Lompoc, California | |
|---|---|
_(cropped).jpg) Veterans Memorial Building _(cropped).jpg) La Purísima Concepción Church  La Purisima Mission _(2)_(cropped).jpg) Jalama Beach | |
 Flag  Seal  Coat of arms  Wordmark | |
| Nickname: "City of Arts and Flowers" | |
 Location inSanta Barbara County andCalifornia | |
  Lompoc Location in California Show map of California Lompoc Location in Southern California Show map of southern California Lompoc Location in the United States Show map of the United States | |
| Coordinates:34°38′46″N120°27′37″W / 34.64611°N 120.46028°W /34.64611; -120.46028 | |
| Country | United States |
| State | California |
| County | Santa Barbara |
| Incorporated | August 13, 1888[1] |
| Named after | Purisimeño:lumpo'o̥: "Lakes/lagoons"[2] |
| Government | |
| • City council[5] |
|
| • State senator | Monique Limón (D)[3] |
| • Assemblymember | Gregg Hart (D)[3] |
| • U.S. Rep. | Salud Carbajal (D)[4] |
| Area | |
• Total | 11.70 sq mi (30.31 km2) |
| • Land | 11.62 sq mi (30.10 km2) |
| • Water | 0.077 sq mi (0.20 km2) 0.66% |
| Elevation | 105 ft (32 m) |
| Population | |
• Total | 44,444 |
| • Density | 3,824/sq mi (1,477/km2) |
| Demonym | Lompocan |
| Time zone | UTC−8 (PST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−7 (PDT) |
| ZIP Codes | 93436–93438 |
| Area code | 805 |
| FIPS code | 06-42524 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1652745 |
| Website | www |
Lompoc (/ˈlɒmpoʊk/LOM-poke;ChumashanPurisimeño:lumpo'o̥) is a city inSanta Barbara County, California, United States. Located on theCentral Coast, its population was 43,834 as of July 2021.
Lompoc has been inhabited for thousands of years by theChumash people, who called the arealumpo'o̥, meaning 'lagoon' in the localPurisimeño language.[2] The Spanish called the areaLompoco afterFermín de Lasuén had establishedMisión La Purísima in 1787. In 1837, the Mexican government sold the area as theRancho Lompoc land grant. After the U.S.conquest of California, multiple settlers acquired the Lompoc Valley, includingWilliam Welles Hollister, who sold the land around the mission to the Lompoc Valley Land Company, which established atemperance colony that incorporated in 1888 as Lompoc.[9] Lompoc is often considered amilitary town because it is nearVandenberg Space Force Base.
TheWestern Institute for Endangered Language Documentation (WIELD) confirmed that the Chumash Purisimeño wordlumpo'o̥ means 'in the cheeks'. Chumash placenames were often named after body parts, such as the eye, face, kneecap, eyelash, shoulder, nose, tongue, and white of the eye.[10] It used to be believed that Lompoc meant 'stagnant waters',[11] as first mentioned in Richard Applegate's 1974 paperChumash Placenames. In 1981 the writings ofJohn P. Harrington were catalogued at theSmithsonian Museum and quotedMaria Solares with the correct translation. In 2018, WIELD researched and corrected the record.
Before the Spanish conquest, the area around Lompoc was inhabited by theChumash people. TheOriginal Mission La Purísima was established in 1787 near what is now the southern edge of the city.Purisimeño, a Chumashan language, was spoken in the region during the mission period.[12] After anearthquake destroyed the mission in 1812, it was moved to its present location 1 mile (1.6 km) northeast of the present city. After independence from theSpanish Empire, theFirst Mexican Empire was established in 1821. The Mexicans secularized theSpanish missions in 1833, and La Purisima Mission fell into ruins.
In 1893, adiatomaceous earth mine, formerly owned by Johns Manville, World Mineral, and Celite corporation, nowImerys Inc., opened in the southern hills in Miguelito Canyon. It became (and still is) the largest marine diatomite mine in the world, and at one time was the largest employer in the valley.[13] While owned by Johns Manville, the mine employed more than 900 people at its peak, and built housing for its employees onsite and in town; the houses in town are next to JM park, which the mine donated to the city. Another diatomaceous earth company, Grefco, operated here from the 1940s until 1998.[14] The remnants of its mine at the northeast end of town were torn down in 2001.[15]
In 1909, theSibyl Marston—at the time, the largest steam schooner built on theWest Coast—sank nearby while carrying 1,100,000 board feet (2,600 m3) of lumber. Many Lompoc homes were built with lumber from the shipwreck. The wreckage can still be seen south ofSurf Beach.[16]
The coastal branch of theSouthern Pacific Railroad opened around 1900 and eventually replaced ship transportation. A paved road linked Lompoc toBuellton and the rest of California around 1920. In 1923, theHonda Point disaster, the U.S.'s largest peacetime naval accident, occurred just off the coast; nine U.S. destroyers ran aground, killing 23 people. During theGreat Depression, La Purisima Mission was restored by theCivilian Conservation Corps (CCC). DuringWorld War II, the coast west of Lompoc was the site of Camp Cooke, aUnited States Army training camp where large units could practice maneuvers.
