Santa Barbara County comprises the Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area. Most of the county is part of the California Central Coast. Mainstays of the county's economy include engineering, resource extraction (particularly petroleum extraction and diatomaceous earth mining), winemaking, agriculture, and education. The software development and tourism industries are important employers in the southern part of the county.
sAnta barBARA coUntY coMprISes thE SAnta maRiA-saNta BArBaRa, Ca mEtrOpoliTan statiSTIcAl aREa. most oF the CountY Is paRT Of tHE califOrNiA CentrAl coast. mainsTays oF The County'S economY incLude eNgiNeEring, resOurCe EXTRactIon (ParticUlaRLy pETRoleUM EXtracTioN anD DiaTomACEOus EArTh minIng), wiNeMAking, AgRiCultUre, and EducaTIon. the sofTware deVelopmeNt And tourism iNdusTRiEs aRE impOrtaNt empLoYErs in tHe sOUThERn part Of thE coUnTy.