Ballard, California

Ballard, California
unincorporated community
census-designated place
Location of Ballard in Santa Barbara County, California.
Location of Ballard in Santa Barbara County, California.
Ballard, California is located in California
Ballard, California
Ballard, California
Position in California.
Coordinates: 34°38′04″N 120°06′56″W / 34.63444°N 120.11556°W / 34.63444; -120.11556
Country United States
State California
CountySanta Barbara
Established1880
Area
[1]
 • Total
2.80 sq mi (7.25 km2)
 • Land2.80 sq mi (7.24 km2)
 • Water0.0039 sq mi (0.01 km2)  0.02%
Elevation
[2]
646 ft (197 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
768
 • Density274.8/sq mi (106.12/km2)
Time zoneUTC-8 (Pacific (PST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-7 (PDT)
ZIP Code
93463
Area code805
GNIS feature ID2582938
U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Ballard, California

Ballard is an unincorporated community in Santa Barbara County, California. Ballard is the smallest and oldest community in the Santa Ynez Valley. The nearest city is Solvang. The population was 768 at the 2020 census. For statistical purposes, the United States Census Bureau has defined that community as a census-designated place (CDP). Ballard was founded in 1880 and has two buildings from that era: the 1883 Ballard School and the Santa Ynez Valley Presbyterian Church, which was erected in 1889.[3]

Geography

Ballard is a small, mostly residential town in the Santa Ynez Valley, which is in the center of Santa Barbara County, California. It is one of six towns in the valley, along with Buellton to the west, Los Alamos to the northwest, Los Olivos to the north, Santa Ynez to the southeast, and Solvang to the south. The town is located next to Ballard Canyon.[4] Ballard is accessible by taking Alamo Pintado Road south from Los Olivos, which is located on California State Route 154, or by taking Alamo Pintado north from Solvang, which is located on State Route 246. From Alamo Pintado, Baseline Avenue is used to enter the main part of town.[5] Baseline Avenue is also accessible directly from State Route 154.[6]

In 1987, Michelle Grimm and Tom Grimm wrote in the Los Angeles Times that Ballard was often visited by "city folks [who] stop by to enjoy the tranquillity of a small town from bygone times."[5] In 2012, the Santa Barbara Independent said the town "still has a 19th-century feel."[7] The town's school is Ballard School, which serves grades K-6.[8] It is famous for its one-room schoolhouse, named the "Little Red Schoolhouse".[4] Some of Ballard's most important businesses and community locations include the Ballard Inn bed & breakfast, the Bob's Well Bread bakery, the Loper Chapel used mainly for funeral services, and the Oak Hill Cemetery.[4][5][9] The Santa Ynez Valley's climate is useful for winemaking. The Ballard Canyon AVA produces Rhône and Bordeaux wines.[4]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP covers an area of 2.8 square miles (7.2 km2), 99.98% of it land, and 0.02% of it water.

History

Ballard was founded in 1880 at the location of a Wells Fargo stage line station, being named by George Lewis after William Ballard, the former proprietor, who ran the station from 1862 to 1870.[10] In 1882 it was believed that Ballard would grow into the central metropolis of Santa Barbara County. The first school, Ballard's Little Red School House, was built in 1882 and is still in operation today, being the primary tourist attraction.

The wine-producing region around Ballard was featured in the Academy Award-nominated film Sideways.

Ballard School in 2011

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
2010467—
202076864.5%
U.S. Decennial Census[11]
1860–1870[12][13] 1880-1890[14]
1900[15] 1910[16] 1920[17]
1930[18] 1940[19] 1950[20]
1960[21][22] 1970[23] 1980[24]
1990[25] 2000[26] 2010[27]
2020

Ballard first appeared as a census designated place in the 2010 U.S. census formed from part of the Santa Ynez CDP and additional area.[27]

Racial and ethnic composition

Ballard CDP, California – Racial and ethnic composition
Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.
Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) Pop 2010[28] Pop 2020[29] % 2010 % 2020
White alone (NH) 402 568 86.08% 73.96%
Black or African American alone (NH) 3 8 0.64% 1.04%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 0 2 0.00% 0.26%
Asian alone (NH) 2 4 0.43% 0.52%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH) 0 2 0.00% 0.26%
Other race alone (NH) 1 4 0.21% 0.52%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) 13 26 2.78% 3.39%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 46 154 9.85% 20.05%
Total 467 768 100.00% 100.00%

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, Ballard had a population of 768. The population density was 274.9 inhabitants per square mile (106.1/km2). 0.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.[30][31][32]