Lompoc grew slowly until 1958, when theUnited States Air Force announced that the former Camp Cooke would be a test site for theThor family ofintermediate-range ballistic missiles and the first operational base for theSM-65 Atlas, anintercontinental ballistic missile. The city then began to grow rapidly to provide housing for thousands of civilians and contractors employed at what was soon renamed Vandenberg Air Force Base. It was the Air Force's first missile base.
TheSpace Shuttle program was slated to begin launches from Vandenberg in the late 1980s, and the city experienced a boom in restaurant and hotel construction in anticipation of tourists coming to see shuttle launches. But afterthe Challenger exploded during takeoff fromCape Canaveral in 1986, the West Coast shuttle program was terminated, sending Lompoc into a severerecession.[17]
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the city has an area of 11.7 square miles (30 km2), 99.34% land and 0.66% water.
Most of the city is in the valley of theSanta Ynez River, at an elevation of about 80–100 feet (25–30 meters). Expansion has been to the north, on higher ground known as Vandenberg Village, with elevations of 150–300 feet (50–100 meters). Like most rivers inSouthern California, the Santa Ynez River has no surface flow most of the year. Underground flow in the sandy river bed recharges the aquifer beneath the city, from which nine wells (a tenth is planned) supply the city with water. Unlike many Southern California cities, Lompoc is not connected to theState Water Project.
Lompoc has a coolMediterranean climate (Köppen climate classificationCsb), typical of coastal California. The city is mostly sunny, with an ocean breeze. Fog is common. Snow is virtually unknown. The highest recorded temperature was 110 °F or 43.3 °C in 1987, and the lowest was 20 °F or −6.7 °C in 1990.
| Climate data for Lompoc, California, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1917–present | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 88 (31) | 89 (32) | 96 (36) | 105 (41) | 97 (36) | 98 (37) | 99 (37) | 101 (38) | 106 (41) | 110 (43) | 98 (37) | 90 (32) | 110 (43) |
| Mean maximum °F (°C) | 78.6 (25.9) | 80.1 (26.7) | 82.0 (27.8) | 85.1 (29.5) | 83.3 (28.5) | 83.9 (28.8) | 82.9 (28.3) | 85.1 (29.5) | 89.9 (32.2) | 91.6 (33.1) | 85.2 (29.6) | 76.7 (24.8) | 95.1 (35.1) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 64.7 (18.2) | 65.1 (18.4) | 67.3 (19.6) | 68.2 (20.1) | 69.2 (20.7) | 70.7 (21.5) | 72.5 (22.5) | 73.3 (22.9) | 74.8 (23.8) | 74.1 (23.4) | 69.6 (20.9) | 63.3 (17.4) | 69.4 (20.8) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 54.0 (12.2) | 54.6 (12.6) | 56.6 (13.7) | 57.8 (14.3) | 59.9 (15.5) | 61.8 (16.6) | 64.0 (17.8) | 64.6 (18.1) | 64.8 (18.2) | 62.6 (17.0) | 57.8 (14.3) | 52.7 (11.5) | 59.3 (15.2) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 43.2 (6.2) | 44.2 (6.8) | 46.0 (7.8) | 47.4 (8.6) | 50.6 (10.3) | 52.9 (11.6) | 55.5 (13.1) | 56.0 (13.3) | 54.9 (12.7) | 51.1 (10.6) | 46.0 (7.8) | 42.1 (5.6) | 49.2 (9.6) |
| Mean minimum °F (°C) | 32.2 (0.1) | 33.5 (0.8) | 36.9 (2.7) | 38.5 (3.6) | 42.6 (5.9) | 45.6 (7.6) | 49.2 (9.6) | 49.5 (9.7) | 46.6 (8.1) | 41.4 (5.2) | 36.1 (2.3) | 31.1 (−0.5) | 29.9 (−1.2) |
| Record low °F (°C) | 21 (−6) | 26 (−3) | 27 (−3) | 29 (−2) | 34 (1) | 34 (1) | 41 (5) | 37 (3) | 36 (2) | 27 (−3) | 24 (−4) | 20 (−7) | 20 (−7) |
| Averageprecipitation inches (mm) | 3.29 (84) | 3.66 (93) | 2.80 (71) | 0.90 (23) | 0.34 (8.6) | 0.06 (1.5) | 0.02 (0.51) | 0.01 (0.25) | 0.05 (1.3) | 0.67 (17) | 1.21 (31) | 2.40 (61) | 15.41 (392.16) |
| Average precipitation days(≥ 0.01 in) | 8.1 | 8.6 | 7.4 | 4.1 | 1.7 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 0.3 | 0.7 | 2.7 | 4.7 | 7.7 | 47.2 |
