Overview

Introduction to Santa Barbara, California

Santa Barbara is a California city located along the Pacific Coast about 85 miles northwest of Los Angeles. It is bisected by Interstate Highway 101, which links the city to the rest of the Central Coast area. The coastal region comprising southern Santa Barbara County is often called the "American Riviera" due to its Mediterranean climate. For most of its history, Santa Barbara was a quiet agricultural community, but in the second half of the 20th century, it evolved into a robust, well-rounded city. A great deal of the city's architecture is Spanish Colonial in style, in keeping with its Spanish heritage. Santa Barbara has passed strict ordinances in order to maintain this image, including restrictions on billboards and limits on the appearance of business signs.

Tourism is a major industry in Santa Barbara, which is renowned for its warm climate, downtown beaches, beautiful views of the Santa Ynez Mountains and Spanish architecture. There are literally dozens of wineries in the region, which has earned a reputation in particular for high-quality Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Santa Barbara wine grapes command prices which are among the highest in the state of California. Many early movies were filmed in Santa Barbara, and because of this it was known as the first "Hollywood of the North."

Santa Barbara Attractions

There is an abundance of things to see and do in this town. Here is a brief description of just a few:

  • Goleta Rail Museum: Focusing on the area's early frontier history and featuring rides on a miniature train with a real antique caboose.
  • Mission Santa Barbara: Known as the "Queen of the Missions." Tours are featured.
  • Santa Barbara Botanic Garden.
  • Santa Barbara Historical Museum.
  • Santa Barbara Maritime Museum.
  • Santa Barbara Museum of Art.
  • Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History.
  • The Zoological Gardens.
  • Rattlesnake Canyon.
  • Painted Cave National Historical Landmark.

Santa Barbara houses a vibrant artistic community, and features a large permanent art collection at the Santa Barbara Museum of Art. Another art venue is the University Art Museum on the UC Santa Barbara Campus. The Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History offers outstanding exhibits and includes a modern planetarium. The Santa Barbara Maritime Museum, located on the waterfront, is another outstanding attraction.

There are many parks in Santa Barbara, ranging from small to large, semi-wilderness areas. Some notable ones located within the city limits are: Elings Park, Alice Keck Park Memorial Gardens, De La Guerra Plaza, Skofield Park, Parma Park, Shoreline Park, Douglas Family Preserve, East Beach, Leadbetter Beach, West Beach, Hendry's Beach and Andree Clark Bird Refuge.

A notable Santa Barbara event is the annual Fiesta, celebrated every August. Originally begun in the 1920s as a tourist attraction to draw business into town, it has evolved 80 years later into a several-day-long bash of Mexican food, Spanish dancing and parades. Another annual event, the Santa Barbara International Film Festival, is held in late January, runs for 10 days, and draws over 50,000 attendees including a wide variety of celebrities (many of whom reside year-round in Santa Barbara). The annual Summer Solstice Parade, held on the first weekend after the solstice, is an event which draws up to 100,000 people annually.

Fans of professional sports can take in games in the Los Angeles area, which is about a 90-minute drive away. Some of the options include:

  • Basketball:
    • LA Lakers (NBA).
    • LA Clippers (NBA).
    • LA Sparks (WNBA).
  • Major League Baseball:
    • LA Dodgers (MLB, National League).
  • Football:
    • LA Avengers (AFL).
  • Hockey:
    • LA Kings (NHL).
  • Soccer:
    • LA Galaxy (MLS).
  • Lacrosse:
    • LA Riptide (MLL).

Demographics

People

Total Population91,325
Male Share of the Population50.3%
Female Share of the Population49.7%
Senior Citizens18%
Employed Population 16+49,116
Age of the Population39

Families

% of people married41.8%
Average household size2

Education and Earnings

Population % with Bachelor Degree or Higher47.9%
Median Earnings25+$42,165
Median Earnings Without High School Qualification$23,646
Median Earnings With High School Degree$28,536

Wealth

Median Family Income$92,162
% Above Poverty Level86.8%
% Below Poverty Level13.2%

Commute & Sprawl

Average Commute Time17 minutes
% Working from Home7.9%
% Walking and Biking to Work10.8%
% Using Public Transportation4.3%

