Santa Cruz County history

1850 — California granted statehood.

The Flatiron Building First built in 1859-60

1860 — London Nelson (also known as "Louden" Nelson) passes away and wills his estate to the school children of Santa Cruz, which some historians credit as paying for the first school house built locally on Mission Hill.

1866 — Santa Cruz City is incorporated

Original Town Clock built in 1873

1875 — First railroad connection to Santa Cruz

When the first train on the new Santa Cruz Railroad finally made its journey from Watsonville to Santa Cruz in May, 1876, the Sentinel editor poetically heralded this triumph for the local growth coalition: "At last our enterprising young city is in full connection with the rest of mankind.

Santa Cruz City Volunteer Fire Department (later to become the Santa Cruz Fire Department) founded in 1877

From the 1880’s through the turn of the century, a wide variety of agricultural industries were established and took hold throughout the county.

Due to the new railroads and increased market access, Santa Cruz grew at a fast pace during the 1870s. It seemed likely that the good times would continue for decades when the South Pacific Coast opened in 1881, just in time to give the Southern Pacific a run for its money.

Octagon Building Built in 1882 and used as the Santa Cruz County Hall of Records

1885 — In July, surfing is introduced to North America by three Hawaiian princes at the River Mouth

Cooper House The original Cooper House was built after a fire in 1894

1902 — Big Basin State Park is created to protect the majestic redwoods from logging.

Starting in 1903 with the acquisition of bathhouses from an early pioneer of the Santa Cruz tourism industry, he soon created the Santa Cruz Beach, Cottage, and Tent City Corporation in order to add small overnight dwellings to his holdings.

Shortly thereafter, Swanton expanded into a casino, rides, and a pinball arcade; after a number of setbacks, including a massive fire in 1906, his venture would eventually evolve into the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk.

1907 — The Boardwalk is built.

The Boardwalk in 1908, as seen from the Pleasure Pier

By the time Hihn died in 1913, he had amassed a fortune of $50.2 million at today's prices, making him far and away the richest resident in the Santa Cruz area.

• The Santa Cruz Municipal Wharf, dating from 1914, extends from Cowell Beach and overlooks the Boardwalk.

• Watch a five-minute video by KTVU-TV that recaps boardwalk history and gives you a feel of what it's like to ride the 1924-vintage Giant Dipper roller coaster.

La Bahia Luxury Suites on Beach Street built in 1926

Hotel Palomar built downtown in 1928, it is the first building over three stories tall in the area

In 1948, the City of Santa Cruz adopted a new City Charter.

1955 — December 22-23 Heavy rains cause floods in Santa Cruz County.

When the pluses of a Santa Cruz location and the strong pressures by the Santa Cruz representatives in the state legislature were stacked up against the problems that might develop if a San Jose location were chosen, the scales tipped in Santa Cruz's favor in December 1960.

Within a week of the final decision, city and county officials met with representatives from the university to set a timetable for construction of the campus and access roads for an opening in September 1965.

The Cooper House is sold and opens in 1969 as an art gallery-restaurant-boutique-shopping center

There, you can learn about the "pre-history" of the Boardwalk, view dozens of historical photos, and read an excellent history of the boardwalk by Andy Schiffrin, one of the most important progressive activists from 1972 to the present.

First public Gay Pride festival held in 1975

1982 — Heavy rains cause severe floods in Santa Cruz County.