La Selva Beach, California
{{Use American English|date=July 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name = La Selva Beach
|settlement_type = census-designated place
|image_skyline =
|imagesize =
|image_caption =
|subdivision_type = Country
|subdivision_name = United States
|subdivision_type1 = State
|subdivision_name1 = California
|subdivision_type2 = County
|subdivision_name2 = Santa Cruz
|established_title =
|established_date =
| population_total = 2531
| population_as_of = 2020
| population_footnotes = {{Cite web |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=1600000US0640508 |title=Census Data: La Selva Beach (cdp) |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=April 14, 2022}}
| population_density_km2 = auto
|area_magnitude =
| unit_pref = US
| area_total_sq_mi = 5.297
| area_land_sq_mi = 5.297
| area_water_sq_mi = 0
| area_total_km2 = 13.719
| area_land_km2 = 13.719
| area_water_km2 = 0
| area_water_percent = 0
| area_note =
|timezone = Pacific (PST)
|utc_offset = -8
|timezone_DST = PDT
|utc_offset_DST = -7
|elevation_footnotes = {{gnis|2583053}}
|elevation_m =
|elevation_ft = 151
| pushpin_map = California
| pushpin_map_caption = Position in California.
|coordinates = {{coord|36|55|39|N|121|50|40|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
|postal_code_type = ZIP Code
|postal_code = 95076
|area_code = 831
|blank_name = GNIS feature ID
|blank_info = 2583053
|website =
|footnotes = {{gnis|2583053}}
|image_map = File:Santa Cruz County California Incorporated and Unincorporated areas La Selva Beach Highlighted 0640508.svg
|map_caption = Location of La Selva Beach in Santa Cruz County, California.
}}
La Selva Beach (La Selva, Spanish for "The Forest") is a census-designated place (CDP) in Santa Cruz County, California. La Selva Beach sits at an elevation of {{convert|151|ft|m}}. The 2020 United States census reported La Selva Beach's population was 2,531.
La Selva Beach is one of the several small communities located in and around Aptos. It neighbors Seascape to the north, Corralitos to the east, and Watsonville to the south. When founded, the small beach community was surrounded by dense conifer woods.
Geography
La Selva Beach lies near the San Andreas Fault, and was close to the epicenter of the October 17, 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP covers an area of 5.3 square miles (13.7 km2), all of it land.
History
In 1925 it was founded as Rob Roy by real estate developer David Batchelor. The now-defunct (since 2000) Rob Roy Video Store was the only business in the area to make note of this heritage. In 1935 the name was changed to La Selva Beach by the new developer, Edward Burghard. Most of the existing houses were built in the early 1960s. In the 1970s the residents convinced state government to remove "Beach" from the direction signs.[https://web.archive.org/web/20080227013236/http://www.scruzwiki.org/La_Selva_Beach La Selva Beach] Officially the name is still La Selva Beach.
Demographics
{{US Census population
|2010= 2843
|2020= 2531
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|accessdate=June 4, 2016}}
2010{{Cite web|title= 2010 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - California |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/2010/cph-2/cph-2-6.pdf|website=United States Census Bureau}}
}}
La Selva Beach first appeared as a census designated place in the 2010 U.S. Census.
The 2020 United States census reported that La Selva Beach had a population of 2,531. The population density was {{convert|477.8|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of La Selva Beach was 78.8% White, 0.5% African American, 0.6% Native American, 3.6% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, 4.6% from other races, and 11.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 15.4% of the population.{{cite web |title=La Selva Beach CDP, California; DP1: Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics - 2020 Census of Population and Housing |url=https://data.census.gov/table/DECENNIALDP2020.DP1?g=1600000US0640508 |website=US Census Bureau |access-date=May 24, 2025}}
The census reported that 99.5% of the population lived in households, 0.5% lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 0.0% were institutionalized.
There were 1,047 households, out of which 22.6% included children under the age of 18, 53.3% were married-couple households, 6.9% were cohabiting couple households, 24.4% had a female householder with no partner present, and 15.5% had a male householder with no partner present. 23.4% of households were one person, and 11.8% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.41. There were 714 families (68.2% of all households).{{cite web |title=La Selva Beach CDP, California; P16: Household Type - 2020 Census of Population and Housing |url=https://data.census.gov/table/DECENNIALDHC2020.P16?g=1600000US0640508 |website=US Census Bureau |access-date=May 24, 2025}}
The age distribution was 16.0% under the age of 18, 5.2% aged 18 to 24, 19.8% aged 25 to 44, 28.8% aged 45 to 64, and 30.1% who were 65{{nbsp}}years of age or older. The median age was 53.9{{nbsp}}years. For every 100 females, there were 88.9 males.
There were 1,393 housing units at an average density of {{convert|263.0|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units |units|}}, of which 1,047 (75.2%) were occupied. Of these, 70.0% were owner-occupied, and 30.0% were occupied by renters.
In 2023, the US Census Bureau estimated that the median household income in 2023 was $159,094, and the per capita income was $77,290.{{cite web |title=La Selva Beach CDP, California; DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics - 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates Comparison Profiles |url=https://data.census.gov/table/ACSDP5Y2023.DP03?g=1600000US0640508 |website=US Census Bureau |access-date=May 24, 2025}}
Parks and recreation
La Selva Beach is adjacent to Manresa State Beach where one can fish, surf, and boogie board. These breaks are not as popular as others in Santa Cruz County. La Selva Beach does have direct public access and public parking is available near by.
The central park of La Selva Beach is Triangle Park. The park is triangular in form and enhanced by a triangular structure with the flags of the world. There is also a horseshoe pit.
In the summer, one can witness children practicing their baton-twirling/hurling skills and building floats, while their parents practice library push-cart choreography in preparation for the La Selva Beach 4th of July Parade. This parade is shorter but less known than the so-called "World's Shortest Parade" which takes place concurrently in Aptos, California.
Education
Rio del Mar Elementary school{{Cite web |title= Welcom to Rio del Mar Elementary |url= http://www.riodelmar.pvusd.net/ |work= School web site |accessdate= July 20, 2013 }} and the Monterey Bay Academy are the nearest educational institutions.
The Aptos Academy was a private school in the area from 1999 through June 2013.{{Cite news |title= Aptos Academy closing its doors after 14 years |work= Santa Cruz Sentinel |date= June 13, 2013 |author= Shanna McCord |url= http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/education/ci_23456681/aptos-academy-closing-its-doors-after-14-years |accessdate= July 20, 2013 }}{{Cite web |title= The Aptos Academy: Where Futures are Created |url= http://www.aptosacademy.org/ |url-status=live |archivedate= May 22, 2013 |archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20130522213607/http://www.aptosacademy.org/2012/ |accessdate= July 20, 2013 }}
Notable residents
- Aaron Bates, professional baseball player.
- Don Bunce, Star Rose Bowl quarterback and orthopedic surgeon.
- Jason Jessee, professional skateboarder.
References
{{reflist}}
{{Santa Cruz County, California}}
{{authority control}}
Category:Census-designated places in Santa Cruz County, California