Farther over we come to the city of Santa Barbara itself. There has been a
long standing dispute over whether Goleta should annex itself to Santa
Barbara or become a separate city. Both proposals make it very clear that
Isla Vista is not to be included.
[NEW: Goleta became a city on Feb. 1, 2002.
Isla Vista was not included. The border of the city was carefully gerrymandered so as
to include everyone who in the past voted for cityhood and exclude everyone who in the
past voted against it. Hence there is still a lot of "Goleta" that is not in the "City
of Goleta." The sign on the freeway that used to say, "Goleta. Population 66,000" now
says, "Goleta. Population 28,400".]
