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Solvang, California

Solvang (/ˈsɒlvæŋ/;[8] Danish for "sunny field") is a city in Santa Barbara County, California, United States. It is located in the Santa Ynez Valley. The population was 6,126 at the 2020 census, up from 5,245 at the 2010 census. Solvang was founded in 1911[8] and incorporated as a city on May 1, 1985.[1][9] Solvang has been described as "The Danish Capital of America".[10][11]

Solvang, California
Top: Tivoli Square, Petersen Village Inn; middle: Mission Santa Inés; bottom: Solvang windmill, Bethania Church
Nickname: 
Danish Capital of America
Location in Santa Barbara County and the state of California
Solvang
Location in the United States
Solvang
Solvang (California)
Solvang
Solvang (the United States)
Coordinates: 34°35′38″N 120°8′23″W / 34.59389°N 120.13972°W / 34.59389; -120.13972
CountryUnited States
StateCalifornia
CountySanta Barbara
IncorporatedMay 1, 1985[1]
Government
 • MayorCharles Uhrig[2]
 • State SenatorMonique Limón (D)[3]
 • CA AssemblyGregg Hart (D)[3]
 • U.S. CongressSalud Carbajal (D)[4]
Area
 • Total2.43 sq mi (6.28 km2)
 • Land2.42 sq mi (6.28 km2)
 • Water0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)  0.05%
Elevation505 ft (154 m)
Population
 • Total6,126
 • Density2,500/sq mi (980/km2)
Time zoneUTC−08:00 (PST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−07:00 (PDT)
ZIP Codes
93463-93464
Area code805
FIPS code06-72576
GNIS feature IDs1661468, 2411925
Websitewww.cityofsolvang.com

Solvang's origins date back to 1804, when Mission Santa Inés was founded by the Spanish under Esteban Tápis. A small community grew up around the mission called "Santa Inés" during the Mexican period, but it was largely abandoned after the American Conquest of California. In 1911, a new settlement was founded around the mission by a group of Danish Americans who purchased 9,000 acres (3,600 ha) of the surrounding Rancho San Carlos de Jonata, to establish a Danish community far from Midwestern winters. The community began building Danish-themed architecture in 1947, and has since become a tourist destination.[12] The community attracts tourists from Nordic countries, and has been the subject of several Danish royal visits, most recently by Prince Henrik in 2011.[13] A minority of residents in the 21st century are of Danish origin.[13]

History edit

Beginnings edit

 
Mission Santa Inés in Solvang

The Santa Ynez Valley, in which Solvang lies, was originally inhabited by the Chumash, identified by Father Pedro Font, chaplain of the 1776 Anza Expedition, and were described as an ingenious and industrious people who are good fishermen and hunters, with an excellent astronomical system.[14]

As part of the expansion of the mission system established in California by Spanish missionaries, Father Estévan Tapís founded Mission Santa Inés, now located near the center of Solvang, in order to relieve overcrowding at Mission Santa Barbara and Mission La Purísima Concepción since it was located midway between the two. It also served as a gateway to the Chumash Indians living east of the Coast Range.[15]

After the Mexican War of Independence, the Mexican Assembly passed the Secularization Laws which confiscated Mission lands, along with other property, and transferred them to the control of local ranchers, with Solvang being later founded on what became known as the Rancho San Carlos de Jonata. With secularization, Mission Santa Inés began to decline and the Chumash Indian population in the area along with it.[15] For a time, the mission was a seminary but soon began to deteriorate; it was repaired by the Donahue family in 1884 and renovated by Fr. Alexander Buckler in 1904.[14]

Danish settlement edit

In 1910, Danish-Americans created the Danish-American Colony Company in San Francisco. Later that year, suitable land was found in the Santa Ynez Valley northwest of Santa Barbara, and in 1911, they acquired and founded Solvang. The Danes had bought almost 9,000 acres (36 km2) of the Rancho San Carlos de Jonata land grant, paying an average of $40 per acre.[16]

A hotel was built close to the Mission where new arrivals could be housed, and a school opened in 1911, with 21 students.[17][16]

Expansion edit

 
Tivoli Square, Solvang
 
Main Street, Solvang. Alisal Road

In 1912, when it became difficult to sell any more plots of land, developers from Solvang travelled to Iowa and Nebraska to persuade Danish immigrants to buy land in the town. This attracted new settlers. The early settlement had a store, a bank, a lumber yard, a barbershop and a post office.[17]

Folk high school edit

In 1914, Atterdag College opened, named after Valdemar IV of Denmark. The school taught Danish-speaking students in their late teens a curriculum that emphasized lectures, singing, gymnastics, folk dancing and fellowship. During World War I, enrollment dropped due to reduced Danish immigration, and a rise in nationalism. The school was sold to the Solvang Lutheran church in 1921.[8][17] Atterdag College continued to be used as a folk school, community meeting hall, performing arts venue, gymnastics center, summer school, and boarding house until it was demolished in 1970, and then replace by the Solvang Lutheran Home.[18]

Danish church edit

 
Bethania Lutheran Church

The Bethania Evangelical Lutheran Church opened in 1928, designed as a Gothic-styled, 14th century rural Danish church.[19] Originally, the services were mainly in Danish, but are now in English.[20]

Danish-styled architecture edit

Initially, most of Solvang's buildings were built in the same style as others in the area.[21] The Lutheran church was the first to be based on Danish architecture and bears a close relationship to Danish equivalents. But after World War II, interest grew in the concept of a "Danish Village". The pioneer of the Danish Provincial style was Ferdinand Sorensen, originally from Nebraska. In the mid-1940s, after returning to Solvang from a trip to Denmark, he first completed Møllebakken, his Danish-styled home, and then went on to build the first of the village's four windmills. A little later, Earl Petersen, a local architect, gave the older buildings a new look, adding façades in so-called "Danish Provincial" style.[22][23] Buildings in the half-timbered style of Danish rural houses proliferated, creating a new tourist attraction.[8] While much was done to create an "authentic" Danish atmosphere in the town center, it has been pointed out by Scandinavians that fake thatched roofs and artificial timbering are largely a result of local interests in general rather than those of the Danish immigrants themselves. The older buildings have simply been restyled to look Danish even if there was nothing Danish about them originally.[24]

Subsequent development edit

During the 1920s, the proportion of non-Danish residents rose substantially and local businesses and churches began providing services in English, in addition to traditional Danish.[21] In the 1930s, Solvang became the largest town in the Santa Ynez Valley and a commercial hub for the local region.[21] By the late 1940s, Solvang's growth stagnated as the town's economic activity focused predominately on agriculture, prompting younger residents to leave in search of more diverse job opportunities.[21] In 1947, the town was featured in an article in The Saturday Evening Post entitled "Little Denmark", which praised Solvang's quaint rural charms and sparked a tourism boom prompting residents of Los Angeles and San Francisco to take weekend trips to Solvang.[25] Solvang subsequently developed a tourism industry focused on emphasizing the town's Danish heritage.[21] The 2004 film Sideways brought attention to the vineyards in the surrounding Santa Ynez Valley and tasting rooms have opened.[26] Restaurants are also part of the revitalization of Solvang as it becomes a destination for locally sourced fare.[27]

Geography edit

Solvang is located in the Santa Ynez Valley some 46 miles (74 km) north-west of Santa Barbara and about 15 miles (24 km) north of the Pacific coast. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.4 square miles (6.2 km2), 99.95% of it land and 0.05% of it water.

