Watsonville, California
Encyclopedia
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 of other vegetables. Watsonville is home to people of varied ethnic backgrounds. There is a large Hispanic population, a small group of Croats, and a Filipino, Caucasian, and Japanese population that live and work in the city.
The Pajaro Valley, wherein Watsonville is located, has a climate that is usually pleasant — around 60 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit throughout the year. This climate makes Watsonville an attractive coastal environment for the neighboring inland communities with very hot summers. The Pajaro Valley Unified School District has an attendance of about 18,000 students kindergarten through 12th grades. There are several private religious-based schools in Watsonville such as Notre Dame School, Monte Vista Christian, Salesian Sisters and St. Francis. There are also several charter schools and the non-religious independent Pre-K through 12th grade Mount Madonna School. These schools provide a wide range of educational options for local families. Watsonville is generally conservative on the political spectrum and average in relationship to the neighboring communities of Salinas, Castroville, and Prunedale. The larger coastal town directly north of Watsonville is the city of Santa Cruz
. Santa Cruz is a draw for many young college students who attend Cabrillo College
or University of California, Santa Cruz
. Because Watsonville and Santa Cruz are beach towns, they draw many visitors from San Jose
and from the Central Valley areas.
Like neighboring Salinas
in Monterey County
, Watsonville produces a variety of fruit
s and vegetable
s, primarily apples, strawberries
, blackberries
, raspberries
, and table mushrooms.
Mexican land grant made to Sebastian Rodríguez in 1837. Judge John H. Watson and D. S. Gregory laid out the town in 1852. Watsonville was incorporated on March 30, 1868.
Strawberries, Martinelli's
, California Giant, Lakeside Organic Gardens, Monterey Mushrooms, Graniterock
, Granite Construction
, West Marine
, Vendwize, and Fox Racing Shox
.
at the southern end of Santa Cruz County
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 6.8 square miles (17.6 km²), of which, 6.7 square miles (17.4 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) of it (1.42%) is water.
The National Weather Service
cooperative station at the Watsonville Waterworks reports cool, relatively wet winters and mild, dry summers. Fog and low overcast is common in the night and morning hours, especially in the summer when warmer air from inland areas mixes with the cool, moist air near Monterey Bay.
January, normally the coldest month, has an average maximum of 59.9°F and an average minimum of 38.5°F. September, normally the warmest month, has an average maximum of 73.2°F and an average minimum of 51.7°F. There are an average of 4.9 days annually with highs of 90°F (32°C) or higher and an average of 13.5 days annually with lows of 32°F (0°C) or lower. Cool nights are common in the summer, due to the influence of chilly Monterey Bay. The record high temperature was 106°F on October 2, 1980. The record low temperature was 12°F on December 22, 1990.
Average annual rainfall is 22.42 inches, with measurable precipitation falling on an average of 61 days each year. The wettest year on record was 1983 with 48.35 inches and the driest year was 1976 with 10.66 inches. The most rainfall in one month was 15.99 inches in February 1998. The most rainfall in 24 hours was 5.93 inches on February 14, 2000. Although significant snowfall occurs several times a year on the higher mountains nearby, measurable snowfall is a rarity along Monterey Bay. On February 26, 2010 there was slight snowfall in Watsonville, though it was such a small amount that it could not be measured.
Santa Cruz Tarweed
on the California coastal prairie
ecosystem. Considerable population growth occurred since 1980, requiring preparation of a number of Environmental Impact Reports, with resultant development removing certain lands of the city from productive natural habitat
.
Most of the coastal land adjacent to Watsonville is part of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary
, a designation championed by former Congressman Leon Panetta
. Heading away from the coast, the backdrop features the southern end of the Santa Cruz Mountains
.
Watsonville wetlands — also referred to as Watsonville sloughs — are a system of fresh water sloughs in and around the City of Watsonville, California, which have since 1990 benefited from private and municipal efforts to restore and protect them. They are described in the book "Watching the Watsonville Wetlands" by Jerry Busch, Gary Kittleson and Christine Johnson-Lyons and published by Watsonville Wetlands Watch, which has worked to protect the sloughs. The wetlands are home to approximately nine species of fish and over 200 species of waterfowl, raptors and song birds.
(WVI) is home to the annual Watsonville Fly-in and Air Show, which showcases both military and civilian aircraft and includes a small car show.
The fair grounds also host a number of different events including car races at the Ocean Speedway, dog training programs, wedding receptions, the annual Santa Cruz County Science Fair
, and the Scottish Renaissance Festival.
and its tributaries via The Pajaro River Levee Trail Park. The levee trails are a popular spot for walking, running, and biking.
In 2010 the City of Watsonville was awarded a $424,000 grant to create a public access point to the Pajaro River for canoes and kayaks, including a parking lot, trail and public restroom.
was 7,547.7 people per square mile (2,914.2/km²). The racial makeup of Watsonville was 22,399 (43.7%) White, 358 (0.7%) African American, 629 (1.2%) Native American, 1,664 (3.3%) Asian, 40 (0.1%) Pacific Islander, 23,844 (46.6%) from other races
, and 2,265 (4.4%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 41,656 persons (81.4%).
The Census reported that 50,671 people (99.0% of the population) lived in households, 322 (0.6%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 206 (0.4%) were institutionalized.
