Aptos, California
Encyclopedia
Aptos is a census-designated place
(CDP) in Santa Cruz County
, California
, United States
. The population was 6,220 at the 2010 census.
Aptos is an unincorporated area of Santa Cruz county, consisting of several small communities. The combined population of the CDPs generally considered as parts of Aptos is around 25,000:
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the CDP has a total area of 6.4 square miles (16.6 km²), all of it land.
Aptos lies near the San Andreas Fault
, and it was close to the epicenter of 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake
.
The name Aptos is Ohlone
, meaning "the meeting of two creeks". Aptos is pronounced "app-toss" by residents. The name is often mispronounced "app-tose" by tourists.
In 1833 the government of Mexico granted Rafael Castro the 6656 acres (26.9 km²) Rancho Aptos
. Initially Castro raised cattle for their hides, but after California became a state in 1850, Castro leased his land to Americans who built a wharf, general store, and lumber mill. The original town was located where Aptos Village Square is now. In 1853 a leather tannery was built, and the main building is now the Apple Lane Bed & Breakfast Inn.
By 1872, Claus Spreckels
, the sugar millionaire, began buying the land from Castro. He built a hotel near the beach and a summer mansion and ranch with a racetrack for his horses. A large area was fenced and stocked with deer for hunting, and became known as "the Deer Park," home of today's Deer Park Center. With the coming of the railroad, the town moved to the other side of Aptos Creek.
From 1880 to 1920 redwood timber harvesting became the major industry, and Aptos became a boom town. The Loma Prieta Lumber Company logged all of what is now The Forest of Nisene Marks State Park
. The Valencia Mill logged everything to the east. Within 40 years the hills were bare, and apples became the next industry. Village Fair Antiques is now located in the old apple packing plant.
After Spreckels' death, Seacliff Park and Rio Del Mar Country Club (today's Seacliff State Beach
) were developed in the late 1920s. Rio Del Mar Country Club included a clubhouse, a grand hotel on the bluffs, a beach club, a polo field, and a golf course. The estuary was filled in, and the S.S. Palo Alto
cement ship was moored and converted into an amusement pier with restaurants, swimming pool, and a dance pavilion. Both Rio Del Mar and Seacliff were popular during prohibition as drinking and gambling were discreetly available. These amusements were interrupted by the great depression and World War II.
In the early 1960s Aptos began a period of rapid development, including Cabrillo College
, Rancho Del Mar Shopping Center, the Seascape Resort development, and many residential developments.
was 978.9 people per square mile (378.0/km²). The racial makeup of Aptos was 5,420 (87.1%) White, 58 (0.9%) African American, 43 (0.7%) Native American, 247 (4.0%) Asian, 8 (0.1%) Pacific Islander, 175 (2.8%) from other races
, and 269 (4.3%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 611 persons (9.8%).
The Census reported that 98.7% of the population lived in households and 1.3% lived in non-institutionalized group quarters.
There were 2,549 households, out of which 686 (26.9%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 1,353 (53.1%) were opposite-sex married couples
living together, 192 (7.5%) had a female householder with no husband present, 95 (3.7%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 142 (5.6%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships
, and 36 (1.4%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 665 households (26.1%) were made up of individuals and 268 (10.5%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41. There were 1,640 families
(64.3% of all households); the average family size was 2.86.
The population was spread out with 1,150 people (18.5%) under the age of 18, 436 people (7.0%) aged 18 to 24, 1,342 people (21.6%) aged 25 to 44, 2,189 people (35.2%) aged 45 to 64, and 1,103 people (17.7%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 46.9 years. For every 100 females there were 97.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.8 males.
There were 2,711 housing units at an average density of 426.7 per square mile (164.7/km²), of which 75.6% were owner-occupied and 24.4% were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.5%; the rental vacancy rate was 0.8%. 75.2% of the population lived in owner-occupied housing units and 23.5% lived in rental housing units.
of 2000, there were 9,396 people, 4,055 households, and 2,428 families residing in the CDP. The population density
was 1,339.6 people per square mile (517.5/km²). There were 4,486 housing units at an average density of 639.6 per square mile (247.1/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 90.38% White, 0.56% African American, 0.65% Native American, 2.39% Asian, 0.11% Pacific Islander, 2.49% from other races
, and 3.42% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.97% of the population.
