Monterey

Monterey is a city in Monterey County, California, United States. It is the county seat and sits on the southern edge of Monterey Bay along the Pacific coast. The area has a long maritime heritage and, during Spanish and Mexican rule, served as the capital of Alta California from 1777 to 1849.

The city was founded in 1770 with the establishment of the Presidio of Monterey and Mission San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo. Over the 19th and 20th centuries it developed from a fishing and canning center into a major tourist destination, attracting visitors with its historic waterfront, cultural institutions, and scenic coastline.

Monterey is known for Cannery Row, a historic district along the waterfront that preserves its industrial legacy, and for the Monterey Bay Aquarium, a leading public aquarium located on the bay. The surrounding coastline is part of the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, and the nearby 17-Mile Drive links Monterey with Pebble Beach and Carmel-by-the-Sea, offering coastal scenery and golf courses.

Cultural life in Monterey includes events such as the Monterey Jazz Festival, one of the oldest and best-known jazz festivals in the United States, as well as museums, galleries, and maritime heritage sites in Old Town. The local economy today emphasizes tourism, education, and services. Transportation infrastructure includes Monterey Regional Airport and highways such as U.S. Route 1, plus access to rail networks in the wider region. The Monterey Peninsula also encompasses nearby communities like Pacific Grove and Carmel-by-the-Sea, forming a historically linked coastal region.