| Source 1: NOAA[18] | |||||||||||||
| Source 2: National Weather Service[19] | |||||||||||||
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1880 | 226 | — | |
| 1890 | 1,015 | 349.1% | |
| 1900 | 972 | −4.2% | |
| 1910 | 1,482 | 52.5% | |
| 1920 | 1,876 | 26.6% | |
| 1930 | 2,845 | 51.7% | |
| 1940 | 3,379 | 18.8% | |
| 1950 | 5,520 | 63.4% | |
| 1960 | 14,415 | 161.1% | |
| 1970 | 25,284 | 75.4% | |
| 1980 | 26,267 | 3.9% | |
| 1990 | 37,649 | 43.3% | |
| 2000 | 41,103 | 9.2% | |
| 2010 | 42,434 | 3.2% | |
| 2020 | 44,444 | 4.7% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[20] | |||
In the2020 United States census, Lompoc had a population of 44,444. The population density was 3,823.8 inhabitants per square mile (1,476.1/km2). The racial and ethnic makeup was 25,472 (57.3%)Hispanic orLatino of any race; 13,310 (29.9%)Non-Hispanic White; 1,805 (4%)African American; 1,608 (3.6%)Asian; 289 (0.65%)Native American; 98 (0.2%)Pacific Islander; 166 (0.37%)other races; and 1,696 (3.8%) from two or more races.
The Census reported that 41,375 (93%) lived in households, 156 (0.35%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters and 2,913 (6.5%) were institutionalized.
There were 14,104 households, of which 5,459 (38.7%) had children under the age of 18 living in them; 6,309 (44.7%) wereopposite-sex married couple households; 3,919 (27.8%) had a female householder with no husband present; and 2,613 (18.5%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 1,210 (2.7%)unmarried opposite-sex partnerships and 77 (0.17%)same-sex married couples or partnerships. 3,256 (23%) households were made up of individuals, and 1,438 (10.2%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.06. There were 9,453 (67%)families; the average family size was 3.67.
The population included 12,129 (27.4%) people under the age of 18; 2,935 (6.6%) people aged 18 to 24; 12,657 (28.5%) aged 25 to 44, 10,861 (24.4%) aged 45 to 64; and 5,862 (13.2%) who were 65 or older. The median age was 35.7 years old. For every 100 females, there were 109.9 males. For every 100 females aged 18 and over, there were 111.6 males.
There were 14,609 housing units at an average density of 1,257 per square mile (485/km2), of which 6,687 (45.7%) were owner-occupied and 7,417 (50.7%) were occupied by renters. There are 505 vacant housing units in Lompoc (0.34%). The homeowner vacancy rate was 0.4%; the rental vacancy rate was 3.1%[21]
In the2010 United States census,[22] Lompoc had a population of 42,434. The population density was 3,634.7 inhabitants per square mile (1,403.4/km2). The racial makeup was 25,950 (61.2%)White; 2,432 (5.7%)African American; 750 (1.8%)Native American; 1,615 (3.8%)Asian; 186 (0.4%)Pacific Islander; 9,020 (21.3%) fromother races; and 2,481 (5.8%) from two or more races. There were 21,557Hispanic orLatino residents of any race (50.8%).
The Census reported that 38,778 people (91.4% of the population) lived in households, 99 (0.2%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 3,557 (8.4%) were institutionalized.
There were 13,355 households, of which 5,481 (41.0%) had children under the age of 18 living in them; 6,323 (47.3%) wereopposite-sex married couples living together; 2,061 (15.4%) had a female householder with no husband present; and 913 (6.8%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 949 (2.2%)unmarried opposite-sex partnerships and 75 (0.17%)same-sex married couples or partnerships. 3,304 households (24.7%) were made up of individuals, and 1,187 (8.9%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.9. There were 9,297families (69.6% of all households); the average family size was 3.48.
