Carpinteria, California

Carpinteria is a city located in Santa Barbara County, California. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 14,194. The city is famed for being home of the Santa Claus lane, named after a giant Santa Claus bust that overlooks the coastal U.S. Highway 101. At the crossroads between art and crass capitalism, the bust was removed in 2003 after being in place for more than fifty years. Although the bust is no longer, the name remains. Carpinteria also claims home to the "World's Safest Beach." Carpinteria State Beach earned this moniker due to its gentle, sloping terrain and calm waves.

Related Topics:
Santa Barbara County, California - 2000 - Santa Claus lane - U.S. Highway 101

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The Spanish named the area Carpinteria because the Chumash tribe, which lived in the area, had a large seagoing canoe-building enterprise, or "carpentry shop" there; this was due to the availability of naturally-occurring surface tar which was used to seal the boats.

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Seals and sea lions can be seen in the area December through May, as well as an occasional gray whale. Tidepools contain starfish, sea anemones, crabs, snails, octopuses and sea urchins. A popular state beach with a popular campground is located along the beach.

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The city has a small paper called The Coastal View.

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