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World Class Community
Roughly
translated "Montecito" means little woods. At the time of the
Spanish settlers this was an area of magnificent oak groves full of
grizzly bears and wolf packs. Father Junipero Serra had originally staked
out a location for the Santa Barbara Mission on what is presently Hot
Springs Road; however, his predecessor, Father Lauseen chose to move the
mission to its present spot closer to the protection of the Presidio and
its soldiers.
It was these soldiers who were the first non-native inhabitants of
Montecito. Facing retirement and with their wages at times 20 or 30 years
arrears, the government awarded the soldiers 50 acre plots in what became
known of as "Old Spanish Town." Tired of the trek to Santa
Barbara and the mission they built their own adobe chapel (Mt. Carmel) in
1857.
The first American settler was an ailing 49er, Wilbur Curtiss, who was
restored to health after "taking the waters" at an 100 year old
Chumash Indian hot spring still in existence which he homesteaded in 1855.
A wave of American settlers started arriving in 1858. It was a buyers
market. For example, Newton M. Coats bought a farm on what is now Birnam
Wood Country Club for 75 cents an acre. They soon built a U.S. Post
Office, an American village at the corner of East Valley and San Ysidro
and the areas first protestant churches – El Montecito Presbyterian (1887)
and All Saints by the Sea Episcopal (1869).
Around the 1900, more and more wealthy easterners were drawn to the Montecito area by its
incomparable scenery and climate. They began developing the fabulous
estates on the occupied hilltops overlooking Montecito's beautiful
woodlands. It was an opulent life style brought down by a combination of
the 1914 income tax law, the stock market crash of 1929, and the rising
cost of servants. But many gorgeous estates still exist today though some
have been subdivided or taken over by larger institutions as in the case
of Rancho Tijada (now Westmont College), Graholm (now Brooks Institute of
Photography) and Solano (now the Center for the Study of Democratic
Institutions).
Recreations opportunities are abundant. The Montecito Trails Association
has established a wealth of trails available to hikers, mountain bikers
and horseback riders. Butterfly beach across from the Santa Barbara
Biltmore boasts incredible views especially at sunset and 12 acre Manning
Park provides picnic and BBQ areas, a softball field, tennis courts,
horseshoe pits, two children's playground areas and a community building.
There are three private golf courses which also have social memberships:
Birnam Wood, The Valley Club, and the Montecito Country Club. For tennis
buffs where are the public tennis courts off Old Coast Highway and the
exclusive Knollwood Tennis Club. Many Montecitians can be found at the
Montecito YMCA in either the lap pool, Jacuzzi, aerobic classes, nautilus
room or the track. The Y has a comprehensive child care program as well.
Montecito is not an incorporated area though cityhood was very narrowly
defeated in 1991. The Montecito Protective and Improvement Association was
formed in 1948 with the mandate of maintaining the unspoiled rural
atmosphere and plays a major role in the decision making process for the
area. Santa Barbara County provides police protection (augmented by the
private Montecito Patrol) and there are separate Montecito Fire and Water
districts.
Montecito schools include Cold Springs and Montecito Union elementary
schools, and Santa Barbara Junior and Sr. High. Private schools in the
area begin with All Saints Preschool and include Howard, Crane, nearby
Marymount, the Brooks Institute of Photography, and Westmont College.
Exclusive boutiques and quaint shops along with lots of other specialized
stores can be found in the Upper Montecito Village and along Coast Village
Road. The area is renown for its superb restaurants.
With Santa Barbara and all its cultural, recreational, shopping, and
dining opportunities and civic organization nearby, Montecito is truly a
very special place to live. I would love to show you more of this
delightful area and hopefully help you move here.
Visual Tour
Local Maps
School Locations
Houses of Worship
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