The median age was 52.4 years. The age distribution was 15.8% under the age of 18, 5.6% aged 18 to 24, 21.2% aged 25 to 44, 29.6% aged 45 to 64, and 27.9% who were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 102.6 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 96.7 males age 18 and over.[30]

The whole population lived in households. There were 304 households, of which 25.7% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 50.3% were married-couple households, 5.9% were cohabiting couple households, 13.5% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 30.3% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 30.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 18.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53. There were 189 families (62.2% of all households).[30]

There were 347 housing units at an average density of 124.2 units per square mile (48.0 units/km2), of which 304 (87.6%) were occupied. Of these, 68.4% were owner-occupied, and 31.6% were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 0.5% and the rental vacancy rate was 0.0%.[30][33][34]

References

  1. ^ "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 30, 2021.
  2. ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Ballard, California
  3. ^ Palmer, Norma E. (1994). Santa Barbara & Ventura Counties. Automobile Club of Southern California. Page 67. ISBN 9781564131867.
  4. ^ a b c d Rubin, Elycia (March 5, 2023). "Santa Barbara Wine Country: The Best Places to Eat, Stay and Sip in the Santa Ynez Valley". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved November 17, 2024.
  5. ^ a b c Grimm, Michele; Grimm, Tom (December 20, 1987). "Gentle Love Story With a Mapped-Out Plot". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 17, 2024.
  6. ^ Report, Santa Ynez Valley News Staff (September 16, 2024). "Detours available as roundabout project at Hwy 154 near Los Olivos continues". Santa Maria Times. Retrieved November 17, 2024.
  7. ^ Indy Staff (June 6, 2012). "Ballard". The Santa Barbara Independent. Retrieved November 17, 2024.
  8. ^ "Judith Dale: Visiting Ballard school district". Santa Maria Times. November 16, 2019. Retrieved November 17, 2024.
  9. ^ Hodgson, Mike (November 28, 2017). "Davison House: Ballard home to Santa Barbara County's newest historic landmark". Santa Maria Times. Retrieved November 17, 2024.
  10. ^ A sign in Ballard about the stagecoach and town's name.
  11. ^ "Decennial Census by Decade". United States Census Bureau.
  12. ^ "1870 Census of Population - Population of Civil Divisions less than Counties - California - Almeda County to Sutter County" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 26, 2025 – via Wayback Machine.
  13. ^ "1870 Census of Population - Population of Civil Divisions less than Counties - California - Tehama County to Yuba County" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 2, 2025 – via Wayback Machine.
  14. ^ "1890 Census of Population - Population of California by Minor Civil Divisions" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 11, 2025 – via Wayback Machine.
  15. ^ "1900 Census of Population - Population of California by Counties and Minor Civil Divisions" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 4, 2025 – via Wayback Machine.
  16. ^ "1910 Census of Population - Supplement for California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 4, 2025. Retrieved February 4, 2025 – via Wayback Machine.
  17. ^ "1920 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 28, 2025 – via Wayback Machine.
  18. ^ "1930 Census of Population - Number and Distribution of Inhabitants - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 17, 2025 – via Wayback Machine.
  19. ^ "1940 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 26, 2025 – via Wayback Machine.
  20. ^ "1950 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 19, 2025 – via Wayback Machine.
  21. ^ "1960 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 22, 2025 – via Wayback Machine.
  22. ^ "1960 Census of Population - General population Characteristics - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 22, 2025 – via Wayback Machine.
  23. ^ "1970 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 26, 2025 – via Wayback Machine.
  24. ^ "1980 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 26, 2025 – via Wayback Machine.
  25. ^ "1990 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 26, 2025 – via Wayback Machine.
  26. ^ "2000 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 22, 2025 – via Wayback Machine.
  27. ^ a b "2010 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - California" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 28, 2025 – via Wayback Machine.
  28. ^ "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Ballard CDP, California". United States Census Bureau.
  29. ^ "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Ballard CDP, California". United States Census Bureau.
  30. ^ a b c d "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved April 27, 2026.
  31. ^ "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved April 27, 2026.
  32. ^ "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)". United States Census Bureau. 2023. Retrieved April 27, 2026.
  33. ^ "Ballard CDP, California; DP1: Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics - 2020 Census of Population and Housing". US Census Bureau. Retrieved April 2, 2025.
  34. ^ "Ballard CDP, California; P16: Household Type - 2020 Census of Population and Housing". US Census Bureau. Retrieved April 2, 2025.
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