Santa Maria is located in Santa Barbara County on the beautiful central coast of California. Known for its western flair and friendly spirit, Santa Maria's history is grounded in the Old West and agriculture. More recently, the valley has been influenced by oil and gas exploration and Vandenberg Air Force Base, which is the area's largest employer. HWY 101 runs through the valley, while scenic HWY 1 borders to the west. The city is also conveniently located next to HWY 166, which runs east to I-5 near Bakersfield.