State Route 166 ( SR 166 ) is a state highway in the U.S. state of California . It connects the Central Coast to the southern San Joaquin Valley , running from State Route 1 in Guadalupe and through Santa Maria in Santa Barbara County to State Route 99 in Mettler in Kern County .
85-774: Route 166 starts off in Guadalupe in northwestern Santa Barbara County and heads east towards Santa Maria , the largest city on its eastern journey. It then joins with U.S. Route 101 for the last few miles in Santa Barbara County before crossing the Santa Maria River and splitting off in San Luis Obispo County . For the next 75 miles (121 km), SR 166 crosses the Santa Barbara/San Luis Obispo county line
170-471: A female householder with no husband present, and 13.9% were non-families. 11.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 4.00 and the average family size was 4.24. In the city, the population was spread out, with 35.6% under the age of 18, 11.7% from 18 to 24, 28.9% from 25 to 44, 15.2% from 45 to 64, and 8.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age
255-476: A large economic impact in the northern portion of the county and continues to be the site of frequent satellite launches. Agriculture is a major industry. Strawberries are the county's top crop, with $ 413 million in production making up more than a third of all county agricultural production. Wine grapes are typically number two. In 2022, cauliflower was number two due to the weather and popularity of cauliflower rice . County farmers began growing hemp after it
340-406: A large military base, Vandenberg Space Force Base , and thus military interests are prominent. These influences have created a Republican-leaning northern half. The southern portion of Santa Barbara county has had an economy based on tourism, with a significant percentage of people with white-collar jobs, formerly in aerospace but more recently in software and other high-tech pursuits. Additionally,
425-573: A low-lying plain traversed by the Santa Maria River and several tributaries. When Mission La Purisima was established in 1787, the area became part of the mission's pasture land. In 1840, following secularization of the mission, the area became part of the Rancho Guadalupe land grant. Rancho Guadalupe was settled by pioneers of many unique backgrounds, such as European, Chinese, Filipino, Japanese, and Mexican. The small town
510-409: A realignment in the route since then, M indicates a second realignment, L refers to an overlap due to a correction or change, and T indicates postmiles classified as temporary ( for a full list of prefixes, see California postmile § Official postmile definitions ). Segments that remain unconstructed or have been relinquished to local control may be omitted. The numbers reset at county lines;
595-559: A referendum, this effort was defeated by a 3-1 margin. In 2006, northern county organizations initiated a similar secession proposal, to create a proposed "Mission County." Then-Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger appointed a formation commission to research the viability of the proposed northern county, which reached the conclusion, stated in its final report released on March 28, 2005, that "the proposed County, upon formation in 2006, would not be economically viable at current levels of service." The proposed new Mission County would have included
680-584: A renovation of the building, which will become the new home of the Dunes Center. It was placed on the state's Register of Historic Resources in 2019. Groceries can be bought at La Chiquita Market and at the historic Masatani's Market, which has been owned and operated by the Masatani family since 1922. There is a public library on Main Street as well as many shops, businesses and services. Guadalupe
765-411: A spark for the modern environmental movement, coated the beaches and Santa Barbara Harbor with a thick crude in 1969. In recent years, major oil companies have left the area, turning over their oil leases to small independents, and decommissioning some leases areas that were no longer profitable. Concerns about the economy were foremost when, in 2014, Measure P was placed on the county ballot. If approve by
850-524: A tight cluster of buildings, surrounded completely by agricultural land. This region experiences mildly warm and dry summers, with no average monthly temperatures above 71.6 °F. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Guadalupe has a warm-summer Mediterranean climate , abbreviated "Csb" on climate maps. The 2010 United States Census reported that Guadalupe had a population of 7,080. The population density
