Santa Cruz County, California was established on February 18, 1850 and named for the Feast of the Holy Cross, October 17, when Gaspar de Portolá camped here and erected a small wooden cross! Santa Cruz is Spanish for “holy cross!” Its county seat is Santa Cruz, and its fair is held in Watsonville! You might recognize the Mystery Spot, Big Basin and Henry Cowell Redwoods State Parks, Mission Santa Cruz, the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, and the Bigfoot Discovery Museum, which are located in this county!