Live Oak, California
Live Oak is a community of 16,911 people in Santa Cruz County, California.
Why visit Live Oak
Townapedia lists 22 museums and landmarks, 80 parks and trails, 165 places to eat, 13 places to stay and 9 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include Five Branches University, Rio Theatre, Hihn Building and Rispin Mansion.
September is the warmest month, with average highs of 77°F; December lows average 41°F.
Weather in Live Oak
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Live Oak
Live Oak is a census-designated place (CDP) in Santa Cruz County, California, United States, between the cities of Santa Cruz and Capitola and north of the former Union Pacific railroad. Live Oak sits at an elevation of 102 feet (31 m). The population was 17,038 at the 2020 census. The population of the greater Live Oak area, including Twin Lakes and Pleasure Point, was 27,921.
From the Wikipedia article Live Oak, Santa Cruz County, California (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do9
Five Branches University
School · 1.8 mi
Private university located in California, United States
Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk
Monument and historic site · 2.6 mi
Amusement park in Santa Cruz, California
Santa Cruz Breakwater Light
Lighthouse · 2.1 mi
Lighthouse in California, United States
Santa Cruz Shakespeare
Cinema and theater · 1.0 mi
501 Upper Park Road, Santa Cruz
Museums and landmarks22
Hihn Building
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.9 mi
Commercial building in Capitola, California
201 Monterey Avenue, Capitola
Rispin Mansion
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.4 mi
Historic mansion in Capitola, California
Branciforte Adobe
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.7 mi
Historic house in Santa Cruz, California, USA
Glen Canyon Covered Bridge
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.6 mi
Former bridge near Santa Cruz, California, USA
Golden Gate Villa
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.6 mi
Historic house in Santa Cruz, California, USA
Hinds House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.9 mi
Historic building in Santa Cruz, California, US
Hotel Metropole
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.6 mi
Former hotel building in Santa Cruz, California, USA
Octagon Building
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.6 mi
Historic building in Santa Cruz, California, USA
Santa Cruz Downtown Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.9 mi
Historic district in Santa Cruz, California, United States of America
Santa Cruz Looff Carousel and Roller Coaster
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 2.4 mi
Joint heritage listing in Santa Cruz, California, USA
Venetian Court
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.8 mi
Historic district in California, United States of America
Museum of Art and History
Museum · 2.6 mi
Museum in Santa Cruz, California
10 more on the map.
Parks, trails and playgrounds80
Anna Jean Cummings Park
Park · 1.3 mi
Park in United States of America
68 more on the map.
Restaurants and cafes165
Canton
Restaurant · Chinese · 1.7 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
Geisha Sushi
Restaurant · Sushi · 1.9 mi
200 Monterey Avenue, Capitola
Su-Th 16:00-20:30; Fr-Sa 16:00-21:00
Johnny's Harborside
Restaurant · Seafood · 1.8 mi
493 Lake Avenue, Santa Cruz
We 16:30-19:30; Th-Su 15:30-19:30
Lillian's Italian Kitchen
Restaurant · Italian · 1.7 mi
1148 Soquel Avenue, Santa Cruz
Tu-Th 16:00-21:00, Fr-Sa 16:00-22:00, Su 16:00-21:00
Olive Garden
Restaurant · Italian · 0.8 mi
3400 Clares Street, Capitola
Su-Th 11:00-22:00, Fr-Sa 11:00-23:00
153 more on the map.
History
For several thousand years, the Awaswas-speaking Ohlone people inhabited the area from Half Moon Bay to Aptos, including the area now known as Live Oak. When missionaries established the Mission Santa Cruz in 1791, they noted "an area to the east of the San Lorenzo River "in sight of the Sea" that was crisscrossed by "steep gulches containing running water" and three "reed-lined" lagoons. Spanish colonial settlers, who later established the secular pueblo of Villa de Branciforte on the east side of the San Lorenzo, ran their herds of cattle and horses in the "common lands" of this area.
In 1834 and 1837, territorial governors divided these lands between two brothers, Alejandro and Francisco Rodriguez. Alejandro Rodriguez was granted Rancho Arroyo del Rodeo, named for the rodeo (cattle roundup) area located in a low-lying natural amphitheater along Rodeo Creek. (These grounds were later filled in during the construction of Highway 1.) Francisco Rodriguez was granted a rancho bearing the name "Los Esteros" (never patented) because of the sizeable estuaries forming two of its boundaries. Originally known as Twin Lakes, the westernmost of the "twins" is now the Santa Cruz Harbor.
