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| Santa Barbara's idyllic climate made it home to over 150 tribes of Native Americans before the Spanish arrived in 1602. Explorer Sebastian Viscaino sailed into the Channel of Santa Barbara on December 4 of that year and named the area after the virgin and martyr. The Santa Barbara Presidio, a military garrison for the protection of missionaries, was founded in 1782 by Father Junipero Serra. The presidio had twelve-foot high adobe walls that enclosed barracks, store houses, a church and the residence of the commandant. A proper Mission followed four years later. A villiage, or Pueblo, grew up around the Presidio in the early 1800s, housing former soldiers and their usually Indian wives. In 1822 the citizens of Santa Barbara swore allegiance to the Empire of Mexico ending Spanish rule in California. But a mere 26 years later Mexico ceded California to the United States and the territory became a state in 1850 when the population exploded to nearly 100,000 with the discovery of gold. By the late 1800s Santa Barbara's streets were paved and public sewers were constructed. Shortly thereafter it was connected to the wider world by rail. Santa Barbara has been growing ever since but, aware of its natural blessings, has tried to grow gracefully, preserving the area's natural beauty. |
The area of coastline along southern Santa Barbara County is sometimes known as the "American Riviera" for its Mediterranean climate; there are over 300 days of sunshine every year. Throughout the year the average lows are in the 40s and 50s Fahrenheit and the average highs are in the 60s and 70s. August is the hottest month with a mean temperature of 68 degrees and January is the coldest with a mean temperature of 45 degrees.
In May and June Santa Barabara experiences the strange "June Gloom" phenomenon, when hot air from the valley meets the cold air over the ocean and a fog is created that envelops the city in the mornings. It usually burns off by noon. |
Santa Barbara is about 85 miles northwest of Los Angeles along the Pacific Coast. Behind the city the dramatic sandstone Santa Ynez Mountains rise 4,000 feet, providing a famously scenic backdrop. The city has a total area of 107.3 km² (41.4 mi²). 49.2 km² (19.0 mi²) of it is land and 58.1 km² (22.4 mi²) of it is water.
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| Santa Barbara is home to a University of California campus, which brings in thousands of students every year, and employs many Santa Barbara residents. Between the allure of the beach and the upscale shopping, the city is also a popular tourist destination and has a very strong retail sector. Nearby Vandenberg Air Force Base provides many civillian contracts and support jobs. Despite all these newer economic forces, the city's roots in an agricultural economy are still evidenced in the Goleta Lemon Festival and the Carpinteria Avocado Festival, each of which attract thousands of visitors. |
Santa Barbara is governed by a Mayor, Marty Blum, and a six-member city council and tends to be liberal.
Santa Barbara has adopted some unusual measures to ensure the aesthetics of the city are preserved. There are no billboards in Santa Barbara and stores in the city must conform to strict architectural regulations, with only certain colors and lettering sizes allowed. Some might call this approach draconian but it has produced an extremely attractive, if somewhat homogenous, downtown. |
Santa Barbara has a thriving art scene for its size. Try the Santa Barbara Museum of Art, or the UCSB Museum of Art. There are also numerous private galleries with all sorts of shows.
For the performing arts check out the Santa Barbara Bowl, the Lobero Theater or the Arlington Theater. Classical music lovers will be excited to hear that the city has its own symphony orchestra as well as a number of non-profit classical music groups.
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The city of Santa Barbara tends to be upscale and easy going. The contiguous cities of Goleta and Isla Vista (or I.V.), are where the students are. These areas feel more like some year 'round spring break than school. The streets in Isla Vista are packed with longboards and beach cruisers.
Probably due to the gorgeous weather and scenery the city also has a large homeless population.
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| Santa Barbara was built around a Mission but today all faiths are practiced in the city. That said, Santa Barbara has a decidedly secular feel, and Isla Vista can seem downright hedonistic. |
| The primary language is, of course, English. There is also plenty of Spanish spoken in the area, however. |
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