Monterey County, California

Monterey County, situated on the coast south of Santa Cruz and north of San Luis Obispo, contains 3,328 square miles; its population is estimated at over 20,000, though by the census of 1880 it was placed at 11,302. Salinas city is the county seat and largest town, other places being Monterey, Castroville, Pajaro, Soledad and Gonzales. Monterey is one of the leading cereal-producing counties in the state, nearly half a million acres being annually sown to grain. Through the center of the Salinas valley runs the Salinas River, which empties into the ocean at Moss Landing, the seaport of Castroville. The Pajaro valley, a portion of which is in Santa Cruz county is watered by the Pajaro river. Its soil is very rich, and particularly well adapted for the growth of fruits and vegetables, especially sugar beets. The Carmel valley, in which is located the Mission of San Carlos, also contains considerable arable land. Farming, wool-growing, and stock-raising constitute the chief industries of the county. Monterey, the former capital of the state, is one of the principal watering places on the Pacific coast. It has many "places of historic interest, and the scenery in the vicinity is very picturesque. About a mile east of the old town is the Hotel Del Monte, built by the Southern Pacific Company, one of the finest seaside hotels in America. Pacific Grove Retreat, nearby, is also a popular summer resort. The assessed valuation of the county in 1889 was $15,536,037.

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Source: California State Gazetteer and Business Directory 1890, Volume II, R. L. Polk & Company, 1890.