Why do many cities near the California coast begin with "San" or "Santa"?
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Step 1
To answer this question, I'll provide a historical and cultural explanation:

Step 2
: Spanish Colonial Influence

The prevalence of "San" and "Santa" in California city names directly reflects the region's Spanish colonial history. During the 18th and early 19th centuries, Spanish missionaries and explorers established settlements throughout California.

Final Answer

The prevalence of "San" and "Santa" in California city names is a direct result of Spanish colonial missionary practices, where locations were named after Catholic saints as part of the region's historical settlement and cultural development.