Santa Barbara, California

For the county, see Santa Barbara County, California. For the island, see Santa Barbara Island. For the wine region, see Santa Barbara County wine.

Santa Barbara
City
Clockwise: Mission Santa Barbara; California Riviera; Santa Barbara County Courthouse; View of Downtown; Presidio of Santa Barbara; Downtown Santa Barbara; Santa Barbara Beach
Flag of Santa Barbara
Flag
Official seal of Santa Barbara
Seal
Location in Santa Barbara County and the state of California
Location in Santa Barbara County and the state of California
Santa Barbara is located in the United States
Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara
Location in the United States
Coordinates: 34°25′N 119°42′W / 34.417°N 119.700°W / 34.417; -119.700
CountryUnited States
StateCalifornia
CountySanta Barbara
IncorporatedApril 9, 1850[1]
Named forSaint Barbara
Government
 • TypeCouncil–manager[2]
 • MayorRandy Rowse[3]
 • State SenatorMonique Limón (D)[4]
 • CA AssemblyGregg Hart (D)[4]
 • U.S. Rep.Salud Carbajal (D)[5]
Area
[6]
 • City
42.00 sq mi (108.78 km2)
 • Land19.50 sq mi (50.51 km2)
 • Water22.50 sq mi (58.27 km2)  53.61%
Elevation
[8]
49 ft (15 m)
Population
 (2020)[9]
 • City
88,665
 • Rank91st in California
 • Density4,546.92/sq mi (1,755.58/km2)
 • Urban
202,197 (US: 190th)[7]
 • Urban density3,688.9/sq mi (1,424.3/km2)
 • Metro
446,475 (US: 123rd)
Time zoneUTC−8 (Pacific Time Zone)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−7 (PDT)
ZIP Codes[10]
93101–93103, 93105–93111, 93116–93118, 93120–93121, 93130, 93140, 93150, 93160, 93190, 93199
Area code805
FIPS code06-69070
GNIS feature IDs1661401, 2411815
Websitesantabarbaraca.gov

Santa Barbara (Spanish: Santa Bárbara, meaning 'Saint Barbara') is a coastal city in Santa Barbara County, California, of which it is also the county seat. Situated on a south-facing section of coastline, the longest such section on the West Coast of the United States excepting Alaska, the city lies between the steeply rising Santa Ynez Mountains and the Pacific Ocean. Santa Barbara's climate is often described as Mediterranean, and the city has been dubbed "The American Riviera".[11] According to the 2020 U.S. Census, the city's population was 88,665.[12]

In addition to being a popular tourist and resort destination, the city has a diverse economy that includes a large service sector, education, technology, health care, finance, agriculture, manufacturing, and local government. In 2004, the service sector accounted for 35% of local employment.[13]

Area institutions of higher learning include the University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara City College, Westmont College, and Antioch University. The city is served by Santa Barbara Airport and train service is provided by Amtrak, which operates the Pacific Surfliner, which runs from San Diego to San Luis Obispo.

The Santa Barbara area is connected via U.S. Highway 101 to Los Angeles 100 mi (160 km) to the southeast and San Francisco 325 mi (525 km) to the northwest. Behind the city, in and beyond the Santa Ynez Mountains, is the Los Padres National Forest, which contains several remote wilderness areas. Channel Islands National Park and Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary are located approximately 20 miles (30 km) offshore.

  1. ^ "California Cities by Incorporation Date". California Association of Local Agency Formation Commissions. Archived from the original (Word) on November 3, 2014. Retrieved August 25, 2014.
  2. ^ "The City of Santa Barbara Employee Handbook". City of Santa Barbara. Retrieved March 24, 2015.
  3. ^ "Santa Barbara – Mayor Randy Rowse". www.santabarbaraca.gov. Retrieved January 24, 2022.
  4. ^ a b "Statewide Database". UC Regents. Archived from the original on February 1, 2015. Retrieved October 9, 2014.
  5. ^ "California's 24th Congressional District - Representatives & District Map". Civic Impulse, LLC. Retrieved September 29, 2014.
  6. ^ "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on August 26, 2022. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
  7. ^ "List of 2020 Census Urban Areas". census.gov. United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on January 14, 2023. Retrieved January 8, 2023.
  8. ^ "Santa Barbara". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved October 9, 2014.
  9. ^ "Santa Barbara (city) QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on August 28, 2020. Retrieved September 9, 2021.
  10. ^ "ZIP Code(tm) Lookup". United States Postal Service. Archived from the original on December 26, 2018. Retrieved November 29, 2014.
  11. ^ Horowitz, Joy. "New York Times article on Santa Barbara". The New York Times. Archived from the original on July 23, 2013. Retrieved May 20, 2012.
  12. ^ "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Santa Barbara city, California". Census.gov. Archived from the original on June 10, 2024. Retrieved February 16, 2022.
  13. ^ "Santa Barbara economic statistics, 2005". Archived from the original on April 13, 2010.