Montecito (archaic use of Spanish for woodland or countryside)[6] is an unincorporated town in Santa Barbara County, California, United States.

[7][8][9] Located on the Central Coast of California, Montecito sits between the Santa Ynez Mountains and the Pacific Ocean.

[11] For statistical purposes, the United States Census Bureau has defined Montecito as a census-designated place (CDP).

The site of present-day Montecito, along with the entire south coast of Santa Barbara County, was inhabited for over 10,000 years by the Chumash Indians.

The Spanish arrived in the 18th century but left the region largely unsettled while they built the Presidio and Mission Santa Barbara farther west.

[6] In the middle of the 19th century, the area was known as a haven for bandits and highway robbers, who hid in the oak groves and canyons, preying on traffic on the coastal route between the towns that developed around the missions.

[citation needed] Around the end of the 19th century, wealthy tourists from the eastern and midwestern United States began to buy land in the area.

Desirable weather and several nearby hot springs offered the promise of comfortable, healthy living, in addition to the availability of affordable land.

[14] The architect George Washington Smith is noted particularly for his residences around Montecito, and for popularizing the Spanish Colonial Revival style in early 20th century America, as is Lutah Maria Riggs, who started as a draftsman in Smith's firm, rose to partner, and later started her own firm.

[15] Montecito was evacuated five times in four months between December 2017 and March 2018 because of weather-related events, which included the Thomas Fire, the 2018 Southern California mudflows, and flooding related to the Pineapple Express.

[22] According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP (census-designated place) has a total area of 9.3 square miles (24 km2), 99.94% of it land and 0.06% of it water.

Because of Montecito's proximity to the ocean, onshore breezes significantly moderate temperatures, resulting in warmer winters and cooler summers compared with places further inland.

[27] Montecito does not include some important commercial areas such as Coast Village Road as they are within the city of Santa Barbara.

[29] March and April are the months to watch gray whales migrate north from Mexico through the Santa Barbara Channel.

In addition, the U.S. Route 101 freeway runs along the south end of town, connecting it with other cities in Santa Barbara County and the rest of Southern California.