Davenport, California
Encyclopedia
Davenport is a census-designated place
(CDP) in Santa Cruz County
, California
. Davenport sits at an elevation of 259 feet (78.9 m). The 2010 United States census reported Davenport's population was 408.
It lies along the coast of the Pacific Ocean
, situated about 9 miles north of the town of Santa Cruz
, on Highway One
. Originally on the banks of San Vicente Creek
, the town expanded to the north during the twentieth century.
The town is presently noted for the spectacular cliffs and bluffs above the Pacific, beaches in between cliffs, surfing opportunities, the cement
plant run by Cemex (shuttered in January 2010), and the former headquarters of Odwalla
, a company that makes fruit juices.
When Captain Davenport went bankrupt, his assets were auctioned off to pay creditors. Among the items auctioned off were whaling items leading to speculation that he carried out whaling activities from the port, especially after he started losing money. However, no eyewitness reports of whaling activities at Davenport Landing have been found.
In 1905, an east coast cement businessman named William Dingee began the Santa Cruz Lime Company on the banks of San Vicente Creek two miles south of Davenport Landing. In the following year, the Santa Cruz Portland Cement Company was built nearby. At that time, the closed Davenport Landing post office opened up in the settlement that was growing up around the cement plant. It again only used the name of Davenport; hence, the name of the town.
St. Vincent DePaul Church, in Davenport, was built entirely of cement from the local cement factory in 1914 and is the subject of a famous photograph by Ansel Adams
.
Of historical interest is the Davenport Jail. It has two cells, and was used only twice from the time of its construction in 1914 until its decommissioning in 1936. Today it is a museum featuring coastal history supported by volunteers from the Santa Cruz Museum of Art and History
.
The southern portion of the Ocean Shore Railroad
operated between Davenport and Santa Cruz from 1907 to 1920. The Southern Pacific freight line between the two communities is still in place.
Davenport has three restaurants, two art galleries, a store, a post office, the Davenport Cash Store
, and an elementary school - Pacific School, the only school in the Pacific Elementary School District.
Davenport is also home to American Abalone,http://usabalone.com/index.htm which is a producer of farm raised California Red Abalone. California farm raised abalone has been selected by the Monterey Bay Aquarium's Sea Watch program as an excellent choice for environmentally conscious seafood consumers.
The ZIP Code
is 95017 and the community is inside area code 831
.
37.011667°N 122.190833°W.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the CDP covers an area of 2.8 square miles (7.4 km²), 99.63% of it land and 0.37% of it water.
was 143.4 people per square mile (55.4/km²). The racial makeup of Davenport was 272 (66.7%) White, 6 (1.5%) African American, 5 (1.2%) Native American, 12 (2.9%) Asian, 82 (20.1%) from other races
, and 31 (7.6%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 172 persons (42.2%).
The Census reported that 349 people (85.5% of the population) lived in households, 59 (14.5%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 0 (0%) were institutionalized.
There were 123 households, out of which 36 (29.3%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 51 (41.5%) were opposite-sex married couples
living together, 16 (13.0%) had a female householder with no husband present, 11 (8.9%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 15 (12.2%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships
, and 3 (2.4%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 30 households (24.4%) were made up of individuals and 13 (10.6%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.84. There were 78 families
(63.4% of all households); the average family size was 3.36.
The population was spread out with 79 people (19.4%) under the age of 18, 41 people (10.0%) aged 18 to 24, 115 people (28.2%) aged 25 to 44, 132 people (32.4%) aged 45 to 64, and 41 people (10.0%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40.3 years. For every 100 females there were 137.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 141.9 males.
There were 139 housing units at an average density of 48.9 per square mile (18.9/km²), of which 56.1% were owner-occupied and 43.9% were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.4%; the rental vacancy rate was 1.8%. 49.5% of the population lived in owner-occupied housing units and 36.0% lived in rental housing units.
