Census Shows Scotts Valley’s makeup looking very similar to 2000

Scotts Valley’s population has grown only by 1.7 percent in the last decade, according to figures released Tuesday from the 2010 census.Overall, the city's population is 11,580, an increase of 195 residents, compared with 2000.When it comes to the demographics that make up the population, the numbers vary only slightly from 2000.Whites, who make up the  majority of the population in Scotts Valley, decreased by 132 people, from 10,090 in 2000 to 9,958 in 2010. Blacks or African Americans increased in population by 46 people, from 55 in 2000 to 101 currently. And the number of Asians increased by 64 people, from 526 in 2000 to 590 currently.The Hispanic race had the biggest growth in population with a 429-person increase, from 729 in 2000 to 1,158 currently.Countywide, the population grew by 2.7 percent from 255,602 residents in 2000 to 262,382 residents in 2010.The county’s largest cities, Santa Cruz and Watsonville, saw increases in their populations, while Capitola saw a decline.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.Capitola’s population decreased from 10,033 to 9,918, a loss of 115 residents, or 1.2 percent.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 to 2010. 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.