There were 4,055 households out of which 25.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.1% were married couples
living together, 8.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.1% were non-families. 27.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.29 and the average family size was 2.78.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 19.3% under the age of 18, 6.5% from 18 to 24, 30.9% from 25 to 44, 29.4% from 45 to 64, and 14.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 94.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.0 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $61,843, and the median income for a family was $73,515. Males had a median income of $51,848 versus $40,050 for females. The per capita income
for the CDP was $33,210. About 2.5% of families and 7.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.4% of those under age 18 and 6.2% of those age 65 or over.
Aptos is located in the 11th Senate
District, represented by Democrat
Joe Simitian
, and in the 27th Assembly
District, represented by Democrat Bill Monning
. Federally, Aptos is located in California's 17th congressional district
, which has a Cook PVI
of D +17 and is represented by Democrat Sam Farr
.
and Seacliff State Beach
California state parks. Nisene Marks is popular with hikers and mountain bikers, and also contains the epicenter of the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake
(7.1 on the Richter scale).
Many Aptos beaches are popular spots for surfing and bodyboarding. Aptos is also a popular spot for Freeride biking and street skateboarding. Efforts have gone towards attempting to build a skate park in Aptos, however it appears unlikely at this point. Although unclear why a skate park was rejected two Bicycle parks adorn the Aptos village, and quite possibly a third in the near future.
The beaches of Aptos are frequented by a small but dedicated group of surfers. Due to exclusively sand-bottom beaches, wave shape in Aptos is typically not as high quality as in neighboring Capitola and Santa Cruz. However, during the Autumn and Winter, local spots "Platforms" and "Beer Can" are frequently surfed.
Aptos is also home to the annual Fourth of July "World's Shortest Parade," so called because the parade route is about one-fourth of a mile.
Aptos Park is the site of the annual Aptos Blues Festival. Several well-known performers have performed at the festival, such as Robert Cray
, Coco Montoya
, Elvin Bishop
, Sista Monica, Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown, Charlie Musselwhite
, Bonnie Raitt
, and Al Green
.
. However, there are a few notable local establishments. The Aptos Cinemas, long a mainstream movie theater, has become an indie movie house under the leadership of the Nickelodeon corporation in Santa Cruz. Located next to the theater in the Rancho Del Mar shopping center is the 30 year old local favorite Erik's DeliCafe that serves soups, sandwiches and salads; and also Taqueria Sofia's is just around the corner. Several local bars such as the Brittania Arms offer a low-key atmosphere. Manuel's Restaurant is a well-known landmark that has been serving Mexican food for over 30 years. Other notable restaurants include Ma Maison (fine French dining), Bittersweet Bistro, Palapas, and Sanderlings (Seascape neighborhood), and Cafe Sparrow (Aptos Village). A world famous set of dirt jumps is also located there (generally referred to as "The Post Office").
is a two-year community college in Aptos.
Aptos has three public elementary schools: Valencia Elementary, Rio Del Mar Elementary, and Mar Vista Elementary. It also has one junior high school, Aptos Junior High School, and one high school, Aptos High School
. Private schools include Santa Cruz Montessori School, Orchard School, Twin Lakes Christian School, and Aptos Academy.
- Central Coast Section (CCS) Division 1 finals. The Aptos girls soccer accomplished the same that year and advanced to the CCS Division 1 finals. The Aptos High Mariners football team won the 2003 CCS Div II title, its first football CCS title. The High School's winningest team, however, is the Aptos track and field team. The girls team has won the past twelve league championships, and the boys team has won eleven of the last twelve. The varsity cheer leading team also took home 2 State Championship trophies in the 90's.
The Aptos Little League baseball team made it to the Little League World Series
in 2002, and was the subject of a documentary film on PBS, Small Ball: A Little League Story.
In 2005 the Aptos High girls and boys cross country team won the CCS championship and the boys finished third at state championships while the girls were crowned state champions.
In 2007, the Aptos High boys' cross-country team won CCS, and took third in state. The girls' team took second in CCS.
