SANTA BARBARA COUNTY
County Offices
105 East Anapamu Street
Santa Barbara
805-568-3400
www.countyofsb.org
Chamber of Commerce
924 Anacapa Street
Santa Barbara
805-965-3023
www.sbchamber.org
Major Highways
US Highway 101, Route 192
Services
Serene and beautiful, fast-growing Santa Barbara County offers exceptionally attractive communities that are nestled between the ocean and the mountains. Newcomers will be delighted with the rare blend of “big city” culture and sophistication with small-town friendliness and warmth. Healthcare services and facilities in this region are outstanding, anchored by a network of hospitals within the Cottage Health System that include Santa Barbara Hospital, Goleta Valley Cottage Hospital, Santa Ynez Valley Cottage Hospital, and Cottage Children’s Hospital. In addition to renowned maternal-child and pediatric services including a baby-friendly birth center, the system offers the only Level II trauma center in the region and comprehensive cardiac, neurosurgical, and oncology programs. Other healthcare leaders in this area are Lompoc Hospital in Lompoc and Marian Medical Center in Santa Maria, providing an array of advanced services in a compassionate community hospital setting.
Students of all ages can look forward to an outstanding education in Santa Barbara County, where quality public schools are complemented by a number of options for private education. Vocation and career training, college-track programs, and continuing education courses are available within two community college systems, Allan Hancock College and Santa Barbara City College. The latter serves the south coast of Santa Barbara County and is recognized as one of the leading two-year public institutions in the nation, attracting students with an outstanding faculty, small classes, and state-of-the-art facilities. The University of California-Santa Barbara has been named one of “America’s Hottest Colleges” in the Newsweek/Kaplan guide, offering an exceptional faculty that includes several Nobel Prize winners. Ranked among the best public universities in the nation, UCSB is home to nine national research centers, two professional schools, and a number of multidisciplinary programs and institutes. Several private colleges are available in this area as well, including Antioch University Santa Barbara, Brooks Institute of Photography, Fielding Graduate University, Santa Barbara Business College, Santa Barbara College of Oriental Medicine, and Westmont College.
Lifestyle
Whether your passion is scuba diving or the arts, Santa Barbara County provides a world-class environment. Facilities include acres of lush parks, beaches, and diverse recreation areas for water sports, surfing, boating, fishing, camping, and biking. Championship golf courses, tennis courts, ball fields and sports courts, fitness centers, and exclusive private sports clubs are just a few of the leisure options.
At the same time, the county takes pride in the impressive number of acclaimed artistic and cultural attractions. Emerging as a coastal cultural empire, this area combines fine galleries and museums with internationally recognized performing arts, dance, music, visual arts, and theatre. Shopping is a delight in antique shops brimming over with rare treasures and fashion boutiques or upscale venues in contemporary malls. Families will enjoy the Natural History Museum, the Santa Maria Valley Discovery Museum, and one of the finest small zoos in the nation. Historic treasures are tucked away throughout the county, from vintage homes to celebrated missions.
The housing selection in Santa Barbara County is diverse and attractive, ranging from modest bungalows to coastal mansions and horse properties or new construction on generous lots. The environments are widely varied to support every imaginable lifestyle choice, including two communities that are joined by the Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area. Sparkling lakes, deep forests, miles of seashore, and lush wine country are just a few of the postcard images that make Santa Barbara County one of the nation’s most desirable places to call home.
Buellton, Los Olivos
City Hall
805-686-0137
www.cityofbuellton.com
Chamber of Commerce
688-5200
www.buellton.org
One of the small towns nestled in the fertile countryside of the Santa Ynez Valley, Buellton is ideally situated along Highway 101. Historic missions, the nearby Danish village of Solvang, lush vineyards, and championship golfing add to the appeal of a small-town setting. The urban amenities of Santa Barbara and Santa Maria are approximately 35 miles from home, providing the finest in shopping and cultural attractions. Surrounding the city, the valley is dotted with agricultural operations that include horse and cattle ranches, cash crops, and acres of vineyards. More than 30 wineries are located within a 15-miles radius of Buellton. Nearby Los Olivos is a charming historic town recognized for expansive views, art galleries, wine tastings, unique shopping, fine restaurants, and friendly residents. Many of the town’s structures feature Victorian architecture and turn-of-the-century charm.
Carpinteria
City Hall
805-684-5405
www.ci.carpinteria.ca.us
Chamber of Commerce
805-684-5479
www.carpcofc.com
Just 12 miles south of Santa Barbara is one of California’s best-kept secrets. Carpinteria is the community located near Carpinteria State Beach Park, where throngs of visitors convert to swim, picnic, fish, and hike. The combination of a spectacular natural setting with small-town charm includes a world-renowned surfing area, tree-shaded streets, seasonal parades, and craft shows. Dozens of antique stores, small shops, and restaurants are clustered along the main streets of the city — also the scene of the weekly farmers market. Once each year, the town’s peaceful streets spring to life during the rollicking California Avocado Festival. Other attractions include the Carpinteria Valley Museum of History and community theatrical productions.
Goleta
City Hall
805-961-7500
www.cityofgoleta.org
Chamber of Commerce
805-967-4618
www.goletavalley.com
Newcomers to Goleta will discover a captivating mix of colorful history, distinctive architecture, and the casually elegant Southern California lifestyle. Internationally recognized for its breathtaking beauty, Goleta boasts stunning scenery and palm-lined beaches. Perched at the ocean’s edge, this area is ideal for outdoor activities and festivals. Just eight miles north of Santa Barbara, Goleta is newly incorporated and stands as the principal industrial sector of Santa Barbara County. Often called “Silicon Beach,” this area is home to diverse high-tech companies from electronics and telecommunications to medical equipment manufacturers. Well-developed recreational facilities complement nature’s own bounty to encourage water sports, boating, fishing, camping, and biking. The Goleta Valley Community Center is a focal point of daily life, scheduling activities and programs for all ages. Many miles of scenic bike paths wind their way through the valley toward Goleta Beach.
