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Santa Cruz County History - Articles

Browsing Local History Articles tagged "Castro family"

The Early Years: Rio Del Mar and Aptos, by Allen Collins

"Rio Del Mar" (River to the Sea) was coined as a rhythmic, catchy place-name in the late 1920's to sell ... [Read more]

Rafael Castro's Rancho Aptos was Oldest Land Grant to Remain Under Mexican Ownership, by Jim Johnson

Santa Cruz County, like California, underwent a massive transformation in the mid-19th century as the Mexican government turned over control ... [Read more]

The Days of the Sugar Pier: Aptos Wharf Once Stretched Quarter Mile from Shore, by Mary Bryant

Back in the days when the roads leading into town were dirt and narrow, a series of piers lined the ... [Read more]

Pioneer Spirit: A History of the Winterhalder Family in Santa Cruz County, by Geoffrey Dunn

Well into his ninth decade, George Lyle Winterhalder still has a sparkle in his eyes and a bit of the ... [Read more]

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Explore Santa Cruz County History!

Part 1

The roads over the Santa Cruz Mountains served not only the settlers and loggers living and working on the summit, but also provided the means by which people could travel to and from Santa Cruz or San Jose via the stagecoach. The early organized road companies quickly ..." [More]

Excerpted from Stagecoach Days in the Mountains by Stephen Michael Payne