935-875: A total of five times. This stretch follows the Cuyama River through a canyon separating the Sierra Madre Mountains from mountains in San Luis Obispo County, and then opens out into the Cuyama Valley , passing cattle ranches, going through the Russell Ranch Oil Field , and passing Aliso Canyon Road, the turnoff to the South Cuyama Oil Field . On the north during this stretch is the mile-high Caliente Range , which contains Caliente Mountain ,
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#17327918954131020-521: Is kindergarten to fifth grade and McKenzie Junior High is sixth grade to eighth grade . The mascot of both schools is the bobcat . There is also a preschool run by the Community Action Commission of Santa Barbara County. Guadalupe is at the intersection of California State Route 1 and 166 , providing easy access to cities north, east, and south, the largest of which is nearby Santa Maria . Amtrak runs through town, and
1105-825: Is a county located in Southern California . As of the 2020 census , the population was 448,229. The county seat is Santa Barbara , and the largest city is Santa Maria . Santa Barbara County comprises the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area . Most of the county is part of the California Central Coast . Mainstays of the county's economy include engineering, resource extraction (particularly petroleum extraction and diatomaceous earth mining), winemaking, agriculture, and education. The software development and tourism industries are important employers in
1190-596: Is a rural coastline north of Goleta. This last undeveloped stretch of Southern California coastline consists of dramatic bluffs , isolated beaches and terraced grasslands . North of the Santa Ynez range in the Santa Ynez Valley are the towns of Solvang , Buellton , and Lompoc ; the unincorporated towns of Santa Ynez , Los Olivos and Ballard ; the unincorporated areas of Mission Hills and Vandenberg Village ; and Vandenberg Space Force Base , where
1275-636: Is a small town with a diverse culture and history. In addition to the Dunes Center, the town contains an art museum, the Rancho de Guadalupe Historical Society, a public library , veteran's memorial, and the Masatani Mansion. Nuestra Señora De Guadalupe is the main Catholic church , located on 11th Street and Obispo Street. There are three other Christian churches in town, as well as a Buddhist temple. The historic building occupied by city hall and
1360-438: Is expected to boost the city's population to the 10,000 that is considered the threshold for attracting chain stores and restaurants. In addition to homes, the plan includes a new school and commercial development. The city faced economic troubles in the late 2000s and early 2010s; in 2015, a grand jury urged the city to dissolve . Voters overwhelmingly approved the passage of three new tax and fee measures, which, along with
1445-711: Is known as the Maricopa Highway. West of Maricopa, where it skirts Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties, it is called the Cuyama Highway. In the cities of Santa Maria and Guadalupe, it is known as Main Street. SR 166 is part of the California Freeway and Expressway System , but is not part of the National Highway System , a network of highways that are considered essential to the country's economy, defense, and mobility by
1530-580: Is now the city of Santa Barbara . The presidio and mission kept Vizcaino's denomination, as did the later city and county – a common practice which has preserved the names of many of the 21 California Missions . Other missions in Santa Barbara County are located in Santa Ynez and Lompoc. European contacts had devastating effects on the Chumash people, including a series of disease epidemics that drastically reduced Chumash population. The Chumash survived, however, and thousands of Chumash descendants still live in
1615-485: Is on the southern coastal plain, referred to as the "south coast" – meaning the part of the county south of the Santa Ynez Mountains . This region includes the cities of Santa Barbara , Goleta , and Carpinteria , as well as the unincorporated areas of Hope Ranch , Summerland , Mission Canyon , Montecito , and Isla Vista , along with stretches of unincorporated area such as Noleta . The Gaviota Coast
1700-588: Is part of the Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes . Oso Flaco Lake in Nipomo is also a part of this dunes complex and is a few miles north of Guadalupe; it features a boardwalk that goes over the lake and leads to the Guadalupe beach. South of Guadalupe on Highway 1 and right on Brown Road is Point Sal Road, which was closed due to heavy storms and has become a hiking trail through the coastal mountains. At
