SafekipediaSanta Maria, California
Adapted from Wikipedia · Discoverer experience
Santa Maria is a city in Santa Barbara County, California, United States. It is located along the Central Coast of California, about 65 miles northwest of Santa Barbara and 150 miles northwest of Los Angeles. As of the 2020 census, the city had a population of 109,707 people.
The city is well known for its wine industry and a special type of cooking called Santa Maria–style barbecue. It is also sometimes confused with the nearby Santa Maria Valley AVA, which is an area famous for its wines. The name "Santa Maria" comes from the Spanish words for "St. Mary."
History
Main article: History of Santa Maria, California
The Santa Maria Valley, stretching from the Sierra Madre (California) Mountains toward the Pacific Ocean, was home to the Chumash people for thousands of years. They lived on the hillsides among the oaks, near the Santa Maria River among the sycamores, and along the coast. They built special boats called Tomol for fishing in the ocean.
In 1769, explorers passed through the valley. Missions were built nearby in the late 1700s. After Mexico won its independence, the land became available for private ownership. When California became a U.S. state in 1850, many people moved there.
By the late 1800s, the rich soil attracted farmers. The area became a major farming region. The town of Santa Maria was officially named on February 18, 1885.
Oil exploration began in 1888, and big discoveries were made in the early 1900s. Over the years, many oil fields were found, and thousands of wells were drilled. Oil production grew a lot in the 1930s, which helped the city grow.
Geography
Santa Maria is a city in California along the Central Coast. It is about 65 miles northwest of Santa Barbara and 150 miles northwest of Los Angeles. The city covers an area of 23.4 square miles, most of which is land with a small amount of water.
Santa Maria has a cool climate with lots of sunshine, often cooled by breezes from the ocean. Fog is common, and snow sometimes appears in the nearby mountains during winter. Rain falls about 13 inches each year, but the amount can vary a lot from year to year. The city’s hottest temperature on record was 110 °F in 2008, and the coldest was 20 °F in 1976 and again in 1978.
Demographics
2020
2010
The 2010 United States census reported that Santa Maria had a population of 99,553. Many people in Santa Maria lived in homes with families. Most of the people were from Hispanic or Latino backgrounds. There were many children under 18 living with their families.
2000
According to the 2000 census, there were 77,423 people living in Santa Maria. Many families lived in the city, and there were also many people under the age of 18. The city had a mix of different groups of people.
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1910 | 2,260 | — | |
| 1920 | 3,943 | 74.5% | |
| 1930 | 7,057 | 79.0% | |
| 1940 | 8,522 | 20.8% | |
| 1950 | 10,440 | 22.5% | |
| 1960 | 20,027 | 91.8% | |
| 1970 | 32,749 | 63.5% | |
| 1980 | 39,685 | 21.2% | |
| 1990 | 61,284 | 54.4% | |
| 2000 | 77,423 | 26.3% | |
| 2010 | 99,553 | 28.6% | |
| 2020 | 109,707 | 10.2% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1860–1870 1880-1890 1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2020 | |||
| Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 2000 | Pop 2010 | Pop 2020 | % 2000 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 24,742 | 21,626 | 16,758 | 31.96% | 21.72% | 15.28% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 1,246 | 1,193 | 1,043 | 1.61% | 1.20% | 0.95% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 390 | 345 | 322 | 0.50% | 0.35% | 0.29% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 3,406 | 4,652 | 4,999 | 4.40% | 4.67% | 4.56% |
| Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 109 | 132 | 96 | 0.14% | 0.13% | 0.09% |
| Other Race alone (NH) | 68 | 157 | 504 | 0.09% | 0.16% | 0.46% |
| Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) | 1,266 | 1,334 | 2,017 | 1.64% | 1.34% | 1.84% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 46,196 | 70,114 | 83,968 | 59.67% | 70.43% | 76.54% |
| Total | 77,423 | 99,553 | 109,707 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
Economy
Agriculture is very important for Santa Maria's economy. The area has many vineyards, wineries, and winemakers. It is close to the wine regions of Santa Barbara County and San Luis Obispo County.
The farms around Santa Maria grow many crops, including strawberries, wine grapes, celery, lettuce, peas, squash, cauliflower, spinach, broccoli, and beans. There are also many cattle ranchers in the area.