Census-designated place
A census-designated place is a concentration of population identified by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes. CDPs are delineated for each decennial census as the statistical counterparts of incorporated places such as cities, towns and villages...
(CDP) in Santa Cruz County
Santa Cruz County, California
Santa Cruz County is a county located on the Pacific coast of the U.S. state of California, on the California Central Coast. The county forms the northern coast of the Monterey Bay. . As of the 2010 U.S. Census, its population was 262,382. The county seat is Santa Cruz...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. Davenport sits at an elevation of 259 feet (78.9 m). The 2010 United States census reported Davenport's population was 408.
Situation
Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
, situated about 9 miles north of the town of Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz, California
Santa Cruz is the county seat and largest city of Santa Cruz County, California in the US. As of the 2010 U.S. Census, Santa Cruz had a total population of 59,946...
, on Highway One
California State Route 1
State Route 1 , more often called Highway 1, is a state highway that runs along much of the Pacific coast of the U.S. state of California. It is famous for running along some of the most beautiful coastlines in the world, leading to its designation as an All-American Road.Highway 1 does not run...
. Originally on the banks of San Vicente Creek
San Vicente Creek (Santa Cruz County)
San Vicente Creek is a northern California coastal stream which flows entirely within Santa Cruz County and discharges to the Pacific Ocean...
, the town expanded to the north during the twentieth century.
The town is presently noted for the spectacular cliffs and bluffs above the Pacific, beaches in between cliffs, surfing opportunities, the cement
Cement
In the most general sense of the word, a cement is a binder, a substance that sets and hardens independently, and can bind other materials together. The word "cement" traces to the Romans, who used the term opus caementicium to describe masonry resembling modern concrete that was made from crushed...
plant run by Cemex (shuttered in January 2010), and the former headquarters of Odwalla
Odwalla
Odwalla Inc. is an American food product company that sells fruit juice, smoothies and food bars. It was founded in Santa Cruz, California in 1980 and is headquartered in Half Moon Bay, California....
, a company that makes fruit juices.
History and attractions
The town of Davenport got its name when a whaling captain named John Pope Davenport settled at El Jarro Point in 1867 and built a 400 foot wharf at the mouth of the Agua Puerca Creek, also known as the Muddy Water Creek. This wharf was built to load the lumber brought down from the hills for shipment to Santa Cruz. A small village grew up around the port and was known as Davenport Landing. The local post office began operations in 1874, but was known only as Davenport. The Muddy Water Creek lived up to its name by bringing down so much mud that the port filled up and steamers could not tie up to the wharf to load lumber. A small extension did not solve the problem. Then a competitor built a longer wharf, but it was destroyed in a storm. Captain Davenport went bankrupt and moved to Santa Cruz. The post office in Davenport Landing closed in 1889.When Captain Davenport went bankrupt, his assets were auctioned off to pay creditors. Among the items auctioned off were whaling items leading to speculation that he carried out whaling activities from the port, especially after he started losing money. However, no eyewitness reports of whaling activities at Davenport Landing have been found.
In 1905, an east coast cement businessman named William Dingee began the Santa Cruz Lime Company on the banks of San Vicente Creek two miles south of Davenport Landing. In the following year, the Santa Cruz Portland Cement Company was built nearby. At that time, the closed Davenport Landing post office opened up in the settlement that was growing up around the cement plant. It again only used the name of Davenport; hence, the name of the town.
St. Vincent DePaul Church, in Davenport, was built entirely of cement from the local cement factory in 1914 and is the subject of a famous photograph by Ansel Adams
Ansel Adams
Ansel Easton Adams was an American photographer and environmentalist, best known for his black-and-white photographs of the American West, especially in Yosemite National Park....
.
Of historical interest is the Davenport Jail. It has two cells, and was used only twice from the time of its construction in 1914 until its decommissioning in 1936. Today it is a museum featuring coastal history supported by volunteers from the Santa Cruz Museum of Art and History
Museum of Art and History
The Museum of Art and History, also known as the Santa Cruz Museum of Art and History, is a non-profit educational institution in Santa Cruz, California. It is located at the downtown McPherson Center. Its aim is to promote a greater understanding of contemporary art and the history of Santa Cruz...