Climate edit

Solvang enjoys sunshine throughout the year with clear, warm days and cool nights. Average temperatures vary between 52 and 72 °F (11 and 22 °C) with highs reaching the lower 90s °F (lower 30s °C) and winter lows in the upper 30s °F (below 5 °C). Furthermore, Solvang experiences large diurnal temperature variations, especially in the summer, when daily temperatures vary on average by almost 40 °F (20 °C). Average annual rainfall for Solvang (recorded between 1964 and 2010) is 19.31 inches (49 cm).[28]

Solvang is 140 miles (230 km) northwest of Los Angeles.[29]

Climate data for Solvang, California
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 88
(31)
92
(33)
95
(35)
105
(41)
104
(40)
113
(45)
112
(44)
112
(44)
115
(46)
110
(43)
100
(38)
94
(34)
115
(46)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) 65.3
(18.5)
66.7
(19.3)
68.8
(20.4)
72.9
(22.7)
77.5
(25.3)
83.8
(28.8)
90.6
(32.6)
91.0
(32.8)
88.1
(31.2)
82.1
(27.8)
73.2
(22.9)
66.3
(19.1)
77.2
(25.1)
Daily mean °F (°C) 52
(11)
53.5
(11.9)
55.3
(12.9)
58.2
(14.6)
62.1
(16.7)
66.6
(19.2)
71.3
(21.8)
71.6
(22.0)
69.8
(21.0)
65.0
(18.3)
58.0
(14.4)
52.5
(11.4)
61.3
(16.3)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) 38.6
(3.7)
40.3
(4.6)
41.8
(5.4)
43.4
(6.3)
46.8
(8.2)
49.3
(9.6)
52.1
(11.2)
52.2
(11.2)
51.4
(10.8)
48.0
(8.9)
42.8
(6.0)
38.6
(3.7)
45.4
(7.4)
Record low °F (°C) 20
(−7)
22
(−6)
25
(−4)
27
(−3)
31
(−1)
32
(0)
36
(2)
34
(1)
34
(1)
27
(−3)
25
(−4)
16
(−9)
16
(−9)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 4.4
(110)
4.7
(120)
3.5
(89)
1.5
(38)
0.4
(10)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.2
(5.1)
0.7
(18)
1.9
(48)
3.1
(79)
20.5
(520)
Average precipitation days 7 7 7 4 2 0 0 0 1 2 4 6 40
Source: [30]

Demographics edit

Historical population
CensusPop.Note
19601,325
19702,00451.2%
19803,09154.2%
19904,74153.4%
20005,33212.5%
20105,245−1.6%
20206,12616.8%
U.S. Decennial Census[31]

2010 edit

The 2010 United States Census[32] reported that Solvang had a population of 5,245. The population density was 2,161.6 inhabitants per square mile (834.6/km2). The racial makeup of Solvang was 4,326 (82.5%) White, 38 (0.7%) African American, 59 (1.1%) Native American, 72 (1.4%) Asian, 1 (0.0%) Pacific Islander, 611 (11.6%) from other races, and 138 (2.6%) from two or more races. There were 1,530 Hispanic or Latino residents, of any race (29.2%).

The Census reported that 5,190 people (99.0% of the population) lived in households, 3 (0.1%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 52 (1.0%) were institutionalized.

There were 2,173 households, out of which 611 (28.1%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 1,081 (49.7%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 183 (8.4%) had a female householder with no husband present, 121 (5.6%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 120 (5.5%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 18 (0.8%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 636 households (29.3%) were made up of individuals, and 303 (13.9%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39. There were 1,385 families (63.7% of all households); the average family size was 2.97.

There were 1,094 residents (20.9%) under the age of 18, 384 (7.3%) aged 18 to 24, 1,142 (21.8%) 25 to 44, 1,530 (29.2%) 45 to 64, and 1,095 residents (20.9%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45.0 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.7 males.

There were 2,485 housing units at an average density of 1,024.1 per square mile (395.4/km2), of which 1,257 (57.8%) were owner-occupied, and 916 (42.2%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 3.8%; the rental vacancy rate was 6.9%. 2,872 people (54.8% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 2,318 people (44.2%) lived in rental housing units.

2000 edit

As of the census[33] of 2000, there were 5,332 people, 2,185 households, and 1,415 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,143.3 inhabitants per square mile (827.5/km2). There were 2,288 housing units at an average density of 919.7 per square mile (355.1/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 88.24% White, 0.43% African American, 0.66% Native American, 1.05% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 5.51% from other races, and 4.07% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race were 19.86% of the population.

There were 2,185 households, out of which 26.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.2% were married couples living together, 8.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.2% were non-families. 30.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 2.96.

In the city, 21.9% of the population was under the age of 18, 5.5% from 18 to 24, 25.2% from 25 to 44, 24.4% from 45 to 64, and 22.9% was 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females, there were 89.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.2 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $45,799, and the median income for a family was $57,703. Males had a median income of $41,429 versus $30,175 for females. The per capita income for the city was $25,363. About 2.7% of families and 6.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.5% of those under age 18 and 5.9% of those age 65 or over.

Economy edit

Top employers edit

According to Solvang's 2020 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report,[34] the top employers in the city were:

# Employer # of employees
1 The Alisal Guest Ranch & Resort 331
2 Atterdag Village (formerly Solvang Lutheran Home) 174
3 New Frontiers Market 103
4 Santa Ynez Valley Cottage Hospital 93
5 Solvang Unified School District 64
6 Valley Fresh Market 62
7 Landsby Hotel 58
8 Hotel Corque 35
9 Nielsen Building Materials 27

Arts and culture edit

Tourism edit

Solvang is a tourist attraction with over one million visitors per year.[35] Tourists were initially attracted to Solvang by the visit of Denmark's Prince Frederik in 1939.[36] But it was in 1947, following a feature article in The Saturday Evening Post, that they began to flock to the town. Sights include the Danish windmills, the statues of Hans Christian Andersen and The Little Mermaid replica, the half-timbered houses, the Danish rural church, the Round Tower as well as Danish music and folk dancing. Several restaurants and pastry shops serve Danish specialities.[8] A replica of a 19th-century Danish streetcar, the horse-drawn Hønen ("the hen"), takes visitors on sightseeing tours around downtown Solvang.[37] Partly as a result of the 2004 film Sideways, which was set in the surrounding Santa Ynez Valley,[38] the number of wine-related businesses in Solvang has increased, attracting oenophiles to the downtown area.[26][39]

Museums edit

  • The Elverhøj Museum, housed in the former residence of artist Viggo Brandt-Erichsen, is devoted to preserving the Danish heritage of Solvang with its Danish-American pioneer spirit. The building which was completed in 1950 is inspired by the 18th-century farmhouses of northern Jutland. After extensive renovation, the museum opened to the public in May 1988.[40] The cottage in the garden houses a diorama of scale models depicting Solvang in the 1920s.[41] From January to April 2011, the museum was hosting an exhibition entitled "Spirit of Solvang" consisting of a series of old black-and-white photographs of the village enhanced by local resident Paul Roark.[42]
  • The Hans Christian Andersen Museum, located above The Book Loft, is devoted to presenting the author's life and works. Displays include models of Andersen's childhood home and of "The Princess and the Pea". The museum also contains hundreds of volumes of Andersen's works, including many illustrated first editions.[43]
  • The Vintage Motorcycle Museum displays machines from the private collection of Virgil Elings, a veteran motorcross and road racer. While there is an emphasis on vintage racing bikes, the collection is quite broad and ranges from 1910 to the present.[44]

Danish Days edit

 
Imitation Danish costumes on sale in Solvang

Since 1936, Solvang has celebrated Danish folk traditions at its annual "Danish Days" event.[45] Led by a "Danish Maid", the program consists of æbleskiver eating competitions, music, dancing, and processions through the downtown area with floats, marching groups, marching bands, folk dancers and singers. A Danish Days breakfast on Sunday morning features medisterpølser, a spiced pork sausage recipe of Danish origins, and æbleskiver.[46]

