Santa Cruz County

On Monday, May 14th, the county of Santa Cruz will host day two of the Amgen Tour of California .  The city of Santa Cruz hosted stage finishes in 2009 and 2010  and now the county and community of Santa Cruz are pulling together to welcome the tour back.   Santa Cruz County is situated at the northern tip of Monterey Bay , 65 miles south of San Francisco , 35 miles north of Monterey , and 35 miles southwest of the Silicon Valley . Its natural beauty is present in the pristine beaches, lush redwood forests, and rich farmland. It has an ideal Mediterranean climate with low humidity and sunshine 300 days a year.
There are four incorporated cities within Santa Cruz County . The largest is the City of Santa Cruz , with a population of 54,593. Watsonville has a population of 44,265; Scotts Valley has 11,385, and Capitola has 10,033.
 
Santa Cruz County is the Gateway to the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, has 29 miles of beaches and includes six state parks and six state beaches. Situated
between magnificent redwood forested mountains and the Pacific Ocean, the County of Santa Cruz has a surprisingly wide variety of topographical features, with diverse habitats and wildlife, all connected by mere minutes on bicycle. This amazing natural environment fosters a myriad of outdoor recreation opportunities, making Santa Cruz County a thriving mecca for outdoor sports, from hiking, to surfing, to sailing – and cycling.
 
The State of California owns and maintains 42,334 acres of parks in the coastal and mountainous areas of Santa Cruz County . The County maintains an additional 850 acres of parks, and additional parks are also found within the cities. Cultural amenities include the Santa Cruz County Symphony, the Cabrillo Music Festival, Shakespeare Santa Cruz, the McPherson Museum of Art and History, the University of California Performing Arts Center , and the Henry J. Mello Performing Arts Center .
 
Santa Cruz County ’s strong local economy is anchored by vibrant high technology, agriculture, and tourism, and the school system includes Cabrillo Community College and the University of California , Santa Cruz . Santa Cruz also hosts the Long Marine Laboratory, the Lick Observatory, the National Marine Fisheries service, and the Oiled Wildlife Veterinary Care and Research Center .