Goleta, California
Encyclopedia
Goleta is a city in southern Santa Barbara County, California
, USA. It was incorporated
as a city in 2002, after a long period as the largest unincorporated
, populated area in the county
. As of the 2000 census, the Census-designated place
(CDP) had a total population of 55,204, however, a significant portion of the census territory
of 2000 did not incorporate into the new city
. The population was 29,888 at the 2010 census.
It is known for being near the University of California, Santa Barbara
campus, although the CDP of Isla Vista
is closer.
). One of the largest villages, S'axpilil, was north of the Goleta Slough
, not far from the present-day Santa Barbara Airport
.
The first European visitor was Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo
, who sailed past in 1542. During the 1980s, discovery of some 16th-century cannon on the beach led to the advancement of a theory that Sir Francis Drake sailed into the Goleta Slough in 1579, where he may have spent several weeks repairing his ship.
In the 18th century, two Spanish expeditions came to the area. The second founded the Presidio of Santa Barbara
and Mission to the east, and began the work of converting the Chumash to Roman Catholicism. During the 19th century most of the area, formerly covered with oak
trees, was deforested, and ranching was the principal land use during this time. Nicolas A. Den, grantee of the Rancho Dos Pueblos
Mexican land grant and his father-in-law Daniel A. Hill, grantee Rancho La Goleta
, became wealthy in the late 1840s by selling locally grown beef to the thousands of miners who came to the California Gold Rush
.
that had silted-in due to agriculture to land and takeoff. As former tidelands, the title to these lands was unclear. Starting in 1940, boosters from the city of Santa Barbara lobbied and obtained federal funding and passed a bond measure to formally develop an airport on the Goleta Slough. The necessity for an airport – or at least a military airfield – became more apparent after a Japanese submarine shelled the Ellwood Oil Field
in 1942. This was one of the only direct-fire attacks on the US mainland during WW II
. The Marine Corps undertook completion of the airport and established living quarters on the site of the current University of California, Santa Barbara
campus.
After the war, Goleta Valley residents supported the construction of Cachuma Lake, which provided water, enabling a housing boom and the establishment of research and aerospace firms in the area. In 1954, the University of California, Santa Barbara
moved to part of the former Marine base. Along with the boom in aerospace, the character changed from rural-agricultural to high-tech. Goleta remains a center for high-tech firms, and a bedroom community for neighboring Santa Barbara.
as a city in 2002 after several unsuccessful attempts. A significant urbanized area remains unincorporated
between the town of Goleta and the city of Santa Barbara
, largely consisting of the area which polled against incorporation prior to the 2002 election (this area was excluded from the city boundaries to facilitate approval of incorporation). There has been some discussion of annexation of this area (sometimes dubbed "Noleta
") by the city of Santa Barbara. In addition, the student community of Isla Vista directly to the south was deliberately excluded, even though the communities share a ZIP Code and many community resources. The LAFCO executive director cited "political infeasibility" as the reason, although the only poll on the issue indicated a city of Goleta including Isla Vista would have passed at the ballot box. The current boundaries of Goleta are shown in the city's map.
The 2000 census figures reflect the census-designated place
of Goleta, which was somewhat larger than the incorporated city.
although it does exist, the latter especially around the Old Town area.
In 2008, the Gap Fire, a wildfire that consumed more than 9000 acres (36.4 km²) over a period of several weeks, was finally contained on July 29.
Goleta contains a mix of land uses, lacking only heavy industrial zones. North of the US Route 101 freeway is a region of predominantly tract housing built between the late 1950s and the 1970s, intermingled with newer condominium developments, a few gated communities, and adjacent to a lower-density residential zone in the lower foothills of the Santa Ynez Mountains which contains larger homes. A commercial strip along Calle Real is one of the town's several business districts. South of the freeway is Old Town Goleta, centered on the stretch of Hollister Avenue between Fairview Avenue and the Highway 217
overpass; adjacent to this commercial area is a region of older, and occasionally substandard housing; some of the south county's least affluent people live in this zone. Between Old Town Goleta and the airport, and running along south Fairview Avenue, are some light industrial zones, some of relatively few in southern Santa Barbara County. Farther west, near the intersection of Storke Road and Hollister Avenue, is a large shopping mall, including "big box
" stores, which draws business from outside the local area. This area is called the Camino Real Marketplace. There are also several business parks including Cabrillo Business Park, Fairview Business Center and the area along Castilian Drive. Adjacent to the mall and extending more than a mile farther west is a residential area, most of the housing in which dates back to the 1960s; it includes some high-density apartment blocks which accept some of the overflow student population from nearby UCSB
.
