Solvang (;
Danish for "sunny field"
) is a city in
Santa Barbara County, California
Santa Barbara County, officially the County of Santa Barbara (), is a County (United States), county located in Southern California. As of the 2020 United States census, the population was 448,229. The county seat is Santa Barbara, California ...
, United States. Located in the
Santa Ynez Valley, Solvang was founded in 1911
and incorporated as a city on May 1, 1985.
The population was 6,126 at the
2020 census, out of which less than 10% was of Danish descent. Solvang has been described as "The Danish Capital of America".
In 1804,
Mission Santa Inés
Mission Santa Inés (sometimes spelled Santa Ynez) was a Spanish mission in present-day Solvang, California, United States, and named after St. Agnes of Rome. Founded on September 17, 1804, by Father Estévan TapÃs of the Franciscan order, t ...
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
The Conquest of California, also known as the Conquest of Alta California or the California Campaign, was a military campaign during the Mexican–American War carried out by the United States in Alta California (modern-day California), then part ...
. In 1911, a new settlement was founded around the mission by a group of
Danish American
Danish Americans () are Americans who have ancestral roots originated fully or partially from Denmark. There are approximately 1,300,000 Americans of Danish origin or descent.
Most Danes who came to the United States after 1865 did so for e ...
s who purchased 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
with 1.5 million visitors per year. The community attracts tourists from Nordic countries, and has been the subject of several Danish royal visits including
Prince Henrik in 2011.
A minority of residents in the 21st century are of Danish origin.
History
Beginnings

The
Santa Ynez Valley, in which Solvang lies, was originally inhabited by the
Chumash
Chumash may refer to:
*Chumash (Judaism), a Hebrew word for the Pentateuch, used in Judaism
*Chumash people, a Native American people of southern California
*Chumashan languages, Indigenous languages of California
See also
* Pentateuch (dis ...
, 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.
["Mission History"](_blank)
''Old Mission Santa Inés''. Retrieved July 12, 2010.
As part of the expansion of the mission system established in California by Spanish missionaries, Father Estévan TapÃs founded Mission Santa Inés, now located near the center of Solvang, in order to relieve overcrowding at
Mission Santa Barbara
Mission Santa Barbara () is a Spanish missions in California, Spanish mission in Santa Barbara, California, United States. Often referred to as the 'Queen of the Missions', it was founded by Padre FermÃn Lasuén for the Franciscan order on Decem ...
and
Mission La PurÃsima 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.
[National Park Service](_blank)
"Mission Santa Inés California". Retrieved September 16, 2014.
After the
Mexican War of Independence
The Mexican War of Independence (, 16 September 1810 – 27 September 1821) was an armed conflict and political process resulting in Mexico's independence from the Spanish Empire. It was not a single, coherent event, but local and regional ...
, 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.
For a time, the mission was a
seminary
A seminary, school of theology, theological college, or divinity school is an educational institution for educating students (sometimes called seminarians) in scripture and theology, generally to prepare them for ordination to serve as cle ...
but soon began to deteriorate; it was repaired by the Donahue family in 1884 and renovated by Fr. Alexander Buckler in 1904.
Danish settlement
Between 1865 and 1914, 300,000 Danes had immigrated to United States, some of which headed West into California. Three men: Benedict Nordentoft, Jens Gregersen, Peder Hornsyld sought and found land to grow a Danish settlement. Initially the settlement was like any other pioneer town in California.
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 almost of the
Rancho San Carlos de Jonata land grant, paying an average of $40 per acre.
[Pat Murph]
"Remember When?"
''Santa Ynez Valley Guest Magazine'' , Spring 2004. Retrieved July 13, 2010.
Solvang was established in 1911 for cultural, educational, and religious purposes.
A hotel was built close to the Mission where new arrivals could be housed, and a school opened in 1911, with 21 students.
Expansion and development

In 1912, when it became difficult to sell any more plots of land, developers from Solvang travelled to
Iowa
Iowa ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the upper Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. It borders the Mississippi River to the east and the Missouri River and Big Sioux River to the west; Wisconsin to the northeast, Ill ...
and
Nebraska
Nebraska ( ) is a landlocked U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. It borders South Dakota to the north; Iowa to the east and Missouri to the southeast, both across the Missouri River; Ka ...
