Solvang, California
Solvang (Danish for 'sunny fields') is a city in Santa Barbara County, California, United States. It is one of the communities that make up the Santa Ynez Valley. The population was 5,332 at the 2000 census. Once just a village, Solvang was incorporated as a city on May 1, 1985.Solvang was founded in 1911 on almost 9,000 acres (3,600 ha) of the Rancho San Carlos de Jonata Mexican land grant, by a group of Danes who traveled west to establish a Danish colony far from the midwestern winters. The city is home to a number of bakeries, restaurants, and merchants offering a taste of Denmark in California. The architecture of many of the facades and buildings reflects traditional Danish style. There is a copy of the famous Little Mermaid statue from Copenhagen, as well as one featuring the bust of famed Danish fable writer Hans Christian Andersen. A replica of Copenhagen's Round Tower or Rundetårn in the scale 1:3 was finished in 1991 and can be seen in the city centre.Mission Santa Ines, one of the California missions (National Historic Landmark), is located near the center of the town, at the junction of State Route 246 and Alisal Road.
Geography and climate
Solvang is located at 34°35′38″N 120°8′23″W / 34.59389°N 120.13972°W / 34.59389; -120.13972. At an elevation of 505 ft (154 m), it lies 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 2.5 square miles (6.4 km²), all of it land.Solvang enjoys lots of sunshine throughout the year with clear, warm days and cool nights. Average temperatures vary between 54 and 76 F (12 and 24 C) with highs reaching the upper 80s F (lower 30s C) and winter lows in the 40s F (below 10 C). Average annual rainfall for Solvang (recorded between 1964 and 2010) is 19.31 inches (49 cm).
The beginnings
The Santa Ynez Valley in which Solvang lies today was originally inhabited by the Chumash, identified by Fr. Pedro Font, chaplain of the 1776 Anza Expedition, as an ingenious and industrious people. They had an excellent astronomical system and were good fishermen and hunters. Spanish missionaries who arrived at the beginning of the 19th century, succeeded in getting the Chumash to adopt the Spanish way of life and to serve the missions, especially the Mission Santa Inés created in 1804 and located in the center of today's Solvang. Santa Inés was located midway between the missions of Santa Barbara and La Purísima Concepción in Lompoc and the lands were designated the Rancho San Carlos de Jonata. For a time, the mission was a seminary but soon began to deteriorate. It was however repaired by the Donahue family in 1884 and renovated by Fr. Alexander Buckler in 1904.
Danish pioneers
Between 1850 and 1930, a considerable number of Danes left Denmark which was suffering from poor economic prospects. According to some estimates, as many as one in ten Danes emigrated during this period, mostly to the United States. The most popular destinations for Danish settlers were Utah, Illinois, Minnesota, Iowa, Nebraska, and South Dakota. In many of the new communities, churches and schools were set up in accordance with the ideas of N. F. S. Grundtvig, an influential Danish philosopher, hymn-writer and Lutheran pastor. In particular, the so-called folk schools introduced a new approach to education based on a spirit of freedom, poetry and disciplined creativity. Folk schools were established in Elk Horn, Iowa (1878-1899); Grant, Michigan (1882-1888); Nysted, Nebraska (1887-1934); Tyler, Minnesota (1888-1935) and Kenmare, North Dakota (1902-1916) and finally in Solvang (1911–1931).One of the most enthusiastic proponents of the Danish approach to religion and education was Benedict Nordentoft who was born in Brabrand near Aarhus in 1873. After graduating in theology in 1898, he was soon tempted to travel to the United States where he began coordinating relations between Danish Lutheran churches in Michigan, Ohio, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts and Maine. In 1901, he returned to Denmark specifically to be ordained in Aarhus Cathedral. Back in America, he continued his work as a lecturer at Grand View College, a folk high school in Des Moines, Iowa which was also set up by the Danish Lutheran Church. He was appointed president in 1903, a post which he held until 1910 when disagreements with his Grundtvigian colleagues forced him to resign.From 1906, Nordentoft together Jens M. Gregersen, a pastor from Kimballton, Iowa, and Peder P. Hornsyld, a lecturer at Grand View, had discussed the possibility of creating a new Danish colony with a dedicated Lutheran church and school on the west coast. In 1910, together with other Danish-Americans, they 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. On January 23, 1911, the contract was signed and Solvang was founded. 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.Among the other early arrivals with Mads Frese were Mr. and Mrs. Sophus Olsen, Hans Skytt, John Petersen and John Ahrenkild. Skytt was to play an important role as the carpenter who constructed many of Solvang's early buildings. The first to be constructed was a hotel close to the Mission where new arrivals could be housed. Gregersen became president of the Danish-American Colony Company and Nordentoft was named head and Hornsyld a teacher at the school which opened on November 15, 1911, with 21 students.