In 2007, the baseball team at Aptos High was nationally ranked and advanced to the CCS D2 finals losing out by a single home run. Team is coached by ex-MLB Pitcher and Coach Randall Kramer, ex-MLB World Series Pitcher Mark Eichhorn
, and ex-MLB Scout Matt King.
In 2008, the boys' cross-country team won CCS for the second year in a row and took fifth at state. The girls' team was second at CCS and eighth in state.
Census-designated place
A census-designated place is a concentration of population identified by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes. CDPs are delineated for each decennial census as the statistical counterparts of incorporated places such as cities, towns and villages...
(CDP) in Santa Cruz County
Santa Cruz County, California
Santa Cruz County is a county located on the Pacific coast of the U.S. state of California, on the California Central Coast. The county forms the northern coast of the Monterey Bay. . As of the 2010 U.S. Census, its population was 262,382. The county seat is Santa Cruz...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 6,220 at the 2010 census.
Aptos is an unincorporated area of Santa Cruz county, consisting of several small communities. The combined population of the CDPs generally considered as parts of Aptos is around 25,000:
- Aptos Village, the main business and commerce center on the northwest side of Hwy 1, between State Park Drive and Rio Del Mar Blvd.
- Seacliff, northwest of Hwy 1, west of Spreckels drive
- Rio Del MarRio del Mar, CaliforniaRio del Mar is a census-designated place in Santa Cruz County, California, United States. The name "Rio Del Mar" was chosen as a "catchy" name to promote real estate in the area during the 1920s. There is no body of water by that name in Santa Cruz County...
, south of Hwy 1, east of Spreckels, down to near Seascape Blvd. - Seascape, south west of Hwy 1
- La Selva Beach, farthest southeast, also west of Hwy 1.
- Aptos Hills-Larkin Valley, Day Valley north/east of Hwy 1.
Geography
Aptos is located at 36°58′53"N 121°54′27"W (36.981500, -121.907432).According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the CDP has a total area of 6.4 square miles (16.6 km²), all of it land.
Aptos lies near the San Andreas Fault
San Andreas Fault
The San Andreas Fault is a continental strike-slip fault that runs a length of roughly through California in the United States. The fault's motion is right-lateral strike-slip...
, and it was close to the epicenter of 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake
Loma Prieta earthquake
The Loma Prieta earthquake, also known as the Quake of '89 and the World Series Earthquake, was a major earthquake that struck the San Francisco Bay Area of California on October 17, 1989, at 5:04 p.m. local time...
.
History
Ohlone
The Ohlone people, also known as the Costanoan, are a Native American people of the central California coast. When Spanish explorers and missionaries arrived in the late 18th century, the Ohlone inhabited the area along the coast from San Francisco Bay through Monterey Bay to the lower Salinas Valley...
, meaning "the meeting of two creeks". Aptos is pronounced "app-toss" by residents. The name is often mispronounced "app-tose" by tourists.
In 1833 the government of Mexico granted Rafael Castro the 6656 acres (26.9 km²) Rancho Aptos
Rancho Aptos
Rancho Aptos was a Mexican land grant in present day Santa Cruz County, California given in 1833 by Governor José Figueroa to Rafael Castro. The grant on the Monterey Bay was immediately downcoast of his sister, Martina Castro's Rancho Soquel, and upcoast of his father, José Joaquín Castro's ...
. Initially Castro raised cattle for their hides, but after California became a state in 1850, Castro leased his land to Americans who built a wharf, general store, and lumber mill. The original town was located where Aptos Village Square is now. In 1853 a leather tannery was built, and the main building is now the Apple Lane Bed & Breakfast Inn.
By 1872, Claus Spreckels
Claus Spreckels
Claus Spreckels, formally Adolph Claus J. Spreckels , , was a major industrialist in Hawai'i during the kingdom, republican and territorial periods of the islands' history...
, the sugar millionaire, began buying the land from Castro. He built a hotel near the beach and a summer mansion and ranch with a racetrack for his horses. A large area was fenced and stocked with deer for hunting, and became known as "the Deer Park," home of today's Deer Park Center. With the coming of the railroad, the town moved to the other side of Aptos Creek.
