Ballard, California
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name = Ballard, California
|settlement_type = unincorporated community
census-designated place
|image_skyline =
|imagesize =
|image_caption =
|subdivision_type = Country
|subdivision_name = {{USA}}
|subdivision_type1 = State
|subdivision_name1 = {{flag|California}}
|subdivision_type2 = County
|subdivision_name2 = Santa Barbara
|established_title =
|established_date = 1880
| population_total = 768
| population_as_of = 2020
| population_density_km2 = 106.12
|area_magnitude =
| unit_pref = Imperial
| area_total_sq_mi = 2.80
| area_land_sq_mi = 2.79
| area_water_sq_mi = 0.01
| area_total_km2 = 7.25
| area_land_km2 = 7.24
| area_water_km2 = 0.01
| area_water_percent = 0.02
| area_note =
|timezone = Pacific (PST)
|utc_offset = -8
|timezone_DST = PDT
|utc_offset_DST = -7
|elevation_footnotes = {{gnis|2582938}}
|elevation_m =
|elevation_ft = 646
| pushpin_map = California
| pushpin_map_caption = Position in California.
|coordinates = {{coord|34|38|04|N|120|06|56|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
|postal_code_type = ZIP Code
|postal_code = 93463
|area_code = 805
|blank_name = GNIS feature ID
|blank_info = 2582938
|website =
|footnotes = {{gnis|2582938}}
|pop_est_as_of =
|pop_est_footnotes =
|population_est =
|image_map = File:Santa Barbara County California Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Ballard Highlighted 0603694.svg
|map_caption = Location of Ballard in Santa Barbara County, California.
|population_density_sq_mi = 274.87
|population_footnotes =
}}
Ballard is a 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.Palmer, Norma E. (1994). Santa Barbara & Ventura Counties. Automobile Club of Southern California. Page 67. {{ISBN|9781564131867}}.
Geography
Ballard is a small, mostly residential town in the Santa Ynez Valley, which is in the northern half 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.{{Cite web |last=Rubin |first=Elycia |date=2023-03-05 |title=Santa Barbara Wine Country: The Best Places to Eat, Stay and Sip in the Santa Ynez Valley |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lifestyle/lifestyle-news/santa-ynez-valley-wineries-hotels-restaurants-travel-santa-barbara-county-1235337930/ |access-date=2024-11-17 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}} 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.{{Cite web |last=Grimm |first=Michele |last2=Grimm |first2=Tom |date=1987-12-20 |title=Gentle Love Story With a Mapped-Out Plot |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1987-12-20-tr-29845-story.html |access-date=2024-11-17 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}} Baseline Avenue is also accessible directly from State Route 154.{{Cite web |last=Report |first=Santa Ynez Valley News Staff |date=2024-09-16 |title=Detours available as roundabout project at Hwy 154 near Los Olivos continues |url=https://santamariatimes.com/news/local/detours-available-as-roundabout-project-at-hwy-154-near-los-olivos-continues/article_b5cffae2-6622-11ef-90cc-fb980a58338a.html |access-date=2024-11-17 |website=Santa Maria Times |language=en}}
The town's school is Ballard School, which serves grades K-6.{{Cite web |date=2019-11-16 |title=Judith Dale: Visiting Ballard school district |url=https://santamariatimes.com/lifestyles/columnist/judith-dale-visiting-ballard-school-district/article_aa31a34e-3bc3-5a01-9a6a-a44cd831bf85.html |access-date=2024-11-17 |website=Santa Maria Times |language=en}} It is famous for its one-room schoolhouse, named the "Little Red Schoolhouse". Some of the town'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.{{Cite web |last=Hodgson |first=Mike |date=2017-11-28 |title=Davison House: Ballard home to Santa Barbara County’s newest historic landmark |url=https://santamariatimes.com/news/local/davison-house-ballard-home-to-santa-barbara-county-s-newest-historic-landmark/article_ea6c7c33-8e6a-5e16-a183-28d0ddc9b1dc.html |access-date=2024-11-17 |website=Santa Maria Times |language=en}} The Santa Ynez Valley's climate is useful for winemaking. The Ballard Canyon AVA produces Rhône and Bordeaux wines. In 1987, the Los Angeles Times said the town was often visited by "city folks [who] stop by to enjoy the tranquillity of a small town from bygone times." In 2012, the Santa Barbara Independent said the town "still has a 19th-century feel."{{Cite web |author=Indy Staff |date=2012-06-06 |title=Ballard |url=https://www.independent.com/2012/06/06/ballard/ |access-date=2024-11-17 |website=The Santa Barbara Independent |language=en-US}}
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.A sign in Ballard about the stagecoach and town's name. 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.File:Ballard School 1B.jpg
Demographics
{{US Census population
|2010= 467
|2020= 768
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census/decade.html|title=Decennial Census by Decade|website=United States Census Bureau|access-date=}}
