Santa Maria was originally known as Central City. Before that it was considered a wasteland. The town was started in 1874. Four ranchers started Santa Maria. Their names were Issac Fesler, Issac Miller, John Thornburg, and Rudolph D. Cook. In 1870 a new school opened and it was named Pleasant Valley School. A lot of people from Iowa came to live in Santa Maria. The Blosser family was the fifth family to settle in Santa Maria. Most of the people were farmers, and the farming was successful. Soon they found oil. The first white settler was William Benjamin Foxen. He was a British sea man. He built a home in 1837 in what is now known as Foxen Canyon.
Resources
Third Grade Santa Maria Curriculum Binder
The Santa Maria Historical Photo Album
