A minority of residents in the 21st century are of Danish origin. The community attracts tourists from Nordic countries, and has been the subject of several Danish royal visits, most recently by Prince Henrik in 2011. The community began building Danish-themed architecture in 1947, and has since become a tourist destination.
In 1911, a new settlement was founded around the mission by a group of Danish Americans who purchased 9,000 acres (3,600 ha) of the surrounding Rancho San Carlos de Jonata, to establish a Danish community far from Midwestern winters. A small community grew up around the mission called 'Santa Inés' during the Mexican period, but it was largely abandoned after the American Conquest of California. Solvang's origins date back to 1804, when Mission Santa Inés was founded by the Spanish under Esteban Tápis. Solvang has been described as 'The Danish Capital of America'. Solvang was founded in 1911 and incorporated as a city on May 1, 1985. The population was 6,126 at the 2020 census, up from 5,245 at the 2010 census. Solvang ( / ˈ s ɒ l v æ ŋ/ Danish for 'sunny field') is a city in Santa Barbara County, California, United States.
