Santa Barbara became a wealthy frontier town of slavers, ranchers, miners, adventurers, and priests.

Today, Santa Barbara is overshadowed by nearby Parral but the extensive mine tailings tell of its former prominence.

[6] The municipality produces wood products and nuts from trees such as walnuts, mesquite, junipers, acamos, gatuños, willows and madroños.

The city also continues to rely on mining of lead, silver, gold, zinc, fluorite and other minerals.

[citation needed] Tourists visit caves, mountain ranges, and other natural attraction in the region.