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The Central Coast is an area of California, United States, roughly spanning the area between the Monterey Bay and Point Conception. It extends through Santa Cruz County, San Benito County, Monterey County, San Luis Obispo County, and Santa Barbara County.
The Central Coast is also the location of the Central Coast American Viticultural Area.

The region is known primarily for agriculture and tourism. Major crops include lettuce, strawberries, and artichokes. In particular, the Salinas Valley is one of the most fertile farming regions in the United States. Popular tourist attractions include Cannery Row (in Monterey), the Monterey Bay Aquarium, the golf courses of Pebble Beach and the Monterey Peninsula, the rugged coastline of Big Sur and Hearst Castle in San Simeon.
Overall, the area is not very densely populated, not surprising considering that the primary industry is agriculture. The largest city in the region is Salinas, with approximately 150,000 people. Due to the low population density of the central coast, educational and cultural resouces are relatively scarce. University of California campuses are found both in Santa Cruz and Santa Barbara, on the extreme north and south edges of the region, respectively. One of the universities found within the central coast area itself is California State University, Monterey Bay (CSUMB), founded in 1994 using facilities donated when Fort Ord was converted from military to civilian uses. In San Luis Obispo, the state university California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly) was founded in 1901, and has been in full operation for decades.

Of Interest

Local News from Monterey County Weekly via Yahoo! News

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Jan 1, 2009 8:12 am

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A Tale of Two Cities

Jan 1, 2009 8:12 am

Carmel-by-the-Sea and Pacific Grove are both pockets of privilege carved into prime oceanside real estate. Their residents are significantly wealthier, whiter and older than the national and county av...

Nursing Grudges

Jan 1, 2009 8:11 am

A contentious labor and patient-care struggle between unionized workers and four Windsor nursing homes in Monterey County has spilled into Salinas City Hall.

Local News from The Fresno Bee via Yahoo! News

Tulare County supervisors wary of more cuts

Jan 6, 2009 7:58 pm

The Tulare County Board of Supervisors expect more spending cuts and more difficult financial decisions as California lawmakers continue to grapple with revising the state budget.

Video: Swearengin, council sworn in at City Hall

Jan 6, 2009 5:28 pm

Ashley Swearengin was sworn in as mayor of Fresno at 9:35 this morning at City Hall.

Pending home sales plunge to record low in Nov.

Jan 6, 2009 5:28 pm

The National Association of Realtors says pending home sales fell to the lowest level on record in November, as the plummeting stock market and faltering economy caused buyers to put their purchases o...

Gas leak briefly closes section of I-5

Jan 6, 2009 3:28 pm

Gas leaking from pipe closed Jane Avenue just east and west of Interstate 5 for about an hour early this morning, Fresno County fire officials said.

Economic crisis, Obama response face new Congress

Jan 6, 2009 3:13 pm

The new Congress opened for business at the stroke of noon on Tuesday, eager to join President-elect Barack Obama in tackling the worst economic crisis in generations. Democrats celebrated last fall's...

Extreme excitement builds for house

Jan 6, 2009 6:59 am

Show business meets philanthropy in the Fresno area this week as the ABC reality television series "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" comes to town, putting thousands of volunteers -- and one ...

Fresno plans cuts to budget

Jan 6, 2009 6:59 am

After months of reporting surpluses, Fresno finally has succumbed to the recession, officials said Monday as they announced a gap of up to $7 million in the city's current budget.

Episcopal Church wins property case

Jan 6, 2009 6:58 am

A state Supreme Court ruling Monday that sided with the U.S. Episcopal Church in a property dispute could influence a similar case in Fresno, where the local diocese broke away from the national organ...

Hoover High grad remembered as dedicated, brilliant lawyer

Jan 6, 2009 6:58 am

WASHINGTON -- Few lawyers are good enough to argue before the U.S. Supreme Court. The late Barbara McDowell, a 1969 graduate of Fresno's Hoover High School, did it twice in one day.

'Dogs go long on Broncos

Jan 6, 2009 6:57 am

Fresno State has made a habit of living and dying by the 3-point shot this women's basketball season.

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