La Selva Beach, California
Encyclopedia
La Selva Beach is a census-designated place
(CDP) in Santa Cruz County
, California
. La Selva Beach sits at an elevation of 151 feet (46 m). The 2010 United States census reported La Selva Beach's population was 2,843.
La Selva Beach is one of the several small communities located in and around Aptos
. It neighbors Seascape to the north, Corralitos
to the east, and Watsonville
to the south. The name "La Selva" is Spanish for "the jungle", or, in temperate regions, "the forest". When founded, the small beach community was surrounded by dense conifer woods.
, and was close to the epicenter of the October 17, 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the CDP covers an area of 5.3 square miles (13.7 km²), all of it land.
was 536.8 people per square mile (207.2/km²). The racial makeup of La Selva Beach was 2,399 (84.4%) White, 27 (0.9%) African American, 23 (0.8%) Native American, 116 (4.1%) Asian, 3 (0.1%) Pacific Islander, 146 (5.1%) from other races
, and 129 (4.5%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 372 persons (13.1%).
The Census reported that 2,592 people (91.2% of the population) lived in households, 245 (8.6%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 6 (0.2%) were institutionalized.
There were 1,076 households, out of which 289 (26.9%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 592 (55.0%) were opposite-sex married couples
living together, 86 (8.0%) had a female householder with no husband present, 56 (5.2%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 67 (6.2%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships
, and 13 (1.2%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 251 households (23.3%) were made up of individuals and 91 (8.5%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41. There were 734 families
(68.2% of all households); the average family size was 2.80.
The population was spread out with 612 people (21.5%) under the age of 18, 228 people (8.0%) aged 18 to 24, 528 people (18.6%) aged 25 to 44, 1,049 people (36.9%) aged 45 to 64, and 426 people (15.0%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 46.5 years. For every 100 females there were 98.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.4 males.
There were 1,376 housing units at an average density of 259.8 per square mile (100.3/km²), of which 727 (67.6%) were owner-occupied, and 349 (32.4%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 0.4%; the rental vacancy rate was 5.7%. 1,723 people (60.6% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 869 people (30.6%) lived in rental housing units.
The central park of La Selva Beach is Triangle Park. The park is triangular in form and enhanced by a triangular structure with the flags of the world. There is also a horseshoe pit.
In the summer, one can witness small girls practicing their baton-twirling/hurling skills in preparation for the festivities of the annual La Selva Beach 4th of July
Parade. As a side note, this parade is vastly shorter but less known than the so-called "World's Shortest Parade" which takes place concurrently in Aptos, California
.
In winter, one can view the painted-wood Christmas-themed display that exponentially enhances the community's cuteness factor in conjunction with the lights of "Candlelight Lane." Candlelight Lane is what Playa Boulevard is transformed into during the month of December from the intersection of Playa Boulevard and San Andreas Boulevard to the intersection of Playa Boulevard and Estrella Boulevard. This transformation consists of the illumination of multi-colored lights which have been placed upon the pine trees and palm trees.
La Selva Beach is adjacent to Manresa State Beach
.
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...
. La Selva Beach sits at an elevation of 151 feet (46 m). The 2010 United States census reported La Selva Beach's population was 2,843.
La Selva Beach is one of the several small communities located in and around Aptos
Aptos, California
Aptos is a census-designated place in Santa Cruz County, California, United States. The population was 6,220 at the 2010 census.Aptos is an unincorporated area of Santa Cruz county, consisting of several small communities...
. It neighbors Seascape to the north, Corralitos
Corralitos, California
Corralitos is a census-designated place in Santa Cruz County, California, United States. The population was 2,326 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Corralitos is located at ....
to the east, and Watsonville
Watsonville, California
Watsonville is a city in Santa Cruz County, California, United States. The population was 51,199 according to the 2010 census.Located on the central coast of California, the economy centers predominantly around the farming industry. It is known for growing strawberries, apples, lettuce and a host...
to the south. The name "La Selva" is Spanish for "the jungle", or, in temperate regions, "the forest". When founded, the small beach community was surrounded by dense conifer woods.
Geography
La Selva Beach lies near the San Andreas FaultSan Andreas Fault
The San Andreas Fault is a continental strike-slip fault that runs a length of roughly through California in the United States. The fault's motion is right-lateral strike-slip...
, and was close to the epicenter of the October 17, 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake
Loma Prieta earthquake
The Loma Prieta earthquake, also known as the Quake of '89 and the World Series Earthquake, was a major earthquake that struck the San Francisco Bay Area of California on October 17, 1989, at 5:04 p.m. local time...
.
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 5.3 square miles (13.7 km²), all of it land.