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.
[Rolf Buschardt Christensen, "Benedict Nordentoft".](_blank)
Retrieved July 12, 2010. During the 1920s, civic amenities such as electricity were installed in the town.
Folk high school
In 1914, Atterdag College opened, named after
Valdemar IV of Denmark
Valdemar IV Atterdag, Valdemar Christoffersen or Waldemar (24 October 1375) was King of Denmark from 1340 to 1375. He is mostly known for his reunion of Denmark after the bankruptcy and mortgaging of the country to finance wars under previous rul ...
. The school taught Danish-speaking students in their late teens a curriculum that emphasized lectures, singing, gymnastics, folk dancing and fellowship; teaching both Danish and American curriculum. There were no examinations or degrees, and learning was mutual with teachers and students living, eating, and studying together. Among the popular recreation and sports that were taught were folk dance and gymnastics. 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.
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.
Danish church

The Bethania Evangelical Lutheran Church opened in 1928, designed as a Gothic-styled, 14th century rural Danish church. Originally, the services were mainly in Danish, but are now in English.
Danish-styled architecture
Initially, most of Solvang's buildings were built in the same style as others in the area.
The Lutheran church was the first to be based on Danish architecture and bears a close relationship to Danish equivalents. In 1931
Earl Petersen, a local architect, gave the older buildings a new look, adding façades in so-called "Danish Provincial" style. It was a Danish medieval
bindingsverk design. 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. But after World War II, interest grew in the concept of a "Danish Village". Buildings in the half-timbered style of Danish rural houses proliferated, creating a new tourist attraction.
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.
Subsequent development
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.
In the 1930s, Solvang became the largest town in the
Santa Ynez Valley and a commercial hub for the local region.
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.
In 1947, the town was featured in an article in ''
The Saturday Evening Post
''The Saturday Evening Post'' is an American magazine published six times a year. It was published weekly from 1897 until 1963, and then every other week until 1969. From the 1920s to the 1960s, it was one of the most widely circulated and influ ...
'' 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.
Solvang subsequently developed a tourism industry focused on emphasizing the town's Danish heritage.
Up to the 1980s, all changes to downtown occurred without city government, mainly by businessmen and selling bonds. In 1985, Solvang became incorporated as California's 440th city and afterwards made the town look uniformly with Danish-Provincial style. Numerous older buildings were demolished.
The 2004 film ''
Sideways
''Sideways'' is a 2004 American comedy-drama directed by Alexander Payne and written by Jim Taylor and Payne. A film adaptation of Rex Pickett's 2004 novel, ''Sideways'' follows two men in their forties, Miles Raymond ( Paul Giamatti), a de ...
'' brought attention to the vineyards in the surrounding Santa Ynez Valley and tasting rooms have opened. Restaurants are also part of the revitalization of Solvang as it becomes a destination for locally sourced fare.
Geography
Solvang is located in the
Santa Ynez Valley some north-west of
Santa Barbara and about north of the Pacific coast. According to the
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau, officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the Federal statistical system, U.S. federal statistical system, responsible for producing data about the American people and American economy, econ ...
, the city has a total area of , 99.95% of it land and 0.05% of it water.
Climate
Solvang enjoys sunshine throughout the year with clear, warm days and cool nights. Average temperatures vary between with highs reaching the lower 90s °F (lower 30s °C) and winter lows in the upper 30s °F (below . Furthermore, Solvang experiences large
diurnal temperature variations, especially in the summer, when daily temperatures vary on average by almost . Average annual rainfall for Solvang (recorded between 1964 and 2010) is .
Solvang is northwest of
Los Angeles
Los Angeles, often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, most populous city in the U.S. state of California, and the commercial, Financial District, Los Angeles, financial, and Culture of Los Angeles, ...
.
Demographics
2020
The
2020 United States census reported that Solvang had a population of 6,126. The population density was . The racial makeup of Solvang was 67.9%
White
White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no chroma). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully (or almost fully) reflect and scatter all the visible wa ...