The city has big shopping areas like the Crossroads and the Santa Maria Town Center, which is the largest enclosed mall on the Central Coast. Santa Maria also has industries such as aerospace, communications, high-tech research, energy production, military operations, and manufacturing. The petroleum industry has been strong here since oil was first found in 1902.
| # | Employer | # of Employees |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vandenberg Space Force Base | 6,700 |
| 2 | Santa Maria-Bonita School District | 2,100 |
| 3 | Marian Regional Medical Center | 1,920 |
| 4 | Allan Hancock College | 1,480 |
| 5 | C&D Zodiac Aerospace | 915 |
| 6 | Santa Maria Joint Union High School District | 805 |
| 7 | Windset Farms | 750 |
| 8 | City of Santa Maria | 586 |
| 9 | Walmart | 440 |
| 10 | Agro-Jal Farms | 420 |
Arts and culture
Tri-tip and Santa Maria-style barbecue
Main article: Santa Maria-style barbecue
Santa Maria is famous for its special way of cooking food, called Santa Maria-style barbecue. This style started in the Santa Maria Valley and is all about how they cook a cut of beef called the tri-tip. The tri-tip is a small, triangular piece of meat that used to be used for ground beef or sliced into steaks. But in the late 1950s, people in Santa Maria began cooking it in a special way. They season the meat with salt, pepper, and spices, and cook it whole on a rotating spit or over red oak wood. Common side dishes include garlic bread, pinquito beans, and salad.
This style of cooking is very important to the area and is considered one of California's most famous food traditions.
Wine
Main article: Santa Maria Valley AVA
Santa Maria is part of a big area known for making wine, called the Santa Barbara Wine Country. This includes the valleys around Lompoc, Los Alamos, and Santa Ynez. The Santa Maria Valley is the northernmost part of this wine region. It has many different types of soil and weather, which is great for growing grapes. Two popular types of grapes grown here are Chardonnay and Pinot noir, which are used to make the area's main wines.
Grapes from Santa Maria are used by wineries all over Santa Barbara County and even beyond. The valley is bounded by the San Rafael Mountains and the Los Padres National Forest to the east, and by the Solomon Hills and the city of Santa Maria to the west.
Theatre
Santa Maria's Allan Hancock College is home to The Pacific Conservatory of the Performing Arts (PCPA), a school and theater group. Famous people who went to PCPA include Robin Williams, Kathy Bates, Kelly McGillis, Mercedes Ruehl, Scott Aukerman, and Zac Efron. PCPA also has a theater in Solvang, California.
The city also has a large movie theater called Regal Edwards, located in the Town Center Mall, and a small community theater called the Santa Maria Civic Theatre.
Celebrations
In 2017, Santa Maria held its first Pride celebration. This event was organized by HOPE (House of Pride and Equality) together with Future Leaders of America. It took place in the town center west parking lot and lasted five hours. The celebration included dancing, face painting, salsa classes, cabaret performances, and games. Guest speakers included Rep. Salud Carbajal and Alma Hernandez, representing the 3rd District County Supervisor Joan Hartmann's office. This celebration has continued every year since, even during the pandemic with a virtual event. HOPE plans it each year with community organizers to show love and support for Santa Maria's LGBTQ+ community and others.
Parks and recreation
Santa Maria Fairpark, found at Stowell Road and Thornburg Street, hosts the Santa Barbara County Fair every year. This fair started in 1891 and also features a Strawberry Festival along with many other events, concerts, and conventions.
The Paul Nelson Aquatic Center has a big Olympic-size pool and a fun pool for everyone. It offers swim lessons and a swim club, and during summer it is open for public use. Inside, there is a basketball court, an art room, and a snack room. The center also includes two special BBQ areas and a baseball field.
Waller Park, covering 154 acres at the south end of Santa Maria, has two big ponds with water fountains, playgrounds, picnic spots, sports areas, a hiking trail, and a frisbee golf course. The land for Waller Park was donated by the Santa Maria Golf and Country Club in 1928, with more land bought in 1964 and 1967.
Preisker Park, located at the north end, has open fields, a disc golf course, playgrounds, and picnic areas. Its main attraction is a large pond with a small model of the Santa Maria ship that children can play on.
The Santa Maria Skate Park is in Fletcher Park. There is also the Paul Nelson Aquatic Center/Abel Maldonado Community Youth Center. Rotary Centennial Park includes a basketball court, a baseball field, a big open grass area, and two playgrounds. Each year, it hosts the Annual Free Family Kite Festival organized by the Santa Maria Valley Discovery Museum.
Government
Santa Maria has a government that is split between different political views, unlike nearby Santa Barbara, which leans more to one side. Because of this split and issues with water and irrigation, some people have tried to separate part of the county to create a new county called Mission County, but these efforts have not succeeded. In national elections, Santa Maria usually votes for the Democratic candidate, having done so for the last six elections as of 2020.
Education
The Santa Maria Joint Union High School District is the oldest high school district in California. It operates three main public high schools: Santa Maria High School, Pioneer Valley High School, and Ernest Righetti High School. The Santa Maria-Bonita School District includes 17 elementary schools for grades K-6 and four junior high schools for grades 7-8, serving students living in Santa Maria and nearby areas. There are also four well-known private schools in the valley: St. Joseph High School, St. Mary's Catholic School, Valley Christian Academy, and Pacific Christian School for grades K-6.
