The name Aptos is Ohlone, meaning “the people”. Aptos was traditionally inhabited by the Ohlone Awaswas people. The name is one of only three native words that have survived (in Hispanicized form) as place names in Santa Cruz County.
In 1878 Augustia Castro, daughter of Rafael Castro, and her husband Jose Arano built the Victorian, Bayview Hotel in Aptos village. This hotel is a Santa Cruz County landmark and is the county’s oldest operating hotel. It has been a State Historic Monument since 1974 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1993.
Located in southern Santa Cruz County, Aptos is an unincorporated area that stretches from La Selva Beach to the south, Corralitos to the east and includes the areas at the coast of Seascape, Rio Del Mar and Seacliff Beach. Like much of Santa Cruz County, Aptos offers a variety of residential neighborhoods and offers a mix of residential coastal communities, rural homesteads on various sized acreage, planned developments of single-family residences, condominiums, townhouses and Mobile Home Parks.
The coastal area of Aptos is a popular beach spot for everyone. Vacation homes were originally built by San Francisco Bay area residents seeking weekend getaways.
Aptos enjoys a strong economy with a variety of popular restaurants, shopping areas and the popular Seascape Resort and Conference Center featuring incredible views, condominiums and meeting facilities. A well-established Chamber of Commerce hosts popular monthly meetings featuring guest speakers covering a variety of interesting and relevant topics.
Aptos has a lot to be proud of. The three elementary schools meet and exceed California standards and are all California Distinguished Schools, as is Aptos Junior High. Aptos High offers more Advanced Placement (AP) classes than any other county school. Their sports programs are frequent Central Coast Section and State Champions and are recognized for their academic achievements as well, sending many graduates to some of the finest colleges and universities in the Country.
Aptos is home to both Nisene Marks State Park which is popular for hikers and mountain bikers and Seacliff State Beach which is great for campers and beach goers.
The climate is warm and temperate in Aptos. Most residents think Aptos is wonderful and can’t think of a better place to live.
• La Selva Beach
• Manresa Beach
• Seascape Resort
• Pot Belly Beach
• Rio Del Mar
• Seascape Golf Course
• Seacliff Beach/ Cement Ship
• Cabrillo College
• Rio Del Mar Shopping Center
• Bayview Hotel
• Nisene Marks Park
I LIVE SANTA CRUZ • I LOVE SANTA CRUZ • I KNOW SANTA CRUZ • I SELL SANTA CRUZ
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