Monterey County was one of the original 27 counties. Monterey County's boundary with San Luis Obispo County has changed several times. It derived its name from the Bay of Monterey. The word itself is composed of the Spanish words monte and rey, and literally means "king of the forest." The bay was named by Sebastian Vizcaino in 1602, in honor of the Conde de Monterey, the Viceroy of New Spain. Territory which at one time was in Monterey County is now in San Benito and San Luis Obispo counties.

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