The cities size is 19.0 square miles and has a population of 92,325 people (2000), making it the 262 largest city in the USA. The metro area is larger with 399,347 people. This makes it the 103rd largest metro area in the USA. Other cities in the area include Goleta and Carpinteria. The city is serviced by Santa Barbara Muni Airport, which is in nearby Goleta. Rt 101 is the major highway that serves the metro are. Santa Barbara, the city, is the seat of Santa Barbara County.

Santa Barbara was settled in 1782 when the Spanish established a presidio (fort) and shortly after a mission (1786). This was the tenth of 21 Franciscan missions in California. It still functions as a church today. The site was named by the Spanish explorer Sebastián Vizcaíno, who anchored offshore on the feast day of St. Barbara in 1602. Prior to the Spanish arrival, the Chumash inhabited the area from Malibu to San Luis Obispo. They were hunters and gatherers oriented to the sea. The original purpose of the Mission was the christianazation of the Chumash Indians. The first American settler arrived here in 1816. Spain lost California to Mexico in 1822, and by 1848, California was part of the U.S. It was incorporated into a city in 1850.

A resort town, Santa Barbara is situated on the Santa Barbara Channel at the foot of the Santa Ynez Mountains. Manufactures include aircraft and aerospace equipment, precision instruments, and electronic components. Petroleum is produced by offshore drilling. Tourism is another major source of revenue to the area. The Pacific Ocean with great beaches and rugged coastline, surfing, mild temperate weather attracts people year round to the area.

The city is home to the University of California, Santa Barbara, Westmont College, Brooks Institute of Photography, the Santa Barbara Museum of Art, the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, and the Santa Barbara Zoological Gardens.

Santa Barbara is buffered by temperate weather. January, the coldest month, averages 54F. In the summer, August, the hottest month averages 68F. The typical minimum and maximum temperatures do not vary much from the averages, one of the reasons why it is such a popular place to live. The city receives 17"/year of rain. The rainy season is in the winter and the area receives almost no rain during the summer.

All pictures are from Santa Barbara or the immediate area, using various film and digital cameras.

Visit numerous other Parks and Cities by World from the Web.

Santa Barbara Mission, located at 2201 Laguna Street and E. Los Olivos.
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Santa Barbara Mission at Laguna Street.
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Santa Barbara Mission at Laguna Street.
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Inside the grounds at the Santa Barbara Mission.
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Inside the grounds at the Santa Barbara Mission.
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Downtown Santa Barbara, the view from State St near Carrillo.
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The view from State St near Carrillo.
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The view from Canon Perdido near State St.
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The electric bus system (batteries) in Santa Barbara.
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The view from State St near De La Guera.
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Haley and State, Old Town Clock.
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At the end of State St, Stearns Wharf.
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The view from Stearns Wharf in Santa Barbara.
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Stearns Wharf.
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Tower at UCSB (University of California at santa Barbara).
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From Davidson Library looking at Girvetz Hall at UCSB.
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The beach in Santa Barbara.
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The view from the Botanic Garden, located on Mission Canyon Road.
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Additional parks in the San Barbara area are listed below for your viewing.
Channel Islands National Park by World from the Web, to the southeast of Santa Barbara.
Pictures of the West Coast by World from the Web, including the Santa Barbara area.