The Boardwalk and train.

A creek near the present city, probably Major's Mill Creek, was named Arroyo de Santa Cruz (Holy Cross Creek) by the Portola expedition in 1769.
In 1791 La Mision de la Exaltacion de la Santa Cruz was established.
In 1797 a settlement was founded near the mission and was called Villa de Branciforte, a name that was subsequently changed to Santa Cruz.
The county was named in 1851.
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