Las Cruces, California facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Las Cruces, California
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Las Cruces, August 2021
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 Las Cruces, California
Location in California
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| Country | United States |
| State | California |
| County | Santa Barbara |
| Elevation | 341 ft (104 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-8 (Pacific (PST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-7 (PDT) |
| Area code(s) | 805 & 820 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1660894 |
Las Cruces (pronounced Lahs KROO-ses) is a place in California that used to be a small community. Its name means "the crosses" in Spanish. It's located in Santa Barbara County, California.
This spot is important because it's where two major roads split. California State Route 1 goes north towards Lompoc. U.S. Route 101 also goes north, heading to Buellton. South of Las Cruces, these two roads join up and go through the Gaviota Gorge to the Gaviota Coast. The area uses area code 805.
Contents
History of Las Cruces
Las Cruces has been a busy crossroads for a very long time. People traveling along California's Central Coast often passed through here.
Early Days and Travelers
As far back as 1876, Las Cruces had a post office. In the 1800s, it was a common overnight stop. Farmers from the Santa Ynez Valley would stay here. They were on their way to deliver crops like grain to the Gaviota Wharf for shipping.
The Gaviota Hot Springs are natural warm springs nearby. They were first called Las Cruces Hot Springs because they were so close to the village. Local people used these springs for bathing and relaxation.
A Community Hub
In 1941, a guide to Santa Barbara described Las Cruces as a small group of homes. It had an inn, a store, and a garage, all shaded by large old sycamore trees. This spot was a meeting place for early California cattlemen. They would guide their cattle through the nearby pass down to the old Gaviota Landing for shipment.
Even before that, this region was a place where different groups of people met and sometimes had conflicts. Coastal tribes and the Tulare Indians from the San Joaquín Valley lived and traveled in this area.
Later Years and Changes
In 1941, about 64 people lived in Las Cruces. During World War II, the community became quite busy. Visitors from Camp Cooke, which is now Vandenberg Space Force Base, would come to Las Cruces. By the 1950s, it was still known as a "small community."
However, the village of Las Cruces was eventually "obliterated." This means it was removed to make way for new highway construction. The old Las Cruces village store was torn down in December 1967 to build the modern road interchange.
Additional images
- History of Las Cruces, California
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The Las Cruces Hotel advertised its closeness to Las Cruces Hot Springs and Nojoqui Falls (The Lompoc Record, Dec. 18, 1880)
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This map shows the location of Las Cruces, California. It was sent to the U.S. Post Office Department in 1885.
See also
In Spanish: Las Cruces (California) para niños
