LOMPOC

city, Santa Barbara county, southwestern California, U.S. The city lies along the Santa Ynez River in the coastal Lompoc Valley. It was founded (1874) as a farming community by the California Immigrant Union, which bought and subdivided the Ranchos Lompoc (Chumash Indian: shell mound) and Misin Vieja. It now has a diversified economy based on oil production (since 1904), the mining and processing of diatomite, the flower-seed market of the valley (with an annual festival), and the vast aerospace complex at Vandenberg Air Force Base (immediately northwest). Mission La Purisima Concepcin State Historic Park, including a restored Franciscan mission (1787), is 3 miles (5 km) northeast. Inc. 1888. Pop. (1990) city, 37,649; Santa BarbaraSanta MariaLompoc MSA, 369,608; (1994 est.) city, 41,516; Santa BarbaraSanta MariaLompoc MSA, 380,495.