Celebrate the History of the Santa Maria Valley

Oct. 21, 2011 - PRLog -- New from Arcadia Publishing, Carina Monica Montoya, and the Santa Maria Valley Historical Society is Santa Maria Valley. This pictorial history is the latest volume in the popular Images of America series and affords readers a unique opportunity to reconnect to the history that shaped their community.

Located in the heart of California’s central coast, the Santa Maria Valley covers an area of mountains and hills that reaches the Pacific Ocean in Santa Barbara County. The valley’s early history dates back to the Portola Expedition which passed through Santa Maria on the California Mission Trail called El Camino Real and ended near Monterey Bay.

When early settlers arrived, the valley was dry and desolate. Nearby water sources, however, helped transform the land into one of the most fertile and beautiful valleys in California. The valley became a leader in innovative agriculture transport, a depot on the busiest short-line railroad system in the country, and a training ground for many World War II pilots at its renowned aeronautic college.

Today, its landscape of richly colored agricultural fields is framed by rolling hills and scenic miles of grapevines that produce some of the world’s most coveted wines. The valley is also famous for its Santa Maria–style barbecue.

Available at area bookstores, independent retailers, and online retailers, or through Arcadia Publishing at (888)-313-2665 or www.arcadiapublishing.com.

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With more than 7,500 local history titles published to date, Arcadia Publishing is the leading publisher of local and regional history in the United States. Widely recognized sepia books feature hundreds of vintage historical images.