Santa Cruz Population Jumps 10 Percent Over a Decade, Keeping Pace With the State

Santa Cruz’s population jumped almost 10 percent between 2000 and 2010, with the number of city residents up to 59,946, according to census figures released Tuesday.

The rise mirrors the Golden State’s population, which also grew 10 percent, from 33.8 million to 37.2 residents between April 2000 and April 2010.

But it contrasts overall with the nine-county Bay Area population, which grew only 5.4 percent and puts the region at risk of losing a congressional seat. A new statewide redistricting commission will use the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau figures to consider redrawing political boundaries. 

Some of the biggest demographic growth in Santa Cruz was for Asians, up 71 percent from 2,607 in 2000 to 4,476 in 2010, and the number of Latinos, which rose 22 percent from 9,491 in 2000 to 11,661 in 2010. Latinos make up 19 percent of the 2010 population and Asians make up 7.5 percent, compared with 17.4 and 4.8 percent respectively a decade ago.

The biggest drop was in young people under 18. There were 9,463 in 2000 and 8,196 in 2010, for a 13 percent decrease.

On the housing front, the most recent numbers for Santa Cruz had 21,657 homes occupied and 1,659 vacant, for a total of 23, 316. In 2000, there were 21,504 homes.

Watsonville grew by 7,000 people to 51,199, while Scotts Valley added only 200 people, to 11,580. The county's population grew by 6,780, or 2.7 percent, from 255,602 residents in 2000 to 262,382 residents in 2010.

At the state level, California appears to be moving toward the middle—at least when it comes to the place Californians call home.

Most of the growth spans the middle of the state. Riverside County had the biggest jump, increasing 41 percent from 2000-10. The city of Beaumont in that county leaped 224 percent, from 11,384 to 36,887 people.

Next was Placer County with a 40 percent jump. The city of Lincoln skyrocketed 282 percent, from 11,205 to 42,819 people.

Other counties that grew more than 20 percent included Imperial, Kern, Madera, Merced and Tulare.

Los Angeles County’s population edged up 3 percent. San Francisco County’s population also rose 3 percent, while San Diego County jumped 10 percent.

The only counties that saw population decreases were three small regions in the Sierra Nevada. They were Alpine County (down 3 percent), Plumas County (down 4 percent) and Sierra County (down 9 percent).

Associate Regional Editor David Mills contributed to this story.