Festival Theater edit

One of Solvang's attractions is the 700-seat open-air Festival Theater, which was built in 1974 following the success of a makeshift performance of Hamlet in 1971 in the town park. Strong support from the local business community, Donovan Marley (director of the Pacific Conservatory of the Performing Arts), and Earl Petersen (a local architect), allowed the structure to be completed in record time.[47] Recent productions have included West Side Story and Les Misérables. The style of the exterior is reminiscent of both Danish and Elizabethan architecture.[48]

Royal visits edit

On April 7, 1939, Danish Crown Prince Frederik and Princess Ingrid visited Solvang; at the time, a large number of the town's 400 residents were Danish immigrants. They drove through the grounds of Atterdag College and attended a Good Friday service at Bethania Church. The crown prince spoke of their reception favorably: "To find out traditions in our fatherland in new surroundings makes them only more beloved to us. We have been bathed in sunlight ever since we began this memorable day and now we have driven into a bit of Denmark tucked into this beautiful California."[36]

On June 5, 1960, Princess Margrethe of Denmark paid a visit which included a reception at Palacio del Rio, lunch at Bethania Church and a tour of downtown Solvang. She returned on May 23, 1976, as Queen of Denmark together with her husband, Prince Henrik. After a formal luncheon in the Parish Hall, the couple visited Bethania Church and the Solvang Lutheran Home before greeting residents on Copenhagen Drive. Shortly after her visit, the queen awarded Solvang developer Ferdinand Sorensen the Order of the Dannebrog for strengthening ties between the United States and Denmark.[49][50]

100th anniversary edit

During Solvang's centennial celebrations in 2011, the city was visited by Friis Arne Petersen, the Danish ambassador to the United States, and by Prince Henrik of Denmark.[51][52]

Parks and recreation edit

Bicycling edit

Solvang is a popular destination for bicyclists, and has been featured as a race location on the Tour of California. The surrounding countryside and variable terrain provide a variety of conditions useful for training. Two annual amateur bicycling events are held in Solvang: the Solvang Century (held in March) and the Solvang Prelude (held in November).[53]

The Tour of California cycle race has had time trial stages in Solvang on four occasions; 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2011.[54]

Media edit

Filming location edit

  • Solvang was one of the two locations featured in the William Castle film, Homicidal (1961). The location used for the drugstore and flowershop still stands today and remains relatively unchanged.
  • Parts of the horror film The Unseen (1980) were filmed in Solvang along or near Mission Drive, with particular use made of the Bit O' Denmark Restaurant and the Solvang Gardens Lodge, which was known as the Solvang Gaard Lodge at the time of filming.
  • Much of the Oscar-winning film Sideways (2004) was filmed in Solvang and in nearby Buellton.[55]
  • Much of the Netflix film Paddleton (2019) takes place in Solvang.
  • The Lifetime film A Very Charming Christmas Town (2020) takes place almost entirely in Solvang.

Infrastructure edit

Transportation edit

State Route 246 runs through Solvang as Mission Drive, connecting Buellton and U.S. Route 101 to the west, and Santa Ynez and Highway 154 to the east.

Although most of Solvang's visitors arrive by car, there are three bus connections per day for those arriving at Santa Barbara by rail.[56] The Santa Ynez Valley Transit bus service connects Buellton, Solvang, Santa Ynez, and Los Olivos. The Clean Air Express now connects Solvang and Buellton to Goleta and Santa Barbara.[57]

The nearby Santa Ynez Airport caters to general aviation.[58]

Public safety edit

The Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office has a sub station in Solvang, while the Solvang Volunteer Fire Department was disbanded in April 2007 and replaced with a contract from the Santa Barbara County Fire Department.

In popular culture edit

Literature edit

  • In the Dean Koontz novel Watchers (1987), the main characters Travis and Nora go on a date in the town's Danish Village.
  • The narrator of Sluk, a novel by Danish-Norwegian writer Lars Saabye Christensen, spends time in Solvang.

Television edit

  • In "Rumspringa" season 6, ep 17 of New Girl, Jessica, Nick and Schmidt go to Solvang and experience the local delights.
  • Full video: Solvang is the featured city in the hour-long 2002 Episode #113 of Road Trip With Huell Howser.
  • In American Dad! Vol. 4 Ep. 2, Roger refers to buying chocolate in Solvang.
  • The town of Solvang was featured on Bravo's hit television show, Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List, on its third season.
  • Part of the plot of a season 1 episode of the Disney Channel original series A.N.T. Farm, "America Needs TalANT", features the main characters becoming stranded in Solvang; its original airdate was November 25, 2011.
  • In an episode[which?] of Pinky and the Brain, Brain forms a basketball team that has a practice session in Solvang.
  • In season 3 episode "Christmas Joy" of the TV show Psych Solvang's Danish Village is featured as the scene of the crime, portrayed as Solvang Santa's Village.
  • An episode of the Travel Channel show Stranded with Cash Peters featured Solvang.
  • Solvang was mentioned in Season 2, Episode 4 of The Blacklist. When sarcastically asked by FBI agent Elizabeth Keen if he has spirited a witness away to "Saint Kitts or Solvang", James Spader's character Raymond Reddington responds, "Solvang? I never send anyone I care about to Solvang."
  • In season 5 episode "Happy Birthday, Anastasia", The Girls Next Door and their guests take a road trip which includes a visit to Solvang; its original airdate was January 4, 2009.
  • In The Simpsons episode "Little Orphan Millie", it was revealed that Milhouse has an uncle from Solvang named Norbert "Zack" Van Houten. Bart has a telephone conversation with a switchboard operator in Solvang, and a wooden "Solvang Air" airliner, whose fuselage resembles buildings in the town, is shown landing at Springfield Airport. Uncle Zack's overwhelming pride in his Danish heritage also reflects Solvang's history from its founding by Danish citizens.
  • In The Rockford Files episode "The Queen of Peru" (season 4, episode 12), Rockford pursues a family in an RV on their way to Solvang.
  • In Modern Family episode "Do it yourself" (season 8, episode 13), Jay tells Phil that he once took his dog Stella to a "farm-to-table" dog-bakery in Solvang.
  • In the Star Trek: Lower Decks season 1 episode, "No Small Parts", a California-class ship named U.S.S. Solvang is present.
  • Solvang is the setting of the 2020 Lifetime movie A Very Charming Christmas Town, with the film shot entirely in the actual town.[59]