Goleta has several significant parks, including Stow Park, Lake Los Carneros, and the Coronado Butterfly Preserve providing street access to the Ellwood Mesa Open Space on the bluffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean with beach access from UCSB. Goleta Beach County Park
is just outside of the city limits.
, along the coast (the coast runs east to west in this portion of southern California). Nearby is the Santa Barbara campus
of the University of California
and the student community of Isla Vista
.
The city's geography at the base of the Santa Ynez Mountains has made it subject to sudden, extremely hot winds locally called "sundowners
", similar to the more infamous Santa Ana winds in the Los Angeles
and San Diego regions. They are caused by high pressure drawing dry air from the inland side of the mountains, whereupon they can become superheated as they rush down on the city's side. On June 17, 1859, a sundowner wind passed through Goleta and rapidly raised the temperature to 133 degrees Fahrenheit (approximately 56 degrees Celsius) in a matter of minutes. People were forced to take shelter immediately; when they emerged they saw that most animals and plants had been killed. It was the highest temperature recorded in the United States
until 1913.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the CDP has a total area of 26.4 square miles (68.4 km²), of which 26.3 square miles (68.1 km²) are land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) (0.38%) is water.
is based in Goleta. Raytheon, Citrix Online, FLIR Commercial Vision Systems, ATK, InTouch, and Transphorm are just a few of the many high-tech businesses located in Goleta which is sometimes referred to as "techtopia".
was 3,747.9 people per square mile (1,447.1/km²). The racial makeup of Goleta was 20,833 (69.7%) White, 469 (1.6%) African American, 283 (0.9%) Native American, 2,728 (9.1%) Asian, 26 (0.1%) Pacific Islander, 4,182 (14.0%) from other races
, and 1,367 (4.6%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 9,824 persons (32.9%).
The Census reported that 29,687 people (99.3% of the population) lived in households, 23 (0.1%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 178 (0.6%) were institutionalized.
There were 10,903 households, out of which 3,416 (31.3%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 5,265 (48.3%) were opposite-sex married couples
living together, 1,069 (9.8%) had a female householder with no husband present, 472 (4.3%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 659 (6.0%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships
, and 88 (0.8%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 2,732 households (25.1%) were made up of individuals and 1,090 (10.0%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.72. There were 6,806 families
(62.4% of all households); the average family size was 3.23.
The population was spread out with 6,335 people (21.2%) under the age of 18, 3,790 people (12.7%) aged 18 to 24, 7,966 people (26.7%) aged 25 to 44, 7,749 people (25.9%) aged 45 to 64, and 4,048 people (13.5%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36.5 years. For every 100 females there were 101.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.2 males.
There were 11,473 housing units at an average density of 1,438.7 per square mile (555.5/km²), of which 5,844 (53.6%) were owner-occupied, and 5,059 (46.4%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.2%; the rental vacancy rate was 4.5%. 16,222 people (54.3% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 13,465 people (45.1%) lived in rental housing units.
As of the census
of 2000, there were 55,204 people, 19,954 households, and 13,468 families residing in the CDP. The population density
was 2,102.1 people per square mile (811.7/km²). There were 20,442 housing units at an average density of 778.4 per square mile (300.6/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 78.61% White, 1.27% African American, 0.82% Native American, 6.43% Asian, 0.11% Pacific Islander, 9.23% from other races
, and 3.53% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 22.33% of the population.
There were 19,954 households out of which 30.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.1% were married couples
living together, 8.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.5% were non-families. 22.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.72 and the average family size was 3.18.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 23.1% under the age of 18, 9.5% from 18 to 24, 28.6% from 25 to 44, 24.2% from 45 to 64, and 14.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 98.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.1 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $60,314, and the median income for a family was $67,956 (these figures had risen to $69,242 and $81,862 respectively as of a 2007 estimate). Males had a median income of $44,770 versus $32,127 for females. The per capita income
for the CDP was $28,890. About 2.9% of families and 6.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.8% of those under age 18 and 4.4% of those age 65 or over.
and the Santa Barbara High School District. There are also a host of smaller private schools.
Intercity transit is provided by Amtrak
at the Goleta Amtrak Station
.