There were 13,528 households, out of which 7,130 (52.7%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 7,231 (53.5%) were opposite-sex married couples
living together, 2,375 (17.6%) had a female householder with no husband present, 903 (6.7%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 890 (6.6%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships
, and 107 (0.8%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 2,466 households (18.2%) were made up of individuals and 1,213 (9.0%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.75. There were 10,509 families
(77.7% of all households); the average family size was 4.17.
The population was spread out with 16,111 people (31.5%) under the age of 18, 6,001 people (11.7%) aged 18 to 24, 14,834 people (29.0%) aged 25 to 44, 10,014 people (19.6%) aged 45 to 64, and 4,239 people (8.3%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 29.2 years. For every 100 females there were 99.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.2 males.
There were 14,089 housing units at an average density of 2,077.0 per square mile (801.9/km²), of which 5,957 (44.0%) were owner-occupied, and 7,571 (56.0%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.9%; the rental vacancy rate was 2.5%. 21,365 people (41.7% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 29,306 people (57.2%) lived in rental housing units.
of 2000, there were 44,265 people, 11,381 households, and 8,865 families residing in the city. The population density
was 6,969.4 people per square mile (2,691.5/km²). There were 11,695 housing units at an average density of 1,841.3 per square mile (711.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 43.00% White, 0.75% African American, 1.74% Native American, 3.29% Asian, 0.12% Pacific Islander, 45.92% from other races
, and 5.18% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 75.12% of the population, with the majority of these being of Mexican origin.
Watsonville also has a large Asian-American presence consisting of Chinese
, Japanese and Filipinos
despite the fact that the percentage of city residents of Asian descent has dropped since 1960. The Chinese, Japanese and Filipinos had residential sections and opened many businesses to serve their customer base in town during the mid 20th century. The history of East Asians in Watsonville dates back to the late 19th century and are involved in the local agricultural industry. It is presumed that as a result of Japanese-American internment
during WWII, local farm companies began to attract Mexican migrant labor to the area in higher numbers and the town's racial-ethnic composition became more Hispanic in the 1980s and 1990s.
There were 11,381 households out of which 49.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.3% were married couples
living together, 16.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.1% were non-families. 17.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.84 and the average family size was 4.26.
In the city the population was spread out with 34.0% under the age of 18, 11.8% from 18 to 24, 30.5% from 25 to 44, 15.1% from 45 to 64, and 8.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 27 years. For every 100 females there were 101.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.4 males.
The median income
for a household in the city was $37,617, and the median income for a family was $40,293. Males had a median income of $26,701 versus $22,225 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $13,205. About 15.4% of families and 19.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.8% of those under age 18 and 8.8% of those age 65 or over.
In the state legislature
Watsonville is located in the 15th Senate
District, represented by Republican
Abel Maldonado
, and in the 28th Assembly
District, represented by Democrat
Luis Alejo
. Federally, Watsonville is located in California's 17th congressional district
, which has a Cook PVI
of D +17 and is represented by Democrat Sam Farr
. The mayor of Watsonville is Daniel Dodge.
. A proposal to fluoridate public water supplies narrowly failed a voter referendum in 2002, and the Martinelli beverage company has threatened to move a planned expansion elsewhere rather than use fluoridated water in its products. Local health-care professionals argue that the city is experiencing a tooth decay epidemic.
After several years of legal wrangling, Watsonville was cited in August 2010 for violating a California state law that requires fluoridating the water in a town over 10,000 people when outside money becomes available.
The Santa Cruz Sentinel reported that "[i]n a 4-3 vote [on September 28, 2010], the City Council approved a contract for a $1.6 million grant from the California Dental Association Foundation to design and build a fluoridation system and operate it for two years."
, 15.4% lower than Salinas
, and 38.4% higher than Gilroy
. Watsonville is home to approximately 560 documented gang members and 9-10 known gangs. While gang activity is on the rise, crime itself continues to fall and is currently experiencing a 10 year low.
.
s in Watsonville are under the jurisdiction of the Pajaro Valley Unified School District.
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...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. 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 of other vegetables. Watsonville is home to people of varied ethnic backgrounds. There is a large Hispanic population, a small group of Croats, and a Filipino, Caucasian, and Japanese population that live and work in the city.
The Pajaro Valley, wherein Watsonville is located, has a climate that is usually pleasant — around 60 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit throughout the year. This climate makes Watsonville an attractive coastal environment for the neighboring inland communities with very hot summers. The Pajaro Valley Unified School District has an attendance of about 18,000 students kindergarten through 12th grades. There are several private religious-based schools in Watsonville such as Notre Dame School, Monte Vista Christian, Salesian Sisters and St. Francis. There are also several charter schools and the non-religious independent Pre-K through 12th grade Mount Madonna School. These schools provide a wide range of educational options for local families. Watsonville is generally conservative on the political spectrum and average in relationship to the neighboring communities of Salinas, Castroville, and Prunedale. The larger coastal town directly north of Watsonville is the city 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...
. Santa Cruz is a draw for many young college students who attend Cabrillo College
Cabrillo College
Cabrillo College is a public community college offering associate degrees and certificates in more than 70 fields of study such as: engineering, computer science, allied health , public safety, marine biology and the visual and performing arts. The college itself is named after the explorer Juan...
or University of California, Santa Cruz
University of California, Santa Cruz
The University of California, Santa Cruz, also known as UC Santa Cruz or UCSC, is a public, collegiate university; one of ten campuses in the University of California...
