California

Monterey

439,035
2020 population
1850
first census record
18
census records

About Monterey

Monterey, California, first appears in the United States federal census in 1850, when it recorded a population of 1,872. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 439,035.

The county's recorded population has risen across the decades to its highest level in 2020.

On the ground today, 9 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Salinan / Chumash Skirmish near Monterey 1769, Battle of Natividad, USS Savannah at Monterey, and 64 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
2020439,035
2010415,057
2000401,762
1990355,660
1980290,444
1970250,071
1960198,351
1950130,498
194073,032
193053,705
192027,980
191024,146
190019,380
189018,637
188011,302
18709,876
18604,739
18501,872
Source

Population data from the United States decennial census, U.S. Census Bureau (public domain).

Battles & engagements in Monterey

Military engagements that took place in Monterey, California.

Salinan / Chumash Skirmish near Monterey 1769
1769
Battle of Natividad
1846
USS Savannah at Monterey
1846
Capture of Monterey California
1846
Capture of Monterey, California
1846
Battle of Dominguez Rancho / Natividad
1846
Battle of Natividad – Detail
1846
Monterey California – Sloat's Annexation Landing
1846
Pacific Squadron Operations — California and Baja
1846

Historic places in Monterey

National Register of Historic Places listings in Monterey, California.

Post, Joseph W., House
Big Sur
Dutton Hotel, Stagecoach Station
Jolon
Monterey Old Town Historic District
Monterey
Centrella Hotel
Pacific Grove
Jeffers, Robinson, House
Carmel
Merritt, Josiah, Adobe
Monterey
Bontadelli, Peter J., House
Salinas
Asilomar Conference Grounds
Pacific Grove
Gil, Jose Mario, Adobe
Jolon
Olvida Penas
Pebble Beach
Deetjen's Big Sur Inn
Big Sur
Stevenson House
Monterey
Royal Presidio Chapel
Monterey
Pacific Biological Laboratories
Monterey
El Castillo
Monterey
Rancho San Lucas
San Lucas
Point Sur Light Station
Big Sur
Trimmer Hill
Pacific Grove
Porter-Vallejo Mansion
Pajaro
Castroville Japanese Language School
Castroville
Tidball Store
Jolon
Larkin House
Monterey
Milpitas Ranchhouse
King City
Republic Cafe
Salinas
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Other counties in California

Explore census history and historic records for more California counties.

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Everything a full report reveals about Monterey County, California

This page charts the census history of Monterey County, California. A full Aubrey report for an address here pulls together everything the historical record holds about the ground, from the earliest settlement to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Frequently asked about Monterey

When does Monterey first appear in the US census?
Monterey, California first appears in the federal census in 1850, with a recorded population of 1,872.
What is the population of Monterey?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Monterey had a recorded population of 439,035.
Were any battles fought in Monterey?
9 documented military engagements took place in Monterey, including Salinan / Chumash Skirmish near Monterey 1769, Battle of Natividad, USS Savannah at Monterey.
How many historic places are in Monterey?
64 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Monterey, California.
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