City of Santa Maria Human Resources Division

Located along California’s beautiful Central Coast, the City of Santa Maria is the largest and most populous city in the County of Santa Barbara with more than 100,000 residents. Located 70 miles north of Santa Barbara and 30 miles south of San Luis Obispo, Santa Maria is known for its world famous Santa Maria style tri-trip barbecue, succulent strawberries and world-class wine country.Although agriculture remains a major industry with many sophisticated infrastructure expansions, Santa Maria enjoys an expanding economy based on a healthy combination of commercial and manufacturing development, education, oil production, the local public airport, and nearby Vandenberg Air Force Base.Santa Maria’s General Plan focuses on the jobs-housing balance and economic diversity, while continuing to accommodate dynamic change. An “All-America City” Santa Maria each year hosts the famous Elks Rodeo and Parade, welcomes thousands of people to the Santa Barbara County Fair, and entertains families at summer concerts in the park and at Downtown Fridays. We have baseball fields, numerous parks and playgrounds, a popular community youth center with an outdoor swimming pool, and a championship lawn bowling green. We also have year-round theater at the PCPA Theaterfest. Immediately north of the City is the Santa Maria Speedway.