. Because Watsonville and Santa Cruz are beach towns, they draw many visitors from San Jose
San Jose, California
San Jose is the third-largest city in California, the tenth-largest in the U.S., and the county seat of Santa Clara County which is located at the southern end of San Francisco Bay...
and from the Central Valley areas.
Like neighboring Salinas
Salinas, California
Salinas is the county seat and the largest municipality of Monterey County, California. Salinas is located east-southeast of the mouth of the Salinas River, at an elevation of about 52 feet above sea level. The population was 150,441 at the 2010 census...
in Monterey County
Monterey County, California
Monterey County is a county located on the Pacific coast of the U.S. state of California, its northwestern section forming the southern half of Monterey Bay. The northern half of the bay is in Santa Cruz County. As of 2010, the population was 415,057. The county seat and largest city is Salinas...
, Watsonville produces a variety of fruit
Fruit
In broad terms, a fruit is a structure of a plant that contains its seeds.The term has different meanings dependent on context. In non-technical usage, such as food preparation, fruit normally means the fleshy seed-associated structures of certain plants that are sweet and edible in the raw state,...
s and vegetable
Vegetable
The noun vegetable usually means an edible plant or part of a plant other than a sweet fruit or seed. This typically means the leaf, stem, or root of a plant....
s, primarily apples, strawberries
Strawberry
Fragaria is a genus of flowering plants in the rose family, Rosaceae, commonly known as strawberries for their edible fruits. Although it is commonly thought that strawberries get their name from straw being used as a mulch in cultivating the plants, the etymology of the word is uncertain. There...
, blackberries
Blackberry
The blackberry is an edible fruit produced by any of several species in the Rubus genus of the Rosaceae family. The fruit is not a true berry; botanically it is termed an aggregate fruit, composed of small drupelets. The plants typically have biennial canes and perennial roots. Blackberries and...
, raspberries
Raspberry
The raspberry or hindberry is the edible fruit of a multitude of plant species in the genus Rubus, most of which are in the subgenus Idaeobatus; the name also applies to these plants themselves...
, and table mushrooms.
History
Watsonville is located on the Rancho Bolsa del PajaroRancho Bolsa del Pajaro
Rancho Bolsa del Pajaro was a Mexican land grant in present day Santa Cruz County, California given in 1837 by Governor Juan B. Alvarado to Sebastian Rodríguez. The name means "pocket of the Pajaro". Pocket usually refers to land surrounded by slough - in this case the Watsonville Slough...
Mexican land grant made to Sebastian Rodríguez in 1837. Judge John H. Watson and D. S. Gregory laid out the town in 1852. Watsonville was incorporated on March 30, 1868.
Economy
The main industries in Watsonville are agriculture, construction, and manufacturing. Some of the largest companies headquartered in Watsonville are Driscoll'sDriscoll's
Driscoll's is the brand name of Driscoll Strawberry Associates, Inc., a Watsonville, California-based producer and distributor of fresh berries. Driscoll's is a supplier and marketer of both organic and conventional berries, including strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, blackberries and other...
Strawberries, Martinelli's
Martinelli's
Martinelli's is the brand name of S. Martinelli & Company, a juice company based in Watsonville, California. The company is privately held by descendants of the founders....
, California Giant, Lakeside Organic Gardens, Monterey Mushrooms, Graniterock
Graniterock
Graniterock is a 100+ year old American corporation based in Watsonville, California. It operates in the construction industry providing crushed gravel, sand, concrete and asphalt. The company won the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award in 1992 and has been named one of Fortune Magazine's Best...
, Granite Construction
Granite Construction
Granite Construction Inc. is a member of the S&P 400 Index based in Watsonville, California, and is the parent corporation of Granite Construction Company, a heavy civil general contractor and construction material producer....
, West Marine
West Marine
West Marine is an American company based in Watsonville, California which operates a chain of boating supply and fishing retail stores. They operate over 300 retail stores in North America.-History:...
, Vendwize, and Fox Racing Shox
Fox Racing Shox
Fox Racing Shox is a brand used by Fox Factory to sell off road racing suspension components.- History :Fox Racing, Inc. was founded in 1980 by Bob Fox in Watsonville, California. It started as a small business distributing suspension components for motocross bikes...
.
