Watsonville, California
| Watsonville | |
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| — City — | |
| City of Watsonville | |
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| Coordinates: 36°55′12″N 121°45′49″W / 36.92°N 121.76361°WCoordinates: 36°55′12″N 121°45′49″W / 36.92°N 121.76361°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | California |
| County | Santa Cruz |
| Area | |
| - Total | 6.5 sq mi (16.6 km2) |
| - Land | 6.4 sq mi (16.4 km2) |
| - Water | 0.1 sq mi (0.2 km2) |
| Elevation[1] | 29 ft (9 m) |
| Population (2008)[1] | |
| - Total | 50,442 |
| - Density | 7,881.6/sq mi (3,075.7/km2) |
| Time zone | PST (UTC-8) |
| - Summer (DST) | PDT (UTC-7) |
| ZIP codes | 95076-95077 |
| Area code(s) | 831 |
| FIPS code | 06-83668 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1660138 |
Watsonville is a city in Santa Cruz County, California, United States. The population was 44,265 at the 2000 census; the population is 52,543 as of May 2010.[2] Watsonville is a small farming community on the central coast of California. The city is home to people of varied ethnic backgrounds. There is a large Hispanic population, small Yugoslavian group, and a Filipino, Caucasian, and Japanese population of people that live and work in Watsonville. The economy centers predominantly around the farming industry. The city is known for growing strawberries, apples, lettuce and a host of other vegetables.
The Pajaro Valley has a climate that is usually pleasant - around 60 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit - year round. This climate makes Watsonville an attractive coastal environment for the neighboring inland communities with very hot summers. The Pajaro Valley Unified School District has an attendance of about 18,000 students kindergarten through 12th grades. There are several private religious based schools in Watsonville like Notre Dame School, Monte Vista Christian and Mt. Madonna School. These schools are also K through 12 and provide an educational option for non-public school families. Watsonville is generally conservative on the political spectrum and average in relationship to the neighboring communities of Salinas, Castroville, and Prunedale. The larger coastal town directly North of Watsonville is the city of Santa Cruz. Santa Cruz is a draw for many young college students who attend Cabrillo College or UC Santa Cruz. Because Watsonville and Santa Cruz are beach towns, it draws many visitors from San Jose and from the inland Valley areas. Like neighboring Salinas in Monterey County, Watsonville produces a variety of fruits and vegetables, primarily apples, strawberries, blackberries, raspberries, and table mushrooms.
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[edit] History
Watsonville is located on the Rancho Bolsa del Pajaro Mexican land grant made to Sebastian Rodríguez in 1837. Judge John H. Watson and D.S. Gregory laid out the town in 1852. Watsonville was incorporated on March 30,1868.
[edit] Economy
The main industries in Watsonville are agriculture, construction, and manufacturing. Some of the largest companies headquartered in Watsonville are Driscoll's Strawberries, Martinelli's, California Giant, Monterey Mushrooms, Graniterock, Granite Construction, West Marine, Vendwize, and Fox Racing Shox.
[edit] Geography
Watsonville is located at 36°55′12″N 121°45′49″W / 36.92°N 121.76361°W (36.920054, -121.763725)[3] in the Monterey Bay area, approximately 95 miles south of San Francisco at the southern end of Santa Cruz County.[4]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 6.4 square miles (16.7 km²), of which, 6.3 square miles (16.4 km2) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.2 km2) of it (1.24%) is water.
[edit] Climate
The National Weather Service cooperative station at the Watsonville Waterworks reports cool, relatively wet winters and mild, dry summers. Fog and low overcast is common in the night and morning hours, especially in the summer when warmer air from inland areas mixes with the cool, moist air near Monterey Bay.
January, normally the coldest month, has an average maximum of 59.9°F and an average minimum of 38.5°F. September, normally the warmest month, has an average maximum of 73.2°F and an average minimum of 51.7°F. There are an average of 4.9 days annually with highs of 90°F (32°C) or higher and an average of 13.5 days annually with lows of 32°F (0°C) or lower. Cool nights are common in the summer, due to the influence of chilly Monterey Bay. The record high temperature was 106°F on October 2, 1980. The record low temperature was 12°F on December 22, 1990.
Average annual rainfall is 22.42 inches, with measurable precipitation falling on an average of 61 days each year. The wettest year was 1983 with 48.35 inches and the driest year was 1976 with 10.66 inches. The most rainfall in one month was 15.99 inches in February 1998. The most rainfall in 24 hours was 5.93 inches on February 14, 2000. Although significant snowfall occurs several times a year on the higher mountains nearby, measurable snowfall is a rarity along Monterey Bay.[5]
[edit] Environmental features
The City of Watsonville has habitat areas that support the endangered species Santa Cruz Tarweed on the California coastal prairie ecosystem. Considerable population growth occurred since 1980, requiring preparation of a number of Environmental Impact Reports, with resultant development removing certain lands of the city from productive natural habitat.
Most of the coastal land adjacent to Watsonville is part of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, a designation championed by former Congressman Leon Panetta. Heading away from the coast, the backdrop features the southern end of the Santa Cruz Mountains, making this town a little "hideout" from Silicon Valley.