, 0.8%
African American
African Americans, also known as Black Americans and formerly also called Afro-Americans, are an Race and ethnicity in the United States, American racial and ethnic group that consists of Americans who have total or partial ancestry from an ...
, 1.3%
Native American, 1.9%
Asian, 0.0%
Pacific Islander
Pacific Islanders, Pasifika, Pasefika, Pacificans, or rarely Pacificers are the peoples of the list of islands in the Pacific Ocean, Pacific Islands. As an ethnic group, ethnic/race (human categorization), racial term, it is used to describe th ...
, 12.9% from
other races, and 15.2% from two or more races.
Hispanic or Latino of any race were 30.0% of the population.
The census reported that 94.2% of the population lived in households, 2.4% lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 3.3% were institutionalized.
[
There were 2,463 households, out of which 26.7% included children under the age of 18, 50.3% were married-couple households, 5.7% were ]cohabiting
Cohabitation is an arrangement where people who are not legally married live together as a couple. They are often involved in a romantic or sexually intimate relationship on a long-term or permanent basis. Such arrangements have become incr ...
couple households, 30.0% had a female householder with no partner present, and 14.0% had a male householder with no partner present. 28.8% of households were one person, and 16.4% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.34.[ There were 1,572 ]families
Family (from ) is a group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or affinity (by marriage or other relationship). It forms the basis for social order. Ideally, families offer predictability, structure, and safety as ...
(63.8% of all households).
The age distribution was 16.6% under the age of 18, 6.7% aged 18 to 24, 19.8% aged 25 to 44, 26.6% aged 45 to 64, and 30.3% who were 65years of age or older. The median age was 50.9years. For every 100 females, there were 88.7 males.[
There were 2,621 housing units at an average density of , of which 2,463 (94.0%) were occupied. Of these, 58.9% were owner-occupied, and 41.1% were occupied by renters.][
In 2023, the US Census Bureau estimated that the median household income was $118,208, and the ]per capita income
Per capita income (PCI) or average income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year.
In many countries, per capita income is determined using regular population surveys, such ...
was $76,064. About 5.4% of families and 7.7% of the population were below the poverty line.
2010
The 2010 United States Census reported that Solvang had a population of 5,245. The population density was . The racial makeup of Solvang was 4,326 (82.5%) White
White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no chroma). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully (or almost fully) reflect and scatter all the visible wa ...
, 38 (0.7%) African American
African Americans, also known as Black Americans and formerly also called Afro-Americans, are an Race and ethnicity in the United States, American racial and ethnic group that consists of Americans who have total or partial ancestry from an ...
, 59 (1.1%) Native American, 72 (1.4%) Asian, 1 (0.0%) Pacific Islander
Pacific Islanders, Pasifika, Pasefika, Pacificans, or rarely Pacificers are the peoples of the list of islands in the Pacific Ocean, Pacific Islands. As an ethnic group, ethnic/race (human categorization), racial term, it is used to describe th ...
, 611 (11.6%) from other races, and 138 (2.6%) from two or more races. There were 1,530 Hispanic
The term Hispanic () are people, Spanish culture, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or broadly. In some contexts, Hispanic and Latino Americans, especially within the United States, "Hispanic" is used as an Ethnici ...
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
Family (from ) is a group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or affinity (by marriage or other relationship). It forms the basis for social order. Ideally, families offer predictability, structure, and safety as ...
(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 , 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.
Economy
Top employers
According to Solvang's 2020 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, the top employers in the city were:
Arts and culture
Tourism
Solvang is a tourist attraction with over one million visitors per year. Tourists were initially attracted to Solvang by the visit of Denmark's Prince Frederik in April 1939. But it was in 1947, following a feature article in ''The Saturday Evening Post
''The Saturday Evening Post'' is an American magazine published six times a year. It was published weekly from 1897 until 1963, and then every other week until 1969. From the 1920s to the 1960s, it was one of the most widely circulated and influ ...