1785-475: Is the current chief probation officer . The department was established in 1909 following the enactment of California's first probation laws. After 106 years in service, there are currently 241 probation officers and juvenile institutions officers keeping tabs on 6,600 adults and 1,350 juveniles as of 2015. The probation department has locations in Santa Maria , Santa Barbara , and Lompoc . For most of
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#17327918954131870-495: The California State Assembly , Santa Barbara is split between the 35th Assembly District , represented by Democrat Jasmeet Bains , and the 37th Assembly District , represented by Democrat Gregg Hart . The Santa Barbara County Sheriff provides court protection, jail management, and coroner service for the entire county. It provides patrol and detective services for the unincorporated areas of
1955-645: The Channel Islands – San Miguel Island , Santa Cruz Island , Santa Rosa Island and Santa Barbara Island – are in Santa Barbara County. They form the largest part of the Channel Islands National Park (which also includes Anacapa Island in Ventura County ). Santa Barbara County has a mountainous interior abutting several coastal plains on the west and south coasts of the county. The largest concentration of population
2040-696: The Federal Highway Administration . The route is eligible for the State Scenic Highway System , but it is not officially designated as a scenic highway by the California Department of Transportation . From US 101 to SR 33, SR 166 is known as the "CHP Officers Irvine and Stovall Memorial Highway". In February 1998, a large storm swelled the Cuyama River and caused it to wash out a section of
2125-623: The Guadalupe station is on the Pacific Surfliner route. There is a large pedestrian bridge in the residential area, which gives an easy way for people to cross the tracks which split the town just east of Highway 1. The Guadalupe Flyer bus runs routes to Santa Maria hourly. Filmmakers have used the Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes as a setting for several films, including Cecil B. DeMille 's 1923 Ten Commandments and in 1998 The Odd Couple II . Scenes from Pirates of
2210-565: The Nature Conservancy . The four Channel Islands in Santa Barbara County are Santa Barbara Island , San Miguel Island , Santa Rosa Island , and the large Santa Cruz Island . All of them contain native and endemic wildlife, like the island oak and Torrey Pine. All four have the deer mouse living on them, the three latter, the island fox, and the two latter, the island spotted skunk. There used to be skunks on San Miguel Island, but due to predation from marine life, birds, and foxes,
2295-681: The Orcutt , Lompoc , Santa Maria Valley, and Cat Canyon fields provided jobs and a steady supply of oil, gas, and asphalt since the first oil discovery in the Solomon Hills in 1901. Protests have marked periodic resistance to the impact of oil drilling over the years. A protest in 1929 in Santa Barbara expressed the frustration of the wealthy who came here to get away from it all. The largest spill in California waters , credited as
2380-468: The University of California, Santa Barbara contributes to a liberal populace. The southern portion of the county has a strong history of left-wing activism, with anti-war protests common in Santa Barbara. It is generally believed that the inspiration for Earth Day was the 1969 Santa Barbara oil spill . Gaylord Nelson , the senator who proposed the idea, has never directly cited any direct cause for
2465-525: The poverty line , including 28.9% of those under age 18 and 15.7% of those age 65 or over. Agriculture is by far the leading industry in Guadalupe. It has the highest percentage of agricultural- and manufacturing workers in Santa Barbara County : 31% are employed in the agriculture sector, while 24% have manufacturing jobs. Apio Inc. and Obispo Cooling take produce in from the surrounding fields and prepare it for shipping to points across
2550-504: The 18th century. Since commercial viticulture rebounded in the 1960s, Santa Barbara County has become a prominent viticultural region. The 2004 Alexander Payne film, Sideways , set in the Santa Ynez Valley , brought additional attention to the county as a wine region, especially for its Pinot noir wines. The region, also noted for its Chardonnay wines, is gaining a reputation for Rhone varietals including Syrah and Viognier . The areas planted with wine grapes are mixed in with
2635-551: The 1980s along the western Santa Barbara Coast, as well as the remains of Arlington Springs Man found on Santa Rosa Island in the 1960s. For thousands of years, the area was home to the Chumash tribe of Native Americans, complex hunter-gatherers who lived along the coast and in interior valleys leaving rock art in many locations, including Painted Cave . Europeans first contacted the Chumash in AD 1542, when three Spanish ships under
