Q: What's the Origin of the Name "Freedom Boulevard" in Watsonvi - Central Coast News KION/KCBA

Q: What's the Origin of the Name "Freedom Boulevard" in Watsonville?

A: Our KION Question came from Martha in Aromas.  She asked us, "What is the origin of the name of Freedom Blvd in Watsonville?"

For the answer, Central Coast News spoke to the Pajaro Valley Historical Association.  Here's what we learned:

Some of the earliest maps show the road as the "Santa Cruz Watsonville Road".

It was the main stage road between the towns.  In the 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, and 1940s, it was called the "Santa Cruz Watsonville Highway".

Later, the freeway by-passed the section called Freedom Blvd.

The name was changed in the late 1940s to Freedom Boulevard because it was still the main road from Watsonville to the town of Freedom.  Early on, Green Valley Road did connect the town of Freedom to Main Street, as it does now.