Freedom, California

Freedom
census-designated place
Location in Santa Cruz County and the state of California
Location in Santa Cruz County and the state of California
Freedom is located in the United States
Freedom
Freedom
Location in the United States
Coordinates: 36°56′26″N 121°47′22″W / 36.94056°N 121.78944°W / 36.94056; -121.78944
CountryUnited States
StateCalifornia
CountySanta Cruz
Area
[1]
 • Total
1.134 sq mi (2.936 km2)
 • Land1.134 sq mi (2.936 km2)
 • Water0 sq mi (0 km2)  0%
Elevation
[2]
125 ft (38 m)
Population
 (2020)[3]
 • Total
3,835
 • Density3,383/sq mi (1,306/km2)
Time zoneUTC-8 (PST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-7 (PDT)
ZIP code
95019
Area code831
FIPS code06-25576
GNIS feature ID1658576

Freedom is a census-designated place (CDP) in Santa Cruz County, California, United States. The population was 3,835 at the 2020 census.

Freedom Post Office.

Toponymy

Originally known as Whiskey Hill, likely as a consequence of eleven saloons located there in 1852.[4]

In 1877, the residents voted to change the name to Freedom, most likely because many of the saloons had closed and the United States Centennial fervor of the prior year's celebration.[5]

Geography

Freedom is located at 36°56′26″N 121°47′22″W / 36.94056°N 121.78944°W / 36.94056; -121.78944 (36.940452, -121.789376).[6] According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 1.1 square miles (2.8 km2), all of it land. It is adjacent to and blends with the incorporated city of Watsonville.

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
19502,765—
19604,20652.1%
19705,56332.3%
19806,41615.3%
19908,36130.3%
20006,000−28.2%
20103,070−48.8%
20203,83524.9%
U.S. Decennial Census[7][8]
1860–1870[9][10] 1880-1890[11]
1900[12] 1910[13] 1920[14]
1930[15] 1940[16] 1950[17]
1960[18][19] 1970[20] 1980[21]
1990[22] 2000[23] 2010[24]
2020

Freedom first appeared as an unincorporated community in the 1950 U.S. census;[17] and as a census-designated place in the 1980 United States census.[21]

Racial and ethnic composition

Freedom CDP, California – Racial and ethnic composition
Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.
Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) Pop 2000[25] Pop 2010[26] Pop 2020[27] % 2000 % 2010 % 2020
White alone (NH) 1,441 724 728 24.02% 23.58% 18.98%
Black or African American alone (NH) 28 26 16 0.47% 0.85% 0.42%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 30 15 6 0.50% 0.49% 0.16%
Asian alone (NH) 195 91 69 3.25% 2.96% 1.80%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH) 5 0 0 0.08% 0.00% 0.00%
Other race alone (NH) 7 0 9 0.12% 0.00% 0.23%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) 129 44 87 2.15% 1.43% 2.27%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 4,165 2,170 2,920 69.42% 70.68% 76.14%
Total 6,000 3,070 3,835 100.00% 100.00% 100.00%

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, Freedom had a population of 3,835. The population density was 3,381.8 inhabitants per square mile (1,305.7/km2). The racial makeup of Freedom was 30.4% White, 0.5% African American, 2.1% Native American, 2.0% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, 47.3% from other races, and 17.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 76.1% of the population.[28][29]

The census reported that 99.9% of the population lived in households and four residents (0.1%) were institutionalized. In addition, 98.9% of residents lived in urban areas, while 1.1% lived in rural areas.[28][30]

There were 1,007 households, out of which 50.4% included children under the age of 18, 53.3% were married-couple households, 9.7% were cohabiting couple households, 23.4% had a female householder with no partner present, and 13.5% had a male householder with no partner present. 13.7% of households were one person, and 6.9% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 3.8. There were 810 families (80.4% of all households).[28][31]

The age distribution was 28.2% under the age of 18, 10.1% aged 18 to 24, 27.6% aged 25 to 44, 22.3% aged 45 to 64, and 11.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33.5 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.5 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.3 males.[28]

There were 1,022 housing units at an average density of 901.2 units per square mile (348.0 units/km2), of which 1,007 (98.5%) were occupied and 1.5% were vacant. Of occupied units, 56.8% were owner-occupied, and 43.2% were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 0.3%, and the rental vacancy rate was 0.9%.[28][29]

Income and poverty

In 2023, the US Census Bureau estimated that the median household income was $139,722, and the per capita income was $39,276. About 4.1% of families and 7.0% of the population were below the poverty line.[32]

2010 census

The 2010 United States census[33] reported that Freedom had a population of 3,070. The population density was 2,780.8 inhabitants per square mile (1,073.7/km2). The racial makeup of Freedom was 1,452 (47.3%) White, 44 (1.4%) African American, 31 (1.0%) Native American, 100 (3.3%) Asian, 1,285 (41.9%) from other races, and 158 (5.1%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2,170 persons (70.7%).