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2720-461: The 20th century, Santa Barbara County was a Republican stronghold. From 1920 to 1988, it was only carried by two Democrats: Franklin D. Roosevelt and Lyndon B. Johnson . However, the county has leaned to the left in recent years. Overall, Santa Barbara now usually supports Democratic candidates in Presidential and congressional elections. The last Republican to win a majority in the county
2805-668: The Caribbean: At World's End and Hidalgo have also been filmed here. In 1993 the town was featured in California's Gold episode 401, "Buried Treasure". The episode centered around the set of The Ten Commandments buried underneath the Guadalupe Dunes. Santa Barbara County, California Santa Barbara County , officially the County of Santa Barbara ( Spanish : Condado de Santa Bárbara ),
2890-542: The Gladiator's club, which provides peer-to-peer mentoring for fifth and sixth grade youth. The Boys & Girls Club and the Riverview apartment tutoring program provide places for children to go after school. The Guadalupe Union School District operates two schools: Mary Buren Elementary and Kermit McKenzie Junior High School . In state rankings, the two schools are in the 20th percentile. Mary Buren Elementary
2975-469: The Royal was originally owned and managed by Japanese-American businessmen Arthur Fukuda, Jack Takeuchi, and Kiyozo Noji, who were relocated to internment camps in 1942. The theater was then operated under a number of owners until its closure and acquisition by the city in the 1990s. Since then, there have been several plans to refurbish the building in an effort to revitalize the downtown area. Currently,
3060-486: The San Miguel Island skunk has gone extinct. Santa Barbara County has a mild warm-summer Mediterranean climate . Along the coast, temperatures rarely exceed 100 °F (38 °C) in the summer, but rarely dip below freezing in winter. In the interior, however, summertime temperatures can soar over 100 °F (38 °C). Above 2,000 feet (610 meters), temperatures can frequently fall below freezing during
3145-739: The San Rafaels. North of the mountains is the arid and sparsely populated Cuyama Valley , portions of which are in San Luis Obispo and Ventura Counties. Oil production, ranching, and agriculture dominate the land use in the privately owned parts of the Cuyama Valley; the Los Padres National Forest is adjacent to the south, and regions to the north and northeast are owned by the Bureau of Land Management and
3230-602: The Santa Barbara area or surrounding counties. A tribal homeland was established in 1901, the Santa Ynez Reservation . Following the Mexican secularization of the missions in the 1830s, the mission pasture lands were mostly broken up into large ranchos and granted mainly to prominent local citizens who already lived in the area. 604 of these land grants were later confirmed by the state of California, with 36 in Santa Barbara County. Santa Barbara County
3315-588: The Santa Ynez River flows out to the sea. North of the Santa Ynez Valley are the cities of Santa Maria and Guadalupe , and the unincorporated towns of Orcutt , Los Alamos , Casmalia , Garey , and Sisquoc . In the extreme northeastern portion of the county are the small cities of New Cuyama , Cuyama , and Ventucopa . As of January 1, 2006, Santa Maria has become the largest city in Santa Barbara County. The principal mountain ranges of
3400-408: The aforementioned residential and commercial developments, helped stabilize the city's economy. Guadalupe is located in the northwestern extremity of Santa Barbara County , immediately south of the Santa Maria River . The landscape in the vicinity of the town is mostly flat, with the predominant land use being agriculture and oil production. Hills rise to the south of the town; on the other side of
3485-405: The age of 18 living with them, 51.4% were married couples living together, 10.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.5% were non-families. 24.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.8 and the average family size was 3.33. In the county, 24.9% of the population was under
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3570-460: The age of 18, 13.3% was from 18 to 24, 29.0% from 25 to 44, 20.1% from 45 to 64, and 12.7% was 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 100.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.1 males. The median income for a household in the county was $ 46,677, and the median income for a family was $ 54,042. Males had a median income of $ 37,997 versus $ 29,593 for females. The per capita income for
