Santa Barbara County is located approximately 100 miles north of Los Angeles and 300 miles south of
San Francisco. Eight incorporated cities are located within the County: Santa Barbara, Santa Maria, Lompoc, Goleta, Carpinteria, Guadalupe, Solvang, and Buellton.
The largest employment categories include services, wholesale and retail trade, public administration, and manufacturing. The mild climate, picturesque coastline, scenic mountains, and numerous parks and beaches make the County a popular tourist and recreational area.