From 1880 to 1920 redwood timber harvesting became the major industry, and Aptos became a boom town. The Loma Prieta Lumber Company logged all of what is now The Forest of Nisene Marks State Park
The Forest of Nisene Marks State Park
The Forest of Nisene Marks is a State Park located in Aptos, California and contains over of hiking trails and fire roads through approximately of variable terrain. The park was named for Nisene Marks, a passionate nature lover and the mother of a Salinas farming family that purchased the land...
. The Valencia Mill logged everything to the east. Within 40 years the hills were bare, and apples became the next industry. Village Fair Antiques is now located in the old apple packing plant.
After Spreckels' death, Seacliff Park and Rio Del Mar Country Club (today's Seacliff State Beach
Seacliff State Beach
Seacliff is a California State Beach located off Highway 1 in the town of Aptos about south of Santa Cruz, on State Park Drive. The beach is most known for the concrete ship SS Palo Alto lying in the water...
) were developed in the late 1920s. Rio Del Mar Country Club included a clubhouse, a grand hotel on the bluffs, a beach club, a polo field, and a golf course. The estuary was filled in, and the S.S. Palo Alto
Palo Alto (tanker)
The Palo Alto was a concrete ship built as a tanker at the end of World War I. She was built by the San Francisco Shipbuilding Company at the U.S. Naval Shipyard in Oakland, California. She was launched on May 29, 1919, too late to see service in the war...
cement ship was moored and converted into an amusement pier with restaurants, swimming pool, and a dance pavilion. Both Rio Del Mar and Seacliff were popular during prohibition as drinking and gambling were discreetly available. These amusements were interrupted by the great depression and World War II.
In the early 1960s Aptos began a period of rapid development, including Cabrillo College
Cabrillo College
Cabrillo College is a public community college offering associate degrees and certificates in more than 70 fields of study such as: engineering, computer science, allied health , public safety, marine biology and the visual and performing arts. The college itself is named after the explorer Juan...
, Rancho Del Mar Shopping Center, the Seascape Resort development, and many residential developments.
Demographics
2010
The 2010 United States Census reported that Aptos had a population of 6,220. The population densityPopulation density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 978.9 people per square mile (378.0/km²). The racial makeup of Aptos was 5,420 (87.1%) White, 58 (0.9%) African American, 43 (0.7%) Native American, 247 (4.0%) Asian, 8 (0.1%) Pacific Islander, 175 (2.8%) from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 269 (4.3%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 611 persons (9.8%).
The Census reported that 98.7% of the population lived in households and 1.3% lived in non-institutionalized group quarters.
There were 2,549 households, out of which 686 (26.9%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 1,353 (53.1%) were opposite-sex married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 192 (7.5%) had a female householder with no husband present, 95 (3.7%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 142 (5.6%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships
POSSLQ
POSSLQ is an abbreviation for "Persons of Opposite Sex Sharing Living Quarters," a term coined in the late 1970s by the United States Census Bureau as part of an effort to more accurately gauge the prevalence of cohabitation in American households....
, and 36 (1.4%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 665 households (26.1%) were made up of individuals and 268 (10.5%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41. There were 1,640 families
Family (U.S. Census)
A family or family household is defined by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes as "a householder and one or more other people related to the householder by birth, marriage, or adoption. They do not include same-sex married couples even if the marriage was performed in a state...
(64.3% of all households); the average family size was 2.86.
The population was spread out with 1,150 people (18.5%) under the age of 18, 436 people (7.0%) aged 18 to 24, 1,342 people (21.6%) aged 25 to 44, 2,189 people (35.2%) aged 45 to 64, and 1,103 people (17.7%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 46.9 years. For every 100 females there were 97.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.8 males.
There were 2,711 housing units at an average density of 426.7 per square mile (164.7/km²), of which 75.6% were owner-occupied and 24.4% were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.5%; the rental vacancy rate was 0.8%. 75.2% of the population lived in owner-occupied housing units and 23.5% lived in rental housing units.
2000
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 9,396 people, 4,055 households, and 2,428 families residing in the CDP. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 1,339.6 people per square mile (517.5/km²). There were 4,486 housing units at an average density of 639.6 per square mile (247.1/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 90.38% White, 0.56% African American, 0.65% Native American, 2.39% Asian, 0.11% Pacific Islander, 2.49% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 3.42% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.97% of the population.