Top Employers
According to the City's 2010 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the top employers in the city are:| # | Employer | # of Employees |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pajaro Valley Unified School District Pajaro Valley Unified School District Pajaro Valley Unified School District is a school district based in Watsonville, California, USA. The Superintendent is Dorma Baker. The District is overseen by a seven members of the Board of Trustees that meets an average of twice a month.... |
2,061 |
| 2 | Watsonville Community Hospital Community Health Systems Community Health Systems Inc. is a Fortune 500 company based in Franklin, Tennessee. It is the largest non-urban provider of general hospital healthcare services in the United States in terms of number of acute care facilities. As of May 2009, it operates 120 hospitals in 28 states. After... |
693 |
| 3 | Fox Factory Fox Racing Shox Fox Racing Shox is a brand used by Fox Factory to sell off road racing suspension components.- History :Fox Racing, Inc. was founded in 1980 by Bob Fox in Watsonville, California. It started as a small business distributing suspension components for motocross bikes... |
400 |
| 4 | City of Watsonville | 374 |
| 5 | West Marine West Marine West Marine is an American company based in Watsonville, California which operates a chain of boating supply and fishing retail stores. They operate over 300 retail stores in North America.-History:... |
279 |
| 6 | Target Target Corporation Target Corporation, doing business as Target, is an American retailing company headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It is the second-largest discount retailer in the United States, behind Walmart. The company is ranked at number 33 on the Fortune 500 and is a component of the Standard & Poor's... |
211 |
| 7 | S Martinelli & Co. Martinelli's Martinelli's is the brand name of S. Martinelli & Company, a juice company based in Watsonville, California. The company is privately held by descendants of the founders.... |
180 |
| 7 | Couch Distributing | 170 |
| 9 | Salud Para La Gente | 160 |
| 10 | Mi Pueblo Food Center | 144 |
Geography
Watsonville is located at 36°55′12"N 121°45′49"W (36.920054, -121.763725) in the Monterey Bay area, approximately 95 miles south of San FranciscoSan Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
at the southern end of 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...
.
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 city has a total area of 6.8 square miles (17.6 km²), of which, 6.7 square miles (17.4 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) of it (1.42%) is water.
Climate
National Weather Service
The National Weather Service , once known as the Weather Bureau, is one of the six scientific agencies that make up the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration of the United States government...
cooperative station at the Watsonville Waterworks reports cool, relatively wet winters and mild, dry summers. Fog and low overcast is common in the night and morning hours, especially in the summer when warmer air from inland areas mixes with the cool, moist air near Monterey Bay.
January, normally the coldest month, has an average maximum of 59.9°F and an average minimum of 38.5°F. September, normally the warmest month, has an average maximum of 73.2°F and an average minimum of 51.7°F. There are an average of 4.9 days annually with highs of 90°F (32°C) or higher and an average of 13.5 days annually with lows of 32°F (0°C) or lower. Cool nights are common in the summer, due to the influence of chilly Monterey Bay. The record high temperature was 106°F on October 2, 1980. The record low temperature was 12°F on December 22, 1990.
Average annual rainfall is 22.42 inches, with measurable precipitation falling on an average of 61 days each year. The wettest year on record was 1983 with 48.35 inches and the driest year was 1976 with 10.66 inches. The most rainfall in one month was 15.99 inches in February 1998. The most rainfall in 24 hours was 5.93 inches on February 14, 2000. Although significant snowfall occurs several times a year on the higher mountains nearby, measurable snowfall is a rarity along Monterey Bay. On February 26, 2010 there was slight snowfall in Watsonville, though it was such a small amount that it could not be measured.
Environmental features
The City of Watsonville has habitat areas that support the endangered speciesEndangered species
An endangered species is a population of organisms which is at risk of becoming extinct because it is either few in numbers, or threatened by changing environmental or predation parameters...
Santa Cruz Tarweed
Santa Cruz Tarweed
The Santa Cruz Tarweed is an endangered plant endemic to certain coastal terraces in Northern California. Its principal range is in Santa Cruz County and Monterey County, but smaller colonies have been found slightly to the north...
on the California coastal prairie
California coastal prairie
California coastal prairie, also known as northern coastal grassland, is a grassland plant community of California and Oregon in the Temperate grasslands, savannas, and shrublands Biome...
ecosystem. Considerable population growth occurred since 1980, requiring preparation of a number of Environmental Impact Reports, with resultant development removing certain lands of the city from productive natural habitat
Habitat
* Habitat , a place where a species lives and grows*Human habitat, a place where humans live, work or play** Space habitat, a space station intended as a permanent settlement...
.
Most of the coastal land adjacent to Watsonville is part of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary
Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary
The Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary is a US Federally protected marine area offshore of California's central coast around Monterey Bay....
, a designation championed by former Congressman Leon Panetta
Leon Panetta
Leon Edward Panetta is the 23rd and current United States Secretary of Defense, serving in the administration of President Barack Obama since 2011. Prior to taking office, he served as Director of the Central Intelligence Agency...
. Heading away from the coast, the backdrop features the southern end of the Santa Cruz Mountains
Santa Cruz Mountains
The Santa Cruz Mountains, part of the Pacific Coast Ranges, are a mountain range in central California, United States. They form a ridge along the San Francisco Peninsula, south of San Francisco, separating the Pacific Ocean from San Francisco Bay and the Santa Clara Valley, and continuing south,...
.
Watsonville wetlands — also referred to as Watsonville sloughs — are a system of fresh water sloughs in and around the City of Watsonville, California, which have since 1990 benefited from private and municipal efforts to restore and protect them. They are described in the book "Watching the Watsonville Wetlands" by Jerry Busch, Gary Kittleson and Christine Johnson-Lyons and published by Watsonville Wetlands Watch, which has worked to protect the sloughs. The wetlands are home to approximately nine species of fish and over 200 species of waterfowl, raptors and song birds.
Recreation
Watsonville provides a wide variety of recreational opportunities including hiking, boating, festivals, sports, birdwatching, and beach access.Strawberry Festival
Watsonville is home to the annual Strawberry Festival, which includes a wide variety of strawberry based foods, live music, vendors, and rides.Air show
Watsonville Municipal AirportWatsonville Municipal Airport
Watsonville Municipal Airport is a public airport located three miles northwest of the central business district of Watsonville, a city in Santa Cruz County, California, USA. The airport covers and has two runways...
