Monterey, California

"Monterey" redirects here. For the city in northern Mexico, see Monterrey. For the macOS release, see macOS Monterey. For other uses, see Monterey (disambiguation).

Monterey
City
City of Monterey
Clockwise: An aerial view of Monterey; Cathedral of San Carlos Borromeo; Marina; Monterey Bay Aquarium; Naval Postgraduate School; Santa Catalina School
Flag Seal
Nicknames:  Language Capital of the World, California's "First" City
Interactive map of Monterey
Monterey Location in California Monterey Location in the contiguous United States
Coordinates: 36°36′11″N 121°53′37″W
Country	United States
State	California
County	Monterey
Incorporated	May 30, 1850
Named for	Monterey Bay
Government
• Type	Council–manager
• City council	Mayor Tyller Williamson Kim Barber Gino Garcia Jean Rasch Ed Smith
• City manager	Dante Hall
• State senator	John Laird (D)
• Assemblymember	Dawn Addis (D)
• U. S. rep.	Jimmy Panetta (D)
Area
• Total	12.26 sq mi (31.76 km2)
• Land	8.64 sq mi (22.39 km2)
• Water	3.62 sq mi (9.37 km2)  29.49%
Elevation	26 ft (8 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	30,218
• Density	3,496/sq mi (1,350/km2)
Time zone	UTC−8 (Pacific)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−7 (PDT)
ZIP Codes	93940–93944
Area code	831
FIPS code	06-48872
GNIS feature IDs	1659762, 2411145
Website	www.monterey.gov

Preview warning: Page using Template:Infobox settlement with deprecated parameter blank1_info. Replace with custom_data1_sec1.

Preview warning: Page using Template:Infobox settlement with deprecated parameter blank_info. Replace with custom_data_sec1.

Preview warning: Page using Template:Infobox settlement with deprecated parameter pushpin_map_caption. Replace with pushpin_caption.

Preview warning: Page using Template:Infobox settlement with deprecated parameter timezone. Replace with time_zone.

Preview warning: Page using Template:Infobox settlement with deprecated parameter blank1_name. Replace with custom_label1_sec1.

Preview warning: Page using Template:Infobox settlement with deprecated parameter blank_name. Replace with custom_label_sec1.

Preview warning: Page using Template:Infobox settlement with deprecated parameter settlement_type. Replace with type.

Preview warning: Page using Template:Infobox settlement with deprecated parameter timezone_DST. Replace with time_zone_DST.

Preview warning: Page using Template:Infobox settlement with deprecated parameter image_skyline. Replace with image.

Preview warning: Page using Template:Infobox settlement with multiple other deprecated parameters. Fix those above and preview again.

Monterey (/ˌmɒntəˈreɪ/ ^ⓘ MON-tə-RAY; Spanish: Monterrey) is a city on the southern edge of Monterey Bay, on the Central Coast of California. Located in Monterey County, the city occupies a land area of 8.645 sq mi (22.39 km²) and recorded a population of 30,218 in the 2020 census.

Monterey was founded by the Spanish in 1774, when Gaspar de Portolá and Junípero Serra established the Presidio of Monterey and the Cathedral of San Carlos Borromeo. Monterey was elevated to capital of the Province of the Californias in 1777, serving as the administrative and military headquarters of both Alta California and Baja California, as well as its only official port of entry. Following the Mexican War of Independence, Monterey continued as the capital of the Mexican Department of the Californias.

During the United States conquest of California, part of the Mexican-American War, Monterey was seized by the American military in the Battle of Monterey in 1846. Following its capture, Monterey continued to serve as the capital of the American interim government of California until 1849, during which it hosted California's 1st Constitutional Convention. In the late 19th century, Monterey and its surrounding area began to attract communities of artists, writers, and other creatives, leading to the creation of an art colony.

Today, Monterey is a popular tourist destination on the Central Coast, hosting notable attractions such as the Monterey Bay Aquarium, Cannery Row, Fisherman's Wharf, California Roots Music and Arts Festival, and the annual Monterey Jazz Festival. The city is also an important hub for the military and higher education, home to the Defense Language Institute, the Naval Postgraduate School, the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey and California State University, Monterey Bay.