Santa Barbara Airport
is located near the central southwestern portion of Goleta, near the intersection of Hollister and South Fairview avenues. The airport serves the greater Santa Barbara area and is serviced by seven airlines, to 10 non-stop destinations.
shot and killed
seven people, including six postal workers, before committing suicide
at the postal-processing facility where she had been previously employed. In addition to Charlotte Colton, 44, and Beverly Graham, 54, the dead included Ze Fairchild, 37, and Maleka Higgins, 28, both of Santa Barbara; Nicola Grant, 42, and Guadalupe Swartz, 52, both of Lompoc; and Dexter Shannon, 57, of Oxnard. This incident is believed to be the deadliest workplace shooting ever carried out in the United States by a woman.
Santa Barbara County, California
Santa Barbara County is a county located in the southern portion of the U.S. state of California, on the Pacific coast. As of 2010 the county had a population of 423,895. The county seat is Santa Barbara and the largest city is Santa Maria.-History:...
, USA. It was incorporated
Municipal corporation
A municipal corporation is the legal term for a local governing body, including cities, counties, towns, townships, charter townships, villages, and boroughs. Municipal incorporation occurs when such municipalities become self-governing entities under the laws of the state or province in which...
as a city in 2002, after a long period as the largest unincorporated
Unincorporated area
In law, an unincorporated area is a region of land that is not a part of any municipality.To "incorporate" in this context means to form a municipal corporation, a city, town, or village with its own government. An unincorporated community is usually not subject to or taxed by a municipal government...
, populated area in the county
County (United States)
In the United States, a county is a geographic subdivision of a state , usually assigned some governmental authority. The term "county" is used in 48 of the 50 states; Louisiana is divided into parishes and Alaska into boroughs. Parishes and boroughs are called "county-equivalents" by the U.S...
. As of the 2000 census, the Census-designated place
Census-designated place
A census-designated place is a concentration of population identified by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes. CDPs are delineated for each decennial census as the statistical counterparts of incorporated places such as cities, towns and villages...
(CDP) had a total population of 55,204, however, a significant portion of the census territory
Census-designated place
A census-designated place is a concentration of population identified by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes. CDPs are delineated for each decennial census as the statistical counterparts of incorporated places such as cities, towns and villages...
of 2000 did not incorporate into the new city
City
A city is a relatively large and permanent settlement. Although there is no agreement on how a city is distinguished from a town within general English language meanings, many cities have a particular administrative, legal, or historical status based on local law.For example, in the U.S...
. The population was 29,888 at the 2010 census.
It is known for being near the University of California, Santa Barbara
University of California, Santa Barbara
The University of California, Santa Barbara, commonly known as UCSB or UC Santa Barbara, is a public research university and one of the 10 general campuses of the University of California system. The main campus is located on a site in Goleta, California, from Santa Barbara and northwest of Los...
campus, although the CDP of Isla Vista
Isla Vista, California
Isla Vista is an unincorporated community and census-designated place in Santa Barbara County, California in the United States. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 23,096. The majority of residents are college students at nearby University of California, Santa Barbara or at Santa...
is closer.
Early history
The area of present-day Goleta was populated for thousands of years by the native Chumash people. Locally they were known by the first European settlers as Canaliños (for the canoes they built for travel to the Channel IslandsChannel Islands of California
The Channel Islands of California are a chain of eight islands located in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Southern California along the Santa Barbara Channel in the United States of America...
). One of the largest villages, S'axpilil, was north of the Goleta Slough
Goleta Slough
The Goleta Slough is an area of estuary, tidal creeks, tidal marsh, and wetlands near Goleta, California, USA. It primarily consists of the filled and unfilled remnants of the historic inner Goleta Bay about 8 miles west of Santa Barbara...
, not far from the present-day Santa Barbara Airport
Santa Barbara Airport
Santa Barbara Airport , also known as Santa Barbara Municipal Airport, is a public airport located west of downtown Santa Barbara, California, United States....
.
The first European visitor was Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo
Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo
Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo was a Portuguese explorer noted for his exploration of the west coast of North America on behalf of Spain. Cabrillo was the first European explorer to navigate the coast of present day California in the United States...
, who sailed past in 1542. During the 1980s, discovery of some 16th-century cannon on the beach led to the advancement of a theory that Sir Francis Drake sailed into the Goleta Slough in 1579, where he may have spent several weeks repairing his ship.