(WVI) is home to the annual Watsonville Fly-in and Air Show, which showcases both military and civilian aircraft and includes a small car show.
Santa Cruz County Fair Grounds
Near the end of every summer, the Santa Cruz County fair has drawn visitors from across and outside the county to its many attractions including rides, food, art exhibits, flower exhibits, pony rides, petting zoos, dog shows, and live music performances, among other things.The fair grounds also host a number of different events including car races at the Ocean Speedway, dog training programs, wedding receptions, the annual Santa Cruz County Science Fair
Santa Cruz County Science Fair
The Santa Cruz County Science Fair is a science fair held annually at the Santa Cruz County Fair Grounds. The top 10 students from elementary and junior high schools in Santa Cruz County are invited to participate, and high school students can enter projects into the fair without competing at their...
, and the Scottish Renaissance Festival.
Parks
The City maintains 28 unique parks, including a skate park, indoor soccer field, lake with boat rentals and RV camping, BBQ areas, handball courts, an art gallery, tennis courts, and volleyball courts.Watsonville Wetlands
Hiking trails positioned throughout the city as well as a nature center provide the public with an intimate view of The Watsonville Wetlands.Pajaro River
A number of trail heads have been built throughout the city, which provide access to the Pajaro RiverPajaro River
The Pajaro River is a river in Northern California, forming part of the border between Santa Cruz County and Monterey County and between San Benito County and Santa Clara County.-History:...
and its tributaries via The Pajaro River Levee Trail Park. The levee trails are a popular spot for walking, running, and biking.
In 2010 the City of Watsonville was awarded a $424,000 grant to create a public access point to the Pajaro River for canoes and kayaks, including a parking lot, trail and public restroom.
Pinto Lake
The City operates one of two parks at Pinto Lake, which includes a small craft launch ramp, group picnic areas, RV park, volleyball, children's playground, boat rentals, fishing, and bird watching. The second park at Pinto Lake is operated by The County of Santa Cruz.Demographics
2010
The 2010 United States Census reported that Watsonville had a population of 51,199. 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 7,547.7 people per square mile (2,914.2/km²). The racial makeup of Watsonville was 22,399 (43.7%) White, 358 (0.7%) African American, 629 (1.2%) Native American, 1,664 (3.3%) Asian, 40 (0.1%) Pacific Islander, 23,844 (46.6%) 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 2,265 (4.4%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 41,656 persons (81.4%).
The Census reported that 50,671 people (99.0% of the population) lived in households, 322 (0.6%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 206 (0.4%) were institutionalized.
There were 13,528 households, out of which 7,130 (52.7%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 7,231 (53.5%) 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, 2,375 (17.6%) had a female householder with no husband present, 903 (6.7%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 890 (6.6%) 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 107 (0.8%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 2,466 households (18.2%) were made up of individuals and 1,213 (9.0%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.75. There were 10,509 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...
(77.7% of all households); the average family size was 4.17.
The population was spread out with 16,111 people (31.5%) under the age of 18, 6,001 people (11.7%) aged 18 to 24, 14,834 people (29.0%) aged 25 to 44, 10,014 people (19.6%) aged 45 to 64, and 4,239 people (8.3%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 29.2 years. For every 100 females there were 99.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.2 males.
There were 14,089 housing units at an average density of 2,077.0 per square mile (801.9/km²), of which 5,957 (44.0%) were owner-occupied, and 7,571 (56.0%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.9%; the rental vacancy rate was 2.5%. 21,365 people (41.7% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 29,306 people (57.2%) lived in rental housing units.
2000
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 44,265 people, 11,381 households, and 8,865 families residing in the city. The population density
Population 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 6,969.4 people per square mile (2,691.5/km²). There were 11,695 housing units at an average density of 1,841.3 per square mile (711.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 43.00% White, 0.75% African American, 1.74% Native American, 3.29% Asian, 0.12% Pacific Islander, 45.92% 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 5.18% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 75.12% of the population, with the majority of these being of Mexican origin.
Watsonville also has a large Asian-American presence consisting of Chinese
Chinese American
Chinese Americans represent Americans of Chinese descent. Chinese Americans constitute one group of overseas Chinese and also a subgroup of East Asian Americans, which is further a subgroup of Asian Americans...
, Japanese and Filipinos
Filipino American
Filipino Americans are Americans of Filipino ancestry. Filipino Americans, often shortened to "Fil-Ams", or "Pinoy",Filipinos in what is now the United States were first documented in the 16th century, with small settlements beginning in the 18th century...
despite the fact that the percentage of city residents of Asian descent has dropped since 1960. The Chinese, Japanese and Filipinos had residential sections and opened many businesses to serve their customer base in town during the mid 20th century. The history of East Asians in Watsonville dates back to the late 19th century and are involved in the local agricultural industry. It is presumed that as a result of Japanese-American internment
Japanese American internment
Japanese-American internment was the relocation and internment by the United States government in 1942 of approximately 110,000 Japanese Americans and Japanese who lived along the Pacific coast of the United States to camps called "War Relocation Camps," in the wake of Imperial Japan's attack on...
during WWII, local farm companies began to attract Mexican migrant labor to the area in higher numbers and the town's racial-ethnic composition became more Hispanic in the 1980s and 1990s.