'', 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
A fortified tower (also defensive tower or castle tower or, in context, just tower) is one of the defensive structures used in fortifications, such as castles, along with defensive walls such as curtain wall (fortification), curtain walls. Castle ...
as well as Danish music and folk dancing. Several restaurants and pastry shops serve Danish specialities. A replica of a 19th-century Danish streetcar, the horse-drawn ''Hønen'' ("the hen"), takes visitors on sightseeing tours around downtown Solvang. Partly as a result of the 2004 film ''Sideways
''Sideways'' is a 2004 American comedy-drama directed by Alexander Payne and written by Jim Taylor and Payne. A film adaptation of Rex Pickett's 2004 novel, ''Sideways'' follows two men in their forties, Miles Raymond ( Paul Giamatti), a de ...
'', which was set in the surrounding Santa Ynez Valley, the number of wine-related businesses in Solvang has increased, attracting oenophiles to the downtown area.
Museums
*The Elverhøj Museum, named after a Danish play from 1928 named Elverhøj, 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
Jutland (; , ''Jyske Halvø'' or ''Cimbriske Halvø''; , ''Kimbrische Halbinsel'' or ''Jütische Halbinsel'') is a peninsula of Northern Europe that forms the continental portion of Denmark and part of northern Germany (Schleswig-Holstein). It ...
. After extensive renovation, the museum opened to the public in May 1988. The cottage in the garden houses a diorama
A diorama is a replica of a scene, typically a three-dimensional model either full-sized or miniature. Sometimes dioramas are enclosed in a glass showcase at a museum. Dioramas are often built by hobbyists as part of related hobbies like mili ...
of scale models depicting Solvang in the 1920s. 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.
*The Hans Christian Andersen
Hans Christian Andersen ( , ; 2 April 1805 – 4 August 1875) was a Danish author. Although a prolific writer of plays, travelogue (literature), travelogues, novels, and poems, he is best remembered for his literary fairy tales.
Andersen's fai ...
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 Princess and the Pea" () is a literary fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen about a princess who is tested to become the wife to a lonely prince. The tale was first published with three others by Andersen in a cheap booklet on 8 May 18 ...
". The museum also contains hundreds of volumes of Andersen's works, including many illustrated first editions.
*The Vintage Motorcycle Museum displays machines from the private collection of Virgil Elings, a veteran motocross and road racer. While there is an emphasis on vintage racing bikes, the collection is quite broad and ranges from 1910 to the present.
Danish Days
Since 1936 Solvang has celebrated Danish folk traditions at its annual "Danish Days" event. The first time it was celebrated was June 5, Grundlovsdag (Demark's Constitution Day), in 1936; and it included parades, folk dancing, gymnastics, theater, concerts, and street dancing. Led by a "Danish Maid", the program consists of ''æbleskiver
''Æbleskiver'' (, ingular: ''æbleskive'' are spherical Danish snacks made from fried batter. The name literally means "apple slices" in Danish, although apples are not usually an ingredient in present-day versions. The crust is similar in tex ...
'' 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
''Æbleskiver'' (, ingular: ''æbleskive'' are spherical Danish snacks made from fried batter. The name literally means "apple slices" in Danish, although apples are not usually an ingredient in present-day versions. The crust is similar in tex ...
''.
Festival Theater
The 700-seat open-air Festival Theater was built in 1974 following the success of a makeshift performance of ''Hamlet
''The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark'', often shortened to ''Hamlet'' (), is a Shakespearean tragedy, tragedy written by William Shakespeare sometime between 1599 and 1601. It is Shakespeare's longest play. Set in Denmark, the play (the ...
'' 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. Recent productions have included ''West Side Story
''West Side Story'' is a Musical theatre, musical conceived by Jerome Robbins with music by Leonard Bernstein, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, and a Book (musical theatre), book by Arthur Laurents.
Inspired by William Shakespeare's play ''Romeo an ...
'' and ''Les Misérables
''Les Misérables'' (, ) is a 19th-century French literature, French Epic (genre), epic historical fiction, historical novel by Victor Hugo, first published on 31 March 1862, that is considered one of the greatest novels of the 19th century. '' ...
''. The style of the exterior is reminiscent of both Danish and Elizabethan architecture.
Royal visits
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."