1850–1870{{Cite web|title= 1870 Census of Population - Population of Civil Divisions less than Counties - California - Almeda County to Sutter County |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1870/population/1870a-12.pdf|website=United States Census Bureau}}{{Cite web|title= 1870 Census of Population - Population of Civil Divisions less than Counties - California - Tehama County to Yuba County |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1870/population/1870a-13.pdf|website=United States Census Bureau}} 1880-1890{{Cite web|title= 1890 Census of Population - Population of California by Minor Civil Divisions |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1890/bulletins/demographics/134-population-of-ca.pdf|website=United States Census Bureau}}
1900{{Cite web|title= 1900 Census of Population - Population of California by Counties and Minor Civil Divisions |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1900/bulletins/demographic/10-population-ca.pdf|website=United States Census Bureau}} 1910{{Cite web|title= 1910 Census of Population - Supplement for California |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1910/abstract/supplement-ca.pdf|website=United States Census Bureau}} 1920{{Cite web|title= 1920 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - California |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1920/bulletins/demographics/population-ca-number-of-inhabitants.pdf|website=United States Census Bureau}}
1930{{Cite web|title= 1930 Census of Population - Number and Distribution of Inhabitants - California |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1930/population-volume-1/03815512v1ch03.pdf|website=United States Census Bureau}} 1940{{Cite web|title= 1940 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - California |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1940/population-volume-1/33973538v1ch03.pdf|website=United States Census Bureau}} 1950{{Cite web|title= 1950 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - California |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1950/population-volume-1/vol-01-08.pdf|website=United States Census Bureau}}
1960{{Cite web|title= 1960 Census of Population - General population Characteristics - California |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1960/population-volume-1/vol-01-06-d.pdf|website=United States Census Bureau}} 1970{{Cite web|title= 1970 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - California |url=https://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/1970a_ca1-01.pdf|website=United States Census Bureau}} 1980{{Cite web|title= 1980 Census of Population - Number of Inhabitants - California |url=https://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/1980a_caAB-01.pdf|website=United States Census Bureau}}
1990{{Cite web|title= 1990 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - California |url=https://www2.census.gov/prod2/cen1990/cph2/cph-2-6.pdf|website=United States Census Bureau}}
2000{{Cite web|title= 2000 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - California |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/2003/dec/phc-3-6.pdf|website=United States Census Bureau}} 2010{{Cite web|title= 2010 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - California |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/2010/cph-2/cph-2-6.pdf|website=United States Census Bureau}}
}}
The 2020 United States census reported that Ballard had a population of 768. The population density was {{convert|274.9|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of Ballard was 75.9% White, 1.0% African American, 1.3% Native American, 0.5% Asian, 0.3% Pacific Islander, 3.6% from other races, and 17.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 20.1% of the population.
The whole population lived in households. There were 304 households, out of which 25.7% included children under the age of 18, 50.3% were married-couple households, 5.9% were cohabiting couple households, 30.3% had a female householder with no partner present, and 13.5% had a male householder with no partner present. 30.9% of households were one person, and 18.8% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.53. There were 189 families (62.2% of all households).
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{{nbsp}}years of age or older. The median age was 52.4{{nbsp}}years. For every 100 females, there were 102.6 males.
There were 347 housing units at an average density of {{convert|124.2|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units |units|}}, of which 304 (87.6%) were occupied. Of these, 68.4% were owner-occupied, and 31.6% were occupied by renters.{{cite web |title=Ballard CDP, California; DP1: Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics - 2020 Census of Population and Housing |url=https://data.census.gov/table/DECENNIALDP2020.DP1?g=1600000US0603694 |website=US Census Bureau |access-date=April 2, 2025}}{{cite web |title=Ballard CDP, California; P16: Household Type - 2020 Census of Population and Housing |url=https://data.census.gov/table/DECENNIALDHC2020.P16?g=1600000US0603694 |website=US Census Bureau |access-date=April 2, 2025}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{Santa Barbara County, California}}
{{Santa Ynez River}}
{{authority control}}
Category:Census-designated places in Santa Barbara County, California