There were 11,381 households out of which 49.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.3% were 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, 16.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.1% were non-families. 17.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.84 and the average family size was 4.26.
In the city the population was spread out with 34.0% under the age of 18, 11.8% from 18 to 24, 30.5% from 25 to 44, 15.1% from 45 to 64, and 8.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 27 years. For every 100 females there were 101.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.4 males.
The median income
Income
Income is the consumption and savings opportunity gained by an entity within a specified time frame, which is generally expressed in monetary terms. However, for households and individuals, "income is the sum of all the wages, salaries, profits, interests payments, rents and other forms of earnings...
for a household in the city was $37,617, and the median income for a family was $40,293. Males had a median income of $26,701 versus $22,225 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $13,205. About 15.4% of families and 19.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.8% of those under age 18 and 8.8% of those age 65 or over.
Politics
California State Legislature
The California State Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of California. It is a bicameral body consisting of the lower house, the California State Assembly, with 80 members, and the upper house, the California State Senate, with 40 members...
Watsonville is located in the 15th Senate
California State Senate
The California State Senate is the upper house of the California State Legislature. There are 40 state senators. The state legislature meets in the California State Capitol in Sacramento. The Lieutenant Governor is the ex officio President of the Senate and may break a tied vote...
District, represented by Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
Abel Maldonado
Abel Maldonado
Abel Maldonado is an American politician who was the 48th Lieutenant Governor of California. On November 23, 2009, then-Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger announced Maldonado as his nominee for Lieutenant Governor to fill the vacancy created by John Garamendi's election to the United States House of...
, and in the 28th Assembly
California State Assembly
The California State Assembly is the lower house of the California State Legislature. There are 80 members in the Assembly, representing an approximately equal number of constituents, with each district having a population of at least 420,000...
District, represented by Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
Luis Alejo
Luis Alejo
Luis Alejo represents the 28th District of the California State Assembly. He was first elected in 2010 with 62% of the vote....
. Federally, Watsonville is located in California's 17th congressional district
California's 17th congressional district
California's 17th congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of California that covers all of Monterey and San Benito counties, as well as part of Santa Cruz County...
, which has a Cook PVI
Cook Partisan Voting Index
The Cook Partisan Voting Index , sometimes referred to as simply the Partisan Voting Index , is a measurement of how strongly an American congressional district or state leans toward one political party compared to the nation as a whole...
of D +17 and is represented by Democrat Sam Farr
Sam Farr
Samuel S. "Sam" Farr is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1993. He is a member of the Democratic Party. He was elected to Congress in a 1993 special election when longtime Democratic Rep...
. The mayor of Watsonville is Daniel Dodge.
Fluoridation
Watsonville does not practice water fluoridationWater fluoridation
Water fluoridation is the controlled addition of fluoride to a public water supply to reduce tooth decay. Fluoridated water has fluoride at a level that is effective for preventing cavities; this can occur naturally or by adding fluoride...
. A proposal to fluoridate public water supplies narrowly failed a voter referendum in 2002, and the Martinelli beverage company has threatened to move a planned expansion elsewhere rather than use fluoridated water in its products. Local health-care professionals argue that the city is experiencing a tooth decay epidemic.
After several years of legal wrangling, Watsonville was cited in August 2010 for violating a California state law that requires fluoridating the water in a town over 10,000 people when outside money becomes available.
The Santa Cruz Sentinel reported that "[i]n a 4-3 vote [on September 28, 2010], the City Council approved a contract for a $1.6 million grant from the California Dental Association Foundation to design and build a fluoridation system and operate it for two years."
Crime
In comparison to nearby incorporated cities, Watsonville's overall crime index is 24.1% lower than Santa CruzSanta 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...
, 15.4% lower than Salinas
Salinas, California
Salinas is the county seat and the largest municipality of Monterey County, California. Salinas is located east-southeast of the mouth of the Salinas River, at an elevation of about 52 feet above sea level. The population was 150,441 at the 2010 census...
, and 38.4% higher than Gilroy
Gilroy, California
Gilroy is the southernmost city in Santa Clara County, California, United States. The population was 48,821 at the 2010 census. Gilroy is well-known for its garlic crop and for the annual Gilroy Garlic Festival, featuring various garlicky foods, including garlic ice cream. Gilroy also produces...
. Watsonville is home to approximately 560 documented gang members and 9-10 known gangs. While gang activity is on the rise, crime itself continues to fall and is currently experiencing a 10 year low.
Television
The Monterey/Salinas metro area is served by a variety of local television stations, and is the 124th largest designated market area (DMA) in the U.S. with 222,900 homes:- Channel 2: KOTRKOTR-LPKOTR-LP is a television station located in Gonzales, California, which is the MyNetworkTV affiliate for the Monterey Bay area. The station broadcasts on channel 2, but brands using their channel 11 cable channel slot, which preceded the launch of the broadcast signal. KOTR-LP is owned by Mirage...
— (MNT) — Monterey/Salinas/Santa Cruz (Comcast Cable 11) - Channel 8: KSBWKSBWKSBW is a television station in the United States and is the primary NBC affiliate for the Monterey-Salinas-Santa Cruz, California market. The station is owned by Hearst Television. KSBW has its studios on John Street in downtown Salinas, which is mentioned occasionally during commercial breaks...
