Castroville is an unincorporated town and census-designated place (CDP) in Monterey County, California, United States.

[6] Following the American Conquest of California, Juan Bautista Castro founded Castroville in 1863.

Rancho Bolsa Nueva y Moro Cojo was a 30,901-acre (125.05 km2) Mexican land grant given in 1844 by Governor Manuel Micheltorena to Maria Antonia Pico de Castro, Juan Bautista Castro's mother.

Rancho Bolsa Nueva y Moro Cojo is a combination of three land grants: Rancho Bolsa Nueva y Moro Cojo, given in 1844 by Governor Micheltorena to María Antonia Pico de Castro;[6] Rancho Bolsa del Potrero y Moro Cojo, in 1822 by Governor Pablo Vicente de Solá to Joaquín de la Torre.

In the 1840s, mapmaker Duflot de Mofras wrote, "A few leagues before reaching the Pajaro River, an area measuring a few hundred meters where the ground trembles under the horses feet, although the earth is hard and covered by turf, is encountered.

A lottery was established, and 100 lots were given away to any person who would clear land and build homes.

In 1870 Manuel R. Merritt, editor of the Castroville Argus, announced, "We will give alternate lots, on any part of the town site we still own… to any person who will build as practicable, a good comfortable dwelling house on his lot.

"[citation needed] Juan Bautista Castro ran for county supervisor for the district.

Castro, Merritt, Geil and others traveled to the oldest settlement of Sotoville in Salinas, where the Indians and Paisanos lived.

Castro packed the tortilla cast iron pans, personal items and moved the people to Juan Pomber's hotel for ninety days.

Juan Bautista Castro had ambitions of Castroville becoming the new station freight depot.

Castroville was still considered an important stop, serving as the "point of juncture of the road from Monterey, and from Soledad to San Francisco."

The office was in the Hicks Building (hardware store, later turned into school house, La Scuola) on the corner of Merritt and Poole Streets.

They were instrumental in clearing the slough, wetlands, and marshes especially in the northern section of the Rancho Bolsa Nueva y Moro Cojo.

The Monterey County Assessor listed fifteen Chinese companies farming sugar beets in the area of Castroville.

It prohibited aliens ineligible for citizenship from owning agricultural land or possessing long-term leases over it.

It created an inhospitable environment among contractors working here in the Monterey Bay Area.

The Chinese contractors made many contributions to the area, especially in the agriculture, railroad, and fishing industry.

California's first artichoke fields grew south of San Francisco, near the town of Half Moon Bay, in the early 1920s.

Within four years, there were over 50 growers and 12,000 acres (4,900 ha) of artichokes growing in Castroville and the Monterey Bay area.

She worked for Monterey County in the Planning Department, and was involved in the Junior League, Buena Vista Garden Club, American Cancer Society, and other civic-minded organizations.

[citation needed] Stanley Seedman, owner of Carlyle's Jewelers in Salinas, California, made arrangements for a model named Doreen Nash to model for a big promotional sale in Salinas in February 1948.

[16] Monroe spent a week in the Monterey Bay area, visiting and promoting her career.

Monroe was asked to draw the lucky ticket for a $250 diamond ring in the Vogue Theater.

She posed with Edward Modena, Randy Barsotti, and Enrico Bellone, each holding artichokes.

[17] The photographs of Marilyn wearing the sash and holding artichokes were used in advertisements and passed throughout the produce industry.

[citation needed] The Castroville Water District was founded in 1952 to replace private wells.

At the time of the merger, the Castroville CSA included North Monterey County High School and Moro Cojo, a subdivision in Prunedale which receives separate water service.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the Castroville CDP has an area of 1.0 square mile (2.6 km2), all of it land.

[39] In the long term, Amtrak's Capitol Corridor trains may be extended to Salinas as well.