Aptos, California

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Aptos, California
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settlement_type = CDP
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map_caption = Location in Santa Cruz County and the state of California


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subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_name1 = California
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = Santa Cruz
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area_total_km2 = 18.2
area_land_km2 = 18.2
area_water_km2 = 0
area_total_sq_mi = 7
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population_as_of = 2000
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population_total = 9396
population_density_km2 = 516.3
population_density_sq_mi = 1342.3
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timezone = PST
utc_offset = -8
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latd = 36 |latm = 58 |lats = 53 |latNS = N
longd = 121 |longm = 54 |longs = 27 |longEW = W
elevation_footnotes =
elevation_m = 33
elevation_ft = 108
postal_code_type = ZIP codes
postal_code = 95001, 95003
area_code = 831
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 06-02378
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Aptos is a census-designated place (CDP) in Santa Cruz County, California, United States. The population was 9,396 at the 2000 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 Mar", south of Hwy 1, east of Spreckels, down to near Seascape Blvd.
* "Seascape", south west of Hwy 1
* "La Selva Beach", furthest southeast, also west of Hwy 1.
* "Aptos Hills-Larkin Valley", "Day Valley" north/east of Hwy 1.

Geography

Aptos is located at coor dms|36|58|53|N|121|54|27|W|city (36.981500, -121.907432)GR|1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 7.0 square miles (18.2 km²), all of it land.

Aptos lies on San Andreas Fault, and was the epicenter of 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake.

History

Aptos was named by Native Americans for the confluence of Aptos Creek and Valencia Creek.The name is Ohlone, meaning "the meeting of two creeks".cite book|first=Erwin|last=Gudde| coauthors =William Bright |title=California Place Names|year=2004|edition=Fourth ed.|publisher=University of California Press|pages=p. 15|id=ISBN 0-520-24217-3] "Aptos" is pronounced "app-toss," however it is sometimes incorrectly pronounced "app-tose."

In 1833 the government of Mexico granted over 6,000 acres (24 km²) of Aptos Rancho to Rafael Castro. 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.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 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/sq mi (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.

Politics

In the state legislature Aptos is located in the 11th Senate District, represented by Democrat Joe Simitian, and in the 27th Assembly District, represented by Democrat John Laird. Federally, Aptos is located in California's 17th congressional district, which has a Cook PVI of D +17 [cite web | title = Will Gerrymandered Districts Stem the Wave of Voter Unrest? | publisher = Campaign Legal Center Blog | url=http://www.clcblog.org/blog_item-85.html | accessdate = 2008-02-10] and is represented by Democrat Sam Farr.

Parks and recreation

Aptos is home to both the The Forest of Nisene Marks State Park and Seacliff State Beach California state parks. 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.

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.

Entertainment

Being a small town, Aptos does not have as many entertainment possibilities offer as neighboring Santa Cruz, California. 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. Several local bars such as the Brittania Arms offer a low-key atmosphere.

Educational institutions

Cabrillo College is a two-year community college in Aptos.

Aptos has three 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 and Aptos Academy.

ports 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 Federation - 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 cheerleading 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 baseball team at Aptos High was nationally ranked and advanced to the CCS D2 finals losing out by a single home run. The team remains likely to win it next year as all but four graduating seniors are expected to return. Team is coached by ex-MLB Pitcher and Coach Randall Kramer, ex-MLB World Series Pitcher Mark Eichhorn, and ex-MLB Scout Matt King. Next season team will be lead by seniors Kevin Eichhorn (Committed to Santa Clara University), Kyle Anderson (Committed to Cal Poly SLO), Andrew Biancardi (Committed to Santa Clara University), Bobby Crocker (Committed to Cal Poly SLO), and Beau Fraser (Committed to University of Portland).

Notable residents

* Dave Draper, Internationally known body builder, athlete, actor and author of, "Brother Iron, Sister Steel" as well as numerous articles and news letters on strength, health and fitness.
*Trent Dilfer, NFL quarterback, attended Aptos High School, graduating in the year 1990.
*Mark Eichhorn, major league pitcher
*Charis Harris, model, muse and wife of Edward Weston, resident 1968-1986
*Lou Harrison, composer
*Daniel Henry Holmes Ingalls, Jr., computer scientist
*Miriam C. Maloy, award winning poet, resident 1968 - 1987
*Marisa Miller, model, Victoria's Secret
*Jim Bunner, multiple Emmy Award winning TV Producer (NBC, CBS)
*John J. Montgomery, aviation pioneer
*Ellen Pirie, politician
*SAF Records, Record Label
* Cam McCaul, pro mountain biker
* Terrance "Big-T", famous WWII Ace pilot
* Robert "Bobby" Salazar, union leader
* Keith Greeninger, award-winning folk musician

References

External links

* [http://www.aptoschamber.com/index.php Aptos Chamber of Commerce]
* [http://www.aptoshs.net/ Aptos High School webpage]
* [http://www.scruzwiki.org Santa Cruz Wiki - The People's Guide to Santa Cruz County, California.]
* [http://santacruz.org/places/aptos.shtml Santa Cruz County Conference & Visitors Council - Aptos Visitor Information]
* [http://www.valencia.pvusd.net/ Valencia Elemenary School] (formerly Aptos School)