Santa Barbara
City in Santa Barbara County, California
Santa Barbara is a city in Santa Barbara County, California, with 88,665 residents (2020 Census). It sits at 49 ft (15 m) above sea level. The nearest town is Mission Canyon, 3.6 miles N.
- 88,665residents (2020 Census)
- 49 ftelevation · 15 m
- 19.5 sq miland area · 50.5 km²
- 4,550 / sq mipopulation density
- 93109main ZIP code (3 in total)
About Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara (Spanish: Santa Bárbara, meaning 'Saint Barbara') is a coastal city in Santa Barbara County, California, United States, of which it is also the county seat. Situated on a southward-facing section of coastline, the longest such section on the West Coast of the United States excepting Alaska, the city lies between the steeply rising Santa Ynez Mountains and the Pacific Ocean. Santa Barbara's climate is often described as Mediterranean, and the city has been dubbed "The American Riviera". As of the 2020 census, Santa Barbara had a population of 88,665.
In addition to being a popular tourist and resort destination, the city has a diverse economy that includes a large service sector, education, technology, health care, finance and local government. In 2004, the service sector accounted for 35% of local employment. In 2024, the biggest employer in Santa Barbara County was government, followed by private education and healthcare, then leisure and hospitality. Together, these accounted for 50.5% of all employment.
Area institutions of higher learning include the University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara City College, Westmont College, The Colleges of Law, and Antioch University Santa Barbara.
The city is served by Santa Barbara Municipal Airport and train service is provided by Amtrak, which operates two service lines with stops in Santa Barbara: the Pacific Surfliner, which runs from San Diego to San Luis Obispo, and the Coast Starlight, which runs from Los Angeles to Seattle. The Santa Barbara area is connected via U.S. Highway 101 to Los Angeles 100 mi (160 km) to the southeast and San Francisco 325 mi (525 km) to the northwest.
Behind the city, in and beyond the Santa Ynez Mountains, is the Los Padres National Forest, which contains several remote wilderness areas. Channel Islands National Park and Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary are located approximately 20 miles (30 km) offshore.
Text: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
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- Median household income
- $106,182
- Median home value
- $1,570,800
- Median rent
- $2,413/mo
- Median age
- 39.7
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Map of Santa Barbara
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Open in Google Maps ›Santa Barbara, CA population
Santa Barbara had 88,665 residents in the 2020 Census.
| 2020 Census | 88,665 |
|---|---|
| Density | 4,550 per sq mi (1,757 per km²) |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Decennial Census.
Santa Barbara at a glance
| State | California (CA) |
|---|---|
| County | Santa Barbara County |
| Type | City |
| Population | 88,665 (2020) |
| Land area | 19.49 sq mi (50.5 km²) |
| Water area | 17.96 sq mi (46.52 km²) |
| Elevation | 49 ft (15 m) |
| Coordinates | 34.4036° N, 119.7137° W |
| ZIP codes | 93109, 93101, 93103 |
| Official website | santabarbaraca.gov |
| Census code (GEOID) | 0669070 |
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau (Gazetteer, ZCTA), USGS GNIS, Wikidata.
Towns near Santa Barbara
- Mission Canyon3.6 mi N
- Montecito4.7 mi E
- Eastern Goleta Valley5.0 mi NW
- Summerland7.3 mi E
- University of California-Santa Barbara7.6 mi W
- Isla Vista8.4 mi W
- Goleta8.6 mi W
- Toro Canyon8.7 mi E
- Carpinteria11.8 mi E
- Oak View23.6 mi E
- Mira Monte24.4 mi E
- North Ventura Avenue24.6 mi E
Straight-line distance between town centers.
Frequently asked questions about Santa Barbara
What county is Santa Barbara in?
Santa Barbara is in Santa Barbara County, California.
What is the population of Santa Barbara, CA?
88,665 people lived in Santa Barbara at the 2020 Census.
What is the ZIP code of Santa Barbara, CA?
The main ZIP code is 93109. Other ZIP codes: 93101, 93103.
What is the elevation of Santa Barbara?
49 feet (15 m) above sea level.
What towns are near Santa Barbara?
Mission Canyon (3.6 mi), Montecito (4.7 mi), Eastern Goleta Valley (5.0 mi), Summerland (7.3 mi), University of California-Santa Barbara (7.6 mi).
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