Top Features for Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara is a city located on the central California coast. One standout feature about Santa Barbara is that the Santa Ynez Mountains are a dramatic backdrop. When you venture downtown, you can find Mediterranean-style white stucco buildings with red-tile roofs that showcase the city’s Spanish colonial heritage. Another attraction you can see is Mission Santa Barbara, located on a nearby hill, founded in 1786.
Facts
- Twenty-five beaches span approximately 100 miles/160 kilometers of south-facing, scenic shoreline.
- There are 55 parks and eight public gardens in Santa Barbara, which offer residents and visitors various outdoor recreation and activities.
- You can find over 50 museums and galleries like Channel Islands National Park (known as “The Galapagos of North America”) El Presidio State Park, and Old Mission Santa Barbara (“The Queen of the Missions”).
History/Data
Santa Barbara has a history that has featured many cultures. The first settlers were the Chumash people, who brought basketry and boat-building techniques. Then, the Spanish Colonial influence came into play, which you can see throughout the city today.
These settlers were the ones that gave the city its distinct architectural style. Local visionaries still carried through this style after a destructive earthquake eliminated most of the city’s infrastructure in 1925.
Santa Barbara is set in the Pacific Time Zone, with daylight savings times occurring from mid-March to early November.
This city has a moderate year-round Mediterranean climate with 15-20 degrees C/60-80 degrees F.
In 2019, it was reported that Santa Barbara has a population of 91,376 residents.
LGBTQ+ Facts
While there is no set gay neighborhood in Santa Barbara, there are many LGBTQ+ friendly establishments that you can find. If you want to get into the gay nightlife scene, you can venture only 90-minutes to Los Angeles.
Even though there may not be any LGBTQ+ nightlife, since Santa Barbara is such a touristy destination, it has made it a popular gay destination. One club in town, called Wildcat Lounge, has an LGBTQ-friendly night on Sunday nights. Even Katy Perry has been known to stop into this club whenever she’s touring in the area.
In addition, the Pacific Pride Foundation hosts the annual Pacific Pride Festival celebration so you can find an LGBTQ+ presence in this community.
Also, there’s an unofficial gay beach in the area called Padaro Beach. It is not easily accessible; you will need to hike down a bluff, next to train tracks, and go downhill on sandy terrain. However, it’s reclusive and quiet and can be a great spot to go hang out.
Mental Health in Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara scored 72 out of 100, according to findings from US News. Here are some statistics:
METRIC |
COUNTRY |
U.S. |
PEER GROUP |
STATE |
|
|
|
|
|
Adults With Frequent Mental Distress |
13.1% |
15.1% |
13.5% |
12.7% |
Deaths of Despair /100k |
37.4 |
43.3 |
38.9 |
33.2 |
Medicare Beneficiaries With Depression |
16.5% |
18.0% |
18.7% |
16.2% |
If you know a child or young person in the Santa Barbara area looking for a psychologist, we have various resources available at LGBTQ and ALL. Be sure to browse through our listings to find the ideal match. That way, you can find the appropriate mental health care for your unique situation.