3655-622: The area's climate and meteorology influence how the pollution are diffused. The 2010 United States Census reported that Santa Barbara County had a population of 423,895. The ethnic makeup of Santa Barbara County was 295,124 (69.6%) White , 8,513 (2.0%) African American , 5,485 (1.3%) Native American , 20,665 (4.9%) Asian (1.6% Filipino, 1.0% Chinese, 0.5% Japanese, 0.5% Korean, 0.3% Vietnamese, 0.4% Indian), 806 (0.2%) Pacific Islander , 73,860 (17.4%) from other races , and 19,442 (4.6%) from two or more races. There were 181,687 residents of Hispanic or Latino origin, of any race (42.9%); 38.5% of
3740-587: The cities of Santa Maria, Lompoc, Guadalupe, Buellton, and Solvang, as well as the Cuyama Valley and Santa Ynez Valley, including Lake Cachuma . Most of the south coast of Santa Barbara County, along with the Channel Islands, would have remained with that county, with the exception of the stretch from Hollister Ranch to Point Conception . Most of the Los Padres National Forest also would have remained with Santa Barbara County. But in June 2006, voters rejected
3825-406: The city plans to repurpose the building as a community arts center, and to have the site registered as an historic landmark . Former President and then-Republican Party nominee George W. Bush and his wife Laura paid visit to Guadalupe, eating at La Simpatia restaurant as part of a two-day campaign trip during the 2000 election . There is a beach near Guadalupe at the end of Main Street that
3910-404: The city was 45.54% White , 0.71% African American , 1.86% Native American , 5.88% Asian , 0.16% Pacific Islander , 38.70% from other races , and 7.16% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 84.48% of the population. There were 1,414 households, out of which 53.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.8% were married couples living together, 16.9% had
3995-532: The coastal area in 1769, on its way to Monterey Bay . The party traveled the same route on the return to San Diego in January 1770. That same year, a second expedition to Monterey again passed through the area. The DeAnza expeditions of 1774-76 followed Portola's trail. The Presidio of Santa Barbara was established in 1782 (4th of 5 in California), followed by Mission Santa Barbara in 1786 – both in what
4080-614: The command of Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo explored the area. The Santa Barbara Channel received its name from Spanish explorer Sebastián Vizcaíno when he sailed along the California coast in 1602; his ships entered the channel on December 4, the day of the feast of Santa Barbara . Spanish ships associated with the Manila Galleon trade probably made emergency stops along the coast during the next 167 years, but no permanent settlements were established. The first land expedition to explore California, led by Gaspar de Portolà explored
4165-546: The county and two cities by contract. Incorporated municipalities within the county that have their own municipal police departments are Santa Maria, Lompoc, and Santa Barbara City. Carpinteria and Goleta by contract with the Sheriff. The Santa Barbara County Probation Department provides services for those placed on probation or detained in Santa Maria Juvenile Hall or Los Prietos Boys Camp. Tanja Heitman
4250-698: The county are the Santa Ynez Mountains in the south, and the San Rafael Mountains and Sierra Madre Mountains in the interior and northeast. Most of the mountainous area is within the Los Padres National Forest , and includes two wilderness areas: the San Rafael Wilderness and the Dick Smith Wilderness . The highest elevation in the county is 6,820 feet (2,080 m) at Big Pine Mountain in
4335-529: The county was $ 23,059. About 8.5% of families and 14.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.3% of those under age 18 and 6.2% of those age 65 or over. The population of the area south of the Santa Ynez Mountain crest—the portion known as "South County"—was 201,161 according to the 2000 census; thus the population is almost exactly split between north and south. Recent years have shown slow or even negative growth for regions in
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#17327918954134420-471: The county 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. 34.2% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 9.1% were of German , 8.5% English and 6.5% Irish ancestry according to Census 2000 . 26.6% of the population reported speaking Spanish at home. There were 136,622 households, out of which 32.4% had children under
4505-478: The county was divided into two congressional districts, which reflected the north and south divide – the hallmark of the county's politics. Lois Capps represented the coastal areas, while Elton Gallegly , a Republican, represented the northern part of the county. In the California State Senate , Santa Barbara is in the 19th Senate District , represented by Democrat Monique Limón . In
