Mesa

Mesa, a Spanish word meaning “table”, has been applied to the flat bench fronting the ocean along Santa Barbara’s southwestern border since mission days. The Mesa is one of the oldest historical areas in the city; paradoxically it is one of our youngest residential districts.

The Mesa is home to SBCC - Santa Barbara Community College - which sits on the oceans edge, and is one of the most beautiful college campuses in the world.

Artists and writers have a special affinity for the Mesa as a carefree place to live. City weather records show that the Mesa’s winter temperatures are 10 to 12 degrees warmer than downtown, and 10 to 12 degrees cooler in the summer.

This climate attraction, plus the spectacular marine views, caused a housing boom after World War II, binding the Mesa Improvement Association, dedicated to protecting the Mesa lifestyle as one of the most envied in the South Coast area.