In the 18th century, two Spanish expeditions came to the area. The second founded the Presidio of Santa Barbara
Presidio of Santa Barbara
The El Presidio Real de Santa Bárbara, also known as the Royal Presidio of Santa Barbara, was a military installation in Santa Barbara, California. It was built by Spain in 1782, with the mission of defending the Second Military District in California...
and Mission to the east, and began the work of converting the Chumash to Roman Catholicism. During the 19th century most of the area, formerly covered with oak
Oak
An oak is a tree or shrub in the genus Quercus , of which about 600 species exist. "Oak" may also appear in the names of species in related genera, notably Lithocarpus...
trees, was deforested, and ranching was the principal land use during this time. Nicolas A. Den, grantee of the Rancho Dos Pueblos
Rancho Dos Pueblos
Rancho Dos Pueblos was a Mexican land grant in present day Santa Barbara County, California given in 1842 by Governor Juan Alvarado to Nicolas A. Den. The land extended along the Pacific coast to the northwest of the pueblo and Presidio of Santa Barbara, from Goleta Slough west to Dos Pueblos...
Mexican land grant and his father-in-law Daniel A. Hill, grantee Rancho La Goleta
Rancho La Goleta
Rancho La Goleta was a Mexican land grant in present day Santa Barbara County, California given in 1846 by Governor Pío Pico to Daniel A. Hill. The grant extended along the Pacific coast from today’s Fairview Avenue in present day Goleta, east to Hope Ranch. The grant was adjacent to Rancho...
, became wealthy in the late 1840s by selling locally grown beef to the thousands of miners who came to the California Gold Rush
California Gold Rush
The California Gold Rush began on January 24, 1848, when gold was found by James W. Marshall at Sutter's Mill in Coloma, California. The first to hear confirmed information of the gold rush were the people in Oregon, the Sandwich Islands , and Latin America, who were the first to start flocking to...
.
19th and 20th centuries
The Goleta Valley was a prominent lemon-growing region during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and was largely agricultural. Several areas, especially the Ellwood Mesa, were developed for oil and natural gas extraction. In the 1920s, aviation pioneers started using portions of the Goleta SloughGoleta Slough
The Goleta Slough is an area of estuary, tidal creeks, tidal marsh, and wetlands near Goleta, California, USA. It primarily consists of the filled and unfilled remnants of the historic inner Goleta Bay about 8 miles west of Santa Barbara...
that had silted-in due to agriculture to land and takeoff. As former tidelands, the title to these lands was unclear. Starting in 1940, boosters from the city of Santa Barbara lobbied and obtained federal funding and passed a bond measure to formally develop an airport on the Goleta Slough. The necessity for an airport – or at least a military airfield – became more apparent after a Japanese submarine shelled the Ellwood Oil Field
Ellwood Oil Field
Ellwood Oil Field and South Ellwood Offshore Oil Field are a pair of adjacent, partially active oil fields adjoining the city of Goleta, California, about twelve miles west of Santa Barbara, largely in the Santa Barbara Channel...
in 1942. This was one of the only direct-fire attacks on the US mainland during WW II
Attacks on North America during World War II
The American Theater of World War II was a minor area of operations mainly due to the continent's geographical separation from the central theaters of conflict in Europe and Asia...
. The Marine Corps undertook completion of the airport and established living quarters on the site of the current University of California, Santa Barbara
University of California, Santa Barbara
The University of California, Santa Barbara, commonly known as UCSB or UC Santa Barbara, is a public research university and one of the 10 general campuses of the University of California system. The main campus is located on a site in Goleta, California, from Santa Barbara and northwest of Los...
campus.
After the war, Goleta Valley residents supported the construction of Cachuma Lake, which provided water, enabling a housing boom and the establishment of research and aerospace firms in the area. In 1954, the University of California, Santa Barbara
University of California, Santa Barbara
The University of California, Santa Barbara, commonly known as UCSB or UC Santa Barbara, is a public research university and one of the 10 general campuses of the University of California system. The main campus is located on a site in Goleta, California, from Santa Barbara and northwest of Los...
moved to part of the former Marine base. Along with the boom in aerospace, the character changed from rural-agricultural to high-tech. Goleta remains a center for high-tech firms, and a bedroom community for neighboring Santa Barbara.
Incorporation
Goleta was incorporatedMunicipal corporation
A municipal corporation is the legal term for a local governing body, including cities, counties, towns, townships, charter townships, villages, and boroughs. Municipal incorporation occurs when such municipalities become self-governing entities under the laws of the state or province in which...
as a city in 2002 after several unsuccessful attempts. A significant urbanized area remains unincorporated
Unincorporated area
In law, an unincorporated area is a region of land that is not a part of any municipality.To "incorporate" in this context means to form a municipal corporation, a city, town, or village with its own government. An unincorporated community is usually not subject to or taxed by a municipal government...
between the town of Goleta and the city of Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara, California
Santa Barbara is the county seat of Santa Barbara County, California, United States. Situated on an east-west trending section of coastline, the longest such section on the West Coast of the United States, the city lies between the steeply-rising Santa Ynez Mountains and the Pacific Ocean...
