Santa Barbara
is a city in California, United States. As of the 2000 census, the city had a
total population of 92,325. The metropolitan area
has a population of approximately 200,000.
Santa Barbara is located about 85 miles west-northwest of Los Angeles, along the
Pacific coast. This stretch of coast along southern Santa Barbara County is
often referred to as the "American Riviera" because of its Mediterranean
climate. The Santa Ynez Mountains, an east-west trending range, rise
dramatically behind the city, with several peaks exceeding 4,000 feet. Covered
with chaparral and with sandstone outcrops, they make a famously scenic backdrop
to the town. Nearer to town, and directly east and adjacent to Mission Santa
Barbara, is a hill known locally as the "Riviera" or "Alameda Padre Serra"
(shortened APS) for the street that traverses it, which is built up with
expensive homes. The city sustained heavy damage in an earthquake on June 29,
1925, which was followed by substantial rebuilding.
Much of the architecture in the city is Spanish Colonial in style, although much
of it was actually constructed starting in the early 20th century in connection
with the Mission or Spanish Revival movement. White buildings with terra cotta
tile roofs are a trademark sight.
Santa Barbara has two daily newspapers: The Santa Barbara News-Press, which has
a circulation of about 39,000 and the Santa Barbara Daily Sound, a free daily.
There are other
local media.
Santa Barbara is home to a vibrant artistic community, and the Santa Barbara
Museum of Art is home to a significant permanent collection. Other art venues
include the University Art Museum on the UC Santa Barbara Campus, various
private galleries, and a wide variety of art and photography shows. The Santa
Barbara Museum of Natural History is located immediately behind the Santa
Barbara Mission in a complex of charming, mission-style buildings set in a
delightful park-like campus. The Museum offers outstanding indoor and outdoor
exhibits and a state-of-the-art planetarium. The Santa Barbara Maritime Museum
is located at 113 Harbor Way (the former Naval Reserve Center Santa Barbara) on
the waterfront. And last, but by no means that, is the Contemporary Arts Forum,
located on the top floor of Paseo Nuevo shopping mall. This wonderful "art
space" exhibits exciting, cutting edge works in all media. A must see if you
want to learn about what's happening in the world of sometimes controversial,
but always stimulating exhibits.
Santa Barbara has many parks, ranging from small spaces within the urban
environment to large, semi-wilderness areas which remain within the city limits.
Some notable parks within the city limits are as follows: Alameda Park, Elings
Park, Alice Keck Park Memorial Gardens, De La Guerra Plaza, Skofield Park, Parma
Park, Shoreline Park, Douglas Family Preserve, East Beach, Leadbetter Beach,
West Beach, Hendry's Beach, Andree Clark Bird Refuge.
The city is considered a haven for classical music lovers with a symphony
orchestra and many non-profit classical music groups (such as CAMA). The Music
Academy of the West, located in Montecito, hosts an annual music festival in the
summer, drawing renowned students and professionals.
Santa Barbara is a year-round tourist destination renowned for its warm weather,
downtown beaches, and Spanish architecture. In addition to the city's cultural
assets, several iconic destinations lay within the city's limits. Mission Santa
Barbara, "The Queen of the Missions," is located in Santa Barbara. It was
founded on December 4, 1786 on a rise about two miles inland from the harbor,
and is maintained as an active place of worship, sightseeing stop, and national
historic landmark. The Santa Barbara County Courthouse, a red tiled
Spanish-Moorish structure, provides a sweeping view of the downtown area from
its open air tower. The Presidio of Santa Barbara, a Spanish military
installation built in 1782, was central to the town's early development and
remains an icon of the city's colonial roots.
Also famous is the annual Fiesta (originally called "Old Spanish Days"),
celebrated every year in August. Fiesta, in Santa Barbara, is synonymous with
food, music, and riotous parties, ranging from the annual Covarrubias Adobe
Pre-Fiesta Tea, to the Fiesta Pequeña on the steps of the Mission. Fiesta is
hosted by the Native Daughters of the Golden West and the Native Sons of the
Golden West in a joint committee called the Fiesta Board. Fiesta was originally
started as a tourist attraction, like the Rose Bowl, to draw business into the
town in the 1920s. 80 years later, it has become a several-day-long bash of
Mexican food, Spanish dancing, and traffic tie ups all along State Street.
In recent years, the Santa Barbara International Film Festival (SBIFF), another
local non-profit, has also become a major draw bringing over 50,000 attendees
during what is usually Santa Barbara's slow season in late January. SBIFF hosts
a wide variety of celebrities, premieres, panels and movies from around the
world and runs for 10 days.
The annual Summer Solstice Parade draws up to 100,000 people. It is a colorful
themed parade put on by local residents, and follows a route along State Street
for approximately one mile, ending at Alameda Park. Floats and costumes vary
from the whimsical to the outrageous; parties and street events take place
throughout the weekend of the parade, which is invariably the first weekend
after the solstice. Santa Barbara and the immediately adjacent area is a home to several colleges and universities: University of California, Santa Barbara City College, Westmont College, Brooks Institute of Photography, and Music Academy of the West, Santa Barbara Business College, Antioch University, and Fielding Graduate University. Secondary and Primary School students go to the Santa Barbara and Hope district schools. There are also a variety of private schools for students to go. |