Montecito, California

History

The site of present-day Montecito, along with the entire south coast of Santa Barbara County, was inhabited for over 10,000 years by the Chumash Indians. The Spanish arrived in the 18th century but left the region largely unsettled while they built the Presidio and Mission Santa Barbara farther west.

In the middle of the 19th century, the area was known as a haven for bandits and highway robbers, who hid in the oak groves and canyons, preying on traffic on the coastal route between the towns that developed around the missions. By the end of the 1860s, the bandit gangs were gone, and Italian settlers arrived. Finding an area reminiscent of Italy, they built farms and gardens similar to those they had left behind.

Around the end of the 19th century, wealthy tourists from the eastern and midwestern United States began to buy land in the area. It was near enough to Santa Barbara for essential services while still being secluded. Desirable weather and several nearby hot springs offered the promise of comfortable, healthy living, in addition to the availability of affordable land.

The Montecito Hot Springs Hotel was built near the largest of the springs, in a canyon north of the town center and directly south of Montecito Peak, in Hot Springs Canyon. The hotel burned down in 1920; it was replaced a few years later by the smaller Hot Springs Club.

The architect George Washington Smith is noted particularly for his residences around Montecito, and for popularizing the Spanish Colonial Revival style in early 20th century America, as is Lutah Maria Riggs, who started as a draftsman in Smith's firm, rose to partner, and later started her own firm.

Montecito was evacuated five times in four months between December 2017 and March 2018 because of weather-related events, which included the Thomas Fire, the 2018 Southern California mudflows, and flooding related to the Pineapple Express. The mudflows resulted in 20 reported deaths; 28 others were injured, and at least four people were reported missing. FEMA gave the Santa Barbara County Flood Control District $13.5 million in 2020. The funds will be used to buy land in Montecito to construct an $18 million project that will help control debris flows from San Ysidro Creek with a larger debris basin.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP (census-designated place) has a land area of 9.2 sqmi.

Climate

Montecito experiences a warm Mediterranean climate (Köppen climate classification: Csb) characteristic of coastal Southern California. Because of Montecito's proximity to the ocean, onshore breezes significantly moderate temperatures, resulting in warmer winters and cooler summers compared with places further inland. With its gentle Mediterranean climate, Montecito has long been a desirable location for horticulturists.

| Jan record high F = 88 | Feb record high F = 88 | Mar record high F = 92 | Apr record high F = 100 | May record high F = 101 | Jun record high F = 109 | Jul record high F = 109 | Aug record high F = 102 | Sep record high F = 107 | Oct record high F = 103 | Nov record high F = 97 | Dec record high F = 83 | year record high F = 109 | Jan record low F = 24 | Feb record low F = 25 | Mar record low F = 32 | Apr record low F = 36 | May record low F = 38 | Jun record low F = 42 | Jul record low F = 48 | Aug record low F = 47 | Sep record low F = 43 | Oct record low F = 36 | Nov record low F = 30 | Dec record low F = 20 | year record low F = 20

Demographics

|align-fn=center 1860–1870 1880-1890 1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010

Montecito first appeared as a census designated place in the 2000 U.S. census.

As of July 2022, the U.S. Census Bureau estimated a population of 8,638.

2020

The 2020 United States census reported that Montecito had a population of 8,638. The population density was 941.3 PD/sqmi. The racial makeup of Montecito was 85.4% White, 0.6% African American, 0.4% Native American, 2.5% Asian, 0.2% Pacific Islander, 2.4% from other races, and 8.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8.2% of the population.

The census reported that 86.7% of the population lived in households, 12.8% lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 0.5% were institutionalized.

There were 3,157 households, out of which 22.0% included children under the age of 18, 55.1% were married-couple households, 4.0% were cohabiting couple households, 27.4% had a female householder with no partner present, and 13.5% had a male householder with no partner present. 28.2% of households were one person, and 20.1% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.37.

The age distribution was 14.9% under the age of 18, 17.8% aged 18 to 24, 11.9% aged 25 to 44, 22.4% aged 45 to 64, and 32.9% who were 65years of age or older. The median age was 50.7years. For every 100 females, there were 83.6 males.

There were 4,162 housing units at an average density of 453.5 /mi2, of which 3,157 (75.9%) were occupied. Of these, 73.0% were owner-occupied, and 27.0% were occupied by renters.

In 2023, the US Census Bureau estimated that 10.5% of the population were foreign-born. Of all people aged 5 or older, 87.0% spoke only English at home, 4.9% spoke Spanish, 5.5% spoke other Indo-European languages, 2.2% spoke Asian or Pacific Islander languages, and 0.4% spoke other languages. Of those aged 25 or older, 98.3% were high school graduates and 74.9% had a bachelor's degree.

The median household income in 2023 was $222,966, and the per capita income was $132,404. About 7.5% of families and 7.8% of the population were below the poverty line.

2010

The 2010 United States census reported that Montecito had a population of 8,965. The population density was 967.7 PD/sqmi. The racial makeup of Montecito was 8,267 (92.2%) White, 218 (2.4%) Asian, 55 (0.6%) African American, 38 (0.4%) Native American, 6 (0.1%) Pacific Islander, 156 (1.7%) from other races, and 225 (2.5%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 605 persons (6.7%).