, largely consisting of the area which polled against incorporation prior to the 2002 election (this area was excluded from the city boundaries to facilitate approval of incorporation). There has been some discussion of annexation of this area (sometimes dubbed "Noleta
Noleta
Noleta is an unofficial name used to designate the unincorporated urban area between Goleta and Santa Barbara in California, USA. It is bounded on the east by Santa Barbara and Hope Ranch, on the west by Goleta, on the north by the Santa Ynez Mountains and on the south by the Pacific Ocean, and...
") by the city of Santa Barbara. In addition, the student community of Isla Vista directly to the south was deliberately excluded, even though the communities share a ZIP Code and many community resources. The LAFCO executive director cited "political infeasibility" as the reason, although the only poll on the issue indicated a city of Goleta including Isla Vista would have passed at the ballot box. The current boundaries of Goleta are shown in the city's map.
The 2000 census figures reflect the census-designated place
Census-designated place
A census-designated place is a concentration of population identified by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes. CDPs are delineated for each decennial census as the statistical counterparts of incorporated places such as cities, towns and villages...
of Goleta, which was somewhat larger than the incorporated city.
Today
Much of Goleta is considered to be a quiet suburban community while Santa Barbara tends to attract most of the tourists and the area's residents. Goleta has successfully combatted suburban sprawl and urban decayUrban decay
Urban decay is the process whereby a previously functioning city, or part of a city, falls into disrepair and decrepitude...
although it does exist, the latter especially around the Old Town area.
In 2008, the Gap Fire, a wildfire that consumed more than 9000 acres (36.4 km²) over a period of several weeks, was finally contained on July 29.
Urban environment
California State Route 217
State Route 217 is a short two-and-a-half mile long spur route in the U.S. state of California.-Route description:It connects the University of California, Santa Barbara and the Santa Barbara Municipal Airport with U.S. Route 101, which is the major highway that connects Santa Barbara with other...
overpass; adjacent to this commercial area is a region of older, and occasionally substandard housing; some of the south county's least affluent people live in this zone. Between Old Town Goleta and the airport, and running along south Fairview Avenue, are some light industrial zones, some of relatively few in southern Santa Barbara County. Farther west, near the intersection of Storke Road and Hollister Avenue, is a large shopping mall, including "big box
Big-box store
A big-box store is a physically large retail establishment, usually part of a chain. The term sometimes also refers, by extension, to the company that operates the store...
" stores, which draws business from outside the local area. This area is called the Camino Real Marketplace. There are also several business parks including Cabrillo Business Park, Fairview Business Center and the area along Castilian Drive. Adjacent to the mall and extending more than a mile farther west is a residential area, most of the housing in which dates back to the 1960s; it includes some high-density apartment blocks which accept some of the overflow student population from nearby UCSB
University of California, Santa Barbara
The University of California, Santa Barbara, commonly known as UCSB or UC Santa Barbara, is a public research university and one of the 10 general campuses of the University of California system. The main campus is located on a site in Goleta, California, from Santa Barbara and northwest of Los...
.
Goleta has several significant parks, including Stow Park, Lake Los Carneros, and the Coronado Butterfly Preserve providing street access to the Ellwood Mesa Open Space on the bluffs overlooking the Pacific Ocean with beach access from UCSB. Goleta Beach County Park
Goleta Beach
Goleta Beach is a region of coastline located near Goleta, California, just east of the University of California, Santa Barbara campus. A portion of the shore of Goleta Bay is managed by the County of Santa Barbara as Goleta Beach County Park —GBCP. The beach itself is partly man-made as sand was...
is just outside of the city limits.
Geography
Goleta is about 8 miles (12.9 km) west of the city of Santa BarbaraSanta Barbara, California
Santa Barbara is the county seat of Santa Barbara County, California, United States. Situated on an east-west trending section of coastline, the longest such section on the West Coast of the United States, the city lies between the steeply-rising Santa Ynez Mountains and the Pacific Ocean...
