"Riding the Wave: Santa Cruz's Epic Journey Through History"
Living in Santa Cruz, we’re seriously blessed with epic natural beauty and the chillest climate. This spot has been drawing folks in since way back when.
Scotts Valley was the first hangout for the earliest settlers here, like, 12,000 years ago – yep, way older than the pyramids! These ancient tribes were all about small group vibes, munching on seeds, and chasing after migratory game.
About 8,000 years ago, the Ohlone tribe cruised in from the Sierra Nevadas. They set up shop along our rad coast from Marin to Monterey County, living the good life off the marine bounty – seals, shellfish, otters, salmon, and birds.
In 1769, the Portola Expedition crew became the first non-natives to shred the Santa Cruz County coast, naming all the streams and rivers as they explored.
By 1791, Father Lausen, after taking over from Father Serra, planted a cross where Mission Santa Cruz – or "Holy Cross" – was built. This iconic mission wrapped up on September 25, 1791, making it the 12th California Mission.
Post-Mexican independence from Spain (1835-1840), the mission's land got secularized. Those 35 adobe pads on Mission Hill, which were mission central, morphed into the early town of Santa Cruz, eventually transforming for commercial use.
The late 1840s brought a wave of American newcomers, especially during the 1849 Gold Rush and California's statehood in 1850. Our cool adobes made way for tall Protestant church spires and white picket fences, bringing that classic American vibe.
Santa Cruz’s early industries were all about tapping into our natural resources. Lumber camps sprouted up in the redwood forests, particularly in the San Lorenzo Valley and Aptos areas. The McCrary family, who landed in Davenport in 1863, still runs Big Creek Lumber Company, one of the last two mills standing in Santa Cruz.
Henry Cowell’s limestone gig, based on today’s UCSC campus, was another big deal, dating back to the 1850s.
Salz Tannery, the oldest operating tannery in California, is the last of a once major industry in the county, which used to have eight or nine tanneries going strong.
From the 1880s through the turn of the century, agriculture was booming. Wilder Ranch State Park, with its historic dairy ranch, is a sweet reminder of that era.
In the Santa Cruz mountains, early vintners were crushing it with their fine California wines. Fontenay Vineyard on Vine Hill and the Ben Lomond Wine Company in Bonny Doon were the local legends.
Down in South County, apple orchards ruled the scene and still do. Other local faves include artichokes, brussels sprouts, strawberries, and flowers.
The railroad's arrival opened up a whole new way to stoke the area’s natural resources, kicking off the tourism wave. Early conservationists like Andrew Hill helped create Big Basin, California's first state park, in 1902.
Fred Swanton went big, dreaming up the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. After his original 1904 casino burned down in 1906, he bounced back with the one we know today. The Looff Carousel (1911) and the Giant Dipper roller coaster (1923) are both National Historic Landmarks now.
UC Santa Cruz, established in the mid-60s, brought a fresh wave of alternative lifestyles and new political trends, making our town even cooler.
The Loma Prieta Earthquake in October 1989 was a gnarly hit, but Santa Cruz rebuilt and bounced back stronger. Over the last 35 years, the arts scene here has exploded, getting both local love and national props in crafts, fine arts, dance, music, theater, and writing.
Santa Cruz is more than just a place; it’s a way of life with a killer history and an even brighter future. Catch the wave, and you’ll see why we love it here.
