Santa Margarita

Nestled in the foothills of the Santa Lucia Mountains, Santa Margarita is a quiet historic bedroom community. A stroll around Santa Margarita reminds you of American small towns everywhere.

Santa Margarita was used by the missionaries of Mission San Luis Obispo before 1790, who built an asistencia, or branch chapel in the area before 1830. The rancho was granted to Joaquin Estrada on September 27, 1841. The post office, established as a ranch post office on April 9, 1867, was discontinued on January 15, 1871, and restablished on January 8, 1875. The town, post office, and school district all take their name from the mission rancho. The School district was known as the Tassajara district when it was formed in 1888 and changed its name to Santa Margarita in 1897.

Proud of their Spanish heritage, Santa Margarita holds an annual Days of the Dons celebration every year in September.
In addition to the historic sites that surround Santa Margarita, there is fishing, swimming, camping, paintball games, and a BMX track just to name a few. For more information you can call the Atascadero Chamber of Commerce (805) 466-2044.