Spanish
Santa Cruz
California (CA)est. 1791pop. 61,170/SAN-tuh KROOZ/
The meaning
“Holy cross”
How it got the name
Portola's expedition named a creek Santa Cruz in 1769, and the mission founded in 1791 took the name. The Spanish crown also planted a secular town across the river called Branciforte, which developed such a reputation for gambling and idleness that the mission fathers formally complained to the viceroy.
Former names
- Branciforte
- Aulinta (Awaswas)
- Santa Cruz