Results released by the U.S. Census Bureau shows the population rate in Santa Cruz County has increased over the past 10 years. Santa Cruz County grew at 2.7% with a total population of 262,382 last year compared to 255,602 in 2000. The biggest reported increase was seen in the City of Watsonville, which rose at 15.7% from 2000 to 2010. The population of the City of Santa Cruz grew 9.8%, a rate consistent with California’s overall growth of 10%, while growth in Scotts Valley and Capitola lingered with Capitola losing 115 residents since 2000.