— (NBCNBCThe National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
; ABCAmerican Broadcasting CompanyThe American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
on DT2KSBW-DT2KSBW-DT2, branded as Central Coast ABC, is the second digital subchannel of NBC affiliate KSBW, which is owned by Hearst Television. The second digital subchannel is the ABC affiliate for the Salinas–Monterey–Santa Cruz, California market, which began transmission on April 18, 2011...
) — Salinas - Channel 15: KMUV — (TelemundoTelemundoTelemundo is an American television network that broadcasts in Spanish. The network is the second-largest Spanish-language content producer in the world, and the second-largest Spanish-language network in the United States, behind Univision....
) — Monterey/Salinas/Santa Cruz (Simulcast of KSTSKSTSKSTS is the NBCUniversal owned and operated Telemundo television station in the San Francisco Bay Area market. The station is located in San Jose, California and broadcasts on digital channel 49. KSTS shares facilities with NBC sister operation KNTV. The new all-digital broadcast center was opened...
48) - Channel 25: KQET — (PBSPublic Broadcasting ServiceThe Public Broadcasting Service is an American non-profit public broadcasting television network with 354 member TV stations in the United States which hold collective ownership. Its headquarters is in Arlington, Virginia....
) — Watsonville (Simulcast of San Francisco's KQED) - Channel 33: KDJT — (TelefuturaTeleFuturaTeleFutura is a U.S. Spanish-language broadcast television network owned by Univision with headquarters in Miami, Florida.-Overview:TeleFutura Is America’s #2 Spanish-Language Network in prime time...
) — Monterey - Channel 35: KCBAKCBAKCBA is a Fox affiliate television station in Salinas, California, USA. The station broadcasts its digital signal on VHF channel 13. KCBA is owned by Seal Rock Broadcasters, LLC and operated by Cowles Publishing Company through a local marketing agreement with CBS affiliate KION-TV channel...
— (FoxFox Broadcasting CompanyFox Broadcasting Company, commonly referred to as Fox Network or simply Fox , is an American commercial broadcasting television network owned by Fox Entertainment Group, part of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. Launched on October 9, 1986, Fox was the highest-rated broadcast network in the...
) — Salinas - Channel 43: KMCEKMCE-LPKMCE-LP is an Azteca América affiliate serving the vicinity of Monterey, Salinas, and Santa Cruz- Channel 29, California. The station is licensed to Monterey and broadcasts from Fremont Peak, however, KMCE's studeios are located in Watsonville....
— (Azteca AméricaAzteca AméricaAzteca América is a broadcast television network marketed toward Spanish-speaking families residing in the United States. As a rapidly-growing Spanish language network, Azteca América now reaches 89% of the Hispanic households in the U.S., operating in sixty-two markets nationwide. Wholly owned by...
) — Monterey/Salinas - Channel 46: KIONKION-TVKION-TV is a full-power television station in Salinas, California, broadcasting on digital channel 32 as a CBS affiliate. The stations continues to use UHF channel 46 as its virtual channel through the use of PSIP. KION-TV shows local news, weather, and sports programming, as well as syndicated...
— (CBSCBSCBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
) — Salinas - Channel 67: KSMS-TVKSMS-TVKSMS-TV is a Spanish-language television station in Monterey, California, broadcasting locally on digital channel 31 as an affiliate of Univisión. KSMS shares its facilities with sister-station KDJT, its Telefutura affiliate. KSMS has their studios on Garden Court in Monterey. Founded September...
— (UnivisionUnivisionUnivision is a Spanish-language television network in the United States. It has the largest audience of Spanish language television viewers according to Nielsen ratings. Randy Falco, COO, has been in charge of the company since the departure of Univision Communications president and CEO Joe Uva...
) — Monterey
Radio
- KAZUKAZUKAZU is an NPR-member radio station, licensed in Pacific Grove, California, United States. The station is currently owned and operated by the California State University, Monterey Bay.-Established:...
, 90.3 FM - KSCOKSCOKSCO is a radio station broadcasting a News/Talk format located in Santa Cruz, California. It can be heard over much of Central California during the day. Since 1991, it has been owned by the Zwerling family...
, 1080 AM - KUSPKUSPKUSP is a community supported, National Public Radio affiliated public radio station. Located in Santa Cruz, California, USA, the signal covers most of California's Central Coast area. Station content consists of about 2/3 news and information and 1/3 music content.-Online audio:KUSP offers a...
, 88.9 FM - KZSCKZSCKZSC is a public radio station broadcasting from the campus of the University of California, Santa Cruz in Santa Cruz, California. It is a non-commercial college radio station that serves as a training ground for UCSC students interested in broadcasting, as well as an outlet for many members of...
, 88.1 FM - KHIPKHIPKHIP is a commercial radio station in Gonzales, California, broadcasting to the Santa Cruz-Monterey-Salinas, California area on 104.3 FM.104.3 was home of alternative rock KMBY which moved to 103.9 in a major switch in 2002....
, 104.3 FM - KAPUKapuKapu refers to the ancient Hawaiian code of conduct of laws and regulations. The kapu system was universal in lifestyle, gender roles, politics, religion, etc. An offense that was kapu was often a corporal offense, but also often denoted a threat to spiritual power, or theft of mana. Kapus were...
