[ Skip the following navigation links ] [ Local History][ Local History Search Form ][ Local History Photographs ][ Website Search Form ] [ Santa Cruz Public Libraries Home Page ]

Population Statistics
for Santa Cruz County and Cities, 1850-2000

Unless otherwise noted, statistics were taken from the "California Statistical Abstract," published by the Financial and Demographic Research Unit of the California Department of Finance. The following editions were used: 5th edition (1964), 21st edition (1980), and 37th edition (1996).

Year Santa Cruz Co. Santa Cruz Citya Watsonvilleb Boulder Creekc Soquelc Feltonc Capitolad Scotts Valleye
1850 6433 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
1860 4,9443 9502 3982 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
1870 8,7433 2,5612 1,1512 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
1880 12,8023 3,8982 1,7992 N/A 3282 2712 N/A N/A
1890 19,2701 5,5961 2,1492 4892 2,9822 2592 N/A N/A
1900 21,5121 5,6591 3,5282 N/A 2,9872 N/A N/A N/A
1910 26,1401 11,1461 4,4462 5442 N/A N/A N/A N/A
1920 26,269 10,9172 5,0132 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
1930 37,433 14,3952 8,3442 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
1940 45,057 16,896 8,937 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
1950 66,534 21,970 11,572 1,4972 N/A N/A 1,848 N/A
1960 84,219 25,596 13,293 1,3062 N/A 1,3802 2,021 N/A
1970 120,882 32,076 14,569 1,8062 5,7952 2,0622 5,080 3,621
1980 188,141 41,483 23,543 5,6622 6,2122 4,5642 9,095 6,891
1990 229,734 49,040 31,099 6,7252 9,1882 5,3502 10,171 8,615
2000 255,6025 54,5935 44,2655 4,0815 5,0815 1,0515 10,0335 11,3855

a Santa Cruz incorporated 1866.
b Watsonville incorporated 1868.
c The definitions of the unincorporated areas of Boulder Creek, Soquel and Felton are assumed to have changed between censuses.
d Capitola incorporated 1949.
e Scotts Valley incorporated 1966.

Notes:

"The boundaries of incorporated cities are usually well-defined, but they are not constant. Hence population change over time in a given place may reflect not only population growth, but a change in the area of an incorporated place. Non-incorporated areas usually have less well-defined boundaries." 4

Statistics for other areas of Santa Cruz County may be found on the California State Department of Finance web site at: http://www.dof.ca.gov/html/demograp/reportspapers/censussurveys/census%2Dhistorical/documents/calhist2.xls

Sources:

  1. U.S. Dept. of Commerce and Labor. Bureau of the Census. Thirteenth Census of the United States, taken in the year 1910. Government Printing Office, 1913.
  2. California State Department of Finance. Demographic Research Unit. Historical Census Populations of Places, Towns, and Cities in California, 1850-1990. [Table] (Online) http://www.dof.ca.gov/html/Demograp/calhist2.xls (visited October 13, 1999)
  3. California State Department of Finance. Demographic Research Unit. Historical Census Populations of California State and Counties, 1850-1990. (Online) http://www.dof.ca.gov/html/Demograp/1900-90.htm (visited October 15, 1999)
  4. California State Department of Finance. Demographic Research Unit. Historical Census Populations of Places, Towns, and Cities in California, 1850-1990. (Online) http://www.dof.ca.gov/html/Demograp/histtext.htm (visited October 19, 1999)
  5. U.S. Census Bureau. United States Census 2000. (Online through American Factfinder) http://factfinder.census.gov/ (visited November 7, 2001)

Disclaimer: It is the Library's intent to provide accurate local history information. However, it is not possible for the Library to completely verify the accuracy of individual articles obtained from a variety of sources. If you believe that factual statements in a local history article are incorrect and can provide documentation, please contact the Webmaster.

Local History || Santa Cruz Public Libraries' Home Page

webmaster@santacruzpl.org