California

Santa Cruz

270,861
2020 population
1850
first census record
18
census records

About Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz, California, first appears in the United States federal census in 1850, when it recorded a population of 643. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 270,861.

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

On the ground today, 46 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
2020270,861
2010262,382
2000255,602
1990229,734
1980188,141
1970123,790
196084,219
195066,534
194045,057
193037,433
192026,269
191026,140
190021,512
189019,270
188012,802
18708,743
18604,944
1850643
Source

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

Historic places in Santa Cruz

National Register of Historic Places listings in Santa Cruz, California.

Rispin Mansion
Capitola
Hotel Metropole
Santa Cruz
Venetian Court Apartments
Capitola
Santa Cruz Downtown Historic District
Santa Cruz
Scott, Hiram D., House
Scotts Valley
Hinds, A. J., House
Santa Cruz
Octagon Building
Santa Cruz
Neary-Rodriguez Adobe
Santa Cruz
Looff Carousel and Roller Coaster on the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
Santa Cruz
Grace Episcopal Church
Boulder Creek
Felton Covered Bridge
Felton
Redman House
Watsonville
Golden Gate Villa
Santa Cruz
Cowell Lime Works Historic District
Santa Cruz
California Powder Works Bridge
Santa Cruz
Glen Canyon Covered Bridge
Santa Cruz
Bockius, Godfrey M., House
Watsonville
Hihn Building
Capitola
Castro, Jose Joaquin, Adobe
Watsonville
Felton Presbyterian Church
Felton
Branciforte Adobe
Santa Cruz
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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 Santa Cruz County, California

This page charts the census history of Santa Cruz 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 Santa Cruz

When does Santa Cruz first appear in the US census?
Santa Cruz, California first appears in the federal census in 1850, with a recorded population of 643.
What is the population of Santa Cruz?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Santa Cruz had a recorded population of 270,861.
How many historic places are in Santa Cruz?
46 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Santa Cruz, California.
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