Guadalupe
City Hall
805-343-1340
www.ci.guadalupe.ca.us
Chamber of Commerce
805-343-2236
www.guadalupechamber.org
Reflecting the rich cultural diversity of its roots, Guadalupe offers a family-friendly environment and a small-town setting. Well-kept homes that line quiet streets and the new cultural arts and heritage center combine with the area’s picturesque agricultural landscape and natural wonders like the Dunes Center to provide a charming and unique hometown atmosphere. The city proudly displays its heritage in a new historical museum, while Royal Theatre is the frequent site of festivals and entertainment. Guadalupe may be known for its “old town” feeling, but the community is alive with exciting activities and events throughout the year. Just nine miles west of Santa Maria, this area features a spectacular ecological preserve that boasts the highest beach dunes in the West.
Lompoc
City Hall
805-875-8212
www.ci.lompoc.ca.us
Chamber of Commerce
805-736-4567
www.lompoc.com
Known as the “city of arts and flowers,” beautiful Lompoc is internationally famous as the site of commercial flower fields. The community has also been dubbed the “City of Murals in the Valley of Flowers,” a tribute to the wonderful murals that grace the tranquil downtown district. Lompoc displays more than 30 major commissioned murals painted by acclaimed artists, complementing them with 40 additional pieces. This area also draws visitors to the 1787 Misión la Purísima Concepción de María Santísima, one of California’s most completely restored Spanish missions. Military installations affected the evolution of Lompoc from an agricultural community to one with a diverse economic base. Today, tourism plays a major role in the region along with Vandenberg Air Force Base. The combination of the pristine Central Coast, the unique flower industry, and the phenomenally successful downtown mural program has made Lompoc a popular destination.
Montecito
County Offices
805-568-3400
www.countyofsb.org
Chamber of Commerce
805-965-3023
www.sbchamber.org
Cradled between the sea and the mountains just south of Santa Barbara, the unincorporated community of Montecito offers a serene coastal paradise. Once the seasonal retreat of wealthy eastern industrialists, the village has evolved into a year-round home for nearly 10,000 residents. Families, young professionals, empty-nesters, and retirees are all discovering this peaceful community with its outstanding schools, clean beaches, unique shops, fine restaurants, and superb recreational amenities. Exceptional facilities for golf and tennis are appreciated by residents and guests alike. Pride of ownership and community spirit are evident around every corner, from the meticulous landscaping of Mediterranean estates to the well-tended gardens of California cottage and ranch-style homes.
Santa Barbara
City Hall
805-564-5305
www.santabarbaraca.gov
Chamber of Commerce
805- 965-3023
www.sbchamber.org
State Street shopping, exceptional restaurants, abundant parks and recreational facilities, a community college, a campus for the University of California, and beautiful neighborhoods are just a few of the magnets to Santa Barbara. The sun shines around the calendar year on this coastal city situated off scenic Highway 101 between San Francisco and Los Angeles. Often referred to as the American Riviera, Santa Barbara boasts wonderful beaches, majestic mountain views, and a colorful culture. The bustling waterfront and harbor are home to the world-famous Stearns Wharf, a destination the entire family can enjoy. Residents and visitors alike enjoy the zoological gardens, nearby wine country, the celebrated arts and cultural community, El Presidio State Historic Park, the Santa Barbara mission, the elegant Spanish Colonial courthouse, and the Santa Barbara Museum with its impressive Asian art collection. The Museum of Natural History, the Botanic Gardens, and the Maritime Museum add to the list of premier attractions.
Santa Maria
City Hall
805-925-0951
www.ci.santa-maria.ca.us
Chamber of Commerce
800-331-3779
www.santamaria.com
Home to the main campus of the two-year Allan Hancock College and Santa Barbara Business College, the city of Santa Maria also offers superb recreational amenities. More than 20 panoramic and challenging golf courses surround the beautiful Santa Maria Valley, and cycling enthusiasts can look forward to miles of scenic byways that showcase California’s beautiful Central Coast. Lovely parks, the wonderful Foxen Canyon Wine Trail, camping sites, and unspoiled beaches make this a paradise of outdoor enjoyment. At the same time, this balanced and well-developed community is home to the main campus for a respected community college and a full-service hospital with a number of specialties. Local shopping, quiet neighborhoods, a wide range of attractive housing, cultural attractions, and good schools crown the city with urban advantages.
Solvang
City Hall
805-688-5575
www.cityofsolvang.com
Chamber of Commerce
805-688-0701
www.solvangcc.com
Founded in 1911 by Danish settlers, the authentic Danish settlement of Solvang reflects the unique heritage and customs of the Old World in a quaint village atmosphere. Time seems to stand still in Solvang, where residents and visitors are able to enjoy a taste of Europe in Central California. Browsing through specialty shops, tasting delicious wines, touring the old Spanish Mission, savoring the local cuisine, and sampling genuine Danish baked goods are just a few of the common pastimes. Those who enjoy sports and outdoor adventures can take a glider ride or perfect their backswing on one of the area’s beautiful golf courses. As delightful as it is unusual, Solvang offers easy access to Santa Barbara’s exceptional cultural and entertainment attractions as well as to regional recreational amenities from beaches to forested trails.