Expansion
At the end of 1912 when it became almost impossible to sell any more plots of land, the company's income was vastly reduced. The shareholders persuaded Gregersen to give up his position as Solvang's pastor and travel to Iowa and Nebraska to convince Danish immigrants to buy land in the new colony. He enjoyed considerable success, relieving the colony of any further threats. After Gregersen's departure, Nordentoft became the pastor. Before long, Solvang also had a store, a bank, a lumber yard, a barbershop and a post office with Hornsyld as postmaster. Where there had just been fields, there was now a small town.
The folk high school
Nordentoft was not content with the little folk school in Solvang. When he was unable to convince Gregersen and Hornsyld that a larger educational institution was needed, he bought them out and started to raise funds for a bigger and better school. The following year, in August 1914, a rejsegilde or topping-out ceremony was held for the impressive new building which Nordentoft called Atterdag College in memory of Valdemar Atterdag who did much to consolidate the kingdom of Denmark in the 14th century. What surprised many of those who came to the celebration was the great similarity the building had with Grand View College. Standing on a hilltop above the village, the new college or folk high school was designed to teach Danish-speaking students in their late teens how to lead more meaningful lives with an emphasis on lectures, singing, gymnastics, folk dancing and fellowship. A difficult period followed as World War I put a stop to Danish emigration to America leading to a reduction in the number of young people requiring a school education. It also became difficult to maintain a Danish-speaking school at a time when American nationalism was steadily growing. Nordentoft, who felt he had achieved his ambitions in America, sold the college to the congregation of the Solvang Lutheran church in 1921 for $5,000 and returned to Denmark with his wife and family. Atterdag College continued to be used as a folk school, a community meeting hall, a performing arts venue, a gymnastics center, a summer school, and a boarding house until it was finally demolished in 1970, making way for the Solvang Lutheran Home.
The Danish church
The Bethania Evangelical Lutheran Church was initiated by the Danish pioneers in 1912. For a number of years, church services were held in the school building until, in 1928, a new church was built by Hans Skytt and his colleagues. Solidly constructed in ferro-concrete with walls a foot thick, it was based on a photograph of a Gothic-styled Danish church and resembles one of the hundreds of rural churches in Denmark which were built or restyled in the 14th century. Its interior contains hand-carved woodwork on the altar, pulpit and altar rail. Services used to be mainly in Danish but apart from a Christmas service in Danish on lillejueaften (December 23) each year, all the other services are 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. But after World War II, interest grew in the concept of a 'Danish Village'. The pioneer of the Danish Provincial style, as it came to be known, was undoubtedly 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 facades in so-called 'Danish Provincial' style. 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.
Tourism
Thanks to its Danish lifestyle and architecture, Solvang has become a major tourist attraction in California with over a million visitors a year. Ever since 1936, the town has scheduled a Danish Days festival, currently held during the third week of September. Initially tourists were attracted by Prince Frederik's visit to the village in 1939. But it was in 1947, following a feature article in the Saturday Evening Post, that they began to flock to the town. In particular, today's visitors appreciate the Danish windmills, the statues of Hans Christian Andersen and the Little Mermaid, the half-timbered houses, the Danish rural church, the Round Tower as well as Danish music and folk dancing. In addition, several restaurants and pastry shops serve Danish specialities. Hønen or the Hen modelled on a 19th-century Danish streetcar takes visitors on sightseeing tours of downtown Solvang. Partly as a result of the film Sideways in 2004 which emphasized the quality of wines from the Santa Ynez Valley, the number of wine bars and stores in Solvang has increased appreciably, attracting oenophiles to the downtown area too.
Danish Days
Ever since 1936, Solvang has celebrated Danish traditions at its annual Danish Days event, currently held during the third weekend in September. Led by the newly elected Danish Maid, the program consists of æbleskiver eating competitions, music and dancing, and processions through the downtown area with floats, marching groups, the village band, folk dancers and singers. In addition to special activities for children, the breakfast on the Sunday morning features medisterpølser, the traditional Danish sausages.
