Santa Mierda! (Spanish: “Holy Shit!”) brings you fresh perspectives of Santa Cruz, California. Our weekly online column (The Weekly Dump) is published every Friday.
Santa Cruz (Spanish: “Holy Cross”) is the county seat and largest city of Santa Cruz County, California. As of 2013 the U.S. Census Bureau estimated Santa Cruz’s population at 62,864. Situated on the northern edge of Monterey Bay, Santa Cruz is about 32 mi (51 km) south of San Jose and 75 mi (120 km) south of San Francisco.
Santa Cruz is known for its moderate climate, the natural beauty of its coastline, redwood forests, alternative community lifestyles, and socially liberal leanings. It is also home to the University of California, Santa Cruz, a premier research institution and educational hub, as well as the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, an oceanfront amusement park operating continuously since 1907.