The population included 11,188 people (26.4%) under the age of 18, 4,452 people (10.5%) aged 18 to 24, 12,233 people (28.8%) aged 25 to 44, 10,338 people (24.4%) aged 45 to 64, and 4,223 people (10.0%) who were 65 or older. The median age was 33.9 years. For every 100 females, there were 114.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 118.7 males.
There were 14,416 housing units at an average density of 1,234.8 per square mile (476.8/km2), of which 6,493 (48.6%) were owner-occupied and 6,862 (51.4%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.2%; the rental vacancy rate was 7.1%. 18,534 people (43.7% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units, and 20,244 people (47.7%) lived in rental housing units.
As of the2000 Census,[23] there were 43,284 people, 13,059 households and 9,311 families residing in Lompoc. The population density was 3,532.2 inhabitants per square mile (1,363.8/km2). There were 13,621 housing units at an average density of 1,170.5 per square mile (451.9/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 65.81% White, 7.34% African American, 1.58% Native American, 3.90% Asian, 0.32% Pacific Islander, 15.68% from other races, and 5.35% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race made up 37.31% of the population.
There were 13,059 households, of which 41.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.0% were married couples living together, 14.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.7% were non-families. 23.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.3% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.88, and the average family size was 3.42.
The population included 29.9% under the age of 18, 8.9% from 18 to 24, 33.3% from 25 to 44, 18.5% from 45 to 64, and 9.4% who were 65 or older. The median age was 32. For every 100 females, there were 113.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 116.4 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $47,587, and the median income for a family was $62,199. Males had a median income of $35,074, versus $26,824 for females. Theper capita income was $15,509. About 12.6% of families and 15.4% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 20.8% of those under 18 and 6.7% of those 65 or older.
Vandenberg Space Force Base dominates the economy, directly employing more Lompoc residents than any other employer and contributing $1.7 billion to the regional economy.[24] Other mainstays of the economy include theFederal Correctional Institution, thediatomaceous earth mine (today owned byImerys), theLompoc Oil Field and associated oil processing facilities north of town, and agriculture (especially seed flowers and vegetables). Lompoc is called "The City of Arts and Flowers".
Wine production andwine tourism make up an expanding agricultural sector.[25] Lompoc Valley is the gateway to theSta. Rita Hills AVA wine appellation, internationally recognized for premiumpinot noir andchardonnay. Thirty premium boutique wine labels are produced in Lompoc. Numerous other wineries are along State Route 246 and on Santa Rosa Road. Tasting rooms are in various parts of Lompoc.[24]
Since the end of theCold War, many workers employed inSanta Barbara andGoleta have moved to Lompoc to take advantage of lower housing costs, effectively making it abedroom community of Santa Barbara.[26] The town's character has changed considerably with the growth associated with this demographic shift. In addition, new housing developments are spreading into the adjacent hills on the north side of town.
Upon the legalization of the sale and distribution of cannabis in California, the city had seven recreational marijuana storefronts by February 2020, with 19 cannabis business licenses having been issued by the city.[27][28] One of the retail establishments being licensed for onsite consumption claims to be the first between Los Angeles and San Francisco.[29] A manufacturing facility has been established[30] and a testing lab provides the required analysis for growers.[31][32] Companies must be licensed by the local agency and the state to grow, test, or sell cannabis and the city may authorize none or only some of these activities. Cannabis dispensaries pay a 6% gross sales tax to the city.[33] Local governments may not prohibit adults who are in compliance with state laws from growing, using, or transporting cannabis for personal use.
The Lompoc Police Department is the city's primary law enforcement agency. The city is also served by theLompoc Fire Department (LFD), which responds to more than 3,800 emergency and non-emergency calls per year.[34]
American Medical Response Santa Barbara County (AMR SBC) provides the primary emergency medical response and ambulance services. The LFD provides mutual aid to theSanta Barbara County Fire Department as well as primary fire protection and emergency medical response to theUnited States Penitentiary, Lompoc.
The Federal Correctional Complex between Lompoc and Vandenberg SFB includes the medium- and low-securityFederal Correctional Institution, Lompoc, two minimum-security camps.[35]
Lompoc is served by theLompoc Unified School District.
The two high schools in the area areCabrillo High School andLompoc High School.