History
At one point, the small area known as La Selva Beach was also known as Rob Roy in deference to the Scottish heritage of many of the inhabitants. The now-defunct (since 2000) Rob Roy Video Store was the only business in the area to make note of this heritage. Most of the houses were built in the early 1960s.Demographics
The 2010 United States Census reported that La Selva Beach had a population of 2,843. 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 536.8 people per square mile (207.2/km²). The racial makeup of La Selva Beach was 2,399 (84.4%) White, 27 (0.9%) African American, 23 (0.8%) Native American, 116 (4.1%) Asian, 3 (0.1%) Pacific Islander, 146 (5.1%) 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 129 (4.5%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 372 persons (13.1%).
The Census reported that 2,592 people (91.2% of the population) lived in households, 245 (8.6%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 6 (0.2%) were institutionalized.
There were 1,076 households, out of which 289 (26.9%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 592 (55.0%) 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, 86 (8.0%) had a female householder with no husband present, 56 (5.2%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 67 (6.2%) 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 13 (1.2%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 251 households (23.3%) were made up of individuals and 91 (8.5%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41. There were 734 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...
(68.2% of all households); the average family size was 2.80.
The population was spread out with 612 people (21.5%) under the age of 18, 228 people (8.0%) aged 18 to 24, 528 people (18.6%) aged 25 to 44, 1,049 people (36.9%) aged 45 to 64, and 426 people (15.0%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 46.5 years. For every 100 females there were 98.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.4 males.
There were 1,376 housing units at an average density of 259.8 per square mile (100.3/km²), of which 727 (67.6%) were owner-occupied, and 349 (32.4%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 0.4%; the rental vacancy rate was 5.7%. 1,723 people (60.6% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 869 people (30.6%) lived in rental housing units.
Parks and recreation
La Selva Beach is home to both La Selva Beach and Manresa State Beach where one can fish, surf, and boogie-board. These breaks are not as popular as others in Santa Cruz County. La Selva Beach does not have direct public access, although residents of the neighborhood can get a key that allows them to open an otherwise-locked gate so that they can drive down to a parking lot near the beach (the parking lot is under the trestle). For years surfers have parked at the top of the nearby cliffs in La Selva to check the waves, then have hiked down the steep hillside, crossing the railroad tracks and descending a second hillside to get to the water. In an attempt to curb this practice (presumably for soil erosion reasons), a chain-link fence was erected in the early 2000s on the near side of the railroad tracks. Many surfers still access the beach via the cliffs, easily scaling the fence.The central park of La Selva Beach is Triangle Park. The park is triangular in form and enhanced by a triangular structure with the flags of the world. There is also a horseshoe pit.
In the summer, one can witness small girls practicing their baton-twirling/hurling skills in preparation for the festivities of the annual La Selva Beach 4th of July
Independence Day (United States)
Independence Day, commonly known as the Fourth of July, is a federal holiday in the United States commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, declaring independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain...
Parade. As a side note, this parade is vastly shorter but less known than the so-called "World's Shortest Parade" which takes place concurrently in Aptos, California
Aptos, California
Aptos is a census-designated place in Santa Cruz County, California, United States. The population was 6,220 at the 2010 census.Aptos is an unincorporated area of Santa Cruz county, consisting of several small communities...
.
In winter, one can view the painted-wood Christmas-themed display that exponentially enhances the community's cuteness factor in conjunction with the lights of "Candlelight Lane." Candlelight Lane is what Playa Boulevard is transformed into during the month of December from the intersection of Playa Boulevard and San Andreas Boulevard to the intersection of Playa Boulevard and Estrella Boulevard. This transformation consists of the illumination of multi-colored lights which have been placed upon the pine trees and palm trees.
La Selva Beach is adjacent to Manresa State Beach
Manresa State Beach
Manresa State Beach is a beach near Watsonville, California in Santa Cruz County. It is operated by the California Department of Parks and Recreation.South of Manresa State Beach is Sunset State Beach....
.
Educational institutions
The Aptos Academy, Rio del Mar Elementary and the Monterey Bay Academy are the nearest educational institutions.Notable residents
- Aaron BatesAaron BatesAaron Bates is an American professional baseball outfielder and first baseman for the Rochester Red Wings.He played in the Cape Cod Baseball League for the Brewster Whitecaps....
, professional baseball player. - Lisa Leuschner, American IdolAmerican IdolAmerican Idol, titled American Idol: The Search for a Superstar for the first season, is a reality television singing competition created by Simon Fuller and produced by FremantleMedia North America and 19 Entertainment...
TV show semi-finalist. - Grant Rummel, classical trombonist.
- Jason JesseeJason JesseeJason Jessee is a professional skateboarder from the United States. Jason's first sponsor was Vision Street Wear but he soon made the move to a professional sponsorship deal with Santa Cruz Skateboards...
, professional skateboarder.