Capitola Population Figures Decline While Soquel Digits Show Nothing But Growth

Capitola's population has experienced a 1.1 percent decline since 2000, while its Soquel neighbor has experienced explosive growth, with a population increase of near 90 percent, according to 2010 U.S. Census Bureau figures released Tuesday afternoon.

Capitola's population decline may seem fairly minimal on a percentage basis, but that 1.1 percent decrease means that 115 locals have moved out of the area.

In contrast to Capitola's declining figures, Soquel's numbers have been on the rise with a 89.9 percent total population increase from 5,081 in 2000 to 9,644 in 2010.

Here's the breakdown:

• Soquel's Hispanic/Latino population has increased by 125.9 percent, adding 895 new residents to the area since 2000.

•  The town's white population has grown by 87.4 percent, or 3,684 residents, and its black population has increased from 80 residents, or 6.3 percent.

•  American Indian or Alaska native populations in the area have more than doubled since 2000, increasing by 121.9 percent, or 39 residents.

•  Soquel's Asian population has grown by 75.4 percent from 203 residents in 2000 to 356 in 2010, while Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander populations have increased twofold by 133.3 percent, or 12 residents.

Although Capitola experienced an overall drop in population growth, there have been increases in most of its ethnic populations, excluding white and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander groups.

Here's the breakdown:

• Census figures show a 4.2 percent decline in Capitola's white population, which decreased from 8,412 people in 2000 to 7,963 a decade later.

• Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander populations in the area have decreased from 20 in 2000 to 10 in 2010, or a 50 percent decline.

• Ethnic populations that have experienced increases in 2010 include Hispanics/Latinos with a 56.3 percent increase, or 690 people.

• Capitola's black/African-American population has increased from 117 in 2000 to 123 in 2010—a 5.1 percent increase.

• American Indian or Alaska native populations have increased 3.5 percent, from 57 in 2000 to 59 in 2010.

• Capitola's Asian population has grown by 23 residents, or 5.4 percent.

Capitola's 18 years or older population has seen an overall increase of 1.1 percent from 8,187 in 2000 to 8,275 in 2010.

Here's the breakdown:

• The population of Hispanic/Latino 18-year-olds has grown by 50 percent, or 450 people.

• 18-year-old populations on the decline include Capitola's white population, with a 1.7 percent decrease from 6,991 in 2000 to 6,873 a decade later; its Black/African American population, which decreased by 4.1 percent, or four people; and its American Indian or Alaska Native population, declining by 4 percent, from 51 people in 2000 to 49 in 2010.

• Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander 18-year-old populations have shown the largest decline, with a 30.8 percent decrease from 13 in 2000 to nine in 2010, while Capitola's young Asian population has experienced a 5 percent increase from 342 in 2000 to 359 a decade later.

While Capitola's total population has declined, the county’s largest cities, Santa Cruz and Watsonville, saw increases in their populations.

Watsonville’s population grew from 44,265 to 51,199, an increase of 6,934 residents, or 15.7 percent.

Santa Cruz’s population grew from 54,593 to 59,946, an increase of 5,353 residents, or 9.8 percent.

Scotts Valley’s population has grown only by 1.7 percent in the last decade. Overall, the city's population is 11,580, an increase of 195 residents compared with 2000.

Countywide, the population grew by 2.7 percent from 255,602 residents in 2000 to 262,382 residents in 2010.

The state’s population rose 10 percent from 33.9 million residents to 37.3 million residents during the past decade.

Most of that growth appears to have come in the counties that span the middle of the state.

Riverside County had the biggest jump, increasing 41 percent from 2000-10. The city of Beaumont in that county leaped 224 percent from 11,384 to 36,887 people.

Next was Placer County, with a 40 percent jump. The city of Lincoln skyrocketed 282 percent from 11,205 to 42,819 people.

Other counties that grew more than 20 percent included Imperial, Kern, Madera, Merced and Tulare.

Los Angeles County’s population edged up 3 percent. San Francisco County’s population also rose 3 percent, while San Diego County jumped 10 percent.

The only counties that saw population decreases were three small regions in the Sierra Nevada. They were Alpine County (down 3 percent), Plumas County (down 4 percent) and Sierra County (down 9 percent).

Check out the Census data on American Fact Finder.

Associate Regional Editor David Mills contributed to this story.