There were 4,055 households out of which 25.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.1% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 8.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.1% were non-families. 27.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.29 and the average family size was 2.78.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 19.3% under the age of 18, 6.5% from 18 to 24, 30.9% from 25 to 44, 29.4% from 45 to 64, and 14.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 94.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.0 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $61,843, and the median income for a family was $73,515. Males had a median income of $51,848 versus $40,050 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the CDP was $33,210. About 2.5% of families and 7.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.4% of those under age 18 and 6.2% of those age 65 or over.
Politics
In the state legislatureCalifornia State Legislature
The California State Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of California. It is a bicameral body consisting of the lower house, the California State Assembly, with 80 members, and the upper house, the California State Senate, with 40 members...
Aptos is located in the 11th Senate
California State Senate
The California State Senate is the upper house of the California State Legislature. There are 40 state senators. The state legislature meets in the California State Capitol in Sacramento. The Lieutenant Governor is the ex officio President of the Senate and may break a tied vote...
District, represented by Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
Joe Simitian
Joe Simitian
Saren Joseph Simitian is a Democratic California State Senator elected in 2004. Simitian represents the 11th Senate District, which encompasses all or part of 13 cities in San Mateo, Santa Clara, and Santa Cruz counties....
, and in the 27th Assembly
California State Assembly
The California State Assembly is the lower house of the California State Legislature. There are 80 members in the Assembly, representing an approximately equal number of constituents, with each district having a population of at least 420,000...
District, represented by Democrat Bill Monning
Bill Monning
William "Bill" Monning is an American educator, lawyer and politician. Monning was elected to the California State Assembly from the 27th Assembly District in the 2008 Assembly election....
. Federally, Aptos is located in California's 17th congressional district
California's 17th congressional district
California's 17th congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of California that covers all of Monterey and San Benito counties, as well as part of Santa Cruz County...
, which has a Cook PVI
Cook Partisan Voting Index
The Cook Partisan Voting Index , sometimes referred to as simply the Partisan Voting Index , is a measurement of how strongly an American congressional district or state leans toward one political party compared to the nation as a whole...
of D +17 and is represented by Democrat Sam Farr
Sam Farr
Samuel S. "Sam" Farr is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1993. He is a member of the Democratic Party. He was elected to Congress in a 1993 special election when longtime Democratic Rep...
.
Parks and recreation
Aptos is home to both the The Forest of Nisene Marks State ParkThe Forest of Nisene Marks State Park
The Forest of Nisene Marks is a State Park located in Aptos, California and contains over of hiking trails and fire roads through approximately of variable terrain. The park was named for Nisene Marks, a passionate nature lover and the mother of a Salinas farming family that purchased the land...
and Seacliff State Beach
Seacliff State Beach
Seacliff is a California State Beach located off Highway 1 in the town of Aptos about south of Santa Cruz, on State Park Drive. The beach is most known for the concrete ship SS Palo Alto lying in the water...
California state parks. Nisene Marks is popular with hikers and mountain bikers, and also contains the epicenter of the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake
Loma Prieta earthquake
The Loma Prieta earthquake, also known as the Quake of '89 and the World Series Earthquake, was a major earthquake that struck the San Francisco Bay Area of California on October 17, 1989, at 5:04 p.m. local time...
(7.1 on the Richter scale).
Many Aptos beaches are popular spots for surfing and bodyboarding. Aptos is also a popular spot for Freeride biking and street skateboarding. Efforts have gone towards attempting to build a skate park in Aptos, however it appears unlikely at this point. Although unclear why a skate park was rejected two Bicycle parks adorn the Aptos village, and quite possibly a third in the near future.
The beaches of Aptos are frequented by a small but dedicated group of surfers. Due to exclusively sand-bottom beaches, wave shape in Aptos is typically not as high quality as in neighboring Capitola and Santa Cruz. However, during the Autumn and Winter, local spots "Platforms" and "Beer Can" are frequently surfed.
Aptos is also home to the annual Fourth of July "World's Shortest Parade," so called because the parade route is about one-fourth of a mile.
