Carpinteria, Coastal city in Santa Barbara County, United States.
Carpinteria is a coastal town in Santa Barbara County, California, positioned between the Pacific Ocean and the Santa Ynez Mountains. The core lies along the coastal highway and includes residential neighborhoods, shops, and several parks reaching down to a wide sandy beach.
The Spanish Portola expedition arrived at a Chumash settlement called Šujtu in 1769, where locals maintained carpentry workshops near the present pier. The formal city was established in the 20th century after the area developed as farmland and orchards.
The town name comes from the Spanish word for carpentry, recalling traditional workshops where native craftsmen once worked with wood along the shore. Agriculture and craftsmanship still shape daily life for many residents today.
The central area lies along the coastal highway and can be explored on foot, with public facilities within walking distance. The train station connects the town to other locations along the California coast.
Natural petroleum seeps at Tar Pits Park rise to the surface, showing the same asphalt deposits that Chumash residents once used to seal their wooden canoes. These asphalt springs remain visible today and recall traditions centuries old.
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