Capitola, California
Capitola is a city of 9,689 people in Santa Cruz County, California, founded in January 11, 1949.
Why visit Capitola
Townapedia lists 11 museums and landmarks, 47 parks and trails, 117 places to eat, 9 places to stay and 4 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include Five Branches University, Santa Cruz Breakwater Light, Hihn Building and Rispin Mansion.
September is the warmest month, with average highs of 77°F; December lows average 41°F.
Weather in Capitola
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Capitola
Capitola is a small seaside city in Santa Cruz County, California, United States. Capitola is located on the northern shores of Monterey Bay, on the Central Coast of California. The city had a population of 9,456 at the 2020 census. Capitola is a popular tourist destination, owing to its beaches and restaurants.
From the Wikipedia article Capitola, California (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do4
Five Branches University
School · 2.6 mi
Private university located in California, United States
Santa Cruz Breakwater Light
Lighthouse · 2.9 mi
Lighthouse in California, United States
Museums and landmarks11
Hihn Building
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.4 mi
Commercial building in Capitola, California
201 Monterey Avenue, Capitola
Rispin Mansion
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places
Historic mansion in Capitola, California
Branciforte Adobe
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.3 mi
Historic house in Santa Cruz, California, USA
Glen Canyon Covered Bridge
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.2 mi
Former bridge near Santa Cruz, California, USA
Venetian Court
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places
Historic district in California, United States of America
Parks, trails and playgrounds47
Anna Jean Cummings Park
Park · 1.3 mi
Park in United States of America
35 more on the map.
Restaurants and cafes117
Canton
Restaurant · Chinese · 1.0 mi
900 41st Avenue, Santa Cruz
Su 11:30-21:30, Mo-Tu 16:30-21:30, We-Th 11:30-21:30, Fr-Sa 11:30-22:00
Olive Garden
Restaurant · Italian · 0.8 mi
3400 Clares Street, Capitola
Su-Th 11:00-22:00, Fr-Sa 11:00-23:00
Shadowbrook
Diner · American
1750 Wharf Road, Capitola
Mo-Fr 17:00-20:45, Sa 16:30-21:45, Su 16:30-20:45
Süda
Diner · American · 1.1 mi
3910 Portola Drive
Mo-We 17:00-21:00, Th 17:00-22:00, Fr-Sa 10:00-22:00, Su 10:00-21:00
Upper Crust Pizza & Pasta
Restaurant · Italian · 1.4 mi
2501 Soquel Drive, Santa Cruz
Su-Th 10:00-22:00; Fr-Sa 10:00-23:00
105 more on the map.
History
The original settlement now known as Capitola grew out of what was then called Soquel Landing. Soquel Landing got its name from a wharf located at the mouth of Soquel Creek. This wharf, which dates back to the 1850s, served as an outlet for the produce and lumber grown in the interior. In 1865, Captain John Pope Davenport, a whaleman at Monterey, moved his operations to be near the wharf. Unable to capture any whales, he moved his operations the following year to Point Año Nuevo.
In 1869, Frederick A. Hihn, who owned the property in the vicinity of the wharf, decided to develop it as a seaside resort. At first he leased the area to Samuel A. Hall and the area became known as Camp Capitola. Most authorities believe that it was Hihn who chose the name of Capitola, but they are unsure as to why he did so. Several possibilities have been asserted, one being that it was named for the heroine of The Hidden Hand, a novel by the popular author E. D. E. N. Southworth, favored by Hall's daughter Lulu. Capitola is known as the oldest beach resort on the West Coast.
From the History section of Capitola, California on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay9
Quality Inn & Suites Capitola By The Sea
Motel and hotel · 0.5 mi
720 Hill Street, Capitola
Churches and places of worship16
Santa Cruz Assembly of God Church
Church · Assemblies Of God · 1.2 mi
1275 30th Avenue, Santa Cruz
Shopping31
Gas and EV charging8
Schools, colleges and libraries50
Alternative Family Education
School · 3.3 mi
840 North Branciforte Ave., Santa Cruz
Costanoa Continuation High
School · 3.3 mi
840 North Branciforte Ave., Santa Cruz
Healthcare6
Map of Capitola
250 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 62°F | 41°F | 6.4 in | 0.0 in |
| Feb | 64°F | 43°F | 6.1 in | 0.0 in |
| Mar | 66°F | 44°F | 4.3 in | 0.0 in |
| Apr | 69°F | 46°F | 2.0 in | 0.0 in |
| May | 71°F | 49°F | 0.9 in | 0.0 in |
| Jun | 74°F | 52°F | 0.2 in | 0.0 in |
| Jul | 74°F | 54°F | 0.0 in | 0.0 in |
| Aug | 76°F | 55°F | 0.0 in | 0.0 in |
| Sep | 77°F | 53°F | 0.1 in | 0.0 in |
| Oct | 74°F | 50°F | 1.3 in | 0.0 in |
| Nov | 67°F | 44°F | 3.2 in | 0.0 in |
| Dec | 62°F | 41°F | 6.0 in | 0.0 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Santa Cruz Hcn (3 mi away), NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
Santa Cruz County has had 22 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for fires.
