April 21 marks the 243rd anniversary of the founding of El Presidio de Santa Bárbara — the Spanish birthplace of our town in the year 1782.
There is plenty of interesting history that swirls around our Presidio. Locally, it was transformative.
After 40 years, the Presidio became part of Mexico as an independent nation in 1821. While the Hispano population of Santa Barbara was small at that time, the introduction of agriculture, horticulture, livestock in the thousands had altered the environment…