Santa Cruz County
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- Population
- 264,926
- Area
- 445.11 sq mi (1,152.82 km²), 162.05 sq mi water
- Median age
- 39.8
- Households
- 96,898
- Persons per household
- 2.6
- Median household income
- $111,093
- Median house value
- $1,027,500
Demographics: 2020–2024 ACS
Cities & Towns in Santa Cruz County
Local News
Lookout Santa Cruz
Published 14 hours agoCabrillo College’s ‘La Resiliencia’ celebrates Latino identity, art and community
Cabrillo Gallery’s “LatinXperiencia 2026: La Resiliencia” celebrates the resilience of the Latino community through ceramics, paintings and mixed media work. Alyssarhaye Graciano, who curates at MACLA in San Jose, selected works that show how artists are processing identity and…
Lookout Santa Cruz
Published 15 hours agoStep inside: The magic of Santa Cruz County Open Studios
Open Studios has begun. For the first three weekends of October, Santa Cruz County artists are opening their studios — inviting us into the places where the work gets made. This year, close to 350 artists are participating, including 69 newcomers, with a new preview exhibit at MK…
Lookout Santa Cruz
Published October 02How a Watsonville project is preserving the stories of Filipino farmworkers for a new generation
The fifth annual Watsonville Filipino American History Month festival, hosted by the Tobera Project, celebrates Filipino culture, food and music while uplifting the Manong generation of farmworkers in the Pajaro Valley.
Lookout Santa Cruz
Published October 02Santa Cruz appoints 25-year veteran Jose Garcia as interim police chief
Jose Garcia will become Santa Cruz’s interim police chief on Oct. 31, succeeding retiring Chief Bernie Escalante. Garcia has served as the department’s deputy chief since 2020.
Lookout Santa Cruz
Published October 02Friday evening traffic: Highway 9, Highway 1, SR-236, SR-152 lane closures for roadwork
Friday traffic trouble spots in and around Santa Cruz County.