[10] Situated on the northern edge of Monterey Bay, Santa Cruz is a popular tourist destination, owing to its beaches, surf culture, and historic landmarks.

[15] Prior to the arrival of Spanish soldiers, missionaries and colonists in the late 18th century, the area was home to the Awaswas nation of Ohlone people, who lived in a territory stretching slightly north of Davenport to Rio Del Mar.

Franciscan missionary Juan Crespí, traveling with the expedition, noted in his diary that, "This river was named San Lorenzo."

Next morning, the expedition set out again, and Crespi noted that, "Five hundred steps after we started we crossed a good arroyo of running water which descends from some high hills where it rises.

It was named "El Arroyo de la Santísima Cruz, which translates literally as "The Stream of the Most Holy Cross".

[21] He developed the first commercial blocks in downtown Santa Cruz with his early blacksmith foundry located at what is now the corner of Pacific Avenue and Mission Street.

[21] With Frederick A. Hihn, Anthony built the first private water supply network in the city and serving nearby communities.

The extensive complex built on the San Lorenzo River upstream of Santa Cruz used charcoal and powder kegs manufactured from local forests.

[26] Following the earthquake, a former building chief urged the city government to consider relocating to a safer location with lower risk of damage from seismic activity.

[35] Notable feminist activists Nikki Craft and Ann Simonton resided in Santa Cruz, where they formed the "Praying Mantis Brigade".

Due to its proximity to Monterey Bay, fog and low overcast are common during the night and morning hours, especially in the summer.

Santa Cruz frequently experiences an Indian summer, with the year's warmest temperatures often occurring in the autumn.

Since the city faces south rather than west with mountains to its north, temperatures are usually several degrees warmer than in coastal areas to its northwest.

[53] In recent years, citizen groups such as Take Back Santa Cruz, established in 2009, have lobbied city government and officials to address what they view as a public safety crisis, a situation that has gathered national attention.

Consequently, Pacific Avenue serves as an outlet for the artistic and unique culture[citation needed] that Santa Cruz possesses.

[62] The O'Neill Cold Water Classic is annual surfing event that draws crowds at the popular Steamer Lane.

The Santa Cruz surf shops continue to print T-shirts, and the Visitor's Bureau retains the right to use the trademark.

Santa Cruz has three greenbelt open space properties along the city limits, including Arana Gulch, Moore Creek, and Pogonip.

Local parks offer many opportunities for birding and butterfly watching, as well as outdoor sports such as skateboarding, cycling, camping, hiking, and rock climbing.

The Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk is California's oldest amusement park and a designated State Historic Landmark.

Home to a National Historic Landmark, a 1911 Charles I. D. Looff Carousel and 1924 Giant Dipper roller coaster, the Boardwalk has been owned and operated by the Santa Cruz Seaside Company since 1915.

In 2022, Santa Cruz switched from an at-large city council system to representation by district, with a separate elected mayor.

Radio stations broadcast from Santa Cruz include KSCO, KOMY, KZSC, KLVM, KSQL, KSQD, and KPIG-FM.

Geographically constrained between the Santa Cruz Mountains and the Monterey Bay, the narrow transportation corridor served by SR 1, California's Pacific Coast Highway, suffers excessive congestion.

Horsecars offered tram service from 1876, and the Santa Cruz, Garfield Park, and Capitola Electric Railroad began operations in 1881.

Other rail connections such as Altamont Corridor Express and Caltrain are also available at Amtrak's San Jose passenger station.

[87] The Santa Cruz, Big Trees and Pacific Railway operates diesel-electric tourist trains between the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk and Roaring Camp in Felton, through Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park, with its famous Redwood Grove walking trail.

[89] A 2013 article in the Santa Cruz Sentinel noted that according to FBI statistics, Santa Cruz had the highest property crime rates per capita for medium and large-sized cities in the state of California,[90] in addition to some of the highest violent crime rates in the state of California for medium and large-sized cities.

The article noted tourism, police staffing concerns, prolific liquor licenses, widespread availability of drugs, and large numbers of transients as potential causes.

[91] In 1973, after the discovery of four bodies in Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park, Peter Chang, the district attorney for Santa Cruz County referred to the city as "the murder capital of the world" in an interview.