Santa Rita, Santa Barbara County, California facts for kids
Santa Rita was once a small community in Santa Barbara County, California. It was located in the Santa Rita Valley, about 7.5 miles (12 km) east of the city of Lompoc.
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What Was Santa Rita?
Santa Rita was a "settlement," which means it was a place where people lived and worked, but it was never officially a city or town. Today, it is no longer an active community.
Where Was Santa Rita Located?
This former settlement was found in the beautiful Santa Rita Valley. This valley is part of Santa Barbara County in the state of California. It was situated a short distance to the east of Lompoc, a larger city in the area.
How Did Santa Rita Get Its Name?
The name "Santa Rita" comes from a very old land grant. A land grant is like a special permission from the government to own a large piece of land. This particular land grant was given out on April 10, 1839.
The land grant itself was named after Santa Rita de Cassia. She was a very respected person from a religious group called the Augustinians. Her special day, or "feast day," is celebrated on May 22 each year.
The Santa Rita Post Office
For a few years, Santa Rita even had its own post office. This post office helped people send and receive letters and packages. It was open from 1909 until 1914. After 1914, the post office closed, and the settlement eventually faded away.
