Watsonville, California
Watsonville, California Flag of Watsonville, California Flag Official seal of Watsonville, California Location in Santa Cruz County and the state of California Location in Santa Cruz County and the state of California Watsonville, California is positioned in the US Watsonville, California - Watsonville, California Watsonville is a town/city in Santa Cruz County, California, United States.
Watsonville is home to citizens of varied ethnic backgrounds.
There is a large Hispanic population, a group of Croats, Portuguese, Filipino, Caucasian, Sikhs and Japanese populace 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 surrounding for the neighboring inland communities with very hot summers.
There are a several private religious-based schools in Watsonville such as Notre Dame School, Monte Vista Christian, Salesian Sisters and St.
There are also a several charter schools and the non-religious autonomous Pre-K through 12th undertaking Mount Madonna School.
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 town/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 range of fruits and vegetables, primarily apples, strawberries, blackberries, raspberries, and table mushrooms.
5.5 Watsonville Wetlands This river that runs along the boundaries of the town/city divides the Santa Cruz County and the Monterey County.
In 1848, the gold rush in the Sierra Mountains was an meaningful event for the town/city because citizens began to buy territory for the low price that it had, allowing them to acquire large acres of property where farming and ranching would be among the simple practices that would shape the economy of the city.
The improve was incorporated as the Town of Watsonville on or about March 30, 1868 and titled after Judge John Watson.
The town changed its name to the City of Watsonville about 1889.
Watsonville is positioned on the Rancho Bolsa del Pajaro Mexican territory grant made to Sebastian Rodriguez in 1837.
Sunrise in an industrialized area on Beach Street in Watsonville.
The chief industries in Watsonville are construction, agriculture and manufacturing.
Some of the biggest companies headquartered in Watsonville are Martinelli's, Fox Racing Shox, Nordic Naturals, Graniterock, Granite Construction, West Marine, California Giant, Vendwize, A&I Transport Inc.
Companies such as Driscoll's and California Giant spend around $280 million every year in the refining and transit of fresh food to most metros/cities in the area, such as San Jose, California, Castroville, California, and Santa Cruz, California where the numbers of these fruits and vegetables are insufficient for the demand of the citizens .
The large investments by big corporations in the town/city and the workforce force, which accounts for 75% of Latino workers, have helped the town/city to turn into ranked amongst the top most meaningful farming metros/cities in the United States for its agro-business market.
Besides relying mainly on farming goods and practices, the economy also relies on other small private owned businesses in the town/city because of different industries such as: industries in the fields of electronics, service firms, non-agricultural stores, and other private owned restaurant in the region that contribute to the economy every year.
According to the City's 2010 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the top employers in the town/city are: 2 Watsonville Community Hospital 693 4 City of Watsonville 374 The new immigrants were meaningful to the expansion of the town/city because the fertile territory needed personnel in order to perform jobs in the industries of farming and construction.
These immigrants were able to shape the economy of the town/city through their workforce and settlement in the city.
When these agricultural companies settled along the boundaries of the city, they created more jobs increasing the populace of the city.
The market of agriculture served as the chief foundation of the town/city because it was the trade that needed the most workers, this allowed for the creation of a larger market of agriculture where companies could transport large number of crops from town/city to town/city and even to different parts of the world.
The town/city is ranked as the 21st biggest city in the nation with the most Latino workers that account for 75% of the total populace in the city. Santa Cruz County and Monterey County work together to furnish training for workers in new job skills that are needed in the industries of farming and assembly in the city.
Colleges in the region such as California State University, Monterey Bay, University of California, Santa Cruz, and Cabrillo College are meaningful for shaping the training of new workers, these universities have links with companies that expose students and workers to the real workforce force.
Since these close links exists between schools and workforce companies in the city, the economy is able to problematic new jobs that stabilize the income and output of the community.
The agricultural company is dependent on the donation of college students and workers with their skills gathered through the training programs at establishments in Santa Cruz County and Monterey County.
College students along with expert workers have created new ways of burgeoning and refining food that are useful for the economy and the populace of the city.
