 The Awaswas population living between Davenport and Aptos was estimated at 600 people in 1770.During the era of Spanish missions in California, the Awaswas people's lives changed with the Mission Santa Cruz (founded in 1791) built in their territory.Most moved into this mission and were baptized, lived and educated to be Catholic "neophytes", also known as Mission Indians, until the missions were discontinued by the Mexican Government in 1834.