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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.

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Local News from Monterey County Weekly via Yahoo! News

Quick hits on previously reported news

Oct 9, 2008 7:31 am

GUV SIGNS LBAM BILL& On Oct. 1 Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed the Invasive Pest Planning Act (AB 2763), authored by Assemblyman John Laird largely in response to what he saw as poor state prepa...

P.G. Election Theater

Oct 9, 2008 7:31 am

An electoral storm brews in Pacific Grove as eight candidates, none of them incumbents, vie for three City Council seats in the Nov. 4 contest.

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Oct 9, 2008 7:30 am

Looking for something to do? Search our calendar database . 0results found. Loading....

Leo (DiCaprio) Wants You

Oct 9, 2008 7:30 am

Hollywood has gone viral. In a four-minute video circulating YouTube, MySpace and Facebook, actor Leonardo DiCaprio says he does not want Americans to vote.

Bailout Blues

Oct 9, 2008 7:30 am

Arcadio Quiambao mopes out of the unemployment office in Salinas. The 70-year-old Salinas resident was laid off about six weeks ago and is still battling the California Employment Development Departme...

Greg Norman's Southern Cross Developments Selects River Rim Ranch

Greg Norman’s Southern Cross Developments, proprietor of the exclusive “Norman Estates” real estate brand, is pleased to announce that River Rim Ranch in Teton Valley, Idaho will be the location for its newest project, the “Norman Ranch Estates. [Read More]

Local News from The Fresno Bee via Yahoo! News

The debate: Mayor Autry vs. Judge Wanger

Oct 15, 2008 7:14 pm

Fresno Mayor Alan Autry and U.S. District Judge Oliver Wanger face off in a debate Wednesday afternoon at the monthly Bench-Bar-Media luncheon at the Downtown Club.

Recreation Calendar: 10/15/08

Oct 15, 2008 3:44 pm

Submit recreation calendar items to Sports Recreation Calendar, The Fresno Bee, 1626 E St., Fresno, CA 93786; fax to (559) 441-6070; or e-mail to calendars@fresnobee.com at least two weeks in advance ...

Local college roundup: 10/15/08

Oct 15, 2008 3:29 pm

Volleyball Fresno Pacific 3, Azusa Pacific 0: The top-ranked Sunbirds remain undefeated after a convincing win over the 14th-ranked Cougars, 25-11, 25-21, 25-22 in a Golden State Athletic Confere...

Man, 22, shot at Merced residence

Oct 15, 2008 3:14 pm

A 22-year-old man was shot as he stood in the doorway of a Merced residence late Tuesday night.

'Dogs, Broncos safe bets in women's hoops

Oct 15, 2008 6:29 am

It's time to spin the women's basketball lottery wheel in the Western Athletic Conference. Read comments

Prop. 8 TV ad raises questions

Oct 15, 2008 6:00 am

SACRAMENTO -- If same-sex marriage remains legal, will it be taught in schools?

Big Fresno Fair is still a good deal

Oct 15, 2008 6:00 am

A sour economy doesn't appear to have dampened vendor sales at this year's Big Fresno Fair.

State Center candidates trade jabs

Oct 15, 2008 6:00 am

Two familiar challengers in the State Center Community College District are battling again for a seat on the board of trustees -- with one questioning his rival's commitment to higher education and th...

Blaze forces five to move

Oct 15, 2008 6:00 am

A two-alarm fire that erupted Tuesday evening in an apartment complex across from Fresno State was brought under control after heavily damaging one unit and causing smoke damage in another. Five peopl...

Brandstater among QB award finalists

Oct 15, 2008 6:00 am

Fresno State senior quarterback Tom Brandstater is one of 10 finalists for the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm award, which former Bulldog David Carr won in 2001. Read comments

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Top 6 most popular retirement CITIES in Central Coast and Valley - California:

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