- 2024-04-13: Severe Winter Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides (Severe Storm)
- 2023-04-03: Severe Winter Storms, Straight-Line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides (Severe Storm)
- 2023-03-10: Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides (Flood)
- 2023-01-14: Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides (Flood)
- 2023-01-09: Severe Winter Storms, Flooding, And Mudslides (Flood)
- 2020-08-22: Wildfires (Fire)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Watsonville Municipal Airport (WVI) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 9 miles away.
- Soquel 2 mi north, about 2 min by car
- Live Oak 2 mi northwest, about 3 min by car
- Seacliff 2 mi east, about 3 min by car
- Aptos 4 mi east, about 6 min by car
- Santa Cruz 4 mi west, about 7 min by car
- Scotts Valley 6 mi northwest, about 10 min by car
- Day Valley 6 mi northeast, about 10 min by car
- Aptos Hills-Larkin Valley 7 mi east, about 11 min by car
- La Selva Beach 7 mi southeast, about 11 min by car
- Watsonville 11 mi east, about 17 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- USA-Capitola-409 Blue Gum Avenue, Eugene Zelenko, CC BY-SA 4.0
- USA-Capitola-424 Riverview Avenue, Eugene Zelenko, CC BY-SA 4.0
- USA-Capitola-215 California Avenue, Eugene Zelenko, CC BY-SA 4.0
- USA-Capitola-Railway Bridge, Eugene Zelenko, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Capitola, CA, USA - panoramio, Daniel Carpenter, CC BY 3.0
- USA-Capitola-202 Cherry Avenue-2, Eugene Zelenko, CC BY-SA 4.0
- USA-Capitola-202 Cherry Avenue-1, Eugene Zelenko, CC BY-SA 4.0
- USA-Capitola-202 Cherry Avenue-7, Eugene Zelenko, CC BY-SA 4.0
- USA-Capitola-202 Cherry Avenue-5, Eugene Zelenko, CC BY-SA 4.0
- USA-Capitola-202 Cherry Avenue-6, Eugene Zelenko, CC BY-SA 4.0
- USA-Capitola-202 Cherry Avenue-3, Eugene Zelenko, CC BY-SA 4.0
- USA-Capitola-202 Cherry Avenue-4, Eugene Zelenko, CC BY-SA 4.0
- USA-Capitola-225 San Jose Avenue-1, Eugene Zelenko, CC BY-SA 4.0
- USA-Capitola-225 San Jose Avenue-2, Eugene Zelenko, CC BY-SA 4.0
- USA-Capitola-106 Cherry Avenue, Eugene Zelenko, CC BY-SA 4.0
- 2012-03-31 Santa Cruz 085 Capitola (7092797063), Allie_Caulfield, CC BY 2.0
- USA-Capitola-221 San Jose Avenue, Eugene Zelenko, CC BY-SA 4.0
- 2012-03-31 Santa Cruz 086 Capitola (6946727616), Allie_Caulfield, CC BY 2.0
- Soquel Creek, Capitola (9657430179) (cropped), btwashburn, CC BY 2.0
- Soquel Creek, Capitola (9657430179), btwashburn, CC BY 2.0
- Capitola, CA 2012-10-07 - panoramio (4), Vadim Manuylov, CC BY-SA 3.0
- USA-Capitola-Rispin Mansion, Eugene Zelenko, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Capitola, CA 2012-10-07 - panoramio (3), Vadim Manuylov, CC BY-SA 3.0
- USA-Capitola-106 Fairview Avenue-2, Eugene Zelenko, CC BY-SA 4.0
- USA-Capitola-104 Fairview Avenue, Eugene Zelenko, CC BY-SA 4.0
- USA-Capitola-118 Cliff Avenue, Eugene Zelenko, CC BY-SA 4.0
- USA-Capitola-106 Fairview Avenue-1, Eugene Zelenko, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Hihn Building - Santa Cruz County, California, Mrwrite, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Brancifotre Adobe, Mrwrite, Public domain
- Venetian Court, Capitola, California, W Nowicki, CC BY 3.0
- Walton Light, Benjamin Cody, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Old Riverview Historic District 362 (cropped), Elisa.rolle, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Old Riverview Historic District 360, Elisa.rolle, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Old Riverview Historic District 365, Elisa.rolle, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Old Riverview Historic District 363, Elisa.rolle, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Old Riverview Historic District 359, Elisa.rolle, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Old Riverview Historic District 361, Elisa.rolle, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Old Riverview Historic District 362, Elisa.rolle, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Railroad Bridge over Soquel Creek (6828178375), Don DeBold from San Jose, CA, USA, CC BY 2.0
- Stockton Avenue Bridge Over Soquel Creek (6828178719), Don DeBold from San Jose, CA, USA, CC BY 2.0
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