Goleta: The Good Land

by Walter A. Tompkins

History of Goleta Valley in Santa Barbara County, California

347 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1966

Reviews

[Arthur Sylvester]

Live in Goleta? then you must read this book - the only history of the Good Land.

[Janahn]

Great history of this wonderful corner of the state. :)

[Robert]

Walker Tompkins was the everyday historian of the Santa Barbara area and his book on the neighboring Goleta area remains the essential history of those early days of the ranchos. It is full of wonderful tales of the exotic characters who inhabited those spaces. Today, it is the CITY of Goleta, but this is still the only history.

[Jaime Threadgill]

Great documentation of Japan bombing the USA mainland. Most Americans are not aware of this fact.

[Pancho]

It is the go to book for Goleta California History. In the 60's Tompkins was the main resource for Goleta history. It has some good information on the development of the Goleta. It was written in the 1960's and could use an update or revision. Although I appreciate Tompkins research, it has become dated. I would also have liked more maps included of happenings of the times and better or updated description of what is in the location now. This is a must have for local historical buffs in their collection and being that Tompkins has passed on, hopefully this book will encourage a new researcher and ultimately a new book.