Aptos Park is the site of the annual Aptos Blues Festival. Several well-known performers have performed at the festival, such as Robert Cray
Robert Cray
Robert Cray is an American blues guitarist and singer. A five-time Grammy Award winner, he has led his own band, as well as an acclaimed solo career.-Career:...
, Coco Montoya
Coco Montoya
Coco Montoya is an American blues guitarist and former member of John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers.-Musical career:...
, Elvin Bishop
Elvin Bishop
Elvin Bishop is an American blues and rock and roll musician and guitarist.-Career:Bishop was born in Glendale, California, and grew up on a farm near Elliott, Iowa. His family moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma, when he was ten years old...
, Sista Monica, Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown, Charlie Musselwhite
Charlie Musselwhite
Charlie Musselwhite is an American electric blues harmonica player and bandleader, one of the non-black bluesmen who came to prominence in the early 1960s, along with Mike Bloomfield and Paul Butterfield. Though he has often been identified as a "white bluesman", he claims Native American heritage...
, Bonnie Raitt
Bonnie Raitt
Bonnie Lynn Raitt is an American blues singer-songwriter and a renowned slide guitar player. During the 1970s, Raitt released a series of acclaimed roots-influenced albums which incorporated elements of blues, rock, folk and country, but she is perhaps best known for her more commercially...
, and Al Green
Al Green
Albert Greene , better known as Al Green, is an American gospel and soul music singer. He reached the peak of his popularity in the 1970s, with hit singles such as "You Oughta Be With Me", "I'm Still In Love With You", "Love and Happiness", and "Let's Stay Together"...
.
Entertainment
Being a small town, Aptos does not have as many entertainment possibilities to offer as neighboring Santa Cruz, CaliforniaSanta Cruz, California
Santa Cruz is the county seat and largest city of Santa Cruz County, California in the US. As of the 2010 U.S. Census, Santa Cruz had a total population of 59,946...
. However, there are a few notable local establishments. The Aptos Cinemas, long a mainstream movie theater, has become an indie movie house under the leadership of the Nickelodeon corporation in Santa Cruz. Located next to the theater in the Rancho Del Mar shopping center is the 30 year old local favorite Erik's DeliCafe that serves soups, sandwiches and salads; and also Taqueria Sofia's is just around the corner. Several local bars such as the Brittania Arms offer a low-key atmosphere. Manuel's Restaurant is a well-known landmark that has been serving Mexican food for over 30 years. Other notable restaurants include Ma Maison (fine French dining), Bittersweet Bistro, Palapas, and Sanderlings (Seascape neighborhood), and Cafe Sparrow (Aptos Village). A world famous set of dirt jumps is also located there (generally referred to as "The Post Office").
Educational institutions
Cabrillo CollegeCabrillo College
Cabrillo College is a public community college offering associate degrees and certificates in more than 70 fields of study such as: engineering, computer science, allied health , public safety, marine biology and the visual and performing arts. The college itself is named after the explorer Juan...
is a two-year community college in Aptos.
Aptos has three public elementary schools: Valencia Elementary, Rio Del Mar Elementary, and Mar Vista Elementary. It also has one junior high school, Aptos Junior High School, and one high school, Aptos High School
Aptos High School
Aptos High School is a comprehensive secondary school in Aptos, California, USA in the Pajaro Valley Unified School District. Aptos High serves the communities of Rio Del Mar, Corralitos, Seacliff, Seascape, La Selva Beach, Buena Vista and Watsonville....
. Private schools include Santa Cruz Montessori School, Orchard School, Twin Lakes Christian School, and Aptos Academy.
Sports teams
The Aptos High Mariners varsity boys basketball team reached the state finals in the spring of 1986 and the NorCal Championship in the spring of 1987. The Aptos High Mariners boys soccer team was nationally ranked and advanced to the California Interscholastic FederationCalifornia Interscholastic Federation
The California Interscholastic Federation is the governing body for high school sports in the state of California. It mirrors similar governing bodies in other states; however, it differs from some of the others in that it covers most high schools in the state of California, both public and...
