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WATSONVILLE

First of all, where is Watsonville? Some like to call our little speck of earth here in the Monterey Bay area paradise, and I think that, in many ways, this is an apt description. Watsonville is located just off Highway One between Santa Cruz and Monterey. I like Watsonville because, as a town, it feels lived in. Unlike the suburban community I describe in my introduction, Watsonville has a very different feel: We have our share of suburban development, but it is isolated in areas close off the highway. Within the town itself, you will see houses and offices of all shapes and sizes!

First of all, we are an agricultural-mecca. If you have ever eaten strawberries, it is quite likely that they were grown here in Watsonville. Our agricultural gifts are highlighted each Friday during our weekly Farmer’s Market, when local vendors sell their produce at the center plaza. We also possess a significant amount of ethnic diversity and people live here who they themselves and/or their families hail from China, Japan, Mexico, and all throughout Central America. We have a very strong Latino presence in Watsonville, with around 75% of the people falling into that category. With our diversity, we have been given an incredible gift: the opportunity to meet and befriend people with different cultural identities.

As a town, Watsonville recently became an official sanctuary and/or safe place for immigrants. There are also several programs within the community, working to train and better equip the community to respond to the gifts of its ethnic diversity. There is also a strong presence of churches in the community. The large Roman Catholic Church (St. Patrick’s) stands tall and can be seen from several different points across the community. There are also Lutheran, Methodist, Baptist, Disciples of Christ, and Seventh Day Adventist churches across the city.

There are also several recreational areas within the community: Ramsey Park also off of Main Street (HWY 152), Callahan Park (at the intersection of Brennan St and Freedom Blvd), and Sunset and Pajaro Dunes beaches right outside Watsonville. Local companies also have a strong presence, and some members of United Presbyterian Church hold and/or held important roles within these companies and their development. These companies include the renown Martinelli’s Apple Cider and Granite Rock. To learn more about Watsonville, both its history and atmosphere today, check out:

City of Watsonville: Official Web Site

Watsonville Wikapedia: A Free Encyclopedia