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Santa Barbara, California is one of the best small towns in the USA and a hotspot you can’t miss. Here are 70 Fun Facts about Santa Barbara and the best things to do in Santa Barbara that you can all cover in one day after you’ve see it all on Los Angeles tours.
- It boasts an iconic, prime location. Santa Barbara is a city located on the central coast of California. Situated approximately 90 miles north of Los Angeles, it occupies a stunning position between the Santa Ynez Mountains and the Pacific Ocean.
- The city bears significant marks of Spanish influence. Santa Barbara’s rich history is deeply intertwined with its Spanish influence, which is evident in its architecture, cultural traditions, and heritage.
- The grand Old Mission played a role in the city’s colonization. Old Mission Santa Ines was established in 1804 and played a vital role in the Spanish colonization and evangelization of the area.
- The Courthouse is a key landmark. The Santa Barbara County Courthouse is an iconic landmark located in downtown Santa Barbara, California. It is renowned for its stunning Spanish Colonial Revival architecture and picturesque surroundings, making it a popular destination for tourists and locals alike.
- Beaches. This is hands down the one thing Santa Barbara is most famous for: its 177 km (110 mi) of beaches. The city proper sits on a low plateau between the Santa Ynez mountain range and the Pacific.
- Spanish and Mexican heritage. Although California was claimed by the Spanish crown as early as the mid-16th century, the region wouldn’t be settled by Europeans until two centuries later.
- Santa Ynez Mountains. The Santa Ynez mountain range crosses Ventura and Santa Barbara counties from east to west, but in Santa Barbara, they rise majestically and serve as a sort of backdrop for the city.
- Santa Barbara County Courthouse. It’s not every day that a courthouse is featured among a city’s major landmarks, yet Santa Barbara county’s has deserved its spot as an exception.
- Humans have inhabited the area around Santa Barbara for more than 12,000 years.
- Before the arrival of European explorers, the area of Santa Barbara was home to as many as 10,000 Chumash people.
- Evidence of Chumash culture can be viewed today at a sandstone cave in the Santa Ynez Mountains just behind the city of Santa Barbara. Visitors to the Chumash Painted Cave State Historic Park can view Chumash saint bart on the walls, thought to depict a 1677 solar eclipse.
- Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo — a Portuguese captain exploring for the Spanish crown –sailed up the California coast in search of the Northwest Passage. In October, 1542, Cabrillo’s ships came near the modern day Santa Barbara, and during his brief visit, he claimed the entire area for Spain.
- The Chumash were its original inhabitants. Santa Barbara’s history begins with the Chumash Tribe, who were the original inhabitants of the area. This indigenous tribe made their home in the region for an estimated 13,000 years before European explorers ever set foot on the land.
- Spanish colonization shaped a significant part of the city’s landscape. The Spanish Era was a defining period in Santa Barbara’s history, laying the foundation for much of the city’s cultural and architectural heritage that can still be witnessed today.
- Santa Barbara was once under Mexican Rule. Following the Mexican War of Independence, which ended in 1821, the Spanish Era gave way to a period of Mexican rule in Santa Barbara.
- It came under American Governance in 1848. The American Period of Santa Barbara’s history began in the mid-19th century, after the Mexican-American War.
Feb 25, 2024 · Get ready to dive into the fascinating world of fun facts about Santa Barbara. Discover the intriguing history, breathtaking landscapes, and unique culture of this captivating city on the Californian coast.
1. In 1871 Judge R.B. Ord of Santa Barbara introduced a new tree to California—the avocado tree. The rest is history. 2. In August of last year a group of six swimmers swam all the way from Santa Barbara to San Diego, breaking the world record for open relay swim. 3.