Notable people edit

Sister city edit

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b . California Association of Local Agency Formation Commissions. Archived from the original (Word) on November 3, 2014. Retrieved August 25, 2014.
  2. ^ . City of Solvang. Archived from the original on September 30, 2015. Retrieved August 2, 2019.
  3. ^ a b . UC Regents. Archived from the original on February 1, 2015. Retrieved December 4, 2014.
  4. ^ "California's 24th Congressional District - Representatives & District Map". Civic Impulse, LLC. Retrieved September 29, 2014.
  5. ^ "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
  6. ^ "Solvang". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved November 18, 2014.
  7. ^ "Solvang (city) QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 17, 2021.
  8. ^ a b c d e "The Extraordinary History of Solvang, California". Elverhøj Museum of History and Art. Retrieved September 6, 2021.
  9. ^ "City of Solvang". Retrieved September 6, 2021.
  10. ^ "Official Visitor Guide For Solvang". Retrieved September 6, 2021.
  11. ^ Dale, Judith (March 7, 2020). "1920s Solvang - Becoming Danish Capital of America". Santa Maria Times. Retrieved September 6, 2021.
  12. ^ Knudsen, Britta (2010). Re-investing authenticity: tourism, place and emotions. Bristol Buffalo: Channel View Publications. pp. 93–106. ISBN 978-1-84541-129-9. OCLC 647884675.
  13. ^ a b Bemis, Dave (June 12, 2011). "Solvang welcomes Danish royalty". Santa Maria Times. Retrieved December 9, 2020.
  14. ^ a b "Mission History", Old Mission Santa Inés. Retrieved July 12, 2010.
  15. ^ a b National Park Service, "Mission Santa Inés California". Retrieved September 16, 2014.
  16. ^ a b Pat Murphy,"Remember When?", Santa Ynez Valley Guest Magazine July 16, 2011, at the Wayback Machine, Spring 2004. Retrieved July 13, 2010.
  17. ^ a b c Rolf Buschardt Christensen, "Benedict Nordentoft". July 18, 2011, at the Wayback Machine (in Danish) Retrieved July 12, 2010.
  18. ^ "Bethania", Everything.com. Retrieved September 16, 2010.
  19. ^ "Churches and cathedrals" VisitDenmark July 17, 2011, at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved August 7, 2010.
  20. ^ Sally Cappon,"Picturesque church honors traditions", Santa Ynez Valley News. Retrieved September 10, 2010.
  21. ^ a b c d e Dale, Judith (March 6, 2020). "Judith Dale: 1920s Solvang - Becoming Danish Capital of America". Santa Ynez Valley News. Retrieved December 20, 2020.
  22. ^ Poul Husted,"Er Solvang Danmark eller Disney?", Turen går til. (in Danish) Retrieved September 13, 2010.
  23. ^ David and Marlere Macbeth,"Solvang — Danish-Inspired". Retrieved September 13, 2010.
  24. ^ Irene Berg Sørensen,"Det rigtige Danmark skuffer i Solvang" July 5, 2009, at the Wayback Machine, Videnskab.dk, (in Danish). Retrieved September 18, 2010.
  25. ^ Hodgson, Mike (January 17, 2017). "Saturday Evening Post article put Solvang on the map 70 years ago". Santa Ynez Valley News. Retrieved December 20, 2020.
  26. ^ a b Elliott, Farley (May 13, 2020). "Could California's Central Coast Lead the Way For the Future of Local Food Tourism?". Eater LA. Retrieved May 14, 2020.
  27. ^ Pridgen, Andrew (September 24, 2022). "Could this small tourist town become the next Carmel?". SFGate. Retrieved September 24, 2022.
  28. ^ "Official Monthly and Yearly Rainfall Record, Solvang City Water District" July 16, 2011, at the Wayback Machine, Santa Barbara County - Flood Control District. Retrieved October 18, 2010.
  29. ^ Bernbaum, Brian. "Michael Jackson Loves Taco Bell" (). May 28, 2003. Retrieved on December 31, 2015.
  30. ^ "Solvang, California". Weatherbase. Retrieved May 3, 2022.
  31. ^ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  32. ^ "2010 Census Interactive Population Search: CA - Solvang city". U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on July 15, 2014. Retrieved July 12, 2014.
  33. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  34. ^ https://www.cityofsolvang.com/DocumentCenter/View/2751/FY-2019-20-City-of-Solvang-Comprehensive-Annual-Financial-Report-CAFR [dead link]
  35. ^ "About Solvang", Solvang and the Santa Ynez Valley. Retrieved September 18, 2010.
  36. ^ a b "Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Ingrid in California", Royal Musings. Retrieved September 12, 2010.
  37. ^ "Solvang Trolley - Horse Trolley". Retrieved December 6, 2017.
  38. ^ Allyssa Lee,"Famous Movie Locations:My Moms Houseee, The 'Sideways' Tour (Santa Ynez Valley, CA)" September 15, 2010, at the Wayback Machine, Inside Movies. Retrieved September 14, 2010.
  39. ^ "Solvang Wine", March 12, 2010, at the Wayback Machine In Town Live. Retrieved September 14, 2010.
  40. ^ "About the Elverhøj Museum of History and Art". Retrieved September 16, 2010.
  41. ^ Sherrie Petersen,"Museums in the Santa Ynez Valley", July 18, 2011, at the Wayback Machine Orato, June 9, 2009. Retrieved September 17, 2010.
  42. ^ "Spirit of Solvang" Exhibit 9 January – 10 April", Elverhøj Museum of Art and History. Retrieved January 8, 2011.
  43. ^ . SolvangCA.com. Archived from the original on November 29, 2010. Retrieved September 16, 2010.
  44. ^ "Solvang Vintage Motorcycle Museum". Retrieved September 16, 2010.
  45. ^ Schlepp, Travis (September 7, 2023). "California town prepares for annual celebration of all things Denmark". KTLA. Retrieved September 10, 2023.
  46. ^ "Danish Days filled with fun and history", Santa Ynez Valley News. Retrieved September 14, 2010.
  47. ^ Sherrie Petersen,"Theater Under the Stars" July 13, 2011, at the Wayback Machine, Santa Ynez Valley Guest. Retrieved September 10, 2010.
  48. ^ "A Theater" July 24, 2010, at the Wayback Machine, Solvang Theaterfest. Retrieved September 10, 2010.
  49. ^ "History of Solvang" Elverhøj Museum Retrieved September 12, 2010. Additional details from panels in Elverhøj Museum in September 2010.
  50. ^ William P. Jones,"North American Medal Recipient Index (Being a nominal roll of known Americans and Canadians bestowed the Order of Dannebrog and other royal Scandinavian medals)". Retrieved September 17, 2010.
  51. ^ "Danish ambassador makes stop in Solvang", Santa Barbara News Press, July 12, 2010. Retrieved July 20, 2010.
  52. ^ "Solvang Centennial 2011 Calendar", Solvang Centennial. Retrieved May 26, 2011.
  53. ^ "Solvang: A World-Class Cycling Mecca", July 16, 2011, at the Wayback Machine Solvang Conference and Visitors Bureau. Retrieved September 21, 2010.
  54. ^ . Archived from the original on March 22, 2019. Retrieved March 29, 2020.
  55. ^ Finn-Olaf Jones,"The Danish Soul of That Town in 'Sideways'", The New York Times, June 4, 2006. Retrieved September 14, 2010.
  56. ^ "Solvang", December 2, 2013, at the Wayback Machine Amtrak California. Retrieved September 21, 2010.
  57. ^ "Clean Air Express". Retrieved September 9, 2011.
  58. ^ "Santa Ynez Airport". Retrieved September 21, 2010.
  59. ^ "You Can Actually Visit the Village from 'A Very Charming Christmas Town'". November 9, 2020.
  60. ^ "Alison Tetrick - USA Cycling". legacy.usacycling.org. Retrieved April 16, 2019.
  61. ^ Norbom, Mary Ann (December 6, 2016). "Stephanie Zimbalist to narrate Solvang Nativity Pageant". Santa Ynez Valley News. Retrieved December 4, 2017.
  62. ^ . Europeprize.net. Archived from the original on September 7, 2013. Retrieved August 19, 2013.
  63. ^ "Leavenworth — Thumbnail History", HistoryLink.org. Retrieved September 9, 2010.

Further reading edit

  • Bethania Evangelical Lutheran Church, Our First 75 Years 1912–1987, Solvang, 1987.
  • William Etling, Sideways in Neverland: Life in the Santa Ynez Valley, California, iUniverse, Inc., 2005, 328 pages. ISBN 978-0-595-36190-8
  • Joanne Rife, Solvang. Denmark in the USA, The Book Loft, Solvang, 1975.

