The
Santa Ynez Valley is located in Santa Barbara County, California,
between the Santa Ynez Mountains to the south and the San Rafael Mountains to
the north. The Santa Ynez River flows through the valley from east to west. The
Santa Ynez Valley is separated from the Los Alamos Valley, to the northwest, by
the Purisima Hills, and from the Santa Maria Valley by the Solomon Hills. The
Santa Rita Hills separate the Santa Ynez Valley from the Santa Rita and Lompoc
Valleys to the west.
The valley has a population of about 20,000
residents living in the communities of
