Santa Cruz
City in Santa Cruz County, California

Santa Cruz is a city in Santa Cruz County, California, with 62,956 residents (2020 Census). It sits at 36 ft (11 m) above sea level. The nearest town is Pasatiempo, 2.1 miles N.
- 62,956residents (2020 Census)
- 36 ftelevation · 11 m
- 12.7 sq miland area · 33.0 km²
- 4,941 / sq mipopulation density
- 95064main ZIP code (2 in total)
About Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz (Spanish pronunciation: [ˌsanta ˈkɾus]; Spanish for 'Holy Cross') is the largest city in, and the county seat of, Santa Cruz County, California, United States. As of the 2020 census, the city population was 62,956. Situated on the northern edge of Monterey Bay, Santa Cruz is a popular tourist destination, owing to its beaches, surf culture, and historic landmarks.
Santa Cruz was founded by the Spanish in 1791, when Fermín de Lasuén established Mission Santa Cruz. Soon after, a settlement grew up near the mission called Branciforte, which came to be known across Alta California for its lawlessness. With the Mexican secularization of the Californian missions in 1833, the former mission was divided and granted as rancho grants. Following the American Conquest of California and the admission of California as a U. S. state in 1850, Santa Cruz was incorporated as a town in 1866, and became a charter city in 1876. The completion of the South Pacific Coast Railroad in 1880 and the creation of the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk in 1904 solidified the city's status as a seaside resort community, while the establishment of the University of California, Santa Cruz, in 1965 made Santa Cruz a college town.
Text: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
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- Median household income
- $115,475
- Median home value
- $1,209,000
- Median rent
- $2,452/mo
- Median age
- 31.1
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Map of Santa Cruz
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Open in Google Maps ›Santa Cruz, CA population
Santa Cruz had 62,956 residents in the 2020 Census.
| 2020 Census | 62,956 |
|---|---|
| Density | 4,941 per sq mi (1,908 per km²) |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Decennial Census.
Santa Cruz at a glance
| State | California (CA) |
|---|---|
| County | Santa Cruz County |
| Type | City |
| Population | 62,956 (2020) |
| Land area | 12.74 sq mi (33.0 km²) |
| Water area | 3.09 sq mi (8.00 km²) |
| Elevation | 36 ft (11 m) |
| Coordinates | 36.9744° N, 122.0353° W |
| ZIP codes | 95064, 95062 |
| Census code (GEOID) | 0669112 |
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Gazetteer, ZCTA), USGS GNIS, Wikidata.
Towns near Santa Cruz
- Pasatiempo2.1 mi N
- Paradise Park2.2 mi N
- Twin Lakes2.6 mi E
- Live Oak3.1 mi E
- Pleasure Point3.7 mi E
- Capitola4.5 mi E
- Soquel5.1 mi E
- Felton5.1 mi NW
- Mount Hermon5.4 mi N
- Scotts Valley5.8 mi N
- Seacliff6.4 mi E
- Bonny Doon7.4 mi NW
Straight-line distance between town centers.
Frequently asked questions about Santa Cruz
What county is Santa Cruz in?
Santa Cruz is in Santa Cruz County, California.
What is the population of Santa Cruz, CA?
62,956 people lived in Santa Cruz at the 2020 Census.
What is the ZIP code of Santa Cruz, CA?
The main ZIP code is 95064. Other ZIP codes: 95062.
What is the elevation of Santa Cruz?
36 feet (11 m) above sea level.
What towns are near Santa Cruz?
Pasatiempo (2.1 mi), Paradise Park (2.2 mi), Twin Lakes (2.6 mi), Live Oak (3.1 mi), Pleasure Point (3.7 mi).
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