DAVENPORT, CALIFORNIA

'Davenport', California (population 200) is a coastal community in an unincorporated area of Santa Cruz County on the Pacific Ocean, situated about 9 miles north of the town of Santa Cruz, on Highway One. It lies at and is at an elevation of 65 feet.
Off the coast of Davenport is an area where, out of all the Pacific Coast, whales pass closest to land on their North-South migrations. John Davenport tried to start a whaling business in 1850, and a pier was built in support of this. Davenport abandoned his whaling efforts, however, to concentrate on shipping lumber and cheese to San Francisco from that same pier.
The town is presently noted for the spectacular cliffs and bluffs above the Pacific, beaches in between cliffs, surfing opportunities, the cement plant run by Cemex, and the former headquarters of Odwalla, a company that makes fruit juices.
St. Vincent DePaul Church, in Davenport, was built entirely of cement from the local cement factory in 1914.
Of historical interest is the Davenport Jail. It has two cells, and was used only twice from the time of its construction in 1914 until its decommissioning in 1936. Today it is used for storage.

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External links

See also

★ ''Davenport oral history,'' (videorecording, series), Community Action Board, (Santa Cruz: Community Television of Santa Cruz County, 1998).

External links

★ Santa Cruz County Conference & Visitors Council - Davenport Visitor Information

★ USGS images