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Santa Barbara / Santa Barbara Neighborhood
Enjoy small town living with the luxury of having the beach within walking distance!
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History of Santa Barbara
The area now known as Santa Barbara was once the center of trade for the Chumash Indians for thousands of years. They would trade such valuable items as soapstone, shells and the naturally occurring asphaltum (tar). They were highly skilled in carving driftwood into sea-worthy canoes held superbly together by this waterproof tar.
In 1769, the Spanish explorer Gaspar de Portola found the natives creating these canoes and named the village, La Santa Barbara - the carpenter shop.
With gently sloping terrain and calm waves, Santa Barbara State Beach is renowned as "The World's Safest Beach." A small oceanside city in the southeast corner of Santa Barbara County, Carp - as it is known by the locals - is situated along the only southern facing stretch of coastline in California. With a Mediterranean-type climate - neither too hot nor too cold - the average temperature stays within the 60?-80? range, perfect for relaxing at the beach any time of the year.
Highlights of the Neighborhood
Incorporated in 1965, Santa Barbara has a strong downtown area with residential neighborhoods each offering unique charm. Residents enjoy views of the Santa Ynez Mountains and the fertile land perfect for growing avocados, cut flowers and much more. Rincon Point, which is located in the Santa Barbara Valley, is a world famous prime surfing spot. What's more, Santa Barbarans also enjoy a low crime rate.
Housing options are diverse in style from ranches, farms, estates, condos, beachfront property and more.
In the last two decades, many businesses have relocated to Santa Barbara in search of more space and less stress. They were delighted to find the town both charming and welcoming. If you'd like more information on the demographics of Santa Barbara, this link will take you to the Santa BarbaraCalifornia.com website.
Beaches, Parks, Entertainment
The Salt Marsh Nature Park is a very popular attraction with over 800,000 visitors annually. The park offers free docent-led tours every Saturday at 10am. Tours focus on different aspects of the reserve's natural habitats.
The Santa Barbara State Beach Park is one of California's most popular parks where visitors can camp and do some of the best surfing, fishing and tide pooling around. The visitors' center includes an indoor tide pool that displays live marine animals.
The Santa Barbara Creek lagoon provides a unique habitat for mallards, egrets, herons, coots and other waterfowl.
The Santa Barbara Valley Museum of History provides a fascinating glimpse into the valley's past. A variety of unique exhibits examine the three major cultures that made this valley their home: the Chumash, Spanish and American cultures. Admission is free and open from Tuesday through Saturday, 1:00-4:00pm. The Museum also hosts a monthly flea market and arts and crafts faire the last Saturday of each month.
The Seaside Theatre Company provides live entertainment by the local theater group.
The Palm Loft Gallery features exhibitions by famous and local artists.
Santa Barbara Landmarks
Local landmarks include Santa Barbara and Indian Village of Mishopshnow, Santa Barbara CityBeach, Santa Barbara Community Swimming Pool, Santa Barbara StateBeach, El Carro Park, FranklinCreek Park, Heath Ranch Park and Memorial Park.
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Homes for Sale in Santa Barbara
Looking for a new home in the Santa Barbara area?
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Santa Barbara Guide
Local Features/Activities/Events
Since 1984, Santa Barbara has sponsored the California Avocado Festival, a 3-day event held on the first weekend in October. Santa Barbara is at the Avocado growing center in Santa Barbara County which is the 3rd largest producer by county in the US. Visitors and residents alike can buy locally grown avocados and hand-made goods while enjoying live music and other festivities. The festival is very popular, drawing an annual crowd of over 100,000.
Another well-attended annual fall event is the Santa Barbara Triathalon. According to the official website, "The Santa Barbara Triathlon is a benefit event for the City's Parks & Recreation youth programs. Proceeds will help to provide scholarships and additional equipment for programs such as After School at the Pool, Aqua Camp, Junior Lifeguards and our ocean."
The Rods and Roses Classic Car and Rose Show usually happens in late June and combines residents' love of both old-time cars and the classic rose.
Linden Avenue is the town's main thoroughfare and hosts several annual events including the Christmas Parade of Lights, the aforementioned Avocado Festival and a spectacular 4th of July festival.
Community Services
Santa Barbara’s Parks and Rec department offers several water-related activities such as a marine biology and snorkeling camp, a class in Ocean Dynamics featuring surfing, kayaking, snorkeling and sailing.
Held at the Rincon Beach Club is the popular monthly Good Morning Santa Barbara Breakfast. Another popular event is the Santa Barbara Farmers Market held year round on Thursdays.
The community is active in environmental and ecological concerns with several groups participating to protect the wildlife, ocean and environment. They include:
- Seal Watch - an all-volunteer group working to ensure area seals get the necessary respect and attention they deserve.
- Citizens to Save the Bluffs - a movement instituted to keep the bluffs - a 52-acre plot of land - in their natural state and avoid urban sprawl. The bluffs are the largest undeveloped coastal open space left between the City of Santa Barbara and the Ventura County line.
- Heal the Ocean - a group of concerned citizens organized to see that the ocean remains a safe place for both humans and sea life.
Schools
The Santa Barbara Unified School District is delighted with their high degree of parental support through volunteerism, mentoring and fundraising. Serving over 3,000 students in one comprehensive high school, one alternative high school, one continuation high school, one middle school and five elementary schools, the school district also boasts the Cate School, "one of the most sought after private schools in the nation." The town is fortunate to also include Pacifica Graduate Institute among its institutions of higher learning, where students can earn masters and Ph.D. degrees in Psychology, Mythological Studies and the Humanities.
Santa Barbara Agriculture
Agriculture, particularly avocados, is an important industry to Santa Barbara. The Hass avocado is a prized variety grown in this area. What's more, over 40 varieties of cut flowers are grown here making it another important element of the Santa Barbara economy. With such fertile soil, several exotic fruits grow in abundance including cherimoyas, white sapotes and passion fruit, which are then shipped to upscale markets around the world.
Santa Barbara is a charming beach town with so much history and a lot to offer. For a list of featured homes in the area, try our unique mapping tool to help you find just the home for you and your family.
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