Santa Cruz County is a strip about ten miles wide between the coast and the crest of the Santa Cruz Mountains at the northern end of the Monterey Bay. It can be divided roughly into four regions: the rugged "north coast," the urban City of Santa Cruz, Soquel, Capitola, and Aptos; mountainous Bonny Doon, San Lorenzo River Valley; and fertile "south county," including Watsonville. Agriculture is concentrated in the coastal lowlands of the county's northern and southern ends. Most of the coastline is flanked by cliffs.

Below are quick links to the official government pages of the incorporated cities in Santa Cruz County, the counties that border Santa Cruz County, and the State of California.

City

City of Santa Cruz

City of Capitola

City of Scotts Valley

City of Watsonville


County

County of Santa Cruz

County of Monterey

San Benito County

San Mateo County

 

County of Santa Clara


State

State of California