Santa Maria is a city in Santa Barbara County, on the Central Coast of California. Santa Maria's estimated population in November 2008 was 91,972 and has surpassed that of Santa Barbara, making it the largest city in the county. The estimated population of the area is about 161,227, which includes the Santa Maria Valley, the city of Guadalupe, the unincorporated township of Orcutt. Nipomo is also considered part of the Santa Maria area, as it is ...
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Santa Maria is a city in Santa Barbara County, on the Central Coast of California. Santa Maria's estimated population in November 2008 was 91,972 and has surpassed that of Santa Barbara, making it the largest city in the county. The estimated population of the area is about 161,227, which includes the Santa Maria Valley, the city of Guadalupe, the unincorporated township of Orcutt. Nipomo is also considered part of the Santa Maria area, as it is adjacent to Santa Maria on the north in San Luis Obispo County. The city is notable for its wine industry and Santa Maria Style Barbecue.
In 1769, the Portola exploration party came through the Santa Maria Valley on its trek up the coast of California to find the Monterey Bay. After Mission San Luis Obispo was established in 1772 and Mission La Purisima was established in what is now Lompoc in 1787, settlers were attracted to the Santa Maria Valley by way of the gold fields elsewhere in California. Rather than rich soil, they were attracted...
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