4590-484: The county, as well as several cities within the county. The cities that the Sheriff's Office provides police services for include Buellton , Carpinteria , Goleta and Solvang . In total the 640 full-time employees of the Sheriff's Office are responsible for 2,745 square miles (7,110 km ) of the county. Founded in 1850, the Santa Barbara Sheriff's Office is the oldest law enforcement agency in
4675-469: The county, unlike much of southern California, is generally good because of the prevailing winds off of the Pacific Ocean. The county is in attainment of federal standards for ozone and particulate matter . In July 2020 the county was designated as attainment for the state ozone standard, but it still does not attain the state PM10 standard. the county's location plus the cities near it establishes
4760-461: The end of the 5-mile trail (8.0 km), which passes through Vandenberg Space Force Base , is the isolated Point Sal State Beach . Between Guadalupe Beach and Point Sal Beach is the even more isolated Paradise Beach, near Mussel Rock. Parks in the area include Jack O'Connell Park, where the Bulldogs youth football team practices. LeRoy Park, the community center for the city and the home of
4845-555: The establishment of the holiday. On November 4, 2008, Santa Barbara County voted 53.5% against Proposition 8 which amended the California Constitution to ban same-sex marriages. It was the only county in Southern California to vote against the proposition. In 1978, some residents of the northern area initiated an effort to create a "Los Padres County" out of the northern area of the county; in
4930-427: The formation of the new county, with more than 80% voting no. 46.8% of Santa Barbara County voters state their political party preference is Democratic, compared to 24.9% who prefer Republicans, and 21.6% who have No Party Preference. As of 2021, each of the 8 cities have more Democrats than any other political party. The Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office provides law enforcement for the unincorporated areas of
5015-621: The highest peak in San Luis Obispo County. After going through the towns of New Cuyama and Cuyama , the highway meets SR 33 north of Ventucopa . SR 33 and SR 166 merge until reaching Maricopa , where SR 166 heads due east for its last 20 miles (32 km), intersecting with I-5 about 9 miles (14 km) north of the Grapevine . SR 166 ends at SR 99 in Mettler , and it is the last exit for both I-5 and SR 99 southbound before they merge near Wheeler Ridge . In Kern County , Highway 166
5100-460: The highway. Officers Britt Irvine and Rick Stovall were responding to an early morning call about a truck accident when their CHP cruiser drove off the washed out section. Before 1964, the portion of SR 166 merged with SR 33 was part of US 399 . Except where prefixed with a letter, postmiles were measured on the road as it was in 1964 , based on the alignment that existed at the time, and do not necessarily reflect current mileage. R reflects
5185-586: The hills is Vandenberg Space Force Base . West of town, both in Santa Barbara County and north in adjacent San Luis Obispo County , is the Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes , a large region of dune habitat along the Pacific Ocean shore. The Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes Center serves as the education and research facility for the natural area. According to the United States Census Bureau , the city has a total area of 1.3 square miles (3.4 km ), 99.60% of it land and 0.40% of it water. The town consists of
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#17327918954135270-585: The intersection of Highway 1 and Highway 166 , immediately south of the Santa Maria River , and 5 miles (8 km) east of the Pacific Ocean . The first European land exploration of Alta California , the Spanish Portolá expedition , camped near today's Guadalupe on September 1, 1769 . Franciscan missionary and expedition member Juan Crespí noted in his diary that they found "a very large lake". The lake has since mostly filled in, leaving
5355-472: The local Boys & Girls Club , sits near the town's northern city limit, and is the oldest community park in Santa Barbara County; the land was donated in 1871 by the LeRoy family, and the park is currently undergoing a major revitalization project. The Guadalupe Wrestling Club was established in 1979 for the youth and has produced numerous state champions over the years. The Guadalupe Police Department runs