External links edit

  • Official website
  • Solvang Conference & Visitors Bureau

solvang, california, solvang, redirects, here, other, uses, solvang, disambiguation, solvang, danish, sunny, field, city, santa, barbara, county, california, united, states, located, santa, ynez, valley, population, 2020, census, from, 2010, census, solvang, f. Solvang redirects here For other uses see Solvang disambiguation Solvang ˈ s ɒ l v ae ŋ 8 Danish for sunny field is a city in Santa Barbara County California United States It is located in the Santa Ynez Valley The population was 6 126 at the 2020 census up from 5 245 at the 2010 census Solvang was founded in 1911 8 and incorporated as a city on May 1 1985 1 9 Solvang has been described as The Danish Capital of America 10 11 Solvang CaliforniaCityTop Tivoli Square Petersen Village Inn middle Mission Santa Ines bottom Solvang windmill Bethania ChurchFlagNickname Danish Capital of AmericaLocation in Santa Barbara County and the state of CaliforniaSolvangLocation in the United StatesShow map of southern CaliforniaSolvangSolvang California Show map of CaliforniaSolvangSolvang the United States Show map of the United StatesCoordinates 34 35 38 N 120 8 23 W 34 59389 N 120 13972 W 34 59389 120 13972CountryUnited StatesStateCaliforniaCountySanta BarbaraIncorporatedMay 1 1985 1 Government MayorCharles Uhrig 2 State SenatorMonique Limon D 3 CA AssemblyGregg Hart D 3 U S CongressSalud Carbajal D 4 Area 5 Total2 43 sq mi 6 28 km2 Land2 42 sq mi 6 28 km2 Water0 00 sq mi 0 00 km2 0 05 Elevation 6 505 ft 154 m Population 2020 7 Total6 126 Density2 500 sq mi 980 km2 Time zoneUTC 08 00 PST Summer DST UTC 07 00 PDT ZIP Codes93463 93464Area code805FIPS code06 72576GNIS feature IDs1661468 2411925Websitewww wbr cityofsolvang wbr comSolvang s origins date back to 1804 when Mission Santa Ines was founded by the Spanish under Esteban Tapis A small community grew up around the mission called Santa Ines during the Mexican period but it was largely abandoned after the American Conquest of California In 1911 a new settlement was founded around the mission by a group of Danish Americans who purchased 9 000 acres 3 600 ha of the surrounding Rancho San Carlos de Jonata to establish a Danish community far from Midwestern winters The community began building Danish themed architecture in 1947 and has since become a tourist destination 12 The community attracts tourists from Nordic countries and has been the subject of several Danish royal visits most recently by Prince Henrik in 2011 13 A minority of residents in the 21st century are of Danish origin 13 Contents 1 History 1 1 Beginnings 1 2 Danish settlement 1 3 Expansion 1 4 Folk high school 1 5 Danish church 1 6 Danish styled architecture 1 7 Subsequent development 2 Geography 2 1 Climate 3 Demographics 3 1 2010 3 2 2000 4 Economy 4 1 Top employers 5 Arts and culture 5 1 Tourism 5 2 Museums 5 3 Danish Days 5 4 Festival Theater 5 5 Royal visits 5 6 100th anniversary 6 Parks and recreation 6 1 Bicycling 7 Media 7 1 Filming location 8 Infrastructure 8 1 Transportation 8 2 Public safety 9 In popular culture 9 1 Literature 9 2 Television 10 Notable people 11 Sister city 12 See also 13 References 14 Further reading 15 External linksHistory editBeginnings edit nbsp Mission Santa Ines in SolvangThe Santa Ynez Valley in which Solvang lies was originally inhabited by the Chumash identified by Father Pedro Font chaplain of the 1776 Anza Expedition and were described as an ingenious and industrious people who are good fishermen and hunters with an excellent astronomical system 14 As part of the expansion of the mission system established in California by Spanish missionaries Father Estevan Tapis founded Mission Santa Ines now located near the center of Solvang in order to relieve overcrowding at Mission Santa Barbara and Mission La Purisima Concepcion since it was located midway between the two It also served as a gateway to the Chumash Indians living east of the Coast Range 15 After the Mexican War of Independence the Mexican Assembly passed the Secularization Laws which confiscated Mission lands along with other property and transferred them to the control of local ranchers with Solvang being later founded on what became known as the Rancho San Carlos de Jonata With secularization Mission Santa Ines began to decline and the Chumash Indian population in the area along with it 15 For a time the mission was a seminary but soon began to deteriorate it was repaired by the Donahue family in 1884 and renovated by Fr Alexander Buckler in 1904 14 Danish settlement edit In 1910 Danish Americans created the Danish American Colony Company in San Francisco Later that year suitable land was found in the Santa Ynez Valley northwest of Santa Barbara and in 1911 they acquired and founded Solvang The Danes had bought almost 9 000 acres 36 km2 of the Rancho San Carlos de Jonata land grant paying an average of 40 per acre 16 A hotel was built close to the Mission where new arrivals could be housed and a school opened in 1911 with 21 students 17 16 Expansion edit nbsp Tivoli Square Solvang nbsp Main Street Solvang Alisal RoadIn 1912 when it became difficult to sell any more plots of land developers from Solvang travelled to Iowa and Nebraska to persuade Danish immigrants to buy land in the town This attracted new settlers The early settlement had a store a bank a lumber yard a barbershop and a post office 17 Folk high school edit In 1914 Atterdag College opened named after Valdemar IV of Denmark The school taught Danish speaking students in their late teens a curriculum that emphasized lectures singing gymnastics folk dancing and fellowship During World War I enrollment dropped due to reduced Danish immigration and a rise in nationalism The school was sold to the Solvang Lutheran church in 1921 8 17 Atterdag College continued to be used as a folk school community meeting hall performing arts venue gymnastics center summer school and boarding house until it was demolished in 1970 and then replace by the Solvang Lutheran Home 18 Danish church edit nbsp Bethania Lutheran ChurchThe Bethania Evangelical Lutheran Church opened in 1928 designed as a Gothic styled 14th century rural Danish church 19 Originally the services were mainly in Danish but are now in English 20 Danish styled architecture edit Initially most of Solvang s buildings were built in the same style as others in the area 21 The Lutheran church was the first to be based on Danish architecture and bears a close relationship to Danish equivalents But after World War II interest grew in the concept of a Danish Village The pioneer of the Danish Provincial style was Ferdinand Sorensen originally from Nebraska In the mid 1940s after returning to Solvang from a trip to Denmark he first completed Mollebakken his Danish styled home and then went on to build the first of the village s four windmills A little later Earl Petersen a local architect gave the older buildings a new look adding facades in so called Danish Provincial style 22 23 Buildings in the half timbered style of Danish rural houses proliferated creating a new tourist attraction 8 While much was done to create an authentic Danish atmosphere in the town center it has been pointed out by Scandinavians that fake thatched roofs and artificial timbering are largely a result of local interests in general rather than those of the Danish immigrants themselves The older buildings have simply been restyled to look Danish even if there was nothing Danish about them originally 24 Subsequent development edit During the 1920s the proportion of non Danish residents rose substantially and local businesses and churches began providing services in English in addition to traditional Danish 21 In the 1930s Solvang became the largest town in the Santa Ynez Valley and a commercial hub for the local region 21 By the late 1940s Solvang s growth stagnated as the town s economic activity focused predominately on agriculture prompting younger residents to leave in search of more diverse job opportunities 21 In 1947 the town was featured in an article in The Saturday