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
The Order of the Dannebrog () is a Denmark, Danish order of chivalry instituted in 1671 by Christian V of Denmark, Christian V. Until 1808, membership in the Order was limited to fifty members of noble or royal rank, who formed a single cla ...
for strengthening ties between the United States and Denmark.
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.
Parks and recreation
Bicycling
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).
The Tour of California cycle race has had time trial
In many racing sports, an sportsperson, athlete (or occasionally a team of athletes) will compete in a time trial (TT) against the clock to secure the fastest time. The format of a time trial can vary, but usually follow a format where each athle ...
stages in Solvang on four occasions; 2007
2007 was designated as the International Heliophysical Year and the International Polar Year.
Events
January
* January 1
**Bulgaria and Romania 2007 enlargement of the European Union, join the European Union, while Slovenia joins the Eur ...
, 2008
2008 was designated as:
*International Year of Languages
*International Year of Planet Earth
*International Year of the Potato
*International Year of Sanitation
The Great Recession, a worldwide recession which began in 2007, continued throu ...
, 2009
2009 was designated as the International Year of Astronomy by the United Nations to coincide with the 400th anniversary of Galileo Galilei's first known astronomical studies with a telescope and the publication of Astronomia Nova by Joha ...
and 2011
The year marked the start of a Arab Spring, series of protests and revolutions throughout the Arab world advocating for democracy, reform, and economic recovery, later leading to the depositions of world leaders in Tunisia, Egypt, and Yemen ...
.
Media
Filming location
*Solvang was one of the two locations featured in the William Castle
William Castle (born William Schloss Jr.; April 24, 1914 – May 31, 1977) was an American film director, producer, screenwriter, and actor. He is known for the horror film, horror and thriller film, thriller B movie, B-movies he directed durin ...
film, ''Homicidal
''Homicidal'' is a 1961 American horror film, horror-thriller film produced and directed by William Castle, and starring Glenn Corbett, Patricia Breslin, Eugenie Leontovich, Alan Bunce and Joan Marshall, Jean Arless. The film follows a murderou ...
'' (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
''Sideways'' is a 2004 American comedy-drama directed by Alexander Payne and written by Jim Taylor and Payne. A film adaptation of Rex Pickett's 2004 novel, ''Sideways'' follows two men in their forties, Miles Raymond ( Paul Giamatti), a de ...
'' (2004) was filmed in Solvang and in nearby Buellton.
*Much of the Netflix
Netflix is an American subscription video on-demand over-the-top streaming service. The service primarily distributes original and acquired films and television shows from various genres, and it is available internationally in multiple lang ...
film '' Paddleton'' (2019) takes place in Solvang.
*Season 3 episode 9 of USA Network's Psych
''Psych'' is an American detective comedy-drama television series created by Steve Franks for USA Network. The series stars James Roday as Shawn Spencer, a young crime consultant for the Santa Barbara Police Department whose "heightened o ...
, entitled "Christmas Joy" (aired 2008) features scenes shot in Solvang. The series takes place mostly in nearby Santa Barbara.
*The Lifetime film ''A Very Charming Christmas Town'' (2020) written and directed by Jake Helgren takes place almost entirely in Solvang, who centered his entire script around the history of the town.
Infrastructure
Transportation
State Route 246 runs through Solvang as Mission Drive, connecting Buellton and U.S. Route 101
U.S. Route 101, or U.S. Highway 101 (US 101), is a major north–south highway that traverses the states of California, Oregon, and Washington on the West Coast of the United States. It is part of the United States Numbered Highway Syst ...
to the west, and Santa Ynez and Highway 154 to the east.
Although most of Solvang's visitors arrive by car, there are three Amtrak Thruway
Amtrak Thruway is a system of through-ticketed transportation services to connect passengers with areas not served by Amtrak trains. In most cases these are dedicated motorcoach routes, but can also be non-dedicated intercity bus services, transi ...
bus connections per day for those arriving at Santa Barbara by rail. 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.
The nearby Santa Ynez Airport caters to general aviation
General aviation (GA) is defined by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) as all civil aviation aircraft operations except for commercial air transport or aerial work, which is defined as specialized aviation services for other ...
.
Public safety
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.
Notable people
* Greta 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
Albert Francis Gionfriddo (March 8, 1922 – March 14, 2003) was an American professional baseball player who played in Major League Baseball as an outfielder.
