pit Five Power House. The dam construction brought thousands of jobs and people to Big Bend. This included engineers, builders, tunnel diggers (around 2000 hard-rock miners), and service workers to the area. Big Bend saw a "boom and bust" cycle, and the population was declining by the late 1940s, after the dam work was completed. Although the maintenance of the hydroelectric facilities and a large commercial logging industry still require numerous employees, almost all of the people working in such jobs live outside of Big Bend, contributing further to the population decline.

The population of Big Bend was only 102 people in the 2010 census, apparently the lowest number of residents since the 1860s.

Geography
Big Bend is located at 41.01972°N, -121.90778°W (41.019803, -121.907881).

The community is situated on a long bend in the Pit River which is the longest tributary to the Sacramento River. The Pit River (traditionally called Achoma) is one of only three rivers that crosses the Cascades mountain range and drains into the Pacific Ocean. Before the dams were built, the Pit River hosted the third largest Salmon run on the west coast of the US. From Big Bend is a striking view of Chalk Mountain (called Too-le-pah-ah-te Ah-ko by the Madesi tribe) which has a natural exposed slide feature of diatomaceous earth. The slide is locally called the "White Buffalo," since it resembles a white bison. Another prominent mountain hovering over the town of Big Bend is called Bald Peak (called Ma-how-mah-day Ah-ko by the Madesi tribe), which has dozens of cold water springs, creating numerous creeks that feed into the Pit River, a spring-fed, or a "free stone" river.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 5.8 sqmi, 98.47% of it land and 1.53% of it water.

2010
The 2010 United States Census reported that Big Bend had a population of 102. The population density was 17.5 PD/sqmi. The racial makeup of Big Bend was 85 (83.3%) White, 0 (0.0%) African American, 10 (9.8%) Native American, 0 (0.0%) Asian, 0 (0.0%) Pacific Islander, 1 (1.0%) from other races, and 6 (5.9%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2 persons (2.0%).

The Census reported that 102 people (100% of the population) lived in households, 0 (0%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 0 (0%) were institutionalized.

There were 58 households, out of which 8 (13.8%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 15 (25.9%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 4 (6.9%) had a female householder with no husband present, 4 (6.9%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 4 (6.9%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 0 (0%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 34 households (58.6%) were made up of individuals, and 11 (19.0%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.76. There were 23 families (39.7% of all households); the average family size was 2.65.

The population was spread out, with 11 people (10.8%) under the age of 18, 13 people (12.7%) aged 18 to 24, 19 people (18.6%) aged 25 to 44, 42 people (41.2%) aged 45 to 64, and 17 people (16.7%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 50.3 years. For every 100 females, there were 131.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 139.5 males.

There were 90 housing units at an average density of 15.5 /sqmi, of which 33 (56.9%) were owner-occupied, and 25 (43.1%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 0%; the rental vacancy rate was 0%. 51 people (50.0% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 51 people (50.0%) lived in rental housing units.

2000
As of the census of 2000, there were 149 people, 70 households, and 38 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 26.1 PD/sqmi. There were 106 housing units at an average density of 18.5 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the CDP was 83.22% White, 8.72% Native American, 1.34% Asian, 3.36% from other races, and 3.36% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.36% of the population.

There were 70 households, out of which 21.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.9% were married couples living together, 4.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 45.7% were non-families. 41.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.13 and the average family size was 2.97.

In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 23.5% under the age of 18, 4.7% from 18 to 24, 21.5% from 25 to 44, 36.2% from 45 to 64, and 14.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45 years. For every 100 females, there were 119.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 128.0 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $23,750, and the median income for a family was $23,000. Males had a median income of $33,750 versus $40,625 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $16,183. There were 50.0% of families and 45.2% of the population living below the poverty line, including 60.0% of under eighteens and 25.0% of those over 64.

Politics
In the state legislature Big Bend is located in, and.

Federally, Big Bend is in.

Hot springs
Big Bend is known in the Northern California region for its geothermal hot springs. There are several hot spring sources on the Big Bend Hot Springs property along the Pit River. Privately owned land containing hot springs is expected to open for public tourism.

Pit River
The Pit River is a "free stone river" and provides excellent fishing for McCloud River redband trout.

The Pit River has had occasional white water level releases from the dams to provide white water rafting with Class 4 and Class 5 rapids.