Evening Post entitled Little Denmark which praised Solvang s quaint rural charms and sparked a tourism boom prompting residents of Los Angeles and San Francisco to take weekend trips to Solvang 25 Solvang subsequently developed a tourism industry focused on emphasizing the town s Danish heritage 21 The 2004 film Sideways brought attention to the vineyards in the surrounding Santa Ynez Valley and tasting rooms have opened 26 Restaurants are also part of the revitalization of Solvang as it becomes a destination for locally sourced fare 27 Geography editSolvang is located in the Santa Ynez Valley some 46 miles 74 km north west of Santa Barbara and about 15 miles 24 km north of the Pacific coast According to the United States Census Bureau the city has a total area of 2 4 square miles 6 2 km2 99 95 of it land and 0 05 of it water Climate edit Solvang enjoys sunshine throughout the year with clear warm days and cool nights Average temperatures vary between 52 and 72 F 11 and 22 C with highs reaching the lower 90s F lower 30s C and winter lows in the upper 30s F below 5 C Furthermore Solvang experiences large diurnal temperature variations especially in the summer when daily temperatures vary on average by almost 40 F 20 C Average annual rainfall for Solvang recorded between 1964 and 2010 is 19 31 inches 49 cm 28 Solvang is 140 miles 230 km northwest of Los Angeles 29 Climate data for Solvang CaliforniaMonth Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec YearRecord high F C 88 31 92 33 95 35 105 41 104 40 113 45 112 44 112 44 115 46 110 43 100 38 94 34 115 46 Mean daily maximum F C 65 3 18 5 66 7 19 3 68 8 20 4 72 9 22 7 77 5 25 3 83 8 28 8 90 6 32 6 91 0 32 8 88 1 31 2 82 1 27 8 73 2 22 9 66 3 19 1 77 2 25 1 Daily mean F C 52 11 53 5 11 9 55 3 12 9 58 2 14 6 62 1 16 7 66 6 19 2 71 3 21 8 71 6 22 0 69 8 21 0 65 0 18 3 58 0 14 4 52 5 11 4 61 3 16 3 Mean daily minimum F C 38 6 3 7 40 3 4 6 41 8 5 4 43 4 6 3 46 8 8 2 49 3 9 6 52 1 11 2 52 2 11 2 51 4 10 8 48 0 8 9 42 8 6 0 38 6 3 7 45 4 7 4 Record low F C 20 7 22 6 25 4 27 3 31 1 32 0 36 2 34 1 34 1 27 3 25 4 16 9 16 9 Average precipitation inches mm 4 4 110 4 7 120 3 5 89 1 5 38 0 4 10 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 5 1 0 7 18 1 9 48 3 1 79 20 5 520 Average precipitation days 7 7 7 4 2 0 0 0 1 2 4 6 40Source 30 Demographics editHistorical population CensusPop Note 19601 325 19702 00451 2 19803 09154 2 19904 74153 4 20005 33212 5 20105 245 1 6 20206 12616 8 U S Decennial Census 31 2010 edit The 2010 United States Census 32 reported that Solvang had a population of 5 245 The population density was 2 161 6 inhabitants per square mile 834 6 km2 The racial makeup of Solvang was 4 326 82 5 White 38 0 7 African American 59 1 1 Native American 72 1 4 Asian 1 0 0 Pacific Islander 611 11 6 from other races and 138 2 6 from two or more races There were 1 530 Hispanic or Latino residents of any race 29 2 The Census reported that 5 190 people 99 0 of the population lived in households 3 0 1 lived in non institutionalized group quarters and 52 1 0 were institutionalized There were 2 173 households out of which 611 28 1 had children under the age of 18 living in them 1 081 49 7 were opposite sex married couples living together 183 8 4 had a female householder with no husband present 121 5 6 had a male householder with no wife present There were 120 5 5 unmarried opposite sex partnerships and 18 0 8 same sex married couples or partnerships 636 households 29 3 were made up of individuals and 303 13 9 had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older The average household size was 2 39 There were 1 385 families 63 7 of all households the average family size was 2 97 There were 1 094 residents 20 9 under the age of 18 384 7 3 aged 18 to 24 1 142 21 8 25 to 44 1 530 29 2 45 to 64 and 1 095 residents 20 9 who were 65 years of age or older The median age was 45 0 years For every 100 females there were 93 0 males For every 100 females age 18 and over there were 90 7 males There were 2 485 housing units at an average density of 1 024 1 per square mile 395 4 km2 of which 1 257 57 8 were owner occupied and 916 42 2 were occupied by renters The homeowner vacancy rate was 3 8 the rental vacancy rate was 6 9 2 872 people 54 8 of the population lived in owner occupied housing units and 2 318 people 44 2 lived in rental housing units 2000 edit As of the census 33 of 2000 there were 5 332 people 2 185 households and 1 415 families residing in the city The population density was 2 143 3 inhabitants per square mile 827 5 km2 There were 2 288 housing units at an average density of 919 7 per square mile 355 1 km2 The racial makeup of the city was 88 24 White 0 43 African American 0 66 Native American 1 05 Asian 0 04 Pacific Islander 5 51 from other races and 4 07 from two or more races Hispanic or Latino residents of any race were 19 86 of the population There were 2 185 households out of which 26 8 had children under the age of 18 living with them 53 2 were married couples living together 8 1 had a female householder with no husband present and 35 2 were non families 30 2 of all households were made up of individuals and 14 1 had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older The average household size was 2 37 and the average family size was 2 96 In the city 21 9 of the population was under the age of 18 5 5 from 18 to 24 25 2 from 25 to 44 24 4 from 45 to 64 and 22 9 was 65 years of age or older The median age was 43 years For every 100 females there were 89 8 males For every 100 females age 18 and over there were 86 2 males The median income for a household in the city was 45 799 and the median income for a family was 57 703 Males had a median income of 41 429 versus 30 175 for females The per capita income for the city was 25 363 About 2 7 of families and 6 7 of the population were below the poverty line including 4 5 of those under age 18 and 5 9 of those age 65 or over Economy editTop employers edit According to Solvang s 2020 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report 34 the top employers in the city were Employer of employees1 The Alisal Guest Ranch amp Resort 3312 Atterdag Village formerly Solvang Lutheran Home 1743 New Frontiers Market 1034 Santa Ynez Valley Cottage Hospital 935 Solvang Unified School District 646 Valley Fresh Market 627 Landsby Hotel 588 Hotel Corque 359 Nielsen Building Materials 27Arts and culture editTourism edit Solvang is a tourist attraction with over one million visitors per year 35 Tourists were initially attracted to Solvang by the visit of Denmark s Prince Frederik in 1939 36 But it was in 1947 following a feature article in The Saturday Evening Post that they began to flock to the town Sights include the Danish windmills the statues of Hans Christian Andersen and The Little Mermaid replica the half timbered houses the Danish rural church the Round Tower as well as Danish music and folk dancing Several restaurants and pastry shops serve Danish specialities 8 A replica of a 19th century Danish streetcar the horse drawn Honen the hen takes visitors on sightseeing tours around downtown Solvang 37 Partly as a result of the 2004 film Sideways which was set in the surrounding Santa Ynez Valley 38 the number of wine related businesses in Solvang has increased attracting oenophiles to the downtown area 26 39 Museums edit The Elverhoj Museum housed in the former residence of artist Viggo Brandt Erichsen is devoted to preserving the Danish heritage of Solvang with its Danish American pioneer spirit The building which was completed in 1950 is inspired by the 18th century farmhouses of northern Jutland After extensive renovation the museum opened to the public in May 1988 40 The cottage in the garden houses a diorama of scale models depicting Solvang in the 1920s 41 From January to April 2011 the museum was hosting an exhibition entitled Spirit of Solvang consisting of a series of old black and white photographs of the village enhanced by local resident Paul Roark 42 The Hans Christian Andersen Museum located above The Book Loft is devoted to presenting the author s life and