Santa Margarita, California

Santa Margarita, California
Downtown Santa Margarita, 2011
Santa Margarita, California
Location within the State of California
Coordinates: 35°23′22″N 120°36′29″W / 35.38944°N 120.60806°W / 35.38944; -120.60806
CountryUnited States
StateCalifornia
CountySan Luis Obispo
Area
 • Total
0.517 sq mi (1.340 km2)
 • Land0.517 sq mi (1.340 km2)
 • Water0 sq mi (0 km2)  0%
Elevation
1,014 ft (309 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
1,291
 • Density2,495/sq mi (963.4/km2)
Time zoneUTC-8 (Pacific (PST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-7 (PDT)
ZIP codes
93453
Area code805
GNIS feature ID2583128

Santa Margarita (Spanish for "St. Margaret") is an unincorporated community located in San Luis Obispo County, California. It was founded in 1889 near Cuesta Peak and San Luis Obispo along today's State Route 58. The town's name comes from the Mexican Alta California land grant of Rancho Santa Margarita. It is home to the Santa Margarita de Cortona Asistencia site. For statistical purposes, the United States Census Bureau has defined Santa Margarita as a census-designated place (CDP). The population was 1,291 at the 2020 census.