The Census reported that 8,033 people (89.6% of the population) lived in households, 932 (10.4%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and none were institutionalized.

Of the 3,432 households, 831 (24.2%) had children under the age of 18 living in them; 1,936 (56.4%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 234 (6.8%) had a female householder with no husband present, 93 (2.7%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 110 (3.2%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 36 (1.0%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 941 households (27.4%) were made up of individuals, and 527 (15.4%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.34. There were 2,263 families (65.9% of all households); the average family size was 2.79.

The age spread of the population accounts 1,515 people (16.9%) under the age of 18, 1,234 people (13.8%) aged 18 to 24, 1,169 people (13.0%) aged 25 to 44, 2,716 people (30.3%) aged 45 to 64, and 2,331 people (26.0%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 50.0 years. For every 100 females, there were 87.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.9 males.

4,238 housing units represented an average density of 457.5 /sqmi, of which 2,522 (73.5%) were owner-occupied, and 910 (26.5%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.4%; the rental vacancy rate was 8.7%. 6,081 people (67.8% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 1,952 people (21.8%) lived in rental housing units.

Government

As an unincorporated area of Santa Barbara County, Montecito has no city council or municipal government. Municipal services are provided by Santa Barbara County; as with the county's other unincorporated areas, Montecito's law enforcement agency is the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office.

Montecito is part of the Santa Barbara County Supervisor District 1, which elects one supervisor to the five-member Board of Supervisors. Unlike other unincorporated areas in the county, Montecito has two government agencies which together act as its planning commission: the Montecito Board of Architectural Review and the Montecito Planning Commission. Proposals to incorporate as a municipality have been a perennially recurring feature of local politics, but has never come to fruition.

Important commercial areas such as Coast Village Road are within the city of Santa Barbara.

Parks and recreation

Access to backcountry hiking trails is obtained through the community.

March and April are the months to watch gray whales migrate north from Mexico through the Santa Barbara Channel.

Arts and culture

The Music Academy of the West is a summer classical music training program and festival with local performances Lotusland is a 37 acre estate and botanic gardens built by Polish opera singer Ganna Walska and managed as a nonprofit.

• El Fureidis – private residence designed by Bertram Grosvenor Goodhue
• Casa del Herrero – Spanish Colonial revival home and gardens – designed by George Washington Smith
• Santa Barbara Biltmore: Coral Casino Beach and Cabana Club – designed by Gardner Dailey;
• Montecito Inn, a small hotel built by Charlie Chaplin
• Santa Barbara Vedanta Temple – designed by Lutah Maria Riggs
• Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church
• George Washington Smith home and studio
• Rosewood Miramar Beach hotel and Caruso's restaurant

Education

Children in Montecito are enrolled at Montecito Union Elementary School and Cold Spring Elementary School. Both of these K–6 schools are operated by school districts which only run one school.

Students in grades 7-12 are served by the Santa Barbara Unified School District and attend Santa Barbara Junior High School, followed by Santa Barbara High School.

The private four-year Westmont College is located in the hills above Montecito.

Transportation

Notable roads spanning Montecito include East Valley Road, Mountain Drive, and Sycamore Canyon Road, all of which form part of State Route 192. In addition, the U.S. Route 101 freeway runs along the south end of town, connecting it with other cities in Santa Barbara County and the rest of Southern California.

The nearest train station with Amtrak service is Santa Barbara (SBA).

Notable people

Notable current and former residents include:

• Troy Aikman
• Amanda Chantal Bacon
• William Baldwin
• Drew Barrymore
• Orlando Bloom
• T. C. Boyle
• Jeff Bridges
• John Cleese
• Robert M. Colleary (1929–2012)
• Jimmy Connors
• Larry David
• Ellen DeGeneres
• Clark Gable
• Greta Garbo
• Tipper Gore
• Sue Grafton
• Ariana Grande
• Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex
• Burl Ives
• Adam Levine
• Christopher Lloyd
• Rob Lowe
• Steve Martin
• Jack Mitchell
• Brad Paisley
• Jack Palance
• Gwyneth Paltrow
• Suzy Parker
• Katy Perry
• Priscilla Presley
• Ivan Reitman
• Zoe Saldaña
• Ty Warner
• Ganna Walska (who built Lotusland)
• Owen Wilson
• Oprah Winfrey
• Lewis Nixon III{{cite web |author-last1=Margaritoff |author-first1=Marco |editor-first1=Jaclyn |editor-last1=Anglis |url-status=live |orig-date=29 November 2021 |access-date=11 November 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251111222137/https://allthatsinteresting.com/lewis-nixon |archive-date=11 November 2025

In popular culture

• 20th Century Women: 2016 film by Mike Mills
• It's Complicated: 2009 film by Nancy Myers
• An American Family: 1973 PBS documentary series. America's "first reality TV show" follows the Loud family who live on Mountain Drive. This story was revisited in the fictionalized 2011 HBO drama Cinema Verite.
• In Montecito: 1963 poem by Randall Jarrell

References

Bibliography

• Baker, Gayle. Santa Barbara. Harbor Town Histories, Santa Barbara. 2003. .

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