Montecito Map
Montecito is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Santa Barbara County, California, United States. As of the 2021 census, the community had a total population of 8694. It is known for its expensive homes and estates. The surface area of the city is 930/sq mi (360/km2).
It is located east of the city of Santa Barbara and northwest of Ventura on the Southern California coast. Montecito occupies the eastern portion of the coastal plain south of the Santa Ynez Mountains.
It is home to several celebrities including Oprah Winfrey and Ellen DeGeneres, as well as Rob Lowe and Michael Douglas. Montecito has an average elevation of 285 feet above sea level with most houses on hilly terrain over 1,000 feet (300 m) above sea level.
Montecito is a small town that’s located in southern California, surrounded by mountains, and has a rich history. It’s an unincorporated community, meaning it doesn’t have its municipal government—but it does have its zip code. Montecito’s ZIP code is 93108 and its area code is 805.
Montecito occupies the eastern portion of the coastal plain south of the Santa Ynez Mountains. The name Montecito (Spanish for “little mountain”) refers to a low rise on which sits a large adobe ranch house built in 1802 by Pedro Cambiaso, one of several early settlers who established themselves here during Spain’s tenure over California.
The word “Montecito” refers to a small mountain in the foothills on which much of the town sits (Spanish for “little mountain”). The area was inhabited by Chumash Indians up until c. AD 1405, when they were displaced by Spanish explorers coming from out of what is now Mexico. In 1834, members of a Mexican land grant known as Rancho San Jose de Gracia (also known as Rancheria Grande) made their home in this area at an elevation around 80 ft above sea level; they moved to an even higher elevation in 1843 following severe flooding that occurred during heavy rainstorms after years of drought conditions due to El Niño events related climate change effects still occurring today across entire global climate system causing extreme weather events happening everywhere.
Notable roads spanning the length of Montecito include East Valley Road, Mountain Drive, Sycamore Canyon Road, Hot Springs Road (which becomes San Ysidro Road after crossing U.S. Route 101), Sheffield Drive, and Olive Mill Road. The area is also known for its natural environment and views of the Pacific Ocean and the Channel Islands, as well as its steep hillsides with large homes built along them; many are within Zuma Creek Canyon in addition to areas such as Hot Springs Canyon and Cold Spring Canyon north of east Valley Road and south of North Jameson Lane.
Montecito is home to many roads and natural features. The area is also known for having steep hillsides with large homes built along them; many are within Zuma Creek Canyon in addition to areas such as Hot Springs Canyon and Cold Spring Canyon north of east Valley Road and south of North Jameson Lane. Montecito is also home to an array of beautiful views, both from its hillsides and from inside its houses themselves. The most notable roads spanning the length of Montecito include East Valley Road, Mountain Drive, Sycamore Canyon Road, Hot Springs Road (which becomes San Ysidro Road after crossing U.S. Route 101), Sheffield Drive, and Olive Mill Road.
Several small creeks traverse Montecito with ephemeral waterfalls in some of the steeper canyons.
Montecito’s creeks are a treasure trove of natural beauty. In addition to the main creek, several smaller creeks traverse Montecito with ephemeral waterfalls in some of the steeper canyons. The slopes are steep enough that it looks like one could easily fall into them if not careful.