# Ballard, California

Ballard is a unincorporated community in Santa Barbara County, California. Ballard is the smallest and oldest community in the Santa Ynez Valley. The nearest city is Solvang. The population was 467 at the 2010 census. For statistical purposes, the United States Census Bureau has defined that community as a census-designated place (CDP). Ballard was founded in 1880 and has two buildings from that era: the 1883 Ballard School and the Santa Ynez Valley Presbyterian Church, which was erected in 1889.

## Geography

Ballard is a small, mostly residential town in the Santa Ynez Valley, which is in the northern half of Santa Barbara County, California. It is one of six towns in the valley, along with Buellton to the west, Los Alamos to the northwest, Los Olivos to the north, Santa Ynez to the southeast, and Solvang to the south. The town is located next to Ballard Canyon. Ballard is accessible by taking Alamo Pintado Road south from Los Olivos, which is located on California State Route 154, or by taking Alamo Pintado north from Solvang, which is located on State Route 246. From Alamo Pintado, Baseline Avenue is used to enter the main part of town. Baseline Avenue is also accessible directly from State Route 154.
The town's school is Ballard School, which serves grades K-6. It is famous for its one-room schoolhouse, named the "Little Red Schoolhouse". Some of the town's most important businesses and community locations include the Ballard Inn bed & breakfast, the Bob's Well Bread bakery, the Loper Chapel used mainly for funeral services, and the Oak Hill Cemetery. The Santa Ynez Valley's climate is useful for winemaking. The Ballard Canyon AVA produces Rhône and Bordeaux wines. In 1987, the Los Angeles Times said the town was often visited by "city folks [who] stop by to enjoy the tranquillity of a small town from bygone times." In 2012, the Santa Barbara Independent said the town "still has a 19th-century feel."
According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP covers an area of 1.2 square miles (3.1 km$^2$), 99.98% of it land, and 0.02% of it water.

## History

Ballard was founded in 1880 at the location of a Wells Fargo stage line station, being named by George Lewis after William Ballard, the former proprietor, who ran the station from 1862 to 1870. In 1882 it was believed that Ballard would grow into the central metropolis of Santa Barbara County. The first school, Ballard's Little Red School House, was built in 1882 and is still in operation today, being the primary tourist attraction.
The wine-producing region around Ballard was featured in the Academy Award-nominated film Sideways.

## Demographics

The 2010 United States Census reported that Ballard had a population of 467. The population density was 395.7 inhabitants per square mile (152.8/km$^2$). The racial makeup of Ballard was 432 (92.5%) White, 3 (0.6%) African American, 1 (0.2%) Native American, 2 (0.4%) Asian, 0 (0.0%) Pacific Islander, 12 (2.6%) from other races, and 17 (3.6%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 46 persons (9.9%).
The Census reported that 467 people (100% of the population) lived in households, 0 (0%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 0 (0%) were institutionalized.
There were 165 households, out of which 69 (41.8%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 104 (63.0%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 19 (11.5%) had a female householder with no husband present, 6 (3.6%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 8 (4.8%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 0 (0%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 29 households (17.6%) were made up of individuals, and 11 (6.7%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.83. There were 129 families (78.2% of all households); the average family size was 3.17.
The population was spread out, with 113 people (24.2%) under the age of 18, 45 people (9.6%) aged 18 to 24, 66 people (14.1%) aged 25 to 44, 178 people (38.1%) aged 45 to 64, and 65 people (13.9%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45.7 years. For every 100 females, there were 89.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.3 males.
There were 188 housing units at an average density of 159.3 per square mile (61.5/km$^2$), of which 134 (81.2%) were owner-occupied, and 31 (18.8%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.2%; the rental vacancy rate was 3.1%. 386 people (82.7% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 81 people (17.3%) lived in rental housing units.