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The City of Monterey, located on Monterey Bay along the Pacific Coast in central California, is home to the Naval Postgraduate School, Defense Language Institute, the former Fort Ord (now California State University Monterey Bay), Fleet Numerical Oceanography Center, Monterey Bay Aquarium, the Monterey American Viticultural Area; Cannery Row, Fisherman's Wharf and a Marine Mammal Center field station.

As of 2005, the city population was 30,641. The city is noted for its rich history of resident artists beginning in the late 1800s, its famed fishery and its the birthplace of the semi-hard cheese known as Monterey Jack.

Established in 1770 by Father Junípero Serra and Gaspar de Portolà, Monterey served as the capital of California from 1777 to 1849, under the flags of Spain and Mexico.

Portola erected the Presidio of Monterey to defend the port against expected Russian invasion. It was also the site of the July 7, 1846, Battle of Monterey during the Mexican-American War. It was on this date that John D. Sloat, Commodore in the United States Navy, raised the U.S. flag over the Monterey Customs House and claimed California for the United States.

In addition, many California "firsts" occurred in Monterey. These include California's first theater, brick house, publicly funded school, public building, public library, and printing press. California's first constitution was also drafted here in October 1849.

Monterey had long been famous for the abundant fishery in Monterey Bay. That changed in the 1950s, when the local fishery business collapsed due to overfishing. A few of the old fishermen's cabins from the early 20th century have been preserved as they stood along Cannery Row.

The famous Cannery Row has now been turned into a tourist attraction, with restaurants and shops in the historical site. It is also location of the Monterey Bay Aquarium. In June 1967, the city was the venue of the Monterey Pop Festiva

l. Some have dubbed Monterey "the cradle of history."

Monterey has a noteworthy history as a center for California painters in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Such painters as Arthur Frank Mathews, Armin Hansen, Xavier Martinez, Rowena Meeks Abdy and Percy Gray lived or visited to pursue painting in the style of either En plein air or Tonalism.

In addition to painters many noted authors through the years have also lived in and around the Monterey area, including: John Steinbeck, Robinson Jeffers, Robert A. Heinlein, Henry Miller, Ed Ricketts and Robert Louis Stevenson.

The city is famous for its abundant sea habitat, including kelp seaweed forests, sea otters and sea lions. The large diversity of sealife draws thousands of scuba divers each year to Monterey, considered among the best regions for the sport in California.

Monterey is also location of one of the largest aquariums in North America, Monterey Bay Aquarium, and hosts several important marine science laboratories. Monterey's geographic location gives scientists access to the deep sea within hours. Just miles off the shores of Monterey is Monterey Canyon, an underwater canyon two miles (3.2 km) deep.

The Larkin House, a part of the Monterey State Historic Park and a National Historic Landmark, was built in the Mexican period by Thomas Oliver Larkin and is an early example of Monterey Colonial architecture. The old Custom House, the town historic district and the Royal Presidio Chapel are also National Historic Landmarks. The Cooper-Molera Adobe is a National Trust Historic Site.

Colton Hall, built in 1849 by Walter Colton, was originally a public school and government meeting place. It also hosted California's first constitutional convention. Today it houses a museum, while adjacent buildings serve as the seat of local government.

The city is situated on the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, a Federally protected ocean area extending 276 miles (444 km) along the coast. Sometimes this sanctuary is confused with the local bay which is also termed Monterey Bay. In the local Monterey Bay marine environment can be found the California sea otter, a protected species. A field station of the Marine Mammal Center is located in Monterey to support sea rescue operations in this section of the California coast. Endangered bird species in Monterey are: California clapper rail, found in salt marshes; California brown pelican and Yuma clapper rail, both found at dunes and rocky headlands. One rare mammal, the San Joaquin kit fox, is found here in oak forest and chapparal habitats.