Career
Gionfriddo made his major league debut on September 23, at the age of 22 wit ...
, outfielder and hero for the Brooklyn Dodgers
The Brooklyn Dodgers were a Major League Baseball team founded in 1883 as the Brooklyn Grays. In 1884, it became a member of the American Association as the Brooklyn Atlantics before joining the National League in 1890. They remained in Brook ...
in the 1947 World Series
The 1947 World Series matched the 1947 New York Yankees season, New York Yankees against the 1947 Brooklyn Dodgers season, Brooklyn Dodgers. The Yankees won the Series in seven games for their 11th World Series championship in team history. Yan ...
, resided and died in Solvang.
*Patricia Hitchcock
Patricia Alma Hitchcock O'Connell (7 July 1928 – 9 August 2021) was an English-American actress and producer. She was the only child of English director Alfred Hitchcock and film editor Alma Reville, and had small roles in several of her fath ...
, actress and only child of film director Alfred Hitchcock
Sir Alfred Joseph Hitchcock (13 August 1899 – 29 April 1980) was an English film director. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in the history of cinema. In a career spanning six decades, he directed over 50 featu ...
, resided in Solvang.
*Ska-punk band Mad Caddies
The Mad Caddies (or the Caddies) is an American ska punk band from Solvang, California. The band formed in 1995 and has released seven full-length albums, one live album, and two EPs.
The Mad Caddies sound has influences from broad ranging g ...
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.
* Jose Villa, celebrity wedding photographer
* Stephanie Zimbalist lives part-time in the valley where she has a house inherited from her late father Efrem Zimbalist Jr.
*Serial killer Thor Nis Christiansen lived in Solvang from age 5 until his late teens.
Sister city
*, Aalborg
Aalborg or Ã…lborg ( , , ) is Denmark's List of cities and towns in Denmark, fourth largest urban settlement (behind Copenhagen, Aarhus, and Odense) with a population of 119,862 (1 July 2022) in the town proper and an Urban area, urban populati ...
, since 1971.
See also
* Benedict Nordentoft, the co-founder of Solvang
*Danish Americans
Danish Americans () are Americans who have ancestral roots originated fully or partially from Denmark. There are approximately 1,300,000 Americans of Danish origin or descent.
Most Danes who came to the United States after 1865 did so for e ...
* Kingsburg, a "Swedish village" in Fresno County, California
* Helen, Georgia
Helen is a city in White County, Georgia, United States, located along the Chattahoochee River. The population was 531 at the 2020 census. The city has now been made over, as a tourist attraction, to look like an old-world Bavarian village. T ...
*Leavenworth, Washington
Leavenworth is a city in Chelan County, Washington, Chelan County, Washington (state), Washington, United States. It is part of the Wenatchee, Washington, Wenatchee−East Wenatchee, Washington, East Wenatchee Wenatchee-East Wenatchee metropolit ...
, a Bavarian theme town developed with assistance from Solvang."Leavenworth — Thumbnail History"
HistoryLink.org. Retrieved September 9, 2010.
* Frankenmuth, Michigan
Frankenmuth ( ) is a city in Saginaw County, Michigan, Saginaw County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The population was 4,987 at the United States Census, 2020, 2020 census. The city is surrounded by Frankenmuth Township, Michigan, Frankenmuth To ...
* Little Portugal, San Jose
Little Portugal is a historic neighborhood of San Jose, California, and historically the center of the local Portuguese-American community. Little Portugal is home to numerous Portuguese businesses, including Adega (San Jose's first restauran ...
References
Further reading
* ''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.
* Joanne Rife, ''Solvang. Denmark in the USA'', The Book Loft, Solvang, 1975.
*
External links
Official website
Solvang Conference & Visitors Bureau
Solvang, CA
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1911 establishments in California
1985 establishments in California
Cities in Santa Barbara County, California
Danish-American culture in California
Danish-American culture
Danish-American history
History of Santa Barbara County, California
Incorporated cities and towns in California
Populated places established in 1911
Populated places established in 1985
Tourist attractions in Santa Barbara County, California