works Displays include models of Andersen s childhood home and of The Princess and the Pea The museum also contains hundreds of volumes of Andersen s works including many illustrated first editions 43 The Vintage Motorcycle Museum displays machines from the private collection of Virgil Elings a veteran motorcross and road racer While there is an emphasis on vintage racing bikes the collection is quite broad and ranges from 1910 to the present 44 Danish Days edit nbsp Imitation Danish costumes on sale in SolvangSince 1936 Solvang has celebrated Danish folk traditions at its annual Danish Days event 45 Led by a Danish Maid the program consists of aebleskiver eating competitions music dancing and processions through the downtown area with floats marching groups marching bands folk dancers and singers A Danish Days breakfast on Sunday morning features medisterpolser a spiced pork sausage recipe of Danish origins and aebleskiver 46 Festival Theater edit One of Solvang s attractions is the 700 seat open air Festival Theater which was built in 1974 following the success of a makeshift performance of Hamlet in 1971 in the town park Strong support from the local business community Donovan Marley director of the Pacific Conservatory of the Performing Arts and Earl Petersen a local architect allowed the structure to be completed in record time 47 Recent productions have included West Side Story and Les Miserables The style of the exterior is reminiscent of both Danish and Elizabethan architecture 48 Royal visits edit On April 7 1939 Danish Crown Prince Frederik and Princess Ingrid visited Solvang at the time a large number of the town s 400 residents were Danish immigrants They drove through the grounds of Atterdag College and attended a Good Friday service at Bethania Church The crown prince spoke of their reception favorably To find out traditions in our fatherland in new surroundings makes them only more beloved to us We have been bathed in sunlight ever since we began this memorable day and now we have driven into a bit of Denmark tucked into this beautiful California 36 On June 5 1960 Princess Margrethe of Denmark paid a visit which included a reception at Palacio del Rio lunch at Bethania Church and a tour of downtown Solvang She returned on May 23 1976 as Queen of Denmark together with her husband Prince Henrik After a formal luncheon in the Parish Hall the couple visited Bethania Church and the Solvang Lutheran Home before greeting residents on Copenhagen Drive Shortly after her visit the queen awarded Solvang developer Ferdinand Sorensen the Order of the Dannebrog for strengthening ties between the United States and Denmark 49 50 100th anniversary edit During Solvang s centennial celebrations in 2011 the city was visited by Friis Arne Petersen the Danish ambassador to the United States and by Prince Henrik of Denmark 51 52 Parks and recreation editBicycling edit Solvang is a popular destination for bicyclists and has been featured as a race location on the Tour of California The surrounding countryside and variable terrain provide a variety of conditions useful for training Two annual amateur bicycling events are held in Solvang the Solvang Century held in March and the Solvang Prelude held in November 53 The Tour of California cycle race has had time trial stages in Solvang on four occasions 2007 2008 2009 and 2011 54 Media editFilming location edit Solvang was one of the two locations featured in the William Castle film Homicidal 1961 The location used for the drugstore and flowershop still stands today and remains relatively unchanged Parts of the horror film The Unseen 1980 were filmed in Solvang along or near Mission Drive with particular use made of the Bit O Denmark Restaurant and the Solvang Gardens Lodge which was known as the Solvang Gaard Lodge at the time of filming Much of the Oscar winning film Sideways 2004 was filmed in Solvang and in nearby Buellton 55 Much of the Netflix film Paddleton 2019 takes place in Solvang The Lifetime film A Very Charming Christmas Town 2020 takes place almost entirely in Solvang Infrastructure editTransportation edit State Route 246 runs through Solvang as Mission Drive connecting Buellton and U S Route 101 to the west and Santa Ynez and Highway 154 to the east Although most of Solvang s visitors arrive by car there are three bus connections per day for those arriving at Santa Barbara by rail 56 The Santa Ynez Valley Transit bus service connects Buellton Solvang Santa Ynez and Los Olivos The Clean Air Express now connects Solvang and Buellton to Goleta and Santa Barbara 57 The nearby Santa Ynez Airport caters to general aviation 58 Public safety edit The Santa Barbara County Sheriff s Office has a sub station in Solvang while the Solvang Volunteer Fire Department was disbanded in April 2007 and replaced with a contract from the Santa Barbara County Fire Department In popular culture editLiterature edit In the Dean Koontz novel Watchers 1987 the main characters Travis and Nora go on a date in the town s Danish Village The narrator of Sluk a novel by Danish Norwegian writer Lars Saabye Christensen spends time in Solvang Television edit In Rumspringa season 6 ep 17 of New Girl Jessica Nick and Schmidt go to Solvang and experience the local delights Full video Solvang is the featured city in the hour long 2002 Episode 113 of Road Trip With Huell Howser In American Dad Vol 4 Ep 2 Roger refers to buying chocolate in Solvang The town of Solvang was featured on Bravo s hit television show Kathy Griffin My Life on the D List on its third season Part of the plot of a season 1 episode of the Disney Channel original series A N T Farm America Needs TalANT features the main characters becoming stranded in Solvang its original airdate was November 25 2011 In an episode which of Pinky and the Brain Brain forms a basketball team that has a practice session in Solvang In season 3 episode Christmas Joy of the TV show Psych Solvang s Danish Village is featured as the scene of the crime portrayed as Solvang Santa s Village An episode of the Travel Channel show Stranded with Cash Peters featured Solvang Solvang was mentioned in Season 2 Episode 4 of The Blacklist When sarcastically asked by FBI agent Elizabeth Keen if he has spirited a witness away to Saint Kitts or Solvang James Spader s character Raymond Reddington responds Solvang I never send anyone I care about to Solvang In season 5 episode Happy Birthday Anastasia The Girls Next Door and their guests take a road trip which includes a visit to Solvang its original airdate was January 4 2009 In The Simpsons episode Little Orphan Millie it was revealed that Milhouse has an uncle from Solvang named Norbert Zack Van Houten Bart has a telephone conversation with a switchboard operator in Solvang and a wooden Solvang Air airliner whose fuselage resembles buildings in the town is shown landing at Springfield Airport Uncle Zack s overwhelming pride in his Danish heritage also reflects Solvang s history from its founding by Danish citizens In The Rockford Files episode The Queen of Peru season 4 episode 12 Rockford pursues a family in an RV on their way to Solvang In Modern Family episode Do it yourself season 8 episode 13 Jay tells Phil that he once took his dog Stella to a farm to table dog bakery in Solvang In the Star Trek Lower Decks season 1 episode No Small Parts a California class ship named U S S Solvang is present Solvang is the setting of the 2020 Lifetime movie A Very Charming Christmas Town with the film shot entirely in the actual town 59 Notable people editGreta Andersen Danish American swimmer lived in Solvang from 2017 to her death in 2023 Kenny Baker singer and actor resided and died in Solvang Al Gionfriddo outfielder and hero for the Brooklyn Dodgers in the 1947 World Series resided and died in Solvang Patricia Hitchcock actress and only child of film director Alfred Hitchcock resided in Solvang Ska punk band Mad Caddies calls Solvang its home Beach volleyball Olympic gold medalist Todd Rogers lives in Solvang with his family Professional cyclist Alison Tetrick was born in Solvang 60 Stephanie