The workforce has changed since the 20th century because companies have created new programs in the heart of the town/city that better prepare workers with the skills that are requires to perform different jobs in the city.
According to the California Employment Department, the trade of employment in the Santa Cruz County consists of: Watsonville is positioned in the Monterey Bay region about 95 miles south of San Francisco at the southern end of Santa Cruz County. According to the United States Enumeration Bureau, the town/city has a total region of 6.8 square miles (18 km2), of which, 6.7 square miles (17 km2) of it is territory and 0.1 square miles (0.26 km2) of it (1.42%) is water.
Aerial view of the southern section of Watsonville and the Pajaro River Although momentous snow flurry occurs a several times a year on the higher mountain peaks nearby, calculable snow flurry is a rarity along Monterey Bay. On February 26, 2010 there was slight snow flurry in Watsonville, though it was such a small amount that it could not be calculated.
The City of Watsonville has surrounding areas that support the endangered species Santa Cruz Tarweed on the California coastal prairie ecosystem.
Most of the coastal territory adjoining to Watsonville is part of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, a designation championed by former Congressman Leon Panetta.
Another protected natural resource is the Watsonville wetlands.
Also referred to as the Watsonville sloughs, they are a fitness of fresh water sloughs with open water and native vegetation which extend from the town/city to the ocean.
In 1990 both private and municipal organizations worked together to stop evolution and protect this meaningful resource. The Watsonville Wetlands Watch was established at that time with the task of restoring and protecting the slough's natural habit.
"Watching the Watsonville Wetlands," a book presented by the organization and written by Jerry Busch, Gary Kittleson and Christine Johnson-Lyons tells the history and explains the importance of these wetland areas.
Watsonville provides a wide range of recreational opportunities including hiking, boating, festivals, sports, birdwatching, and beach access.
Watsonville is home to the annual Strawberry Festival, which includes a wide range of strawberry based foods, live music, vendors, and rides. Watsonville Municipal Airport (WVI) is home to the annual Watsonville Fly-in and Air Show, which showcases both military and civilian airplane and includes a small car show. Near the end of every summer, the Santa Cruz County fair has drawn visitors from athwart 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. Hiking trails are positioned throughout the town/city as well as a nature center provides the enhance with an intimate view of The Watsonville Wetlands. A number of trail heads have been assembled throughout the city, which furnish access to the Pajaro River and its tributaries via The Pajaro River Levee Trail Park.
In 2010 the City of Watsonville was awarded a $424,000 grant to problematic a enhance access point to the Pajaro River for canoes and kayaks, including a parking lot, trail and enhance restroom. Due to these occurrences, the City of Watsonville has prohibited the eating of fish caught in Pinto Lake. The second park at Pinto Lake is directed by The County of Santa Cruz and includes nature trails, disc golf, sports fields also home to the Monterey Bay Center of the California Conservation Corps. The Pajaro Dunes region of Watsonville attracts tourists to its high end beach front condos and time shares.
Heinlein set a part of his 1982 novel Friday at Pajaro Sands, near Watsonville.
The 1996 play Watsonville by Cherrie Moraga is set in the city.
In 2012 UC Santa Cruz students filmed a full-length documentary about Watsonville, titled Exit: 426 Watsonville. The 2010 United States Enumeration reported that Watsonville had a populace of 51,199.
The populace was spread out with 16,111 citizens (31.5%) under the age of 18, 6,001 citizens (11.7%) aged 18 to 24, 14,834 citizens (29.0%) aged 25 to 44, 10,014 citizens (19.6%) aged 45 to 64, and 4,239 citizens (8.3%) who were 65 years of age or older.
Watsonville also has a large Asian-American existence consisting of Chinese, Japanese and Filipinos despite the fact that the percentage of town/city residents of Asian descent has dropped since 1960.
The history of East Asians in Watsonville dates back to the late 19th century and are involved in the small-town agricultural industry.