The two middle schools in the area are Vandenberg Middle School and Lompoc Valley Middle School.
Allan Hancock College operates theLompoc Valley Center (LVC).
State Route 1 is the major north–south artery through Lompoc.State Route 246 heads east to Buellton and theSanta Ynez Valley.
TheSurf train station is located to the west at Surf Beach and is served byAmtrak'sPacific Surfliner line.Amtrak Thruway buses stop in town. Lompoc is also served byCity of Lompoc Transit, theClean Air Express toSanta Barbara/Goleta, and theBreeze Bus to Buellton/Solvang andSanta Maria.
_(cropped).jpg)
TheLompoc Valley Flower Festival, held the last week of June, features a parade, carnival, food vendors, and craft show.[36] In 2002, the Bodger Seed Company planted a "floral flag" as a tribute after theSeptember 11 attacks. The "flag" was 740 feet by 390 feet, covered 6.65 acres (2.69 ha), and was estimated to contain more than 400,000larkspur plants.[37][38]
The Lompoc arts scene features artists, musicians, and bands ranging from singer-songwriters to psychedelic blues-rock bands. At the center of this scene is Certain Sparks Music, a music store and frequent venue for Lompoc's musicians. Certain Sparks opened in 2006 and moved in 2015 from the corner of H & Laurel to South H Street.
One of Lompoc's most successful musical artists is the rock band Saint Anne's Place, which formed in 2008 and released its first EP,Speak Easy, in 2011.[39][40] The band's music has been called a "blistering yet rustic mix of blues, psychedelia, and folk rock with the chops of players twice their senior".[41] In 2011, it won theSanta Barbara Independent battle of the bands.[42] It released its second EP,The Earth Shaker, in 2012.[43]
Emily Wryn is a Lompoc songwriter whose music has been featured onNPR’sMorning Becomes Eclectic.[44] Her first EP,Head on Straight, was released in 2012,[45] and she played at the Indie Week festival inIreland in 2014.[46] Wryn also collaborates with Saint Anne's Place and a group called The Lights Electric.
Another band, Millions, led by Randall Sena, played along the Central Coast. Sena was also in a performing band called Le Petite Protest.[47] He recorded and produced Wryn'sHead on Straight and Saint Anne's Place'sSpeak Easy in his recording studio, Certain Sparks.[45]
The Lompoc Theatre, which opened in 1927, was owned and operated by the Calvert family for many years.[48] It encountered financial trouble in the 1970s because of competition from multiplexes and television. The last time a movie was shown on its screen was in 1987.[49]
In 2003, a nonprofit group, the Lompoc Housing and Community Development Corporation, announced plans to restore the theater. With the city's assistance, the LHCDC raised funds to buy the theater. By 2008, the cost of renovating the building was estimated at just under $10 million. The LHCDC could not raise the money needed for renovations, and the building accumulated three liens.[50] The Lompoc Theatre Project Organization formed in 2012 with the help of Howlin' Byroon's Music Store owner Brian W. Cole, Donelle Martin, Carol Benham, Michelle Shaefer, and others. It was formally sold to the grassroots group the Lompoc Theatre Project in 2016. As of January 2020[update], restoration and fund-raising is ongoing.[51][52][53][54]
Founded in 1996,[55] the Lompoc Pops Orchestra consists of about 45 semi-professional musicians under the direction ofBrian Asher Alhadeff.[56] Its four annual performances include musicals, Broadway hits, jazz pieces, big band, gospel, and patriotic music.
Lompoc has five sister cities:[76]
Cheyenne,Wyoming
Inca,SpainLake Placid,Florida
Locarno,Switzerland
Namwon,Republic of Korea (South Korea)In 2010,Playboy named Jasper's, a local bar, one of the top 10dive bars in the country.[77] The bar is the setting of the classic 1940W. C. Fields comedyThe Bank Dick. Lompoc is also frequently referred to in the TV cartoon seriesRoger Ramjet, though consistently mispronounced "Lom-pock".[78] The Australian punk rock bandLompoc County Splatterheads were named from an episode where the hero refers to "local louts as a bunch of 'Splatter heads'."[79][80]InCall of Duty: Ghosts, Lompoc is the setting of the Extinction map "Exodus".
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)Majors, 30...
Municipalities and communities ofSanta Barbara County, California,United States | ||
|---|---|---|
| Cities |  | |
| CDPs | ||
| Unincorporated communities | ||
| Indian reservation | ||
| Ghost towns | ||
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Geographic | |
| Other | |