Housing

People Living Alone32%
Median Gross Rent$1,737
Median House Value$993,600

Ancestry

Other(often includes Hispanic and African American)45.5%
German10.8%
English9.7%
Irish9%
Italian5.7%
French Except Basque3.1%
Scottish2.6%
Norwegian2%
Russian1.9%
Polish1.9%
Swedish1.9%
Danishn1.1%
Dutch1.1%
Welsh0.7%
Greek0.6%
Portuguese0.5%
Canadian0.5%
Arab0.5%
Swiss0.5%
African0.4%
Hungarian0.4%
Ukrainian0.4%
Czech0.3%
Iranian0.3%
Lebanese0.2%
Lithuanian0.2%
Israeli0.2%
Croatian0.2%
Austrian0.2%
Finnish0.2%
US/American0.2%
Ethiopian0.1%
Turkish0.1%
South African0.1%
Syrian0.1%
Belgian0.1%
Brazilian0.1%
Guyanese0.1%
Australian0.1%
Egyptian0.1%
Romanian0.1%
Slovene0.1%
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Santa Barbara Almanac

CategoryValue
CountySanta Barbara County
Standard Zip Codes93101, 93105, 93109, 93103, 93108, 93110, 93111, 93117
P.O. Box Zip Codes93120, 93130, 93140, 93190, 93102, 93107, 93121, 93160, 93150, 93118, 93116
Company Zip Codes93106, 93199
Phone Area Codes805
Time ZoneAmerica/Los_Angeles
Approximate Latitude34.41
Approximate Longitude-119.7

Santa Barbara Climate

Nearest Weather Stations

Notes:

  • Temp ranges are avg daily min and max for the month
  • Precipitation is rainfall (and rainfall equiv of snowfall)

StationSANTA BARBARA
Distance0.8 miles
Jan Temp45 to 65 F
Apr Temp50 to 69 F
Jul Temp59 to 75 F
Oct Temp55 to 73 F
Annual Precip18.5 inches
StationSANTA BARBARA MNCPL AP
Distance8.8 miles
Jan Temp41 to 65 F
Apr Temp48 to 70 F
Jul Temp57 to 77 F
Oct Temp52 to 75 F
Annual Precip16.9 inches
StationOJAI
Distance26.5 miles
Jan Temp37 to 68 F
Apr Temp44 to 75 F
Jul Temp56 to 89 F
Oct Temp47 to 82 F
Annual Precip21.7 inches

Nearby Cities and Towns

LocationPopulationMedian Family Income
Carpinteria13,550$87,321
Goleta30,790$105,906

Santa Barbara Public Libraries

Santa Barbara Public Library
40 E. ANAPAMU ST.
Santa Barbara, California
(805) 564-5608

library logo

More Information for Librarians

Santa Barbara Hospitals

Goleta Valley Cottage Hospital
(Non-profit)
351 South Patterson Avenue
Cottage Rehabilitation Hospital
(Non-profit)
2415 De La Vina
(805) 687-7444
Santa Barbara Psychiatric Health Facility
(Government - Local)
315 Camino Del Remedio
Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital
(Non-profit)
400 W. Pueblo Street
(805) 682-7111

