Brief History Facts
For more details, please visit Santa Margarita Historic Society
Santa Margarita boasts an illustrious cultural and historical pedigree that is unrivaled on California’s Central Coast.
This land was home to Native Americans for thousands of years. The Salinan and Chumash tribes converged here to live amid the fertile valley soils, mountain forests, plentiful water and abundant wildlife.
Santa Margarita was later settled by Franciscan missionaries in the 1770s as part of California’s famed mission trail. The friars raised cattle, planted grapes and established Santa Margarita de Cortona Asistencia as an ”assistance mission” between Mission San Luis Obispo to the south and Mission San Miguel to the north.
In 1841, Santa Margarita Ranch—which surrounds the town of Santa Margarita—was granted to Joaquin Estrada, a colorful ranchero who was known for hosting grand fiestas and rodeos. Estrada’s gracious hospitality set the tone for generations to come.
Santa Margarita later became a stagecoach stop for Wells Fargo and other stage lines traveling down El Camino Real. The town of Santa Margarita was officially established in 1889 with the arrival of the Union Pacific Railroad.
Even today, Santa Margarita maintains the ambiance of a classic Wild West outpost. At the same time, it has kept pace with contemporary tastes. Santa Margarita is now a place where artisans, winemakers, ranchers and tradespeople form a tight-knit community with a welcoming spirit.
Come experience the unique heritage and enduring authenticity of historic Santa Margarita.