Zimbalist lives part time in the valley where she has a house inherited from her late father Efrem Zimbalist Jr 61 Serial killer Thor Nis Christiansen lived in Solvang from age 5 until his late teens Sister city editSee also List of twin towns and sister cities in the United States nbsp Denmark Aalborg since 1971 62 See also editBenedict Nordentoft the co founder of Solvang Danish Americans Kingsburg a Swedish village in Fresno County California Helen Georgia Leavenworth Washington a Bavarian theme town developed with assistance from Solvang 63 Frankenmuth Michigan Little Portugal San JoseReferences edit a b California Cities by Incorporation Date California Association of Local Agency Formation Commissions Archived from the original Word on November 3 2014 Retrieved August 25 2014 City Council City of Solvang Archived from the original on September 30 2015 Retrieved August 2 2019 a b Statewide Database UC Regents Archived from the original on February 1 2015 Retrieved December 4 2014 California s 24th Congressional District Representatives amp District Map Civic Impulse LLC Retrieved September 29 2014 2019 U S Gazetteer Files United States Census Bureau Retrieved July 1 2020 Solvang Geographic Names Information System United States Geological Survey United States Department of the Interior Retrieved November 18 2014 Solvang city QuickFacts United States Census Bureau Retrieved December 17 2021 a b c d e The Extraordinary History of Solvang California Elverhoj Museum of History and Art Retrieved September 6 2021 City of Solvang Retrieved September 6 2021 Official Visitor Guide For Solvang Retrieved September 6 2021 Dale Judith March 7 2020 1920s Solvang Becoming Danish Capital of America Santa Maria Times Retrieved September 6 2021 Knudsen Britta 2010 Re investing authenticity tourism place and emotions Bristol Buffalo Channel View Publications pp 93 106 ISBN 978 1 84541 129 9 OCLC 647884675 a b Bemis Dave June 12 2011 Solvang welcomes Danish royalty Santa Maria Times Retrieved December 9 2020 a b Mission History Old Mission Santa Ines Retrieved July 12 2010 a b National Park Service Mission Santa Ines California Retrieved September 16 2014 a b Pat Murphy Remember When Santa Ynez Valley Guest Magazine Archived July 16 2011 at the Wayback Machine Spring 2004 Retrieved July 13 2010 a b c Rolf Buschardt Christensen Benedict Nordentoft Archived July 18 2011 at the Wayback Machine in Danish Retrieved July 12 2010 Bethania Everything com Retrieved September 16 2010 Churches and cathedrals VisitDenmark Archived July 17 2011 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved August 7 2010 Sally Cappon Picturesque church honors traditions Santa Ynez Valley News Retrieved September 10 2010 a b c d e Dale Judith March 6 2020 Judith Dale 1920s Solvang Becoming Danish Capital of America Santa Ynez Valley News Retrieved December 20 2020 Poul Husted Er Solvang Danmark eller Disney Turen gar til in Danish Retrieved September 13 2010 David and Marlere Macbeth Solvang Danish Inspired Retrieved September 13 2010 Irene Berg Sorensen Det rigtige Danmark skuffer i Solvang Archived July 5 2009 at the Wayback Machine Videnskab dk in Danish Retrieved September 18 2010 Hodgson Mike January 17 2017 Saturday Evening Post article put Solvang on the map 70 years ago Santa Ynez Valley News Retrieved December 20 2020 a b Elliott Farley May 13 2020 Could California s Central Coast Lead the Way For the Future of Local Food Tourism Eater LA Retrieved May 14 2020 Pridgen Andrew September 24 2022 Could this small tourist town become the next Carmel SFGate Retrieved September 24 2022 Official Monthly and Yearly Rainfall Record Solvang City Water District Archived July 16 2011 at the Wayback Machine Santa Barbara County Flood Control District Retrieved October 18 2010 Bernbaum Brian Michael Jackson Loves Taco Bell Archive May 28 2003 Retrieved on December 31 2015 Solvang California Weatherbase Retrieved May 3 2022 Census of Population and Housing Census gov Retrieved June 4 2015 2010 Census Interactive Population Search CA Solvang city U S Census Bureau Archived from the original on July 15 2014 Retrieved July 12 2014 U S Census website United States Census Bureau Retrieved January 31 2008 https www cityofsolvang com DocumentCenter View 2751 FY 2019 20 City of Solvang Comprehensive Annual Financial Report CAFR dead link About Solvang Solvang and the Santa Ynez Valley Retrieved September 18 2010 a b Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Ingrid in California Royal Musings Retrieved September 12 2010 Solvang Trolley Horse Trolley Retrieved December 6 2017 Allyssa Lee Famous Movie Locations My Moms Houseee The Sideways Tour Santa Ynez Valley CA Archived September 15 2010 at the Wayback Machine Inside Movies Retrieved September 14 2010 Solvang Wine Archived March 12 2010 at the Wayback Machine In Town Live Retrieved September 14 2010 About the Elverhoj Museum of History and Art Retrieved September 16 2010 Sherrie Petersen Museums in the Santa Ynez Valley Archived July 18 2011 at the Wayback Machine Orato June 9 2009 Retrieved September 17 2010 Spirit of Solvang Exhibit 9 January 10 April Elverhoj Museum of Art and History Retrieved January 8 2011 The Hans Christian Andersen Museum SolvangCA com Archived from the original on November 29 2010 Retrieved September 16 2010 Solvang Vintage Motorcycle Museum Retrieved September 16 2010 Schlepp Travis September 7 2023 California town prepares for annual celebration of all things Denmark KTLA Retrieved September 10 2023 Danish Days filled with fun and history Santa Ynez Valley News Retrieved September 14 2010 Sherrie Petersen Theater Under the Stars Archived July 13 2011 at the Wayback Machine Santa Ynez Valley Guest Retrieved September 10 2010 A Theater Archived July 24 2010 at the Wayback Machine Solvang Theaterfest Retrieved September 10 2010 History of Solvang Elverhoj Museum Retrieved September 12 2010 Additional details from panels in Elverhoj Museum in September 2010 William P Jones North American Medal Recipient Index Being a nominal roll of known Americans and Canadians bestowed the Order of Dannebrog and other royal Scandinavian medals Retrieved September 17 2010 Danish ambassador makes stop in Solvang Santa Barbara News Press July 12 2010 Retrieved July 20 2010 Solvang Centennial 2011 Calendar Solvang Centennial Retrieved May 26 2011 Solvang A World Class Cycling Mecca Archived July 16 2011 at the Wayback Machine Solvang Conference and Visitors Bureau Retrieved September 21 2010 Tour of California Solvang Archived from the original on March 22 2019 Retrieved March 29 2020 Finn Olaf Jones The Danish Soul of That Town in Sideways The New York Times June 4 2006 Retrieved September 14 2010 Solvang Archived December 2 2013 at the Wayback Machine Amtrak California Retrieved September 21 2010 Clean Air Express Retrieved September 9 2011 Santa Ynez Airport Retrieved September 21 2010 You Can Actually Visit the Village from A Very Charming Christmas Town November 9 2020 Alison Tetrick USA Cycling legacy usacycling org Retrieved April 16 2019 Norbom Mary Ann December 6 2016 Stephanie Zimbalist to narrate Solvang Nativity Pageant Santa Ynez Valley News Retrieved December 4 2017 Aalborg Twin Towns Europeprize net Archived from the original on September 7 2013 Retrieved August 19 2013 Leavenworth Thumbnail History HistoryLink org Retrieved September 9 2010 Further reading editBethania Evangelical Lutheran Church Our First 75 Years 1912 1987 Solvang 1987 William Etling Sideways in Neverland Life in the Santa Ynez Valley California iUniverse Inc 2005 328 pages ISBN 978 0 595 36190 8 Joanne Rife Solvang Denmark in the USA The Book Loft Solvang 1975 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Solvang California nbsp Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Solvang Official website Solvang Conference amp Visitors Bureau Solvang CA Activities to do in Solvang Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Solvang California amp oldid 1218305510, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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