ARTICLE
The 1950’s- “Christmas Flood” Chaos, Population Growth, and UCSC and Cabrillo College come to Santa Cruz County During the 1950’s Santa Cruz continued to be a tourism hub and as the population kept rising, housing boomed. Santa Cruz’s population rose by 21% in the 1950s. In 1955 the San Lorenzo River flooded on December 22, making it known as the “Christmas Flood." Around 10:00 pm that night, vast amounts of water pushed through downtown, reaching depths of ten feet on Pacific Avenue. The flood was devastating, businesses were destroyed, homes were damaged, and cattle were lost. Nine people lost their lives, two in their homes, and seven were swept out to sea. Many residents who experienced the flood, clearly remember the horrible smell that lingered after. The damages were estimated to be around $7.5 million. The Santa Cruz County Chamber of Commerce was a leader in rebuilding the county, along with aiding flood victims. The Chamber was successful in creating a committee to approve low-cost loans, advising Red Cross disaster officials, and assisting the army engineers’ survey of losses. The Chamber and the City created a government funding plan for the flood control project to structurally tame the routes of the San Lorenzo River flow though the city, as well as funding the rebuilding of Downtown Santa Cruz. The Coastal Watershed Council (CWC), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, was formed in 1995 in response to the declining health of watersheds connected to the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. CWC's mission is to preserve and protect coastal watersheds through stewardship, education and monitoring. This will be a significant historical story line when we explore the Santa Cruz County Chamber’s history of the 1980s and 1990s. In 1957, University of California regents were ready to expand their system by adding three new campuses around California. The new hopeful plans for a University were underway. A group from the Santa Cruz County Chamber of Commerce formed a subcommittee called the UC Santa Cruz Affiliates and they lobbied for the location of the old Cowell Ranch to be the prime location for the new University. The price per acre for the Cowell Ranch was also lowered to $1,000 per acre, about $250 per acre below the assessed value. It was not until 1960 when the location was chosen by the University Of California Board Of Regents. Another location was originally in the favor of the Regents, which was a site south of San Jose, now Silicon Valley today. Due to the strong advocacy from Santa Cruz representatives, and problems with the future development of the San Jose location, Santa Cruz ultimately was the better option. With the new campus in motion, the County was excited to see the growth the University would bring. That enthusiasm may not have the same context today, but there is no question the University has been a stimulus for our county over the last six decades. Along with assisting the start of University of California Santa Cruz (UCSC), the Chamber was also a big supporter in the establishment of Cabrillo College, which opened its doors in 1959. Freshman enrollment that year was around 400 students. Some of the first classes were held in Watsonville’s old High school building. The name Cabrillo came from a man, Juan Rodriquez Cabrillo, who was a Portuguese ship pilot. In 1542, he led the first European expedition to explore the coast of California. Cabrillo College enrollment today is 11,767. The Cabrillo is celebrating its 60th anniversary later this fall, so stay tuned to the Chamber’s promotion of this significant milestone for our community college. In 1957, the Chamber passed a resolution to encourage the City to take over and operate the airport at Sky Park in Scotts Valley. Sky Park was developed after the Capitola Airport was leased to strawberry growers in 1954. Ironically, the City of Santa Cruz and Scotts Valley are in final negotiations on the sale of the Skypark property back to the City of Scotts Valley. To further help Santa Cruz’s economic vitality, the Chamber promoted the creation of Industrial zones in 1957. Light industry businesses were able to set up operations separate from residential zones. Today, land use planning separates commercial, industrial and residential zones as a way to limit the types of use of land areas in our cities and the county. Now, as the cities and the county consider modifications to zoning ordinances to accommodate more affordable housing, we have moved full circle from the 1950s planning process. Check back in with us at a future eNEws edition for another Santa Cruz County Chamber history report.
The 1950’s- “Christmas Flood” Chaos, Population Growth, and UCSC and Cabrillo College come to Santa Cruz County During the 1950’s Santa Cruz continued to be a tourism hub and as the population kept rising, housing boomed. Santa Cruz’s population rose by 21% in the 1950s. In 1955 the San Lorenzo River flooded on December 22, making it known as the “Christmas Flood." Around 10:00 pm that night, vast amounts of water pushed through downtown, reaching depths of ten feet on Pacific Avenue.
The flood was devastating, businesses were destroyed, homes were damaged, and cattle were lost. Nine people lost their lives, two in their homes, and seven were swept out to sea. Many residents who experienced the flood, clearly remember the horrible smell that lingered after. The damages were estimated to be around $7.5 million. The Santa Cruz County Chamber of Commerce was a leader in rebuilding the county, along with aiding flood victims. The Chamber was successful in creating a committee to approve low-cost loans, advising Red Cross disaster officials, and assisting the army engineers’ survey of losses. The Chamber and the City created a government funding plan for the flood control project to structurally tame the routes of the San Lorenzo River flow though the city, as well as funding the rebuilding of Downtown Santa Cruz.
The Coastal Watershed Council (CWC), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, was formed in 1995 in response to the declining health of watersheds connected to the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. CWC's mission is to preserve and protect coastal watersheds through stewardship, education and monitoring. This will be a significant historical story line when we explore the Santa Cruz County Chamber’s history of the 1980s and 1990s.
In 1957, University of California regents were ready to expand their system by adding three new campuses around California. The new hopeful plans for a University were underway. A group from the Santa Cruz County Chamber of Commerce formed a subcommittee called the UC Santa Cruz Affiliates and they lobbied for the location of the old Cowell Ranch to be the prime location for the new University. The price per acre for the Cowell Ranch was also lowered to $1,000 per acre, about $250 per acre below the assessed value.
It was not until 1960 when the location was chosen by the University Of California Board Of Regents. Another location was originally in the favor of the Regents, which was a site south of San Jose, now Silicon Valley today. Due to the strong advocacy from Santa Cruz representatives, and problems with the future development of the San Jose location, Santa Cruz ultimately was the better option. With the new campus in motion, the County was excited to see the growth the University would bring. That enthusiasm may not have the same context today, but there is no question the University has been a stimulus for our county over the last six decades.
Along with assisting the start of University of California Santa Cruz (UCSC), the Chamber was also a big supporter in the establishment of Cabrillo College, which opened its doors in 1959. Freshman enrollment that year was around 400 students. Some of the first classes were held in Watsonville’s old High school building. The name Cabrillo came from a man, Juan Rodriquez Cabrillo, who was a Portuguese ship pilot. In 1542, he led the first European expedition to explore the coast of California. Cabrillo College enrollment today is 11,767. The Cabrillo is celebrating its 60th anniversary later this fall, so stay tuned to the Chamber’s promotion of this significant milestone for our community college.
In 1957, the Chamber passed a resolution to encourage the City to take over and operate the airport at Sky Park in Scotts Valley. Sky Park was developed after the Capitola Airport was leased to strawberry growers in 1954. Ironically, the City of Santa Cruz and Scotts Valley are in final negotiations on the sale of the Skypark property back to the City of Scotts Valley.
To further help Santa Cruz’s economic vitality, the Chamber promoted the creation of Industrial zones in 1957. Light industry businesses were able to set up operations separate from residential zones.
Today, land use planning separates commercial, industrial and residential zones as a way to limit the types of use of land areas in our cities and the county. Now, as the cities and the county consider modifications to zoning ordinances to accommodate more affordable housing, we have moved full circle from the 1950s planning process. Check back in with us at a future eNEws edition for another Santa Cruz County Chamber history report.