Festival Theater
One of Solvang's major attractions on summer evenings is the 700-seat open-air Festival Theater which was built in 1974 following the success of a makeshift performance of Hamlet in Hans Christian Andersen Park in 1971. Huge support from the local business community in collaboration with Donovan Marley, director of the Pacific Conservatory of the Performing Arts, and Earl Petersen, a dedicated local architect, allowed the building to be completed in record time. Recent highlights have included West Side Story and Les Misérables. The style of the exterior is said to be reminiscent of both Danish and Elizabethan architecture.
Royal visits
On April 7, 1939, Danish Crown Prince Frederik and Princess Ingrid visited Solvang where most of the 400 inhabitants at the time were of Danish extraction. They drove through the grounds of Atterdag College and attended a Good Friday service at Bethania Church. The crown prince spoke fondly of the way in which he and his wife had been received: '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 for strengthening ties between the United States and Denmark.
100th anniversary
Solvang will be celebrating its centennial in 2011. The first event in this connection was a visit by the Danish ambassador to the United States, Friis Arne Petersen, on 11 July 2010. Mr Petersen took a walking tour of downtown Solvang and visited the Mission. The mayor, Jim Richardson, greeted the ambassador with a private reception at the Elverhøj Museum. 'I wanted him to see the people of our town, and the Danish community in particular,' he explained.The tentative program for the centennial year starts with the official launch on January 7 and terminates with Christmas and New Year celebrations including the Julefest Parade on Saturday, December 3.
Nearby attraction
The Chumash Casino Resort is located some 5 miles (8 km) to the east of Solvang in the Chumash Indian reservation near Santa Ynez. Opened in its present form in August 2003, the casino consists of a 94,000-square-feet (8,730 m2) gaming area with slot machines and table games. There is also a 1,300 seat entertainment center, as well as three restaurants and two gift shops. The 106-room hotel and spa opened in July 2004. In 2006, the Casino estimated that there were 2,894,561 visitors to the Casino and 34,049 guests in the hotel, nearly all of them from Southern California. It is claimed by the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians that the casino brings in some 6,000 patrons per day, significantly contributing to the tourism industry.
Cycling
Solvang, which in recent years has frequently been included in the Tour of California, is an excellent center for cyclists. The area has also been used as a training ground by Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong. From country lanes through the vineyards of the Santa Ynez Valley to more strenuous mountrain climbs, there is something for everyone. Two of the USA's largest amateur cycling events in the USA are hosted by Solvang: the Solvang Century every March and the Solvang Prelude every November.
Museums
Solvang is home to two museums devoted to Danish culture and to one presenting vintage motorcycles: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 northernJutland. After extensive renovation, the museum opened to the public in May 1988.The cottage in the garden houses adioramaof scale models depicting Solvang in the 1920s.
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'schildhood homeand ofThe Princess and the Pea. The museum also contains hundreds of volumes of Andersen's works including many illustrated first editions.
TheVintage Motorcycle Museumdisplays 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.
Transportation
Although most of Solvang's visitors arrive by car, there are infrequent bus connections for those arriving at Santa Barbara by rail. The Valley Express bus service also connects Solvang and Santa Barbara.The nearby Santa Ynez Airport caters for private planes.
Demographics
As of the census 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 people per square mile (826.8/km²). There were 2,288 housing units at an average density of 919.7/sq mi (354.8/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 the population was spread out with 21.9% 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% who were 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.
Public safety
The Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Department 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.
Popular media
Much of the Oscar-winning 2004 filmSidewayswas filmed in Solvang and in nearbyBuellton.
Patricia Hitchcock, the only child of the film directorAlfred Hitchcock, currently resides in Solvang.
Solvang was one of the two locations featured in theWilliam Castlefilm,Homicidal. The location used for the drugstore and flowershop still stands today and remains relatively unchanged.
Rancho del Cielo, PresidentRonald Reagan's ranch which served as the 'Western White House' during Reagan's two terms in office, is located about six miles (10 km) outside of Solvang.
InThe Simpsonsepisode 'Little Orphan Millie', it was revealed thatMilhousehas 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.
Ska-punk bandMad Caddiescall Solvang their home.
InAmerican Dad, 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.
In an episode of 'Pinky and the Brain', Brain forms a basketball team that has a practice session in Solvang.
TheTour of Californiacycle race has hadtime trialstages in Solvang on three occasions; 2007, 2008 and 2009.
In season 5 episode 'Happy Birthday, Anastasia',The Girls Next Doorand their guests take a road trip which includes a visit to Solvang; its original airdate was January 4, 2009.
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.
Sister city
Denmark,Aalborg, since 1971.
