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Soquel, CA

Frequently asked questions

Soquel, CA

Soquel is an unincorporated town and census-designated place (CDP) in Santa Cruz County, California, located on the northern coast of Monterey Bay. The population was 9,980 at the 2020 census.

Osocalis was the Spanish phonetic rendering for the name of the creek that runs through the area, as transcribed from the local Native American Indian language of the Ohlone peoples. The later name "Soquel," which was subsequently derived from the name of that creek, is first known to have appeared in 1833 as the name of the Mexican land grant which included this creek and adjacent lands.

The first European land exploration of Alta California, the Spanish Portolà expedition, passed through the area on its way north, camping at one of the creeks on October 15, 1769. The expedition diaries don't provide enough information to be sure which creek it was, but the direction of travel was northwest, parallel to the coast. Franciscan missionary Juan Crespi, traveling with the expedition, noted in his diary "We stopped on the bank of a small stream, which has about four varas of deep running water. It has on its banks a good growth of cottonwoods and alders; on account of the depth at which it runs it may be that it cannot be utilized to water some plains through which it runs." Translator Herbert Bolton speculated that the location was Soquel Creek.

Martina Castro was granted Rancho Soquel by Alta California governor José Figueroa in 1833. Martina was one of the daughters of Santa Cruz fundadore José Joaquín Castro, who came as a boy with his family to Alta California from Mexico with the second De Anza expedition in 1775. Several of Martina's Californio brothers and sisters also became rancheros.

Soquel is located at 36°59′13″N 121°56′44″W (36.986991, -121.945636). According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 4.6 square miles (11.9 km2), all of it land. Soquel Creek flows through Soquel.

Soquel focuses on health and wellness. Explore the parks, facilities, and programs offered by Soquel’s Recreation and Community Services Department. These spaces provide opportunities for outdoor activities such as walking, jogging, sports, and picnicking. Join local fitness centers and gyms to participate in exercise programs, fitness classes, and strength training. Some popular options include Toadal Fitness, Lola's Fitness Gym and CrossFit. Discover the walking and biking trails in and around Soquel, such as the Anna Jean Cummings Park Trail and the Vienna Woods Trail. These trails offer opportunities for outdoor exercise and enjoyment of nature.

Top Sites in Soquel, CA are Anna Jean Cummings County Park, Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park,  and Natural Bridges State Beach.

Population: 10,505 (2022). Area code: 831. Elevation: 33 ft (10 m). Area: 4.598 sq mi (11.909 km2). ZIP Code: 95073.

FAQs

Is Soquel, CA a good place to live?

Living in Soquel offers residents a suburban-rural mix feel and most residents own their homes. In Soquel, there are a lot of restaurants, coffee shops, and parks. Many young professionals live in Soquel and residents tend to have moderate political views. The public schools in Soquel are highly rated.

Is Soquel, CA expensive?

Soquel, California gets a BestPlaces Cost of Living score of 186, which means the total cost of housing, food, childcare, transportation, healthcare, taxes, and other necessities is 86.0% higher than the U.S. average and 24.1% lower than the average for California. A typical home costs $1,210,700, which is 258.1% more expensive than the national average of $338,100 and 65.1% more expensive than the average California home, at $733,500. To live comfortably in Soquel, California, a minimum annual income of $231,840 for a family, and $107,200 for a single person is recommended.

Is Soquel, CA safe?

The crime rate in Soquel is considerably higher than the national average across all communities in America from the largest to the smallest, although at 12 crimes per one thousand residents, it is not among the communities with the very highest crime rate. The chance of becoming a victim of either violent or property crime in Soquel is 1 in 80. Based on FBI crime data, Soquel is not one of the safest communities in America. Relative to California, Soquel has a crime rate that is higher than 30% of the state's cities and towns of all sizes.

Sources

Wikipedia

Santa Cruz County

Soquel’s Recreation and Community Services Department

Toadal Fitness

Lola's Fitness Gym 

CrossFit

Anna Jean Cummings Park Trail 

Anna Jean Cummings County Park 

Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk 

Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park 

Natural Bridges State Beach

Niche

Best Places

Neighborhoodscout

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