5440-590: The nation as well as overseas. The majority of the small businesses in town can be found on Guadalupe Street. For half a century, the city was home to the famous Far Western Tavern (formerly the Palace Hotel), until it relocated to Old Town Orcutt in 2012, following the death of founder and philanthropist Clarence Minetti. The Far Western building has since been donated to the Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes Center, who are currently managing
5525-589: The pleasure of the Board, to operate the County governmental organization. The County government includes 4296 employees and a budget of $ 757 million. The County provides various services ranging from health services to law enforcement. All of Santa Barbara County is located within California's 24th congressional district , represented by Democrat Salud Carbajal . Prior to the 2012 redistricting in California,
5610-414: The police department used to be an elementary school. There is a very small jail building at the park near the train tracks where the water tower stands. Every year on September 16, there is a parade on Guadalupe Street to celebrate Mexico's independence from Spain . Guadalupe is also home to the historic Royal Theater, which was a single-screen 510-seat movie theater , located on Highway 1. Built in 1939,
5695-426: The population was of Mexican heritage, 0.4% Salvadoran, 0.4% Guatemalan, and 0.3% Puerto Rican descent. As of the census of 2000, there were 399,347 people, 136,622 households, and 89,487 families residing in the county. The population density was 146 people per square mile (56 people/km ). There were 142,901 housing units at an average density of 52 units per square mile (20 units/km ). The ethnic makeup of
5780-632: The population) lived in households, 0 (0%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 0 (0%) were institutionalized. There were 1,810 households, out of which 1,073 (59.3%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 1,005 (55.5%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 369 (20.4%) had a female householder with no husband present, 174 (9.6%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 143 (7.9%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships , and 10 (0.6%) same-sex married couples or partnerships . 213 households (11.8%) were made up of individuals, and 93 (5.1%) had someone living alone who
5865-419: The population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 3,597 people (50.8%) lived in rental housing units. As of the census of 2000, there were 5,659 people, 1,414 households, and 1,217 families residing in the city. The population density was 4,091.6 inhabitants per square mile (1,579.8/km ). There were 1,450 housing units at an average density of 1,048.4 per square mile (404.8/km ). The racial makeup of
5950-511: The rolling hills, ancient oak trees, oil fields, cattle ranches, and natural areas in the central part of the county. The county has more than 115 wineries cultivating 16,000 acres (6,500 ha) with the vast majority of the vineyards in the Central Coast American Viticultural Areas : Santa Maria Valley AVA , Santa Ynez Valley AVA , Sta. Rita Hills AVA , Happy Canyon AVA , Los Olivos District AVA and Ballard Canyon AVA . The county continues to gain AVA recognition with Alisos Canyon AVA being
6035-437: The south county, while areas in the north county have continued to grow at a faster rate. The county is governed by a five-member Board of Supervisors. The Board's three-vote majority has shifted over the years between the north and south. The Board now includes two members from South County, two members from North County, and one member from Mid-County. The Board of Supervisors appoints a County Executive Officer, who serves at
6120-480: The southern part of the county. Southern Santa Barbara County is sometimes considered the cultural boundary of Southern California / Northern California . The Santa Barbara County area, including the Northern Channel Islands , was first settled by Native Americans at least 13,000 years ago. Evidence for a Paleoindian presence has been found in the form of a fluted Clovis -like point found in
6205-399: The start and end postmiles in each county are given in the county column. Guadalupe, California Guadalupe is a small city located in Santa Barbara County, California . According to the 2010 census , the city has a population of 7,080. Guadalupe is economically and socially tied to the city of Santa Maria , which is about 8 miles (13 km) to the east. It is located at
6290-516: The state. In its early days, the department battled outlaws Salomon Pico and Jack Powers . Initially having a single Sheriff, aided only by a jailer and guard in charge of the chain gang, the department now has over 600 full-time employees. The following table includes the number of incidents reported and the rate per 1,000 persons for each type of offense. Oil production began in 1886 with drilling in Summerland. Enormous oil fields such as
