Soquel, California
Soquel is a community of 10,679 people in Santa Cruz County, California.
Why visit Soquel
Townapedia lists 12 museums and landmarks, 44 parks and trails, 96 places to eat, 21 places to stay and 6 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 Soquel
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Soquel
Soquel (; Ohlone: Sokel) is an unincorporated town and census-designated place (CDP) in Santa Cruz County, California, United States, located on the northern coast of Monterey Bay. The population was 9,980 at the 2020 census.
From the Wikipedia article Soquel, California (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do6
Five Branches University
School · 3.6 mi
Private university located in California, United States
Santa Cruz Breakwater Light
Lighthouse · 3.9 mi
Lighthouse in California, United States
Museums and landmarks12
Hihn Building
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.8 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 · 3.5 mi
Historic house in Santa Cruz, California, USA
Glen Canyon Covered Bridge
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.0 mi
Former bridge near 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
Parks, trails and playgrounds44
Anna Jean Cummings Park
Park · 0.6 mi
Park in United States of America
32 more on the map.
Restaurants and cafes96
Geisha Sushi
Restaurant · Sushi · 1.7 mi
200 Monterey Avenue, Capitola
Su-Th 16:00-20:30; Fr-Sa 16:00-21:00
Olive Garden
Restaurant · Italian · 1.8 mi
3400 Clares Street, Capitola
Su-Th 11:00-22:00, Fr-Sa 11:00-23:00
Shadowbrook
Diner · American · 1.6 mi
1750 Wharf Road, Capitola
Mo-Fr 17:00-20:45, Sa 16:30-21:45, Su 16:30-20:45
Upper Crust Pizza & Pasta
Restaurant · Italian · 1.6 mi
2501 Soquel Drive, Santa Cruz
Su-Th 10:00-22:00; Fr-Sa 10:00-23:00
84 more on the map.
History
Osocalis was the Spanish phonetic rendering for the name of the creek which runs through the area, as transcribed from the local Native American Indian language of the Ohlone peoples. The later name "Soquel," which was subsequently derived from the name of that creek, is first known to have appeared in 1833 as the name of the Mexican land grant which included this creek and adjacent lands.
The first European land exploration of Alta California, the Spanish Portolà expedition, passed through the area on its way north, camping at one of the creeks on October 15, 1769. The expedition diaries don't provide enough information to be sure which creek it was, but the direction of travel was northwest, parallel to the coast. Franciscan missionary Juan Crespi, traveling with the expedition, noted in his diary that "We stopped on the bank of a small stream, which has about four varas of deep running water. It has on its banks a good growth of cottonwoods and alders; on account of the depth at which it runs it may be that it cannot be utilized to water some plains through which it runs." Translator Herbert Bolton speculated that the location was Soquel Creek.
From the History section of Soquel, California on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay21
Quality Inn & Suites Capitola By The Sea
Motel and hotel · 1.1 mi
720 Hill Street, Capitola
Carriage Acres Mobile Home Park
Campground · 0.5 mi
999 Soquel San Jose Road, Soquel
Churches and places of worship23
Shopping30
Gas and EV charging9
Schools, colleges and libraries55
Alternative Family Education
School · 3.8 mi
840 North Branciforte Ave., Santa Cruz
California Connections Academy Monterey Bay
School · 5.4 mi
108 Whispering Pines Dr. Ste. 115, Scotts Valley
Costanoa Continuation High
School · 3.8 mi
840 North Branciforte Ave., Santa Cruz
Healthcare11
Commercial Crossing Center
Clinic and pharmacy · 2.0 mi
2850 Commercial Crossing, Santa Cruz
Map of Soquel
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, 10 miles away.
- Live Oak 2 mi southwest, about 3 min by car
- Santa Cruz 5 mi west, about 8 min by car
- Scotts Valley 5 mi northwest, about 9 min by car
- Watsonville 11 mi southeast, about 18 min by car
- Los Gatos 16 mi north, about 25 min by car
- Morgan Hill 19 mi northeast, about 31 min by car
- Saratoga 19 mi north, about 31 min by car
- Campbell 20 mi north, about 31 min by car
- Gilroy 20 mi east, about 32 min by car
- San Jose 22 mi north, about 35 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
- Soquel, California January 5, 2007, Roofus at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Soquel Creek at Peery Park, Dicklyon, 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
- Michael's On Main - panoramio, mr_write, CC BY 3.0
- 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
- Oranges on a black table, Mattie B from Santa Cruz, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Great Morgani Leaning Tower of Squeeza Nov 2012, Bfitler, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Samsung Phone with Android Robot icon, Intel Free Press, CC BY-SA 2.0
- 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
- BLF-231 (9128697023), Dean Wm. Taylor, CC BY 2.0
- USA-Aptos-Seacliff State Beach, Eugene Zelenko, CC BY-SA 4.0
- 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-106 Fairview Avenue-1, Eugene Zelenko, CC BY-SA 4.0
- USA-Capitola-104 Fairview Avenue, Eugene Zelenko, CC BY-SA 4.0
- USA-Capitola-106 Fairview Avenue-2, Eugene Zelenko, CC BY-SA 4.0
- 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
- 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-215 California Avenue, Eugene Zelenko, CC BY-SA 4.0
- USA-Capitola-122 Central Avenue, 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-2, 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-106 Cherry Avenue, Eugene Zelenko, CC BY-SA 4.0
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