Santa Barbara County, California

Santa Barbara County, officially the County of Santa Barbara (Spanish: Condado de Santa Bárbara), is a county located in Southern California. It is home to 448,229 people, according to the 2020 United States census. The main city is Santa Barbara, while the largest city is Santa Maria.

The county is part of the beautiful California Central Coast. It includes the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area. The area is known for its vineyards, farms, and educational institutions.

The economy of Santa Barbara County relies on several key industries. These include engineering, mining (especially for petroleum and diatomaceous earth), winemaking, farming, and education. In the southern part of the county, software development and tourism also provide many jobs.

History

The area of Santa Barbara County, including the Northern Channel Islands, has been home to Native Americans for at least 13,000 years. The Chumash tribe lived along the coast and in valleys, leaving behind beautiful rock art in many places.

In 1542, Spanish explorers first made contact with the Chumash. The Santa Barbara Channel was named in 1602 by another Spanish explorer, Sebastián Vizcaíno. Over time, Spanish missions and a military post were built in the area. Sadly, diseases brought by Europeans greatly reduced the Chumash population, but many of their descendants still live in the region today.

Santa Barbara County became one of California's original counties when the state was formed in 1850. Later, part of its land became Ventura County in 1873.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Santa Barbara County covers 3,789 square miles (9,810 km²). Of this, 2,735 square miles (7,080 km²) is land and 1,054 square miles (2,730 km²) is water. Four of the Channel Islands – San Miguel Island, Santa Cruz Island, Santa Rosa Island and Santa Barbara Island – are part of the county. They make up most of the Channel Islands National Park, which also includes Anacapa Island in Ventura County.

The county has mountains in the middle and flat areas along the coast. Most people live on the southern coast, which includes the cities of Santa Barbara, Goleta, and Carpinteria. Other smaller towns and areas are spread throughout the county. The largest city is now Santa Maria.

Channel Islands

The four Channel Islands in Santa Barbara County are Santa Barbara Island, San Miguel Island, Santa Rosa Island, and Santa Cruz Island. These islands have special plants and animals that live only there.

Climate

Santa Barbara County has warm, dry summers and mild, wet winters. Along the coast, it rarely gets very hot or very cold. But in the mountains and inland areas, it can get quite cold in winter and very hot in summer. Most of the rain falls in the winter, and summers are usually dry. This dry weather can sometimes lead to wildfires.

Air quality

The air in Santa Barbara County is usually cleaner than in other parts of southern California because of the ocean winds. The county meets most government standards for clean air.

Adjacent counties

• San Luis Obispo County (North).
• Kern County (Northeast).
• Ventura County (Southeast).

National protected areas

• Burton Mesa Ecological Reserve
• Channel Islands National Park (part)
• Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary
• Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes National Wildlife Refuge (part)
• Los Padres National Forest (part)

Demographics

2020 census

According to the 2020 census, Santa Barbara County had a population of 448,229 people. The average age was 35.7 years. About 21.7% of the residents were younger than 18, and 16.7% were 65 years or older. For every 100 females, there were 98.2 males, and for every 100 females aged 18 and over, there were 96.5 males in the same age group.

The racial makeup of the county was 50.1% White, 1.6% Black or African American, 2.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 5.9% Asian, 0.2% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 22.2% from some other race, and 17.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents made up 47.0% of the population.

Most people, 94.4%, lived in urban areas, while 5.6% lived in rural areas.

There were 148,353 households, with 32.6% having children under 18 living with them. About 27.1% of households had a female householder without a spouse or partner present. Around 24.0% of households were made up of individuals, and 11.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years or older.

There were 158,279 housing units, with 6.3% being empty. Of the occupied housing units, 52.4% were owned by the residents, and 47.6% were rented. The rate for empty homes owned by people was 1.0%, and the rate for empty rental homes was 3.3%.

2010 census

The 2010 United States census reported that Santa Barbara County had 423,895 people. The racial makeup was 69.6% White, 2.0% African American, 1.3% Native American, 4.9% Asian (including 1.6% Filipino, 1.0% Chinese, 0.5% Japanese, 0.5% Korean, 0.3% Vietnamese, and 0.4% Indian), 0.2% Pacific Islander, 17.4% from other races, and 4.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents made up 42.9% of the population. Among them, 38.5% were of Mexican heritage, with smaller groups from Salvadoran, Guatemalan, and Puerto Rican backgrounds.

2000 census

In the year 2000, the county had 399,347 people. The population density was 146 people per square mile (56 people per square kilometer). There were 142,901 housing units, with an average of 52 units per square mile (20 units per square kilometer). The racial makeup was 72.7% White, 2.3% Black or African American, 1.2% Native American, 4.1% Asian, 0.2% Pacific Islander, 15.2% from other races, and 4.3% from two or more races. About 34.2% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. Additionally, 9.1% were of German ancestry, 8.5% English, and 6.5% Irish. Around 26.6% of the population spoke Spanish at home.

There were 136,622 households, with 32.4% having children under 18. About 51.4% were married couples living together, 10.0% had a female householder without a husband present, and 34.5% were non-families. Some 24.3% of households were made up of individuals, and 9.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years or older. The average household size was 2.8, and the average family size was 3.33.

The age distribution was 24.9% under 18, 13.3% from 18 to 24, 29.0% from 25 to 44, 20.1% from 45 to 64, and 12.7% 65 years or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.1 males, and for every 100 females aged 18 and over, there were 98.1 males.

The median income for a household was $46,677, and for a family, it was $54,042. Males earned a median income of $37,997, while females earned $29,593. The average income per person was $23,059. About 8.5% of families and 14.3% of the population lived below the poverty line, including 16.3% of those under 18 and 6.2% of those 65 or older.

The area south of the Santa Ynez Mountain crest, known as "South County," had a population of 201,161 in the 2000 census. This means the population was almost evenly split between the north and south parts of the county. In recent years, the southern areas have grown very little or not at all, while the northern areas have continued to grow faster.

Government

Santa Barbara County is a general law county in California, governed by an elected Board of Supervisors. The board has five members, each serving four-year terms, and represents different areas of the county. They appoint a County Executive Officer to manage the county's work.

The county has many employees and provides important services like health care and safety for its residents. Santa Barbara County is part of California's 24th congressional district, represented by Democrat Salud Carbajal. In the California State Senate, the county is in the 21st senatorial district, represented by Democrat Monique Limón, and in the California State Assembly, it is part of the 37th Assembly district, represented by Democrat Gregg Hart.

The Santa Barbara County Sheriff helps keep people safe by managing jails and providing protection for courts. Some cities, like Santa Maria, Lompoc, and Santa Barbara, have their own police departments, while others work with the Sheriff. The Probation Department supports people who are on probation, with offices in Santa Maria, Santa Barbara, and Lompoc.

Politics

Santa Barbara County used to support Republican candidates for a long time. From 1920 to 1988, only two Democrats, Franklin D. Roosevelt and Lyndon B. Johnson, won the county. But now, Santa Barbara usually supports Democratic candidates in Presidential and congressional elections. The last Republican to win the county was George H. W. Bush in 1988. The northern part of the county, with its farms, oil fields, and military base Vandenberg Space Force Base, still leans Republican. The southern part, with its tourism, universities, and technology jobs, supports Democratic ideas more.

Santa Barbara County has had different political ideas in its northern and southern parts. In 2008, the county voted against a plan to change the rules about marriages, making it the only county in Southern California to do so.

Proposed county splits

In 1978, some people in the north tried to create a new county called "Los Padres County," but voters did not agree. In 2006, another idea for a new county called "Mission County" was suggested, but it was also voted down by most people.