Home › California › Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara, California

Located in Santa Barbara County, California, Santa Barbara was founded in 1786. The 1969 Santa Barbara oil spill is credited with launching the modern environmental movement. After the 1925 earthquake, the city was rebuilt in a unified Spanish Colonial Revival style.
Trending in Santa Barbara
Latest updates coming soon
2 hours ago
More local news on the way
5 hours ago
Founded 1786 | Population 88,000 | Peak 88,000 (2024) | County Santa Barbara County

Top 10 Most Important Events for Santa Barbara, California

undefined
1786 Presidio Founded: Spanish military outpost and mission.
undefined
1836 Economic Development: Santa Barbara grew through the oil and petroleum industry.
undefined
1925 Earthquake: 6.8 earthquake rebuilds city in Spanish Colonial style.
undefined
1969 Oil Spill: Union Oil spill launches modern environmental movement.
undefined
2018 Montecito Mudslides: Post-fire mudslides kill 23.
🧠
How Well Do You Know Santa Barbara?
5 questions • 2 minutes
Take the Quiz →

Latest News in Santa Barbara

Jul 16, 2026
Inmate Admits To Beating Two Child Molesters To Death With Another Prisoner’s Cane Behind Bars
41-year-old Jonathan Watson, a California inmate accused of killing two convicted child molesters with a cane last month, has publ…
Jun 24, 2026
She Was Considered An Ugly Duckling Growing Up But Today She’s An Iconic Super Model
Long before she became one of the most recognizable faces in fashion and television, she was a young girl struggling with insecuri…
May 19, 2026
This Innocent Looking Boy Grew Up To Become One Of The World’s Most Evil Men
Theodore Kaczynski showed troubling signs of anger and isolation long before authorities accused him of carrying out one of the mo…
May 6, 2026
He Had A Tough Childhood And His Dad Was A Bank Robber But Today He’s A Hollywood Star
Before he ever put on a Spider-Man suit, Tobey Maguire was fighting battles far from Hollywood red carpets and blockbuster premier…
May 4, 2026
Wheel of Fortune Contestant Misses Out On $61,000 Over This Tough Puzzle
A Wheel of Fortune contestant saw $61,000 slip away in the Bonus Round last week, leaving fans stunned over what many called one o…
Apr 20, 2026
Dead or Missing Scientists Pose “National Security Threat,” Top House Republican Warns as Oversight Committee Launches Probe
House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer (R-Ky.) has declared a series of deaths and disappearances involving at least 11 Am…

Complete Historical Timeline

1786 Culture
Presidio Founded
1836 Industry
Economic Development
1925 Disaster
Earthquake
1969 Disaster
Oil Spill
2018 Disaster
Montecito Mudslides

Did You Know?

1
The 1969 Santa Barbara oil spill is credited with launching the modern environmental movement.
2
After the 1925 earthquake, the city was rebuilt in a unified Spanish Colonial Revival style.
3
Known as the 'American Riviera' for its Mediterranean climate and beauty.
4
Santa Barbara is located in Santa Barbara County, California.
5
Santa Barbara was founded in 1786.

Famous People from Santa Barbara, California

KP
Katy Perry
Actor, Businessperson · Born Oct 25, 1984 · Age 41
ES
Edie Sedgwick
Actor, Socialite · Born Apr 20, 1943 · Died Nov 16, 1971 (age 28)
MM
Maika Monroe
Actor, Television Actor · Born May 29, 1993 · Age 32
AE
Anthony Edwards
Television Producer, Voice Actor · Born Jul 19, 1962 · Age 63
AL
Alex D. Linz
Actor, Writer · Born Jan 3, 1989 · Age 37

Other Cities in California

View all California cities →
LA
Los Angeles
Pop. 3,898,747
SD
San Diego
Pop. 1,386,932
SJ
San Jose
Pop. 1,013,240
SF
San Francisco
Pop. 873,965
F
Fresno
Pop. 542,107
S
Sacramento
Pop. 524,943
See something that needs correcting?
We take accuracy seriously. Help us keep Santa Barbara's history right.