On the other hand , the southern portion of Santa Barbara county has had an economy based on tourism , with a significant percentage of people with white-collar jobs , formerly in aerospace but more recently in software and other high-tech pursuits . Additionally , the University of California , Santa Barbara contributes to a liberal populace . The southern portion of the county has a strong history of left-wing activism , with anti-war protests common in Santa Barbara . It is generally believed that the inspiration for Earth Day was the 1969 Santa Barbara oil spill ; however , Gaylord Nelson , the senator who proposed the idea , has never directly cited any direct cause for the establishment of the holiday
1969 Santa Barbara oil spill
1969 Santa Barbara oil spill
Santa Barbara County, California