Allan Hancock College is a public college located in northern Santa Barbara County. It is highly ranked and serves about 11,500 students each semester across four locations, including Santa Maria. The main campus in Santa Maria is a 105-acre park and is famous for its strong sports programs and the Pacific Conservatory of the Performing Arts, a top theatre program in the state. Santa Maria is also home to Santa Barbara Business College, which has been serving the community since 1982.
Media
Television
Santa Maria has several TV stations that serve the area, including:
- KEYT 3, which shows shows from ABC, CBS, and MNTV
- KSBY 6, an NBC station that broadcasts from San Luis Obispo
- KCOY 12, a Telemundo station based in Santa Maria
- KKFX 24, a FOX station licensed to San Luis Obispo but broadcast from KCOY in Santa Maria
- KTAS 33, a TeleXitos station from San Luis Obispo
- KPMR 38, a Univision station
Radio
The area also has many radio stations with different types of music and news, such as:
- 1240 KSMA for News/Talk
- 1380 KVSM "Mario 1380" for Regional Mexican music
- 1410 KTNK for Classic Country
- 1440 KUHL for News/Talk
- 1480 KSBQ "La Mexicana" for Ranchera music
- 1600 KTAP "Radio Ranchito" for Regional Mexican music
- 88.9 KXWB "La Nueva Radio Vision" for Spanish Christian Talk
- 89.7 KCLM NPR from Cal Lutheran
- 90.5 KGDP "Family Life Radio" for Contemporary Christian music
- 91.5 KRQZ "RadioU" for Christian Rock
- 94.1 KLMM "Radio Lazer" for Regional Mexican music
- 95.7 KPAT "The Beat" for CHR-Rhythmic music
- 96.7 KSYV "Mix 96.7" for Adult Contemporary music
- 97.1 KRTO for Rhythmic Oldies
- 99.1 KXFM "Old School 99.1 FM" for Rhythmic Oldies
- 100.3 KRQK "La Ley" for Regional Mexican music from Lompoc
- 102.5 KSNI "Sunny Country" for Country music
- 103.3 KRUZ for Classic Hits from Santa Barbara, California
- 104.1 KBOX "Pirate Radio" for Adult Hits
- 105.1 KIDI "La Buena" for Regional Mexican music
- 106.7 KSMY "La Mejor" for Spanish Oldies
Infrastructure
Transportation
Roads
US 101 is the main freeway that goes through Santa Maria and connects many cities on the West Coast. It has been improved so that there are no places where people can cross it on foot. A big project to make the road wider was finished in 2009.
SR 1 runs near the city and connects it to Vandenberg Space Force Base close to Lompoc. SR 135 is an important road that goes through the city from Los Alamos to the Santa Maria River.
Rail
The Santa Maria Valley Railroad is a smaller railroad that goes to Guadalupe, where it connects to a bigger railroad. There are plans to start a light rail service in the future.
The closest train station with long trips is in Guadalupe, and buses go from Santa Maria to that station. The Pacific Surfliner train goes north to San Luis Obispo and south to San Diego through Los Angeles. There is also a daily bus service to Visalia.
Bus
Local buses in Santa Maria are run by SMAT, Santa Maria Area Transit. There are also buses to nearby places like Lompoc, Vandenberg Space Force Base, and San Luis Obispo. Long-distance buses are provided by Greyhound Lines, and there is a commuter bus to Santa Barbara.
Airport
The Santa Maria Public Airport has flights to Las Vegas and Phoenix.
Courts
Santa Maria has one of the main courts in Santa Barbara County. In the past, it was where a big court case was held.
Law enforcement
The Santa Maria Police Department is the main group that keeps the city safe, handling many calls each year. The Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office also works in the city. The police department has three main parts: Administration, Operations, and Support.
Notable people
Santa Maria has been home to many famous people in different fields. In entertainment, notable individuals include actress Kathy Bates, actor Gary Coleman, and musician Nino Del Pesco. The city has also seen success in sports, with former NFL players like Mark Brunell and Olympic swimmer Josh Prenot.
Other well-known figures from Santa Maria include politicians such as former Lieutenant Governor of California Abel Maldonado, as well as authors, activists, and leaders in various fields.
In popular culture
In the television show Space: 1999, there is an episode where characters build a small village in what used to be Santa Maria, California. They find signs of an old, mysterious civilization similar to Atlantis.
In the 1995 movie Nick of Time, the main character, played by Johnny Depp, comes from Santa Maria, California.
Images
Related articles
This article is a child-friendly adaptation of the Wikipedia article on Santa Maria, California, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Images from Wikimedia Commons. Tap any image to view credits and license.