Watsonville wetlands - also referred to as Watsonville sloughs - are a system of fresh water sloughs in and around the City of Watsonville, California, which have since 1990 benefited from private and municipal efforts to restore and protect them. [6] They are described in the book "Watching the Watsonville Wetlands" by Jerry Busch, Gary Kittleson and Christine Johnson-Lyons and published by Watsonville Wetlands Watch which has worked to protect the sloughs. [7]
[edit] Recreation
[edit] Santa Cruz County Fair Grounds
Near the end of every summer, the Santa Cruz County fair has drawn visitors from across and outside the county to its many attractions including rides, food, art exhibits, flower exhibits, pony rides, petting zoos, dog shows, and live music performances, among other things.[8]
The fair grounds also host a number of different events including car races at the Ocean Speedway, dog training programs, wedding receptions, the annual Santa Cruz County Science Fair, and the Scottish Renaissance Festival.
[edit] Demographics
| Year | Pop. |
|---|---|
| 1860 | 398 |
| 1870 | 1,151 |
| 1880 | 1,799 |
| 1890 | 2,149 |
| 1900 | 3,528 |
| 1910 | 4,446 |
| 1920 | 5,013 |
| 1930 | 8,344 |
| 1940 | 8,937 |
| 1950 | 11,572 |
| 1960 | 13,293 |
| 1970 | 14,569 |
| 1980 | 23,543 |
| 1990 | 31,099 |
| 2000 | 44,265 |
As of the census[10] of 2000, there were 44,265 people, 11,381 households, and 8,865 families residing in the city. The population density was 6,969.4 people per square mile (2,691.5/km²). There were 11,695 housing units at an average density of 1,841.3/sq mi (711.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 43.00% White, 0.75% African American, 1.74% Native American, 3.29% Asian, 0.12% Pacific Islander, 45.92% from other races, and 5.18% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 75.12% of the population, with the majority of these being of Mexican origin.
Watsonville also has a large Asian-American presence consisting of Chinese, Japanese and Filipinos despite the fact that the percentage of city residents of Asian descent has dropped since 1960. The Chinese, Japanese and Filipinos had residential sections and opened many businesses to serve their customer base in town during the mid 20th century. The history of East Asians in Watsonville dates back to the late 19th century and are involved in the local agricultural industry. It is presumed that as a result of Japanese-American internment during WWII, local farm companies began to attract Mexican migrant labor to the area in higher numbers and the town's racial-ethnic composition became more Hispanic in the 1980s and 1990s.[citation needed]
There were 11,381 households out of which 49.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.3% were married couples living together, 16.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.1% were non-families. 17.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.84 and the average family size was 4.26.
In the city the population was spread out with 34.0% under the age of 18, 11.8% from 18 to 24, 30.5% from 25 to 44, 15.1% from 45 to 64, and 8.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 27 years. For every 100 females there were 101.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.4 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $37,617, and the median income for a family was $40,293. Males had a median income of $26,701 versus $22,225 for females. The per capita income for the city was $13,205. About 15.4% of families and 19.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.8% of those under age 18 and 8.8% of those age 65 or over.
[edit] Politics
In the state legislature Watsonville is located in the 15th Senate District, represented by Republican Abel Maldonado, and in the 28th Assembly District, represented by Democrat Anna M. Caballero. Federally, Watsonville is located in California's 17th congressional district, which has a Cook PVI of D +17[11] and is represented by Democrat Sam Farr. The mayor of Watsonville is Luis A. Alejo.
[edit] Fluoridation
Watsonville does not practice water fluoridation. A proposal to fluoridate public water supplies narrowly failed a voter referendum in 2002, and the Martinelli beverage company has threatened to move a planned expansion elsewhere rather than use fluoridated water in its products. Local health-care professionals argue that the city is experiencing a tooth decay epidemic.[12]
[edit] Media
[edit] Television
The Monterey/Salinas metro area is served by a variety of local television stations, and is the 124th largest designated market area (DMA) in the U.S. with 222,900 homes:
- Channel 2: KOTR - (MNT) - Monterey/Salinas/Santa Cruz (Comcast Cable 11)
- Channel 7 (cable-only): ABC 7 - (ABC) - Del Rey Oaks
- Channel 8: KSBW - (NBC) - Salinas
- Channel 15: KMUV - (Telemundo) - Monterey/Salinas/Santa Cruz (Simulcast of KSTS 48)
- Channel 25: KQET - (PBS) - Watsonville (Simulcast of San Jose's KTEH)
- Channel 33: KDJT - (Telefutura) - Monterey
- Channel 35: KCBA - (Fox Broadcasting Company) - Salinas
- Channel 43: KMCE - (Azteca América) - Monterey/Salinas
- Channel 46: KION - (CBS) - Salinas
- Channel 67: KSMS-TV - (Univision) - Monterey
The Monterey/Salinas area lost its American Broadcasting Company broadcast affiliate in 2000, when KNTV was purchased, and then became the NBC station for the San Francisco Oakland San Jose metropolitan area. KNTV, now known as NBC11, later moved its tower from Loma Prieta Peak to San Bruno Mountain, ceasing its coverage in Monterey. At that time, ABC reached an agreement with Comcast Cable to provide a slightly-customized feed of San Francisco ABC O&O KGO-TV for the Monterey area, branded simply as ABC 7 and occasionally referred to by the mock call letters AABC.
