California Counties
Monterey County Information - California Counties
Monterey County on the California Central Coast isn't merely one of the state's top romance and golf destinations. It also is contains Salinas Valley considered the salad bowl of the nation. As you drive along Highway 101 that spans the county from north to south, you'll notice miles of agricultural fields, and a range of mountains to the west that flank the valley. These mountains are called the Santa Lucia Mountains or Santa Lucia Range and they run from Monterey southeast for 105 miles to San Luis Obispo. The highest summit is Junipero Serra Peak at 5,853 ft. in Monterey County. It is part of the Pacific Coast Ranges.
To the west of Monterey County is the Pacific Ocean, the Monterey Bay, and Monterey National Marine Sanctuary. Other counties that surround Monterey include Santa Cruz, San Benito, Fresno, Kings, Kern, and San Luis Obispo Counties.
Monterey County California Top 10 Farm
Crops Annually
Carmel
Del Rey Oaks
Gonzales
Greenfield
King City
Marina
Monterey
Pacific Grove
Salinas
Sand City
Seaside
Soledad
Military Acreage
Camp Roberts 16,857
Hunter Liggett 165,828
Naval Postgraduate School 504
Presidio of Monterey 392
Presidio of Monterey Annex (Ft. Ord) 805
Forest Acreage
Los Padres National Forest 305,261
Monterey County is a county located on the Pacific coast of the U.S. state of California, its northwestern section forming the southern half of Monterey Bay. The northern half of the bay is in Santa Cruz County. As of 2000, the population was 401,762. The county seat is Salinas. Monterey County is a member of the regional governmental agency, Association of Monterey Bay Area Governments. The coastline, including Big Sur, State Route 1, and the 17 Mile Drive on the Monterey Peninsula has made the county world famous. The city of Monterey was the capital of California under Spanish and Mexican rule. The economy is primarily based upon tourism in the coastal regions, and agriculture in the Salinas River valley. Most of the county's people live near the northern coast and Salinas valley, while the southern coast and inland mountain regions are almost devoid of human habitation.
Monterey County was created in 1850 as one of California's original counties as it became a state the very same year. Parts of the county were given parceled to San Benito County in 1874.
The county was named by Sebastián Vizcaíno in 1602 in honor of the Count of Monterrey. The county is comprised of 3,771 square miles. Major crops include lettuces and other green vegetables, produce and wine grapes. The Monterey Bay once was a popular sardine canning region. Its history can be experienced in a hands-on Steinbeck Museum in Salinas--well worth a visit!
Census-designated places
Aromas
Boronda
Bradley
Carmel Valley Village
Castroville
Chualar
Del Monte Forest, includes the well-known community of Pebble Beach
Elkhorn
Las Lomas
Moss Landing
Pajaro
Prunedale
San Ardo
San Lucas
Spreckels
Carmel Highlands
Jolon
Lockwood
Parkfield
Pebble Beach
[edit] Other locales
Big Sur includes the areas of Lucia, California and Gorda, California
Laguna Seca Ranch
Fort Ord decommissioned in the 1990s, some of it was converted to California State University, Monterey Bay
Naval Postgraduate School
Fort Hunter Liggett
Presidio of Monterey, home to the Defense Language Institute and one of three presidios in California
Jacks Peak Park, including the highest point on the Monterey Peninsula
National protected areas
Los Padres National Forest (part)
Pinnacles National Monument (part)
Salinas River National Wildlife Refuge
Ventana Wilderness (part)
Ventana Wilderness 164,503