From the History section of Live Oak, Santa Cruz County, California on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay13
Quality Inn & Suites Capitola By The Sea
Motel and hotel · 1.5 mi
720 Hill Street, Capitola
Carriage Acres Mobile Home Park
Campground · 1.7 mi
999 Soquel San Jose Road, Soquel
Churches and places of worship32
Mission Santa Cruz
Church · National Register of Historic Places · 2.8 mi
Santa Cruz Assembly of God Church
Church · Assemblies Of God · 1.2 mi
1275 30th Avenue, Santa Cruz
Shopping45
Gas and EV charging15
Schools, colleges and libraries76
Alternative Family Education
School · 1.9 mi
840 North Branciforte Ave., Santa Cruz
Healthcare14
Commercial Crossing Center
Clinic and pharmacy
2850 Commercial Crossing, Santa Cruz
Map of Live Oak
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 (1 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, 11 miles away.
- Soquel 2 mi northeast, about 3 min by car
- Santa Cruz 3 mi west, about 5 min by car
- Scotts Valley 5 mi north, about 8 min by car
- Watsonville 12 mi east, about 20 min by car
- Los Gatos 17 mi north, about 27 min by car
- Saratoga 20 mi north, about 32 min by car
- Campbell 20 mi north, about 33 min by car
- Morgan Hill 21 mi northeast, about 34 min by car
- Gilroy 22 mi east, about 35 min by car
- San Jose 23 mi northeast, about 37 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
- Live Oak, CA, USA - panoramio, Daniel Carpenter, CC BY 3.0
- Hihn Building - Santa Cruz County, California, Mrwrite, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Mission Santa Cruz, Unknown author, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Brancifotre Adobe, Mrwrite, Public domain
- Hotel metropole 1908, East elevation new building, Unknown author Unknown author, Public domain
- USA-Santa Cruz-Golden Gate Villa-2, Eugene Zelenko, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Venetian Court, Capitola, California, W Nowicki, CC BY 3.0
- USA-Santa Cruz-Octagon Building-1, Eugene Zelenko, CC BY-SA 4.0
- A- J- Hinds House 2012-09-03 13-21-11, jdlrobson, CC BY-SA 3.0
- LOOFF CAROUSEL, SANTA CRUZ, CALIFORNIA, JERRYE AND ROY KLOTZ MD, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Gymnopilus humicola Harding ex Singer 290356, This image was created by user zack mikalonis (zackm) at Mushroom Observer , a source for mycological images. You can contact this user here ., CC BY-SA 3.0
- Gymnopilus humicola Harding ex Singer 290358, This image was created by user zack mikalonis (zackm) at Mushroom Observer , a source for mycological images. You can contact this user here ., CC BY-SA 3.0
- Scapanus latimanus 201152540, Jason Schock, CC BY 4.0
- Entomobrya katzi in Santa Cruz, California, Thetorterra, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Peniophora albobadia 181485261, mushroomshindig, CC BY 4.0
- Peniophora albobadia 181485275, mushroomshindig, CC BY 4.0
- Par Lab Summer Retreat 2011 group photo, Dcoetzee, CC0
- Samsung Phone with Android Robot icon, Intel Free Press, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Alpina B7 (5914000612), Drew Stephens from Arlington, VA, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Safeway before opening, Mattie B from Santa Cruz, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Lemon, Lime and Orange, Mattie B from Santa Cruz, CC BY-SA 2.0
- SCMTD 9811 inside the Chili's restaurant in Capitola Mall, Evan0512, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Oranges on a black table, Mattie B from Santa Cruz, CC BY-SA 2.0
- SC Metro bus 1204 serving route 69W at Capitola Mall, Grendelkhan, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Santa Cruz Metro 1303 at Capitola Mall, Evan0512, CC BY-SA 4.0
- SC Metro bus 9811 serving route 66 at Capitola Mall, Grendelkhan, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Live+Oak+Ranch area is also Arana Gulch area., Mrwrite, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Arana Marsh, Dicklyon, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Arana Gulch pano, Dicklyon, CC BY-SA 4.0
- View from Arana Gulch Bridge, Dicklyon, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Iteomyia salicisverruca 649637109, Barbara Banfield, CC BY 4.0
- Hagemann Gulch Bridge Arana Gulch multi-use trail, Dicklyon, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Santa Cruz North small boat harbor, Dicklyon, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Soquel Creek at Peery Park, Dicklyon, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Beaux Arts Veranda (8260903301), Jonathan Haeber from Richmond, CA, CC BY 2.0
- Rispin Mansion Bay Window (8263894287), Jonathan Haeber from Richmond, CA, CC BY 2.0
- Italianate Baluster (8267692240), Jonathan Haeber from Richmond, CA, CC BY 2.0
- USA-Capitola-Rispin Mansion, Eugene Zelenko, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Michael's On Main - panoramio, mr_write, CC BY 3.0
- *COSMIC CHARGER* (6983669166), Scott Schiller, CC BY-SA 2.0
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Page built October 30, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us or suggest a place.