Prunedale, California

One of the area's earliest settlers was Charles Langley, a Watsonville banker, who also operated the Prunedale post office.[8] The Prunedale post office opened in 1894, closed in 1908, and re-opened in 1953.[5] Langley helped establish the Watsonville post office mail service in Prunedale.[8] Langley Canyon Road in Prunedale is named after the Langley family. It was around the time of Prunedale's founding that the plum orchard failed due to a lack of irrigation and fertilizer, yet the name Prunedale was retained. The unincorporated area maintains a rural feel in most areas.[8]

A major development in the area's history occurred when U.S. Route 101 was rerouted through Prunedale between 1931 and 1932.[8] Highway 101 had previously routed directly from Salinas to San Juan Bautista.[8] That old route is now known as San Juan Grade Road. In 1946, Highway 101 was widened to 4 lanes.[8] As Prunedale has grown, increased traffic congestion made Route 101 through Prunedale a Traffic Safety Corridor and a double traffic fine zone in the late 1990s and early 2000s, with reduced speed limits to 55. Detailed plans to build a 101 bypass of Prunedale did not develop. After Caltrans purchased the land for the bypass, it was resolved to improve the highway through Prunedale by adding a San Miguel Canyon overpass, improving the Highway 101 and Highway 156 interchange, making more turn and merge lanes, and making several other improvements on the roadway.[9] These improvements were completed in the early 2000s. In the last few years, with a decline in traffic fatalities, the speed limit was increased to 60 miles per hour via state traffic formulas.

One of the original businesses to inhabit Prunedale was Glenn's. In the 1970s, the Prunedale Shopping Center was built. The Prunedale Senior Citizen's Center was built in 1989 with grant funds secured by then Monterey County Supervisor Marc Del Piero. Meals for seniors and public assistance programs, including a bi-weekly food bank giveaway, continue to be operated from that facility. In the 1980s, the Prunetree Shopping Center opened for business. People are oftentimes confused about prunes because dried plums are often called prunes. Confusion has been found even overseas, as plum in French translates to prune while prune translates to prune. The fruit of a prune tree is smaller than a plum, pinkish purple, and shipped as fresh fruit, primarily from Washington and Idaho states. The most common type of prune is the "Santa Rosa" prune. A plum is larger, rounder, and more satisfying than a prune.[10]

Prunedale is located at 36°46′33″N 121°40′11″W.[4]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 46.2 square miles (120 km²), of which, 46.1 square miles (119 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.26 km²) of it (0.32%) is water. Langley Creek flows by Highway 101 through Prunedale, and is visible at the intersection of Highway 101 and Tustin Road, and again at the intersection of Prunedale South Road and Blackie Road.[8]

Prunedale is served by Monterey–Salinas Transit, with connections to Amtrak at San Jose Diridon station. Caltrans has a park and ride at the intersection of US Route 101 and California State Route 156.[13]

In the hills above Prunedale is one of the few known colonies of Yadon's piperia, an endangered species of wild orchid. Royal Oaks Park and Manzanita Park, owned by Monterey County, offer nearby recreation. Much of Prunedale's land is oak reserve to protect the California's native trees.

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  Highway 101 through Prunedale heading north.
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  San Miguel Canyon Prunedale North intersection in Prunedale.
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  San Miguel Canyon Road from the 101 overpass in Prunedale.
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  View of 101 heading north from San Miguel Canyon Road overpass in Prunedale.