, along the coast (the coast runs east to west in this portion of southern California). Nearby is the Santa Barbara campus
University of California, Santa Barbara
The University of California, Santa Barbara, commonly known as UCSB or UC Santa Barbara, is a public research university and one of the 10 general campuses of the University of California system. The main campus is located on a site in Goleta, California, from Santa Barbara and northwest of Los...
of the University of California
University of California
The University of California is a public university system in the U.S. state of California. Under the California Master Plan for Higher Education, the University of California is a part of the state's three-tier public higher education system, which also includes the California State University...
and the student community of Isla Vista
Isla Vista, California
Isla Vista is an unincorporated community and census-designated place in Santa Barbara County, California in the United States. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 23,096. The majority of residents are college students at nearby University of California, Santa Barbara or at Santa...
.
The city's geography at the base of the Santa Ynez Mountains has made it subject to sudden, extremely hot winds locally called "sundowners
Sundowner (wind)
A sundowner is an offshore northerly Foehn wind in Santa Barbara, California. It occurs when a region of high pressure is directly north of the area, whose coast trends east–west. This contrasts with the more typical onshore flow...
", similar to the more infamous Santa Ana winds in the Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
and San Diego regions. They are caused by high pressure drawing dry air from the inland side of the mountains, whereupon they can become superheated as they rush down on the city's side. On June 17, 1859, a sundowner wind passed through Goleta and rapidly raised the temperature to 133 degrees Fahrenheit (approximately 56 degrees Celsius) in a matter of minutes. People were forced to take shelter immediately; when they emerged they saw that most animals and plants had been killed. It was the highest temperature recorded in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
until 1913.
According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the CDP has a total area of 26.4 square miles (68.4 km²), of which 26.3 square miles (68.1 km²) are land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) (0.38%) is water.
Economy
Deckers Outdoor CorporationDeckers Outdoor Corporation
Deckers Outdoor Corporation is a footwear manufacturer based in Goleta, California, United States. It began in 1973 as a sandal producer, run by Doug Otto. Deckers currently manufactures six brands, Teva, UGG Australia, Simple Shoes, Sanuk, Tsubo, Ahnu and Mozo.- Teva :Mark Thatcher was the...
is based in Goleta. Raytheon, Citrix Online, FLIR Commercial Vision Systems, ATK, InTouch, and Transphorm are just a few of the many high-tech businesses located in Goleta which is sometimes referred to as "techtopia".
Top employers
According to the City's 2010 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the top employers in the city are:| # | Employer | # of Employees |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Raytheon Raytheon Raytheon Company is a major American defense contractor and industrial corporation with core manufacturing concentrations in weapons and military and commercial electronics. It was previously involved in corporate and special-mission aircraft until early 2007... |
1,573 |
| 2 | Sansum Clinic | 965 |
| 3 | Citrix Online Citrix Online Citrix Online is a division of Citrix Systems, Inc. that sells web-based remote access, support, and collaboration software and services. Its products are GoToAssist, GoToMeeting, GoToMyPC, GoToManage, GoToTraining, GoToWebinar, and HiDef Corporate.... |
544 |
| 4 | Bacara Resort Bacara Resort Bacara Resort and Spa is a 4-star Spanish-style luxury resort located near Santa Barbara, California. Built in 2000, the Bacara Resort & Spa cost $222 million to develop, and offers 311 guest rooms and 49 premium suites, all of which have balconies or private patios -- some of which can rent for as... |
527 |
| 5 | Yardi Systems | 380 |
| 6 | Allergan Allergan Allergan, Inc., is a global specialty pharmaceutical company. Their product ranges include ophthalmic pharmaceuticals, dermatology products, and neurological products.-Profile:... |
350 |
| 7 | FLIR FLIR Systems FLIR Systems is a thermal imaging systems manufacturer based in Wilsonville, Oregon, United States. Founded in 1978, the company makes thermal imagers, thermal imager components, as well as larger systems containing thermal imagers along with other sensors, for both commercial and military... |
325 |
| 8 | Goleta Cottage Hospital | 325 |
| 9 | Karl Storz | 300 |
| 10 | Goleta Union School District Goleta Union School District Goleta Union School District is a school district serving the Goleta valley, a suburban community of 80,000 people which includes the newly formed City of Goleta and a large unincorporated area. The valley lies between the Santa Ynez Mountains and the Pacific Ocean, adjacent to Santa Barbara,... |
278 |
| 11 | Mentor | 265 |
| 12 | Jordano's | 182 |
| 13 | ATK Alliant Techsystems Alliant Techsystems Inc., most commonly known by its ticker symbol, ', is one of the largest aerospace and defense companies in the United States with more than 18,000 employees in 22 states, Puerto Rico and internationally, and 2010 revenues in excess of an estimated... |
156 |
| 14 | Costco Costco Costco Wholesale Corporation is the largest membership warehouse club chain in the United States. it is the third largest retailer in the United States, where it originated, and the ninth largest in the world... |
150 |
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2010
The 2010 United States Census reported that Goleta had a population of 29,888. The population densityPopulation density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 3,747.9 people per square mile (1,447.1/km²). The racial makeup of Goleta was 20,833 (69.7%) White, 469 (1.6%) African American, 283 (0.9%) Native American, 2,728 (9.1%) Asian, 26 (0.1%) Pacific Islander, 4,182 (14.0%) from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 1,367 (4.6%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 9,824 persons (32.9%).