Santa Barbara Public Schools

Alta Vista Alternative High
215 E. Ortega St.
ZIP: 93101
High
Total Enrollment 148
Alta Vista Alternative Junior High
215 E. Ortega St.
ZIP: 93101
Middle
Total Enrollment 1
Harding University Partnership
1625 Robbins St.
ZIP: 93101
Primary
Total Enrollment 416
La Cuesta Continuation High
710 Santa Barbara St.
ZIP: 93101
High
Total Enrollment 133
La Cumbre Junior High
2255 Modoc Rd.
ZIP: 93101
Middle
Total Enrollment 481
Roosevelt Elementary
1990 Laguna St.
ZIP: 93101
Primary
Total Enrollment 613
Santa Barbara Community Academy
850 Portesuello Ave.
ZIP: 93101
Primary
Total Enrollment 300
Adelante Charter
1102 E. Yanonali St.
ZIP: 93103
Primary
Total Enrollment 254
Cleveland Elementary
123 Alameda Padre Serra
ZIP: 93103
Primary
Total Enrollment 379
Franklin Elementary
1111 E. Mason St.
ZIP: 93103
Primary
Total Enrollment 594
Santa Barbara Alternative
700 E. Anapamu St.
ZIP: 93103
High
Santa Barbara Junior High
721 E. Cota St.
ZIP: 93103
Middle
Total Enrollment 820
Santa Barbara Senior High
700 E. Anapamu St.
ZIP: 93103
High
Total Enrollment 2232
Adams Elementary
2701 Las Positas Rd.
ZIP: 93105
Primary
Total Enrollment 569
Peabody Charter
3018 Calle Noguera
ZIP: 93105
Primary
Total Enrollment 749
Visions Academy Charter
3412 State St.
ZIP: 93105
Cold Spring Elementary
2243 Sycamore Canyon Rd.
ZIP: 93108
Primary
Total Enrollment 158
Montecito Union
385 San Ysidro Rd.
ZIP: 93108
Primary
Total Enrollment 448
Mckinley Elementary
350 Loma Alta Dr.
ZIP: 93109
Primary
Total Enrollment 411
Monroe Elementary
431 Flora Vista Dr.
ZIP: 93109
Primary
Total Enrollment 512
Washington Elementary
290 Lighthouse Rd.
ZIP: 93109
Primary
Total Enrollment 626
Hope Elementary
3970-a La Colina Rd.
ZIP: 93110
Primary
Total Enrollment 336
La Colina Junior High
4025 Foothill Rd.
ZIP: 93110
Middle
Total Enrollment 831
Monte Vista Elementary
730 N. Hope Ave.
ZIP: 93110
Primary
Total Enrollment 349
Open Alternative
4025 Foothill Rd.
ZIP: 93110
Primary
Total Enrollment 167
San Marcos Bridge
4750 Hollister Ave.
ZIP: 93110
High
San Marcos Senior High
4750 Hollister Ave.
ZIP: 93110
High
Total Enrollment 2086
Santa Barbara County Community
4400 Cathedral Oaks Rd.
ZIP: 93110
High
Total Enrollment 67
Santa Barbara County Juvenile Court
4400 Cathedral Oaks Rd.
ZIP: 93110
High
Total Enrollment 71
Santa Barbara County Special Education
4400 Cathedral Oaks Rd.
ZIP: 93110
Other
Total Enrollment 171
Vieja Valley Elementary
434 Nogal Dr.
ZIP: 93110
Primary
Total Enrollment 346
El Camino Elementary
5020 San Simeon Dr.
ZIP: 93111
Primary
Total Enrollment 255
Foothill Elementary
711 Ribera Dr.
ZIP: 93111
Primary
Total Enrollment 460
Hollister Elementary
4950 Anita Ln.
ZIP: 93111
Primary
Total Enrollment 472
Mountain View Elementary
5465 Queen Anne Ln.
ZIP: 93111
Primary
Total Enrollment 329
Santa Barbara County Rop-south
4400 Cathedral Oaks Rd.
ZIP: 93160
High

Santa Barbara Private Schools

Anacapa School
814 Santa Barbara St
ZIP: 93101
Secondary
Total Enrollment 50
Notre Dame School
33 E Micheltorena St
ZIP: 93101
Elementary
Total Enrollment 149
Providence Hall
33 E Micheltorena St
ZIP: 93101
Secondary
Total Enrollment 87
Santa Barbara Middle School
1321 Alameda Padre Serra
ZIP: 93103
Combined Elementary And Secondary
Total Enrollment 126
Cachuma Elementary School
4500 Highway 154
ZIP: 93105
Elementary
Total Enrollment 17
El Montecito School
3214 Calle Cedro
ZIP: 93105
Elementary
Total Enrollment 90
Santa Barbara Christian School
3723 Modoc Rd
ZIP: 93105
Elementary
Total Enrollment 73
Crane Country Day School
1795 San Leandro Ln
ZIP: 93108
Elementary
Total Enrollment 250
Our Lady Of Mount Carmel School
530 Hot Springs Rd
ZIP: 93108
Elementary
Total Enrollment 192
Bishop Garcia Diego High School
4000 La Colina Rd
ZIP: 93110
Secondary
Total Enrollment 286
Laguna Blanca School
4125 Paloma Dr
ZIP: 93110
Combined Elementary And Secondary
Total Enrollment 343
Santa Barbara Adventist School
425 Arroyo Rd
ZIP: 93110
Elementary
Total Enrollment 8
St Raphael Elementary School
160 Saint Josephs St
ZIP: 93111
Elementary
Total Enrollment 264
Sources :
Additional Details
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Historic Santa Barbara

photo

East wing (Arlington Hotel) between 1910 and 1920

Select a photo to view (Source):

East wing (Arlington Hotel) between 1910 and 1920

Street at crossing with East De La Guerra Street between 1900 and 1915

Santa Barbara (from the west) between 1880 and 1899

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