.
The southern portion of the Ocean Shore Railroad
Ocean Shore Railroad
The Ocean Shore Railroad was intended to be built from San Francisco to Santa Cruz, California, via a route along the Pacific coastline.-History:...
operated between Davenport and Santa Cruz from 1907 to 1920. The Southern Pacific freight line between the two communities is still in place.
Davenport has three restaurants, two art galleries, a store, a post office, the Davenport Cash Store
Davenport Cash Store
The historic Davenport Cash Store was built in 1906 in the town of Davenport, California. The Cash Store was a general store that sold, among other things, ammunition, tools, clothing, feed for stock, and groceries for the small population of Davenport and the surrounding areas...
, and an elementary school - Pacific School, the only school in the Pacific Elementary School District.
Davenport is also home to American Abalone,http://usabalone.com/index.htm which is a producer of farm raised California Red Abalone. California farm raised abalone has been selected by the Monterey Bay Aquarium's Sea Watch program as an excellent choice for environmentally conscious seafood consumers.
The ZIP Code
ZIP Code
ZIP codes are a system of postal codes used by the United States Postal Service since 1963. The term ZIP, an acronym for Zone Improvement Plan, is properly written in capital letters and was chosen to suggest that the mail travels more efficiently, and therefore more quickly, when senders use the...
is 95017 and the community is inside area code 831
Area code 831
North American area code 831 is a California area code which covers Salinas, Hollister, Monterey, Santa Cruz and the northern Central Coast. It was created in a split from area code 408 on July 11, 1998.-Monterey County:*Aromas*Boronda*Carmel Highlands...
.
Geography
It lies at37.011667°N 122.190833°W.
According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the CDP covers an area of 2.8 square miles (7.4 km²), 99.63% of it land and 0.37% of it water.
Demographics
The 2010 United States Census reported that Davenport had a population of 408. The population densityPopulation density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 143.4 people per square mile (55.4/km²). The racial makeup of Davenport was 272 (66.7%) White, 6 (1.5%) African American, 5 (1.2%) Native American, 12 (2.9%) Asian, 82 (20.1%) from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 31 (7.6%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 172 persons (42.2%).
The Census reported that 349 people (85.5% of the population) lived in households, 59 (14.5%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 0 (0%) were institutionalized.
There were 123 households, out of which 36 (29.3%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 51 (41.5%) were opposite-sex married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 16 (13.0%) had a female householder with no husband present, 11 (8.9%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 15 (12.2%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships
POSSLQ
POSSLQ is an abbreviation for "Persons of Opposite Sex Sharing Living Quarters," a term coined in the late 1970s by the United States Census Bureau as part of an effort to more accurately gauge the prevalence of cohabitation in American households....
, and 3 (2.4%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 30 households (24.4%) were made up of individuals and 13 (10.6%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.84. There were 78 families
Family (U.S. Census)
A family or family household is defined by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes as "a householder and one or more other people related to the householder by birth, marriage, or adoption. They do not include same-sex married couples even if the marriage was performed in a state...
(63.4% of all households); the average family size was 3.36.
The population was spread out with 79 people (19.4%) under the age of 18, 41 people (10.0%) aged 18 to 24, 115 people (28.2%) aged 25 to 44, 132 people (32.4%) aged 45 to 64, and 41 people (10.0%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40.3 years. For every 100 females there were 137.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 141.9 males.
There were 139 housing units at an average density of 48.9 per square mile (18.9/km²), of which 56.1% were owner-occupied and 43.9% were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.4%; the rental vacancy rate was 1.8%. 49.5% of the population lived in owner-occupied housing units and 36.0% lived in rental housing units.
See also
- Davenport oral history, (videorecording, series), Community Action Board, (Santa Cruz: Community Television of Santa Cruz County, 1998).