The Census reported that 29,687 people (99.3% of the population) lived in households, 23 (0.1%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 178 (0.6%) were institutionalized.
There were 10,903 households, out of which 3,416 (31.3%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 5,265 (48.3%) were opposite-sex married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 1,069 (9.8%) had a female householder with no husband present, 472 (4.3%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 659 (6.0%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships
POSSLQ
POSSLQ is an abbreviation for "Persons of Opposite Sex Sharing Living Quarters," a term coined in the late 1970s by the United States Census Bureau as part of an effort to more accurately gauge the prevalence of cohabitation in American households....
, and 88 (0.8%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 2,732 households (25.1%) were made up of individuals and 1,090 (10.0%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.72. There were 6,806 families
Family (U.S. Census)
A family or family household is defined by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes as "a householder and one or more other people related to the householder by birth, marriage, or adoption. They do not include same-sex married couples even if the marriage was performed in a state...
(62.4% of all households); the average family size was 3.23.
The population was spread out with 6,335 people (21.2%) under the age of 18, 3,790 people (12.7%) aged 18 to 24, 7,966 people (26.7%) aged 25 to 44, 7,749 people (25.9%) aged 45 to 64, and 4,048 people (13.5%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36.5 years. For every 100 females there were 101.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.2 males.
There were 11,473 housing units at an average density of 1,438.7 per square mile (555.5/km²), of which 5,844 (53.6%) were owner-occupied, and 5,059 (46.4%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.2%; the rental vacancy rate was 4.5%. 16,222 people (54.3% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 13,465 people (45.1%) lived in rental housing units.
2000
Demographic data for 2000 is for the Goleta CDP, the Goleta Valley area, and not just the half that is the City of Goleta.As of the census
Census
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 55,204 people, 19,954 households, and 13,468 families residing in the CDP. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 2,102.1 people per square mile (811.7/km²). There were 20,442 housing units at an average density of 778.4 per square mile (300.6/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 78.61% White, 1.27% African American, 0.82% Native American, 6.43% Asian, 0.11% Pacific Islander, 9.23% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 3.53% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 22.33% of the population.
There were 19,954 households out of which 30.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.1% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 8.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.5% were non-families. 22.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.72 and the average family size was 3.18.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 23.1% under the age of 18, 9.5% from 18 to 24, 28.6% from 25 to 44, 24.2% from 45 to 64, and 14.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 98.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.1 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $60,314, and the median income for a family was $67,956 (these figures had risen to $69,242 and $81,862 respectively as of a 2007 estimate). Males had a median income of $44,770 versus $32,127 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the CDP was $28,890. About 2.9% of families and 6.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.8% of those under age 18 and 4.4% of those age 65 or over.
Education
Most local students attend schools in the Goleta Union School DistrictGoleta Union School District
Goleta Union School District is a school district serving the Goleta valley, a suburban community of 80,000 people which includes the newly formed City of Goleta and a large unincorporated area. The valley lies between the Santa Ynez Mountains and the Pacific Ocean, adjacent to Santa Barbara,...
and the Santa Barbara High School District. There are also a host of smaller private schools.
Elementary
- Brandon School (within City of Goleta)
- El Camino School
- Ellwood School (within City of Goleta)
- Foothill School
- Hollister School
- Isla Vista School
- Kellogg School (within City of Goleta)
- La Patera School (within City of Goleta)
- Mountain View School
- Goleta Family School
Government
The five City Council members take turns as mayor. The City Council also serves as the Planning Agency. City Council, Planning Commission and Design Review Board meetings are televised on the local Government-access television (GATV) channel and available on the City's website.Transportation
All public transportation is provided by the county. Multiple MTD bus lines run through the city. The main artery of the city is US 101, with the major streets being Hollister Avenue and Cathedral Oaks Road. Other significant streets include Calle Real (which is broken into sections), Storke Road/Glen Annie Road, Los Carneros Road, Fairview Avenue, and Patterson Avenue.Intercity transit is provided by Amtrak
Amtrak
The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak , is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971, to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States. "Amtrak" is a portmanteau of the words "America" and "track". It is headquartered at Union...