- Central Coast Section (CCS) Division 1 finals. The Aptos girls soccer accomplished the same that year and advanced to the CCS Division 1 finals. The Aptos High Mariners football team won the 2003 CCS Div II title, its first football CCS title. The High School's winningest team, however, is the Aptos track and field team. The girls team has won the past twelve league championships, and the boys team has won eleven of the last twelve. The varsity cheer leading team also took home 2 State Championship trophies in the 90's.
The Aptos Little League baseball team made it to the Little League World Series
Little League World Series
The Little League Baseball World Series is a baseball tournament for children aged 11 to 13 years old. It was originally called the National Little League Tournament and was later renamed for the World Series in Major League Baseball. It was first held in 1947 and is held every August in South...
in 2002, and was the subject of a documentary film on PBS, Small Ball: A Little League Story.
In 2005 the Aptos High girls and boys cross country team won the CCS championship and the boys finished third at state championships while the girls were crowned state champions.
In 2007, the Aptos High boys' cross-country team won CCS, and took third in state. The girls' team took second in CCS.
In 2007, the baseball team at Aptos High was nationally ranked and advanced to the CCS D2 finals losing out by a single home run. Team is coached by ex-MLB Pitcher and Coach Randall Kramer, ex-MLB World Series Pitcher Mark Eichhorn
Mark Eichhorn
Mark Anthony Eichhorn is a retired Major League Baseball pitcher best known for his tenure with the Toronto Blue Jays the late 1980s - early 1990s where he often served as a middle reliever/set-up man for All-Star closer, Tom Henke...
, and ex-MLB Scout Matt King.
In 2008, the boys' cross-country team won CCS for the second year in a row and took fifth at state. The girls' team was second at CCS and eighth in state.
Notable residents
- Dave DraperDave DraperDavid Draper bodybuilder, actor and author, nicknamed "The Blond Bomber."-Biography:Draper was born in Secaucus, New Jersey...
, body builder, athlete, actor, motivational speaker, and author - Trent DilferTrent DilferTrent Farris Dilfer is a former football quarterback in the National Football League. He was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers sixth overall in the 1994 NFL Draft and went on to play for the Baltimore Ravens, Seattle Seahawks, Cleveland Browns and San Francisco 49ers. He played college football...
, NFL quarterback, attended Aptos High School, graduating in the year 1990. - Mark EichhornMark EichhornMark Anthony Eichhorn is a retired Major League Baseball pitcher best known for his tenure with the Toronto Blue Jays the late 1980s - early 1990s where he often served as a middle reliever/set-up man for All-Star closer, Tom Henke...
, major league pitcher - Lou HarrisonLou HarrisonLou Silver Harrison was an American composer. He was a student of Henry Cowell, Arnold Schoenberg, and K. P. H. Notoprojo Lou Silver Harrison (May 14, 1917 – February 2, 2003) was an American composer. He was a student of Henry Cowell, Arnold Schoenberg, and K. P. H. Notoprojo Lou Silver Harrison...
, composer - Daniel Henry Holmes Ingalls, Jr.Daniel Henry Holmes Ingalls, Jr.Daniel Henry Holmes Ingalls, Jr. is a pioneer of object-oriented computer programming and the principal architect, designer and implementor of five generations of Smalltalk environments. He designed the bytecoded virtual machine that made Smalltalk practical in 1976...
, computer scientist - Marisa MillerMarisa MillerMarisa Lee Miller is an American model best known for her appearances in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issues and her work for lingerie retailer Victoria's Secret. After a stint shooting with photographer Mario Testino for fashion magazines like Vogue, Miller began working for both companies in...
, model - John J. MontgomeryJohn J. MontgomeryJohn Joseph Montgomery was an aviation pioneer, inventor, professor at Santa Clara College.On August 28, 1883 he made the first manned, controlled, heavier-than-air flights of the United States, in the Otay Mesa area of San Diego, California...
, aviation pioneer
External links
- Aptos History Museum
- Aptos Community Site
- Aptos Chamber of Commerce
- Aptos High School webpage
- Santa Cruz Wiki - The People's Guide to Santa Cruz County, California.
- Santa Cruz County Conference & Visitors Council - Aptos Visitor Information
- Valencia Elementary School (formerly Aptos School)
- Orchard School