Santa Cruz County History Articles

Looking back on the history of the multicultural community as it moves into the future

The California Supreme Court has kept the state at the forefront of legal issues surrounding abortion, the death penalty and same-sex marriage, starting in its earliest days in the Gold Rush era.

Paula Hernandez (Watsonville City Councilman Felipe’s mom) and the women of the Watsonville frozen food plants strikes encouraged thousands to stand up against unfair conditions

Comics may have been born in New York, but they came of age in California. And there’s more to the story than San Francisco comix.

Almost one million California residents are forced to drink from contaminated water supplies, or pay for bottled water. Economic inequality makes the crisis worse. What is the state doing to fix it?

The Golden State has masqueraded as everything from the Sahara Desert to the Swiss Alps. But which films best capture the real California?

By Ronnie Trubek 18 year old newspaper model, Miss Helena Farrell, displays three issues of the Mountain Echo, the Boulder Creek newspaper, published November 11, 18, and 25, 1916. After the turn-of-the-century lumber boom collapsed, Luther McQuesten, the final publisher …

The world-renowned 'Free Will Astrology' writer found his calling in a ‘Good Times’ classified ad 45 years ago

Harry and Maude Owen – Quail Hollow Ranch 1957 to 1974  By Richard James and Jim Bahn In November of 1957, Hayward, California rancher Harry Owen and his wife, Maude, purchased Quail Hollow Ranch from Sunset Magazine owner Larry Lane. …

On March 10, the Pajaro River flooded the small agricultural town on its banks. Professor Dustin Mulvaney traces the turbulent history of the Central Coast’s second largest watershed.

Shopping malls revolutionized how Americans shopped, socialized, and lived. Now, malls face an uncertain future. How did the dream of a new town square go so wrong?

America has become a mostly suburban country, and California is known for its sprawling ’burbs. But what is a suburb? It turns out California may not be as suburban as people believe.

Gayle and Joe Ortiz’s scratch-made pastries have been a hit with locals and tourists from the beginning

The Capitola restaurant has been treating diners like family for over 50 years

Silicon Valley has been hit with repeated boom and bust cycles throughout its history, and layoffs are sweeping the tech industry in 2023. Here's why the Valley will survive the latest downturn, as it has all the others.

Black History Month provides an opportunity to remember the achievements of African Americans who fought for equality in the Golden State.

During January’s destructive storms, environmental studies professor Dustin Mulvaney created a concise, riveting timeline of the San Lorenzo River.

By Julie Horner A new book is available at the San Lorenzo Valley Museum: "When the Mission Bells Rang" by Dr. Judith Scott, illustrated by Lydia Gibson and in consultation with the Amah Mutsun Tribal Band. Written for children as …

For nearly 15 years, Lisa Robinson has had her hand in the development and trajectory of the San Lorenzo Valley Museum.  With two locations—one in Boulder Creek and the other in Felton—Robinson oversees both venues and works closely with her …

2022 was a year that needed a lot of explaining. And California Local was there. Here are our 10 most important explanatory journalism stories from the year gone by, from immigration to cryptocurrency to wealth inequality and more.