It is presumed that as a result of Japanese-American internment amid WWII, small-town farm companies began to attract Mexican migrant workforce to the region in higher numbers and the town's racial-ethnic composition became more Hispanic in the 1980s and 1990s. There was also medium-sized Sikh populace in Watsonville amid the late 1990s to early 2000s that were involved mostly in the trucking industry, but most have moved away to California's Central Valley for cheaper housing. In the city, the populace 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 City of Watsonville was incorporated on March 30, 1868 It adopted its first charter in 1903.
The town/city is divided into seven districts, each of which elects a representative to the town/city council. In turn, the mayor of Watsonville is not elected.
After a 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 citizens when outside cash becomes available. The Santa Cruz Sentinel reported that "n a 4-3 vote [on September 28, 2010], the City Council allowed a contract for a $1.6 million grant from the California Dental Association Foundation to design and build a fluoridation fitness and operate it for two years." Eventually the California Dental Association Foundation notified the City that it was too expensive to fluoridate the City's waterworks.
In the California State Legislature, Watsonville is in the 17th Senate District, represented by Democrat Bill Monning, and in the 30th Assembly District, represented by Democrat Anna Caballero. In the United States House of Representatives, Watsonville is in California's 20th congressional district, represented by Democrat Jimmy Panetta. In comparison to close-by incorporated cities, overall crime index is 24.1% lower than Santa Cruz, 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 activeness is on the rise, crime itself continues to fall and is presently at its lowest in 30 years. Even with a momentous drop in crime, Watsonville continues to suffer from its past reputation, especially amongst more well-to-do areas in the region.
Public schools in Watsonville fall under the jurisdiction of the Pajaro Valley Unified School District. Freedom Elementary School: Grades K-5 Amesti Elementary School: Grades K-5 Ann Soldo Elementary School: Grades K-5 Hyde Elementary School: Grades K-5 Mac - Quiddy 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} Watsonville High School: Grades 9-12 Pajaro Valley High School: Grades 9-12 Watsonville Community School All charter schools in Watsonville are under the jurisdiction of the Pajaro Valley Unified School District.
Alianza Charter School: Grades K-8 {Formerly Salsipuedes Elementary school: Grades K-5} Watsonville Charter School of the Arts: Grades K-6 (High School serves 9th undertaking only in 2011-12, adding a undertaking each year through 2015).
"Charter of the City of Watsonville".
"California Cities by Incorporation Date" (Word).
"Watsonville City Data".
"Watsonville (city) Quick - Facts".
"Watsonville Economic Development".
City of Watsonville Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 2010 "Watsonville Economical Growth".
City of Watsonville California.
"City of Watsonville".
"Watsonville, California Climate Summary".
"Watsonville, California Temperature Averages".
"The Watsonville Sloughs".
Watsonville Wetlands Watch.
Wetlands of Watsonville.
Santa Cruz Sentinel: "Conservation victory for Watsonville sloughs", 09/22/2009 Self-published by Watsonville Wetlands watch, Freedom, California.
"Strawberry Festival - City of Watsonville, CA".
"Watsonville Fly-in and Air Show".
City of Watsonville.
Wetlands of Watsonville.
Wetlands of Watsonville.
Public Works, Watsonville.
City of Watsonville.
"IMDb: Most Popular Titles With Location Matching "Watsonville, California, USA"".
"2010 Enumeration Interactive Population Search: CA - Watsonville city".
"Watsonville City Government - City Council".
Bay City News (August 20, 2010).
"Watsonville to be the county's first to fluoridate water".
"Gilroy City Data".
"Santa Cruz City Data".
Pajaro Valley Unified School District Wikimedia Commons has media related to Watsonville, California.
Santa Cruz Wiki The People's Guide to Santa Cruz County, California.
Santa Cruz County Conference & Visitors Council Watsonville Visitor Information Watsonville Community Connections City of Watsonville at the Wayback Machine (archived January 10, 1998) Municipalities and communities of Santa Cruz County, California, United States
Categories:
Watsonville, California - Cities in Santa Cruz County, California - Incorporated metros/cities and suburbs in California - Populated places established in 1868 - 1868 establishments in California
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