[edit] Radio
- KAZU, 90.3 FM
- KSCO, 1080 AM
- KUSP, 88.9 FM
- KZSC, 88.1 FM
- Free Radio Santa Cruz, FRSC 101.1 FM
- KHIP, 104.3 FM
- KAPU, 104.7 FM
- KPIG-FM, 107.5 FM
- KDON, 102.5 or 102.3 FM
[edit] Newspapers
[edit] Education
[edit] Public schools
Public schools in Watsonville fall under the jurisdiction of the Pajaro Valley Unified School District.[13]
[edit] Elementary schools
- Amesti Elementary School: Grades K-5
- Ann Soldo Elementary School: Grades K-5
- Bradley Elementary School: Grades K-6
- Calabasas Elementary School: Grades K-6
- H. A. Hyde Elementary School: Grades K-5
- T. S. MacQuiddy Elementary School: Grades K-5
- Mintie White Elementary School: Grades K-5
- Ohlone Elementary School: Grades K-5
- Starlight Elementary School: Grades K-5
- Radcliff Elementary School: Grades K-5
- Landmark Elementary School: Grades K-5
- Hall District Elementary School: Grades K-5
- Salsipuedes Elementary school: Grades K-5 {Currently Alianza Charter School: Grades K-8}
[edit] Middle schools
- E. A. Hall Middle School: Grades 6-8
- Lakeview Middle School: Grades 6-8
- Pajaro Middle School: Grades 6-8
- Rolling Hills Middle School: Grades 6-8
- Cesar E. Chavez Middle School: Grades 6-8
- Solano Summit Academy: Grades 6-8
[edit] High schools
- Watsonville High School: Grades 9-12
- New School Community Day: Grades 9-12
- Pajaro Valley High School: Grades 9-12
- Renaissance High School: Grades 9-12
- Watsonville Community School
[edit] Charter
All charter schools in Watsonville are under the jurisdiction of the Pajaro Valley Unified School District.
- Academic/Vocational Charter Institute: Grades 10-12
- Alianza Charter School: Grades K-8 {Formerly Salsipuedes Elementary school: Grades K-5}
- Linscott Charter School: Grades K-8
- Pacific Coast Charter School: Grades K-12
- Watsonville Charter School of the Arts: Grades K-8
[edit] Private
- Green Valley Christian School: Grades K-8
- Moreland Notre Dame: Grades K-8
- Monte Vista Christian: Grades 6-12
- Mount Madonna School: Grades K-12
- St. Francis Central Coast Catholic High School: Grades 9-12
- Potter's House Community Christian School:K-12
[edit] Community College
- Cabrillo College: Watsonville Branch
[edit] Notable residents
The following individuals were born in, or have resided in, Watsonville:
- Natasha Bobo, actress (b. 1980)
- Ernest "Ernie" Chavez, musician/actor (b. 1927)
- Sherman Cocroft, professional football player (b. 1961)
- Joel Fabiani, actor (b. 1936)
- Marv Marinovich, professional foorball player (b. 1939)
- Josh Taves, professional football player (b. 1972)
[edit] Gallery
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[edit] References
- ^ a b Watsonville, California (City-Data.com)
- ^ Official City Website
- ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2000 and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2005-05-03. http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/gazette.html. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ^ http://www.ci.watsonville.ca.us
- ^ Central California
- ^ Santa Cruz Sentinel: "Conservation victory for Watsonville sloughs", 09/22/2009
- ^ Busch, Jerry. "Watching the Watsonville Wetlands". Self-published by Watsonville Wetlands watch, Freedom, California. ISBN 0-9679463-0-1
- ^ http://www.santacruzcountyfair.com/index.cfm
- ^ Santa Cruz Public Libraries. [http://www.santacruzpl.org/history/weather/popstats.shtml "Population Statistics for Santa Cruz County and Cities, 1850-2000"]. http://www.santacruzpl.org/history/weather/popstats.shtml. Retrieved 2006-11-22.
- ^ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ^ "Will Gerrymandered Districts Stem the Wave of Voter Unrest?". Campaign Legal Center Blog. http://www.clcblog.org/blog_item-85.html. Retrieved 2008-02-10.
- ^ Chawkins S. Anger fuels water-fluoridation debate in Watsonville. Los Angeles Times. 2010-02-15.
- ^ Pajaro Valley Unified School District
[edit] External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Watsonville, California |
- Official City Website
- Santa Cruz Wiki - The People's Guide to Santa Cruz County, California.
- Santa Cruz County Conference & Visitors Council - Watsonville Visitor Information
- Watsonville Public Library
- Watsonville Community Connections
- Santa Cruz County History
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