Santa Maria

ABOUT

Santa Maria is the northern most city in Santa Barbara County off the 101 freeway that has a lot to offer for Santa Maria, Orcutt and Guadalupe residents but also the 5 cities with their large selection of commercial infrastructure on Broadway and also Betteravia. With a population over 100,000 people, it is one of the largest communities here on the central coast.

HISTORY

Santa Maria much like the San Luis Obispo County coastal towns was home to the Chumash people and relied on the ocean for fishing. Santa Maria developed into an agricultural town which is still a vital part of the community today. Oil was also a large part of the growth of Santa Maria with 1,775 oil wells in the Santa Maria valley by 1957.

GEOGRAPHY

Santa Maria is approximately 22 square miles and runs from Orcutt where the Santa Maria Airport is at the southern border to the Santa Maria River to the northern border separating Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties. Santa Maria is primarily flat for the most part.

CLIMATE

Santa Maria offers a mild climate being not too far from the ocean with much of the year in the 60’s and 70’s with some summers getting into the 100-degree weather but usually 80’s and 90’s. Most winters are in the 40’s and 50’s but can drop down below freezing from time to time.

DEMOGRAPHICS

Santa Maria offers a very good balance of commercial, industrial, residential income and single-family homes with some mobile home parks and condominiums as well. The local businesses and commercial properties range from big box like Home Depot, Lowes, Costco, Target etc. off Betteravia. Most of the automobile dealers are represented in the same area with other businesses off Broadway and Main Street where there is also the Santa Maria Town Center, the only indoor shopping mall in the area

ECONOMY

Santa Maria is diverse with business from small mom and pop businesses to Big Box that offer a vast array of employment plus there is a lot of medical opportunities along with agriculture is big here in the area also.

CULTURE/LIFESTYLE

Santa Maria weather offers virtually year-round outdoor living and probably the reason why the Santa Maria BBQ is now known worldwide. There are all walks of life and things to do here in the area for everyone.

THINGS TO DO

Santa Maria has many things to keep you busy like the Pacific Conservatory Theatre, wineries, vineyards, tasting rooms, Discovery Museum, Museum of flight, hiking, biking, Las Flores Ranch Park, Historical Society Museum and lets not forget about the annual fair at the Fair Park that is always a great thing to do.

EVENTS

Santa Maria always has something to do, whether you like to go for a walk or hike like at the Los Flores Ranch bird walk or walk through the Guadalupe- Nipomo dunes, maybe stand-up comedy at the Cubanissmo is your thing, the Santa Maria Philharmonic is a great night out, annual Christmas parade, golf events at the Santa Maria country club, doggie parade and lets not forget the annual fair is a great event,

REAL ESTATE

Santa Maria has something for everyone except ocean front or homes with an ocean view but has mobile homes that start out in the $15,000 range to $2,000,000 luxury homes and estates.

SERVICES

Santa Maria is an incorporated city with Santa Barbara county so has their own police, fire and government and full city services.

LANDMARKS

Santa Maria City Hall, Guadalupe Dunes, Veterans memorial, Boomers and Preisker Park.