Here are just a few of the manhole covers from Montecito, along Sheffield Drive and State Route 192/East Valley Drive.
All photos copyrighted by David L. Magney 2008
Montecito is one of the older cities in California, originating as a country club to the wealth of Santa Barbara. Montecito is an unincorportated community in the County of Santa Barbara County, immediately east of the City of Santa Barbara. The climate of Montecito is about perfect. Montecito is a small-sized community on the Pacific Ocean/Santa Barbara Channel, and faces south to the ocean, which confuses many folks not from the area (the ocean is supposed to be to the west). Montecito was established in xxxx, with developments such as the Montecito Hot Springs Resort/Hotel. Montecito has a population of about 8,965. The population is made up of 92.2% Whites, 2.2% Asian, and 6.7% Hispanic residents. The median family income of Montecito citizens is $108,291 and the per capita income is $78,614. Monticeto is one of the wealthiest communities in the United States. Prior to gentrification, it was known to harbor bandits and highway robbers; some citizens with less clout may feel that nothing really has changed.
Similar to other southern California communities, Montecito natural vegetation consists of Coast Live Oak Woodland, dominated by Quercus agrifolia (Coast Live Oak), now developed grasslands, riparian woodlands, and chaparral on the mountain slopes. U.S. Highway 101 and State Routes 1 and 192 (East Valley Road) passes through Montecito. It occurs on a gentle south-facing slope ranging in elevation from sea level to about 800 feet. Additional information about Montecito, California can be found at Montecito Info and at a Montecito site.
The stately windrow of 100-foot-tall Tasmanian Blue Gum (Eucalyptus globulus var. globulus) trees between Birnam Wood Golf Club and SR192 have been the focus of a battle between neighbors, some within Birnham Wood want them chopped down, and convinced Caltrans to take a few out, but many more residents have fought to protect the rest, which were planted in the late 1800s by the Stanford family, who once owned much of the property now making up Birnham Wood. I was hired to assess the health and value of these trees, some of which are shown below. Montecito is home to Lotusland, a city block of property exquisetly landscaped with a fabulous variety of interesting plants, which can be visited by appointment. Monticeto is home to many famous people, including many actors such as Jonathan Winters, a former client.