The Census reported that 99.8% of the population lived in households and 0.2% were institutionalized.

There were 776 households, out of which 394 (50.8%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 445 (57.3%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 124 (16.0%) had a female householder with no husband present, 73 (9.4%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 63 (8.1%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 11 (1.4%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 102 households (13.1%) were made up of individuals, and 44 (5.7%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.95. There were 642 families (82.7% of all households); the average family size was 4.12.

The population was spread out, with 904 people (29.4%) under the age of 18, 347 people (11.3%) aged 18 to 24, 891 people (29.0%) aged 25 to 44, 655 people (21.3%) aged 45 to 64, and 273 people (8.9%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30.2 years. For every 100 females, there were 103.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.7 males.

There were 806 housing units at an average density of 730.1 per square mile (281.9/km2), of which 65.6% were owner-occupied and 34.4% were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.4%; the rental vacancy rate was 2.2%. 60.9% of the population lived in owner-occupied housing units and 38.9% lived in rental housing units.

Government

In the California State Legislature, Freedom is in the 17th senatorial district, represented by Democrat John Laird, and in the 29th Assembly district, represented by Democrat Robert Rivas.[34]

In the United States House of Representatives, Freedom is in California's 18th congressional district, represented by Democrat Zoe Lofgren.[35]

See also

  • List of census-designated places in California
  • KPIG-FM

References

  1. ^ "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 30, 2021.
  2. ^ "Freedom". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved October 13, 2014.
  3. ^ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved May 7, 2023.
  4. ^ Gudde, Erwin G. (1949). California Place Names. Berkeley, California: University of California Press. p. 121. ASIN B000FMOPP4.
  5. ^ Clark, Donald Thomas (2008). Santa Cruz County Place Names. Scotts Valley, Calif.: Kestrel Press. p. 116. ISBN 978-1-880478-02-8.
  6. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  7. ^ "Decennial Census by Decade". United States Census Bureau.
  8. ^ Santa Cruz Public Libraries. "Population Statistics for Santa Cruz County and Cities, 1850-2000". Archived from the original on December 26, 2009. Retrieved May 24, 2009.
  9. ^ "1870 Census of Population - Population of Civil Divisions less than Counties - California - Almeda County to Sutter County" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 26, 2025 – via Wayback Machine.
  10. ^ "1870 Census of Population - Population of Civil Divisions less than Counties - California - Tehama County to Yuba County" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 2, 2025 – via Wayback Machine.
  11. ^ "1890 Census of Population - Population of California by Minor Civil Divisions" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 11, 2025 – via Wayback Machine.
  12. ^ "1900 Census of Population - Population of California by Counties and Minor Civil Divisions" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 4, 2025 – via Wayback Machine.
  13. ^ "1910 Census of Population - Supplement for California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 4, 2025. Retrieved February 4, 2025 – via Wayback Machine.
  14. ^ "1920 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 28, 2025 – via Wayback Machine.
  15. ^ "1930 Census of Population - Number and Distribution of Inhabitants - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 17, 2025 – via Wayback Machine.
  16. ^ "1940 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 26, 2025 – via Wayback Machine.
  17. ^ a b "1950 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 19, 2025 – via Wayback Machine.
  18. ^ "1960 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 22, 2025 – via Wayback Machine.
  19. ^ "1960 Census of Population - General population Characteristics - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 22, 2025 – via Wayback Machine.
  20. ^ "1970 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 26, 2025 – via Wayback Machine.
  21. ^ a b "1980 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 26, 2025 – via Wayback Machine.
  22. ^ "1990 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 26, 2025 – via Wayback Machine.
  23. ^ "2000 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 22, 2025 – via Wayback Machine.
  24. ^ "2010 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 28, 2025 – via Wayback Machine.
  25. ^ "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Freedom CDP, California". United States Census Bureau.
  26. ^ "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Freedom CDP, California". United States Census Bureau.
  27. ^ "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Freedom CDP, California". United States Census Bureau.
  28. ^ a b c d e "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved April 28, 2026.
  29. ^ a b "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved April 28, 2026.
  30. ^ "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)". United States Census Bureau. 2023. Retrieved April 28, 2026.
  31. ^ "Freedom CDP, California; P16: Household Type - 2020 Census of Population and Housing". US Census Bureau. Retrieved May 20, 2025.
  32. ^ "Freedom CDP, California; DP03: Selected Economic Characteristics - 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates Comparison Profiles". US Census Bureau. Retrieved May 20, 2025.
  33. ^ "2010 Census Interactive Population Search: CA - Freedom CDP". U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved July 12, 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  34. ^ "Final Maps | California Citizens Redistricting Commission". Retrieved September 9, 2025.
  35. ^ "house.gov - Find My Rep". US House of Representatives. Retrieved November 3, 2023.
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