Page 2 - Assistant Agricultural Commissioner

The COMMUNITY

The County of Monterey is set in a picturesque coastal location and offers tourists and residents alike the comfort of
a moderate, Mediterranean climate, miles of beautiful beaches, spectacular mountain ranges, groves of redwoods,
low-rolling foothills, and scenic valleys. Boasting such world-renowned attractions as the spectacular Big Sur Coast,

Laguna Seca Raceway, 17-Mile Drive, Monterey Bay Aquarium, Cannery Row, the Steinbeck Center, the Monterey
Jazz and Blues Festivals and Pebble Beach – possibly the world’s most famous golf course, it’s easy to see why over
450,000 residents choose to live here and an estimated 4 million visitors a year make Monterey County their desti-
nation of choice.

Monterey County is known for its natural resources, pristine environmental sites, long military history, and as a
location for top educational institutions. The County encompasses a total land area of 3,324 square miles. There has
been steady growth over the past decade and the County now has approximately 450,000 residents residing in 12

cities and unincorporated areas. The County is known as the “Salad Bowl of the World” and is one of the nation’s
top agricultural producers. Agriculture is the County’s largest sector in terms of economic output and employment,
touching nearly every facet of life in Monterey County. Most agricultural companies continue to be family-owned
and operated. Core to the success of agriculture and the community in Monterey County is the access and man-

agement of water resources.