Watsonville is a city in Santa Cruz County, California, United States. The population was 51,199 according to the 2010 census.
The Pajaro Valley, where Watsonville is located, has a climate that is around 60 to 70 °F throughout much of the year. This climate makes Watsonville an attractive coastal environment for the neighboring inland communities with very hot summers. The Pajaro Valley Unified School District has an attendance of about 18,000 students kindergarten through 12th grades. Predominantly Latino and Democratic, Watsonville is a self-designated sanctuary city. Located on the central coast of California, the economy centers predominantly around farming and food processing.