Konavle establishes cooperation relationship with Watsonville, California

28 February 2019 – A cooperation agreement has been signed by the Konavle Municipality and the American town of Watsonville in California, the Konavle Municipality said in a statement.  

Konavle Deputy Municipal Prefect Ivo Radonic and Watsonville Mayor Francisco Estrada signed an agreement this week which will see the two cooperate in the areas of education, culture, sports and the economy. 

Watsonville is a town with a population of around 50,000 people and is located in Santa Cruz in the Pajara Valley. A large number of Croatians from Konavle, the area southeast of Dubrovnik. emigrated to the area at the end of the 19th and start of the 20th century. 

At he start of the 20th century, more than 20% of the population were Croats from Konavle. 

Many families from that region immigrated to the Pajaro Valley in the late and helped build the apple industry there.

“There’s a real big historic connection circling our two communities. Many of our ancestors from Croatia came here for a better life. They became proud Americans but with a strong connection with the homeland,” said Radonic, who was presented with a key to the city by Estrada. 

Watsonville and the centre of Kovale, Cavtat, also established a sister city relationship. The Konavle delegation will remain in Watsonville for a fortnight where they will visit many places, including local businesses.