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- About Santa MariaPosted on: 2005-06-07Settlers created a productive area from the desert, planting more than 40,000 eucalyptus trees to break the forces of wind and lessen its drying effect on surface soil. The area's mild climate results from solving the wind problem of the 1870's. Irrigation was introduced in 1897, establishing the valley's destiny. People can enjoy Santa Maria's three 18 hole golf courses, lighted tennis courts, a tennis club, clamming, and west of Santa Maria attracts sand dune riders statewide.
Santa Maria is located in California's Central Coast Wine Country between Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo, approximately 170 miles north of Los Angeles and 270 miles south of San Francisco, where the craggy, brush covered foothills of the Sierra Madre Mountains descend into a flat, fertile valley. The Santa Maria area includes the cities of Santa Maria and Guadalupe and the unincorporated areas of Orcutt and Nipomo. These combined areas make up the urban and most populated area of the Central Coast. The total population of the Santa Maria Valley has grown to nearly 114,000 of which 85,000 are located in the city of Santa Maria. The population of Santa Barbara County is 414,156.
Those fortunate enough to relocate to this peaceful valley will find friendly neighbors, a strong community spirit, a growing business sector, and a moderate cost of living and housing compared with Los Angeles, San Francisco, Santa Barbara and San Diego.
Stemming from the custom from years past of celebrating the end of 'roundup' on cattle ranches, the Santa Maria Style Barbecue still flourishes as a widely known attraction. Barbecues may have originated when an unknown 18th century vaquero tossed a hunk of beef on a fire. With an abundance of beef and red oak for the fire, the tradition was honed as ranchers got together to help neighbors at roundups and brandings, polishing off their work with a neighborly feast. The tradition moved indoors when the Santa Maria Club opened in a former home at 800 South Broadway in 1919, and a huge barbecue pit was built in the backyard. Top sirloin of beef is cooked over chunks of locally grown red oak, seasoned, and served with salsa, pinquito beans, French bread, and salad. More than 50 wineries are found between Poso Robles and Santa Barbara, and the Central Coast is gaining a reputation for premium, award-winning wines.
Located 12 miles from the Pacific coastline, Santa Maria enjoys a smog-free climate with mild temperatures throughout the year. Ocean breezes cool the valley in the summer and warm it in the winter. The community which is ideally located between the Pacific Ocean and the Sierra Madre foothills, went through a couple of name changes - Grangerville and Central City - until it was finally dubbed Santa Maria in 1885.
The community grew on land donated by four prominent settlers - Rudolph Cook, John Thornburg, Isaac Fessler and Isaac Miller - each of whom donated a 40-acre plot. Their names can still be seen today on city streets. The town was initially inhabited by farmers, who are still influencing the city today. Future growth was initiated by the discovery of oil in the Santa Maria Valley.
The City of Santa Maria is a regional trading, manufacturing and service center. The Santa Maria area has a stable economic base which includes agriculture, transportation, oil, tourism, electronic manufacturing, and the government installation at nearby Vandenberg Air Force Base, which is the largest employer in the areaa, employing over 5,000 people