6375-432: The voters the measure would ban "high-intensity petroleum operations" in the county. The city of Santa Barbara and other coastal communities support a significant tourism economy. White-collar jobs, previously with an emphasis in aerospace but more recently in software and other high-tech pursuits are encouraged by proximity to the University of California, Santa Barbara . Vandenberg Space Force Base has traditionally had
6460-524: The winter months. The area experiences nearly all of its rainfall during the winter months, and rarely sees any rain at all during the summer months. The area's dry, warm summers often lead to high wildfire danger in the fall. An example of this is the massive Thomas Fire , which started in Ventura County and rapidly spread into southern Santa Barbara County in December 2017. At the time, the fire
6545-462: Was George H. W. Bush in 1988 . There remains a distinction between the more conservative northern areas of the county, which continue to largely support Republicans, and the more liberal southern areas, which are strongly Democratic. Santa Barbara County has long been divided between competing political interests. North of the Santa Ynez Mountains , agricultural activities and oil development have long provided jobs. The northern portion also contains
6630-568: Was removed from a list of controlled substances along with other provisions of the Hemp Farming Act of 2018 . These provisions were included in the 2018 Farm Bill which made hemp legal for agricultural uses. Cannabis and hemp plants have a similar look and smell making it hard to tell the difference. The first wine grapes in Santa Barbara county were planted by the missionaries associated with Mission Santa Barbara late in
6715-412: Was 27 years. For every 100 females, there were 104.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.4 males. The median income for a household in the city was $ 31,205, and the median income for a family was $ 31,042. Males had a median income of $ 24,250 versus $ 17,870 for females. The per capita income for the city was $ 11,608. About 23.4% of families and 25.0% of the population were below
6800-399: Was 28.2 years. For every 100 females, there were 101.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.0 males. There were 1,887 housing units at an average density of 1,435.3 per square mile (554.2/km ), of which 936 (51.7%) were owner-occupied, and 874 (48.3%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 0.4%; the rental vacancy rate was 3.3%. 3,483 people (49.2% of
6885-407: Was 5,385.3 inhabitants per square mile (2,079.3/km ). The racial makeup of Guadalupe was 3,395 (48.0%) White , 74 (1.0%) African American , 103 (1.5%) Native American , 279 (3.9%) Asian , 5 (0.1%) Pacific Islander , 2,783 (39.3%) from other races , and 441 (6.2%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6,103 persons (86.2%). The Census reported that 7,080 people (100% of
6970-415: Was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.91. There were 1,548 families (85.5% of all households); the average family size was 4.11. The population was spread out, with 2,424 people (34.2%) under the age of 18, 797 people (11.3%) aged 18 to 24, 1,930 people (27.3%) aged 25 to 44, 1,362 people (19.2%) aged 45 to 64, and 567 people (8.0%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age
7055-541: Was incorporated as the city of Guadalupe on May 19, 1946. The city name honors Our Lady of Guadalupe , which is the Catholic title given to the Virgin Mary . An ongoing construction development along the south side of town will add more than 800 homes. The project, Pasadera Homes, was first announced in 1993 and has undergone several delays. The city annexed the 209-acre site (85 ha) in 1995. When completed, it
7140-399: Was one of the 27 original counties of California, formed in 1850 at the time of statehood. The county's territory was later divided to create Ventura County in 1873. According to the U.S. Census Bureau , the county has a total area of 3,789 square miles (9,810 km ), of which 2,735 square miles (7,080 km ) is land and 1,054 square miles (2,730 km ) (27.8%) is water. Four of
7225-518: Was the largest wildfire ever to burn in California in terms of geographical size, but was topped only eight months later in the Mendocino Complex Fire in northern California. Heavy rainfall occurred the following January, causing massive mudslides and debris flows from the steep, fire-denuded hillsides. The community of Montecito was especially hard-hit. As of February 3, 2018, 21 are known dead and 2 are still missing. Air quality in
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