at the Goleta Amtrak Station
Goleta (Amtrak station)
The Goleta Amtrak Station is an Amtrak rail station in the city of Goleta, California. It is served by Amtrak's Pacific Surfliner from San Luis Obispo to San Diego. Ten Pacific Surfliner trains serve the station daily. Six of the daily trains run on Goleta-San Diego or San Diego-Goleta schedules,...
.
Santa Barbara Airport
Santa Barbara Airport
Santa Barbara Airport , also known as Santa Barbara Municipal Airport, is a public airport located west of downtown Santa Barbara, California, United States....
is located near the central southwestern portion of Goleta, near the intersection of Hollister and South Fairview avenues. The airport serves the greater Santa Barbara area and is serviced by seven airlines, to 10 non-stop destinations.
Major highways
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U.S. Route 101
State Route 217California State Route 217State Route 217 is a short two-and-a-half mile long spur route in the U.S. state of California.-Route description:It connects the University of California, Santa Barbara and the Santa Barbara Municipal Airport with U.S. Route 101, which is the major highway that connects Santa Barbara with other...
Postal shooting
On January 30, 2006, Jennifer San MarcoJennifer San Marco
Jennifer San Marco was a former US Postal Service employee and mass murderer who killed seven people in Goleta, California.- San Marco's background :...
shot and killed
Going postal
Going postal, in American English slang, means becoming extremely and uncontrollably angry, often to the point of violence, and usually in a workplace environment....
seven people, including six postal workers, before committing suicide
Suicide
Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Suicide is often committed out of despair or attributed to some underlying mental disorder, such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, alcoholism, or drug abuse...
at the postal-processing facility where she had been previously employed. In addition to Charlotte Colton, 44, and Beverly Graham, 54, the dead included Ze Fairchild, 37, and Maleka Higgins, 28, both of Santa Barbara; Nicola Grant, 42, and Guadalupe Swartz, 52, both of Lompoc; and Dexter Shannon, 57, of Oxnard. This incident is believed to be the deadliest workplace shooting ever carried out in the United States by a woman.
See also
- Goleta Union School DistrictGoleta Union School DistrictGoleta Union School District is a school district serving the Goleta valley, a suburban community of 80,000 people which includes the newly formed City of Goleta and a large unincorporated area. The valley lies between the Santa Ynez Mountains and the Pacific Ocean, adjacent to Santa Barbara,...
- Dos Pueblos High SchoolDos Pueblos High SchoolDos Pueblos High School is a high school located in Goleta, California, west of Santa Barbara. Located adjacent to the foothills on the edge of the Goleta Valley in an area known as El Encanto Heights, it serves a student body of approximately 2,300 in grades 9-12.Dos Pueblos, or "DP" or "DPHS", is...
- Goleta DepotGoleta DepotGoleta Depot is a train station building in Goleta, California. It was constructed by the Southern Pacific Railroad in 1901, as part of the completion of the Coast Route linking Los Angeles and San Francisco ....
- Santa Barbara, CaliforniaSanta Barbara, CaliforniaSanta Barbara is the county seat of Santa Barbara County, California, United States. Situated on an east-west trending section of coastline, the longest such section on the West Coast of the United States, the city lies between the steeply-rising Santa Ynez Mountains and the Pacific Ocean...
- Goleta SloughGoleta SloughThe Goleta Slough is an area of estuary, tidal creeks, tidal marsh, and wetlands near Goleta, California, USA. It primarily consists of the filled and unfilled remnants of the historic inner Goleta Bay about 8 miles west of Santa Barbara...
- Isla Vista
- Francisco Torres
- South Coast Railroad MuseumSouth Coast Railroad MuseumThe South Coast Railroad Museum is located in the city of Goleta, California, a suburb of Santa Barbara.The museum was founded in 1983 as a showpiece for Goleta Depot, a Southern Pacific Railroad train station building, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and the California...
- History of Santa Barbara, CaliforniaHistory of Santa Barbara, CaliforniaThe history of Santa Barbara, California, begins approximately 13,000 years ago with the arrival of the first Native Americans. The Spanish came in the 18th century to occupy and Christianize the area, which became part of Mexico following the Mexican War of Independence...