Santa Barbara County
Cities and Towns
Source: Wikipedia
New Cuyama
New Cuyama is an unincorporated town in
Santa Barbara County, California, in the United States. It was
named after the Chumash Indian word for "clams", most
likely due to the millions of petrified prehistoric clamshells
that grace the surrounding areas. The town is home to the
majority of the utility infrastructure for its residents,
including nearby neighbor Cuyama, California. New Cuyama is
located very close to the intersection points for Santa Barbara,
San Luis Obispo, Ventura and Kern counties. The town is served by
Highway 166 (connecting U.S. Route 101 and Interstate 5) and the
public-use New Cuyama Airport.
History
The area was considered territory of
the Yokuts people, but Chumash Indians from the Pacific Coast are
also known to have frequented the area. The imprint of an old
Indian trail can still be seen leading over the hills of Ventura
County to the headwaters of Piru creek.
The area's recorded history dates to 1822 when Mexico won
independence from Spain and took over the Spanish colony of
California. Two land grants were eventually given by the Mexican
government for the lower Cuyama Valley (where current New Cuyama
resides), privatizing ownership of the land.
Following the 1949 discovery of oil at the South Cuyama Oil
Field, in 1952 the Atlantic Richfield Company (ARCO) settled and
developed the town of New Cuyama, building housing and associated
commercial business – including the New Cuyama Airport (L88)
which bears the distinction of being the only public-use paved
airport within easy flying range of Los Angeles for more than 50
miles (80 km). Much of the infrastructure from ARCO's settling of
the town still exists today and is used by town residents. The
original ARCO-built gas processing plant is still in use and
easily seen due south of New Cuyama, though ARCO has since sold
off interest in the facility.
The town of New Cuyama, when founded, was considered the pearl of
eastern Santa Barbara County, due to the flow of oil that was
coming out of the region. During this time Richfield Oil Company
built the town funded schools and provided all the important
utilities other than electricity. Now that oil and gas production
have declined, the principal industry is once again agriculture.
Population
Humorous sign in New Cuyama
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:New_cuyama.jpg
1,100 according to the New Cuyama city
limit sign as of April 12, 2008.
Geography
New Cuyama is located at 34°56'53?N 119°41'21?W. It is situated
in the Cuyama Valley.
This page was last updated July 19, 2009.
