Manhole Covers of the Santa Barbara, California

Created 26 February 2006

Here are just a few of the manhole covers from Santa Barbara, along or near Cabrillo Boulevard on the beach near the Santa Barbara Harbor and Stearns Wharf.

All photos copyrighted by David L. Magney 2006

This page was last updated on 30 November 2008
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Manhole Covers of Santa Barbara, California

Santa Barbara is one of the older cities in California, originating as a Spanish mission and presidio town in the late 1780s. Santa Barbara is the county seat of Santa Barbara County. The climate of Santa Barbara is about perfect. Santa Barbara is a medium-sized city 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). Santa Barbara was established in 1782. Santa Barbara has a population of about 92,325. The population is made up of 74% Whites and 35% Hispanic residents (I know it totals more than 100%, but that is what the official census says - obviously double counting going on). The median family income of Santa Barbara citizens is $57,880 and the per capita income is $26,466. Tourism is now the largest industry, with aerospace a large component. Similar to other southern California communities, Santa Barbara natural vegetation consists of grassland and vernal pool wetland complexes on the coast, and chaparral on the mountain slopes. U.S. Highway 101 and State Routes 154, 144, 217, 225, and 192 passes through Santa Barbara. It is on average at an elevation of 87-850 feet above sea level. Additional information about Santa Barbara, California can be found at Santa Barbara Info and at a City of Santa Barbara site.

On the left is a manhole cover that actually tells you where you are, in Santa Barbara, California, made by "Westwick Ironworks". The cover on the right has a generic design, with an "S" welded on later, but identified the manufaturer, the Alhambra Foundry, with "Made in U.S.A." at the top.

Here are two versions of covers at curbside runoff drain vaults on opposing street corners, one a target symbol, and the other a generic steel plating anti-skid pattern, manufactured by "J.B.IRON.WORKS.L.D.GATES.PROP".

Here are two simple Sewer manhole covers made by Alhambra Foundry. Workers accessing them don't seem to take care to replace them in the same position then found them, sometimes leading to multiple street line paint patterns.

Here are two versions of Southern California Edison Company manhole covers. Southern California Edison Company provides electricity for most of southern California, including all of Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties.

Below is a standard panel of utility meter access covers found in a sidwalk, with an attractive tile-covered rectangular access cover on one Cabrillo Boulevard sidewalk.

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