, 104.7 FM - KPIG-FM, 107.5 FM
- KWAVKWAVKWAV is a commercial radio station in Monterey, California, broadcasting to the Santa Cruz-Monterey-Salinas, California, area on 96.9 FM.KWAV airs an adult contemporary music format branded as "K-Wave 97 FM".-History, 1994-present:...
, 96.9 FM - KDONKDONKDON-FM is a Rhythmic Top 40 station licensed to Salinas, California. They are owned by Clear Channel Communications .-History:...
, 102.5
Public schools
Public schools in Watsonville fall under the jurisdiction of the Pajaro Valley Unified School DistrictPajaro Valley Unified School District
Pajaro Valley Unified School District is a school district based in Watsonville, California, USA. The Superintendent is Dorma Baker. The District is overseen by a seven members of the Board of Trustees that meets an average of twice a month....
.
Elementary schools
- Freedom Elementary School: Grades K-5
- Amesti Elementary School: Grades K-5
- Ann Soldo Elementary School: Grades K-5
- Bradley Elementary School: Grades K-6
- Calabasas Elementary School: Grades K-6
- H. A. Hyde Elementary School: Grades K-5
- T. S. MacQuiddy Elementary School: Grades K-5
- Mintie White Elementary School: Grades K-5
- Ohlone Elementary School: Grades K-5
- Starlight Elementary School: Grades K-5
- Radcliff Elementary School: Grades K-5
- Landmark Elementary School: Grades K-5
- Hall District Elementary School: Grades K-5
- Salsipuedes Elementary school: Grades K-5 {Currently Alianza Charter School: Grades K-8}
Middle schools
- E. A. Hall Middle School: Grades 6-8
- Lakeview Middle School: Grades 6-8
- Pajaro Middle School: Grades 6-8
- Rolling Hills Middle School: Grades 6-8
- Cesar E. Chavez Middle School: Grades 6-8
- Solano Summit Academy: Grades 6-8
High schools
- Watsonville High SchoolWatsonville High SchoolWatsonville High School is a high school located in Watsonville, California in Santa Cruz County, and is part of the Pajaro Valley Unified School District. This is an open campus school, thus students are able to leave and come back after lunch...
: Grades 9-12 - New School Community Day: Grades 9-12
- Pajaro Valley High School: Grades 9-12
- Renaissance High School: Grades 9-12
- Watsonville Community School
Charter
All charter schoolCharter school
Charter schools are primary or secondary schools that receive public money but are not subject to some of the rules, regulations, and statutes that apply to other public schools in exchange for some type of accountability for producing certain results, which are set forth in each school's charter...
s in Watsonville are under the jurisdiction of the Pajaro Valley Unified School District.
- Academic/Vocational Charter Institute: Grades 10-12
- Alianza Charter School: Grades K-8 {Formerly Salsipuedes Elementary school: Grades K-5}
- Linscott Charter School: Grades K-8
- Pacific Coast Charter School: Grades K-12
- Watsonville Charter School of the Arts: Grades K-6
- Ceiba College Preparatory Academy: Grades 6-8, and 9-12. (High School serves 9th grade only in 2011-12, adding a grade each year through 2015).
Private
- Green Valley Christian School: Grades K-8
- Moreland Notre Dame: Grades K-8
- Monte Vista Christian: Grades 6-12
- Mount Madonna School: Grades Pre-K-12
- Potter's House Community Christian School:K-12
- St. Francis Central Coast Catholic High School: Grades 9-12
Notable residents
The following individuals were born in, or have resided in, Watsonville:- Hon. Thomas Beck, state senator and secretary of state
- Natasha BoboNatasha BoboNatasha Bobo was an American child actress. She starred on the short-lived CBS sitcom, Together We Stand as Sally.-External links:...
, actress (b. 1980) - Jim CochranJim CochranJim Cochran is a pioneering organic strawberry farmer, who was the first person to grow strawberries organically on a commercial scale in California. Cochran was born in Carlsbad, California in 1947. He studied child development and European intellectual history at the University of California,...
, pioneering organic strawberry farmer (b. 1947) - Ernest "Ernie" Chavez, musician/actor (b. 1927)
- Sherman CocroftSherman CocroftSherman Carlson Cocroft is a retired American football defensive back.-College career:Cocroft played college football at San José State University...
, professional football player (b. 1961) - Joel FabianiJoel FabianiJoel Fabiani is an American film and television actor.Fabiani was born in Watsonville, California. He co-starred in the British espionage series Department S as Stewart Sullivan in 1969-1970...
, actor (b. 1936) - Andy Jacques-Maynes, professional road cyclist and twin brother of Ben Jacques-Maynes (b. 1978)
- Ben Jacques-Maynes, professional road cyclist (b. 1978)
- 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...
, pro skater - Marv MarinovichMarv MarinovichMarv Marinovich is a retired American football offensive guard and sports trainer.-Early years:...
, professional foorball player (b. 1939) - Bob Morales, depicted in the 1987 film La BambaLa Bamba (film)La Bamba is a 1987 American biographical film written and directed by Luis Valdez. The picture features Lou Diamond Phillips, Esai Morales, Rosanna DeSoto, Elizabeth Peña, Danielle von Zerneck, and Joe Pantoliano...
(b. 1937) - Josh TavesJosh TavesJosh Heinrich Taves is a former professional American football player.-Biography:...
, professional football player (b. 1972)