Chapter 1 - Caltrans - State of California

Chapter 2 Affected Environment, Environmental Consequences, and Mitigation Measures
Under the California Environmental Quality Act, an economic or social change by itself
is not to be considered a significant impact on the environment. However, if a social or
economic change is related to a physical change, then social or economic change may be
considered in determining whether the physical change is significant. Since this project
would result in physical change to the environment, it is appropriate to consider changes
to community character and cohesion in assessing the significance of the project’s
impacts.
Affected Environment
Population and Housing
The following table, Table 2.1-3 shows the racial and ethnic breakdown for the study area
between 1990 and 2000 (this is the latest known data available for the study area). The
study area was predominantly “White”, accounting for approximately 74.6 percent of the
total population. Other single race categories such as “Asian” or “Black or African
American” populations represented much smaller components of the population at 2.6
percent and 0.6 percent respectively. “Hispanic” populations within the study area
comprised approximately 40.8 percent of the total population. “Hispanic” populations
within the Santa Barbara County portion of the study area comprised approximately 34.2
percent of the total population within that area, whereas “Hispanic” populations within
the Ventura County portion of the study area were proportionately much lower,
comprising 33.4 percent of the total population.
In general, as of 2000, the racial and ethnic compositions within Santa Barbara and
Ventura counties showed similar trends to those seen in the area studied for this analysis.
When comparing the study area with the surrounding region, “White” populations in
Santa Barbara and Ventura counties accounted for 72.7 and 69.9 percent, respectively, of
the total population. Other single-race categories such as “Asian” or “Black or African
American” populations were again much lower regionally, but were proportionately
higher when compared with the study area.
As of 2000, the “Hispanic” population within the study area was slightly higher than the
region, comprising 40.8 percent of the total population, while populations within Santa
Barbara and Ventura Counties were 34.2 percent and 33.4 percent, respectively. Minority
populations within Santa Barbara and Ventura counties, which comprised 43.1 and 43.2
percent, respectively, of the total population, were similar to that of the study area, at 46.2
percent.
44 IS/EA VEN-SB US101 HOV Project