Santa Barbara California Real Estate

Santa Barbara California homes for sale in Santa Barbara, Montecito, Hope Ranch, Lompoc, Goleta, Summerland, Carpinteria, Isla Vista, Santa Ynez, Santa Maria, Los Alamos, Los Olivos, and Solvang.

Quick Facts About Santa Barbara California

• Santa Barbara is located on Hwy 101 on the Pacific Coast, two hours north of Los Angeles. Santa Barbara enjoys a pleasant Mediterranean climate that is generally mild and sunny all 12 months of the year. It is beautiful and inviting year-round. Santa Barbara is often referred to as the "American Riviera."

• Santa Barbara is built on the slopes and coastline of the Santa Ynez Mountains. A Portuguese explorer named Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo discovered the Santa Barbara Channel in 1542.

• Spanish explorer, Vizcaino, entered the channel on St. Barbara's Day, December 4, 1602.

• The California mission, Santa Barbara, here was founded in 1786. This mission is known as the "Queen of the Missions" because of its great beauty. Its prominant location on a hill allowed it to be used as a beacon for ships coming into the area.

• Santa Barbara offers escape and relaxation, along with opportunities to contemplate the ocean, mountains, and engaging vistas, and to explore a bit of history and humankind's relationship to coastal ecology. The area offers a multitude of activities for active and passive vacationers: everything from swimming, boating, hiking, and sports fishing to the more exotic jet skiing, kayaking, whale-watching, windsurfing, horseback riding, and more.

• The average winter temperature is 56 degrees F.

• The average spring temperature is 63 degrees F.

• The average summer temperature is 70 degrees F.

• The average fall temperature is 60 degrees F.

• The amount of land area in Santa Barbara is 48.937 sq. kilometers.

• The amount of land area in Santa Barbara is 43.09 sq. miles.

• The amount of surface water is 1.837 sq kilometers.

• The distance from Santa Barbara to Washington DC is 2510 miles. The distance to the California state capital is 298 miles. (as the crow flies)

• Santa Barbara is positioned 34.42 degrees north of the equator and 119.72 degrees west of the prime meridian.

• Santa Barbara elevation is 37-850 feet above sea level.  

Santa Barbara is also famous for its beautiful beach and ocean. Thanks to the temperate climate, you can enjoy the outdoors most of the year. Less than an hour from Santa Barbara, in the Santa Ynez Valley, lies Santa Barbara's wine country. Santa Barbara's shopping is excellent and State Street is considered the main shopping area.

 

More Facts About California  

Capital: Sacramento

Governor: Arnold Schwarzenegger, R (to Jan. 2007)

Lieut. Governor: Cruz M. Bustamante, D (to Jan. 2007)

Senators: Barbara Boxer, D (to Jan. 2005); Dianne Feinstein, D (to Jan. 2007)

Secy. of State: Kevin Shelley, D (to Jan. 2007)

Atty. General: Bill Lockyer, D (to Jan. 2007)

Treasurer: Phil Angelides, D (to Jan. 2007)

Entered Union (rank): Sept. 9, 1850 (31)

Present constitution adopted: 1879

Motto: Eureka (I have found it)

 

Nickname: Golden State

Origin of name: From a book, Las Sergas de Esplandián, by Garcia Ordóñez de Montalvo, c. 1500

10 largest cities (2003 est.): Santa Barbara, 3,819,951; San Diego, 1,266,753; San Jose, 898,349; San Francisco, 751,682; Long Beach, 398,844; Fresno, 451,455; Sacramento, 445,335; Oakland, 398,844; Santa Ana, 342,510; Anaheim, 332,361

Land area: 155,959 sq mi. (403,934 sq km)

Geographic center: In Madera Co., 38 mi. E of Madera

Number of counties: 58

Largest county by population and area: Santa Barbara, 9,637,494 (2001); San Bernardino, 20,062 sq mi.

National forests: 18

State parks and beaches: 264

Residents: Californian

2003 resident population est.: 35,484,453

2000 resident census population (rank): 33,871,648 (1). Male: 16,874,892 (49.8%); Female: 16,996,756 (50.2%). White: 20,170,059 (59.5%); Black: 2,263,882 (6.7%); American Indian: 333,346 (1.0%); Asian: 3,697,513 (10.9%); Other race: 5,682,241 (16.8%); Two or more races: 1,607,646 (4.7%); Hispanic/Latino: 10,966,556 (32.4%). 2000 percent population 18 and over: 72.7; 65 and over: 10.6; median age: 33.3.

State Symbols:

Flower: Golden poppy (1903)

Tree: California redwoods (Sequoia sempervirens & Sequoiadendron giganteum) (1937, 1953)

Bird: California valley quail (1931)

Animal: California grizzly bear (1953)

Fish: California golden trout (1947)

Colors: Blue and gold (1951)

Song: "I Love You, California" (1951)