Santa Cruz County Place Names: A Geographical Dictionary

How did a place get its name? Is the name descriptive, locational, commemorative or what? When did it first appear on a map? what maps show it? How is the name pronounced? If named for a person, who was that individual? What influences did agriculture, forestry, industry, or typography have upon the process of naming? What percentage of our local names derive from Spanish terms and names? What kind of place is it? Is it still in existence? How many named creeks are there in Santa Cruz County? How many of the names given to the land by Father Crespi have survived? Are there any rills in the County? These and hundreds of other questions can be answered by using this volume. Many will be answered by turning to an entry in the main text. Others by turning to the Glossary, Guide to Pronunciation, or other parts of the book.