A highly scenic gravel road follows the Pit River upstream from Big Bend to Highway 89 near McArthur-Burney Falls Memorial State Park.

Iron Canyon Reservoir
Iron Canyon Reservoir, located near Big Bend, impounds water diverted from the McCloud River and contains Rainbow Trout and Brown Trout. This reservoir provides an opportunity for canoeing and float tubing. The reservoir is in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest and has two campgrounds, one administered by the US Forest Service and one by Pacific Gas and Electric Company.

title: Big Bend, California


text:
Burney, California

Burney is an unincorporated town and census-designated place (CDP) in Shasta County, California, United States. Its population is 3,000 as of the 2020 census, down from 3,154 from the 2010 census. Burney is located on State Route 299, about 4 miles west of its junction with State Route 89.

Burney has several areas for fly fishing, with wild brown and native rainbow trout in many nearby rivers and streams, including Burney Creek. Other attractions in the area include McArthur–Burney Falls Memorial State Park, home to Burney Falls.

Burney was named after Samuel Burney, a settler in the area in the 1850s. Burney was found dead in the valley in 1857, which came to be called "the valley where Burney died," and finally just "Burney".

The town of Burney sits at the base of an extinct volcano called Burney Mountain. The peak is 7863 ft.

2010
At the 2010 census Burney had a population of 3,154. The population density was 606.5 PD/sqmi. The racial makeup of Burney was 2,685 (85.1%) White, 13 (0.4%) African American, 233 (7.4%) Native American, 7 (0.2%) Asian, 2 (0.1%) Pacific Islander, 61 (1.9%) from other races, and 153 (4.9%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 265 people (8.4%).

The census reported that 3,035 people (96.2% of the population) lived in households, 119 (3.8%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and no one was institutionalized.

There were 1,262 households, 371 (29.4%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 638 (50.6%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 155 (12.3%) had a female householder with no husband present, 70 (5.5%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 74 (5.9%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 5 (0.4%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 344 households (27.3%) were one person and 150 (11.9%) had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.40. There were 863 families (68.4% of households); the average family size was 2.87.

The age distribution was 751 people (23.8%) under the age of 18, 240 people (7.6%) aged 18 to 24, 681 people (21.6%) aged 25 to 44, 949 people (30.1%) aged 45 to 64, and 533 people (16.9%) who were 65 or older. The median age was 42.5 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.2 males.

There were 1,446 housing units at an average density of 278.0 per square mile, of the occupied units 797 (63.2%) were owner-occupied and 465 (36.8%) were rented. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.2%; the rental vacancy rate was 7.4%. 1,833 people (58.1% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 1,202 people (38.1%) lived in rental housing units.

2000
At the 2000 census there were 3,217 people, 1,311 households, and 912 families in the CDP. The population density was 622.4 PD/sqmi. There were 1,420 housing units at an average density of 274.7 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the CDP was 87.97% White, 0.09% African American, 6.87% Native American, 0.65% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 2.14% from other races, and 2.21% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.97%.

Of the 1,311 households 33.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.4% were married couples living together, 11.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.4% were non-families. 26.2% of households were one person and 13.7% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 2.96.

The age distribution was 27.7% under the age of 18, 6.2% from 18 to 24, 23.9% from 25 to 44, 27.1% from 45 to 64, and 15.0% 65 or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.2 males.

The median household income was $30,510 and the median family income was $37,682. Males had a median income of $42,314 versus $25,139 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $17,060. About 14.8% of families and 18.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.0% of those under age 18 and 11.1% of those age 65 or over.

Politics
In the state legislature Burney is located in, and.

Federally, Burney is in.

Popular culture
Parts of the 1986 film Stand by Me were filmed within the vicinity of Burney and Fall River Mills, California. The scene in which the boys outrace a locomotive across a trestle was filmed at Lake Britton on the McCloud River Railroad, near McArthur–Burney Falls Memorial State Park, California.

Jonathan Schmierer, Burney High School graduate, appeared on The Price Is Right during one of Bob Barker's final showings. He lost a game of Tic-Tac-Toe for a trip to the Ramada Inn in Ireland.

Climate
This region experiences warm (but not hot) and dry summers, with no average monthly temperatures above 71.6 °F. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Burney has a warm-summer Mediterranean climate, abbreviated "Csb" on climate maps.

title: Burney, California