Santa Cruz County History Articles

Should California pay reparations to descendants of enslaved African-American people? A state task force studying the topic is ready to issue its first report in June.

According to a historical inventory application, the Hessey House, aka the “pink house” at the southern entrance to Ben Lomond, is the oldest business/residence in the village. The story of the building, built by Thomas Hessey after he moved to …

Gov. Gavin Newsom’s new CARE Court plan aims to get homeless Californians experiencing mental health problems into treatment and off the street. But can it actually work?

A new book dives deep into the serial killings of the early 1970s.

Californians have the perfect opportunity to remember César Chávez by making March 31 a day of service.

The defense industry built modern California. Though military dollars have declined, the military-industrial complex still plays a major role in shaping the state. Here’s how.

California women have played a significant role in shaping every major industry within the U.S. and the world. Here are a few of them.

The effort to bring high speed rail to California has been an epic tale of ambition and failure—a story of endless delays and bloated cost overruns. Where does it stand now, and will the state ever see its own bullet …

Diane Porter Cooley, whose family history dates back to Santa Cruz County’s infancy, and whose conservation efforts of both farmland and forest helped build the underpinnings of the county’s environmental ideology—and reshape the way the nation viewed agricultural land protection—died …

While keeping its virtual option, the festival opens with a return to live events.

Popular flower business first opened in Downtown Santa Cruz 75 years ago.

The history of transportation in California has shaped the state, from the railroads to today’s highways, making the need for planning increasingly urgent. Here’s how it all happened, and where we stand today.

Travel, food, true crime politics—there’s a show for everyone. Here are some top-rated podcasts that focus on some aspect of California culture.

WATSONVILLE—Stephen Gerald Bankhead was a longtime Watsonville resident who made learning about Pajaro Valley’s history—and relaying it to the community—his passion in the latter part of his life. Most recently, he wrote the Pajaro Valley Past column for The Pajaronian, …

On Saturday the Pajaronian will celebrate 154 years of service to the community. It’s difficult to put into words the impact this newspaper has had on the Pajaro Valley since J.A. Cottle, the first owner, editor and publisher, established the …

Watsonville is home to one of the last remaining adobes representing Northern California’s rancho era.

East and West Zayante Road, Zayante Creek, and the community of Zayante are named for the Awaswas speaking people, the Sayant, who lived and managed the land prior to Western contact. The area is part of the traditional territory of …

How a controversial U.S. Supreme Court ruling created a national, legal sports gambling industry which now sees California as its own 'Holy Grail.'

In 2022, California voters may see as many as four ballot initiatives to make betting on sporting events legal. Here’s how they would change sports gambling, and who's behind each separate measure.

Former 'GT' photographer Michèle Benson follows up Catalyst film with broader look at local scene.