Chapter 3 - Foundations of Human Activity

The earliest settlers of Santa Barbara were the Chumash Indians. It is approximated that about 8,000 to 10,000 Chumash inhabited the area in 1500's. During that time, explorer Sebastian Vizcaino gave the area it's name. The first permanent immigrants were Spanish missionaries and soldiers. In the 1700's they built the Presidio of Santa Barbara and the Santa Barbara Mission.

 

 The Spanish missionaries built the Santa Barbara mission, along with others, in attempts to convert the Chumash to Christianity. However, the settlers brought over diseases such as smallpox and many of the Chumash died as a result. 

The population in 2010 was recorded at 423,895 with the largest demographic being Whites and the second largest being Hispanics. The population density per square mile is 2106.6 people.

 

 According to the Department of Conservation, urbanization of Santa Barbara increased from 1998-2000. A significant amount of vineyards and crops were created. 1,491 acres of land were urbanized which included an expanded water treatment plant. Currently, there are 1,039,816 acres of land in the Santa Barbara area; 13% are farmlands, 56% are grazing lands, 6% are urban lands, and the last 24% consist of wetlands, low density ranchettes, and brush or timberlands which are considered unsuitable for grazing. The rest is water. 

About 54% of the population in Santa Barbara affiliate themselves with a religion. 42.06% are Catholic; 1.42% are LDS; 2.78% are another Christian faith; 1.54% in Santa Barbara, CA are Jewish; 0.06% are an eastern faith; 0.17% affilitates with Islam.

[Sources]

http://www.planetware.com/i/photo/el-presidio-de-santa-barbara-state-historic-park-santa-barbara-ca639.jpg

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/75/154373672_d4e8843c8f.jpg

http://www.sbchamber.org/relocation/demographics.html

http://consrv.ca.gov/index/news/2002%20News%20Releases/Pages/NR2002-27%20Santa%20Barbara%20FMMP.aspx

http://www.bestplaces.net/religion/city/california/santa_barbara