Long the home of artists, college students, hippies, surfers and sailors, Santa Cruz is undergoing a renaissance. High tech companies have joined together with local government and businesses, like Odwalla (the fresh juice people), infusing a downtown renovation much needed after the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake. Santa Cruz is the seat of Santa Cruz County Government, located on the northern, "sunny-side" of Monterey Bay. It is a diverse, vibrant community, a thriving tourist center, and a manufacturing city all situated in a productive agricultural area; manufacturers include electronic equipment and processed food. The University of California-Santa Cruz (1965) is located here. 

The city's name is derived from Mission La Exaltaciõn de la Santa Cruz, founded here by the Spanish in 1791 and destroyed by fire in 1856. A replica of the original Santa Cruz Mission is a local attraction, as is a seaside commercial and amusement area. Begonia gardens and stands of redwoods are located near the city. Santa Cruz was near the epicenter of the 1989 earthquake that struck the region; as a result the city sustained extensive damage. 

Enjoy a stroll past shops offering handmade goods from local artists, intriguing bookstores and stop for coffee or lunch. Visit the Boardwalk and ride the Giant Dipper, a 1924-vintage wooden roller coaster. Take a stroll along the beach, up a mountain, or under a giant grove of Redwoods. It's only 75 miles from San Francisco, an ideal weekend getaway or vacation side trip. Santa Cruz was incorporated as a city in 1866. Population 41,483 (1980); 49,040 (1990); 51,155 (1996), 54,593 (2000).