Ballard is an unincorporated community in Santa Barbara County, California. Ballard is the smallest and oldest community in the Santa Ynez Valley. The nearest city is Solvang. The population was 768 at the 2020 census. For statistical purposes, the United States Census Bureau has defined that community as a census-designated place (CDP). Ballard was founded in 1880 and has two buildings from that era: the 1883 Ballard School and the Santa Ynez Valley Presbyterian Church, which was erected in 1889.
Geography
Ballard is a small, mostly residential town in the Santa Ynez Valley, which is in the center of Santa Barbara County, California. It is one of six towns in the valley, along with Buellton to the west, Los Alamos to the northwest, Los Olivos to the north, Santa Ynez to the southeast, and Solvang to the south. The town is located next to Ballard Canyon. Ballard is accessible by taking Alamo Pintado Road south from Los Olivos, which is located on California State Route 154, or by taking Alamo Pintado north from Solvang, which is located on State Route 246. From Alamo Pintado, Baseline Avenue is used to enter the main part of town. Baseline Avenue is also accessible directly from State Route 154.
In 1987, Michelle Grimm and Tom Grimm wrote in the Los Angeles Times that Ballard was often visited by "city folks [who] stop by to enjoy the tranquillity of a small town from bygone times." The town's school is Ballard School, which serves grades K-6. It is famous for its one-room schoolhouse, named the "Little Red Schoolhouse". The Santa Ynez Valley's climate is useful for winemaking. The Ballard Canyon AVA produces Rhône and Bordeaux wines. In 1882 it was believed that Ballard would grow into the central metropolis of Santa Barbara County. The first school, Ballard's Little Red School House, was built in 1882 and is still in operation today, being the primary tourist attraction.
The wine-producing region around Ballard was featured in the Academy Award-nominated film Sideways.thumb|left|200x200px|Ballard School in 2011
Demographics
Ballard first appeared as a census designated place in the 2010 U.S. census formed from part of the Santa Ynez CDP and additional area.
!style="background-color: #ffffb3;" |Pop 2020
!% 2010
!style="background-color: #ffffb3;" |% 2020
|-
|White alone (NH)
|402
|style='background: #ffffe6; |568
|86.08%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |73.96%
|-
|Black or African American alone (NH)
|3
|style='background: #ffffe6; |8
|0.64%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |1.04%
|-
|Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)
|0
|style='background: #ffffe6; |2
|0.00%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.26%
|-
|Asian alone (NH)
|2
|style='background: #ffffe6; |4
|0.43%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.52%
|-
|Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH)
|0
|style='background: #ffffe6; |2
|0.00%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.26%
|-
|Other race alone (NH)
|1
|style='background: #ffffe6; |4
|0.21%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.52%
|-
|Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)
|13
|style='background: #ffffe6; |26
|2.78%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |3.39%
|-
|Hispanic or Latino (any race)
|46
|style='background: #ffffe6; |154
|9.85%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |20.05%
|-
|Total
|467
|style='background: #ffffe6; |768
|100.00%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |100.00%
|}
2020 census
As of the 2020 census, Ballard had a population of 768. The population density was . 0.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.
The median age was 52.4 years. The age distribution was 15.8% under the age of 18, 5.6% aged 18 to 24, 21.2% aged 25 to 44, 29.6% aged 45 to 64, and 27.9% who were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 102.6 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 96.7 males age 18 and over.