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| continue to migrate to the area. Home building has become a major industry throughout the county as more and more people call the county home.
Ventura County Cities Camarillo Average Rainfall: 13.4 inches The community boasts a strong, diversified economy based on high-tech, manufacturing and bio-medical industries. City government maintains a business-friendly climate to nurture small companies with assistance programs offered by the Gold Coast Small Business Development Center and Camarillo Chamber of Commerce. Bargain shoppers enjoy the 365,000-square-foot, 42-acre Camarillo Premiums Outlets Center, home to 120 upscale retailers. A mile-long Old Town section pays homage to the city’s heritage. Old Town invites browsing in antique and collectible shops. Cafes line Ventura Boulevard and a Farmers’ Market is held every Saturday morning. Cultural and recreational opportunities abound in this upscale community. There are 18 neighborhood parks and almost 30 miles designated as bicycle routes. Five excellent golf courses provide some of the most challenging games around. The Ventura County Community Colleges offer two-year associate degrees at nearby campuses, and the four-year California State University at Channel Islands, located on the former grounds of Camarillo State Hospital, opened in 2000. The university provides a variety of bachelor’s and master’s degree programs. The city is also home to the renowned St. John’s Seminary College. The Pleasant Valley Historical Society hosts Camarillo Fiesta Days annually to preserve the heritage of Camarillo’s past and honors old-time residents by conferring the title of Don and Dona. The historical society’s museum features an exclusive collection of artifacts, along with the beautiful Charles Horn Botanical Gardens. The Confederate Air Force Southern California Wing Aviation Museum displays vintage aircraft and aviation memorabilia, and its members fly the restored aircraft to air shows throughout the country. The Performing Arts Pavilion at Constitution Park near City Hall is the setting for various outdoor concerts, while the Camarillo Community Theatre and Marquis Dinner Theatre present live performances of musicals and dramas. Fillmore Six miles inland from Santa Paula, Fillmore calls itself “The Last Best Small Town in Southern California.” This agricultural community of more than 14,000 residents is nestled among groves of oranges and avocados in the beautiful Heritage Valley, situated on State Route 126, roughly half-way between Ventura and Santa Clarita. Visitors walking through downtown will find a “turn of the century” feel in its quaint and classic buildings, many of which are enhanced by water fountains and rose gardens. Featured attractions include wine-tasting at the Giessinger Winery, and browsing through antique shops and the Fillmore Historical Museum in the original Southern Pacific Depot. The Towne Theatre, with its 1930s-style single screen, was built in 1916 and has been restored with a “fly-away” screen so the theater can feature live performances. Sunday excursions on the Fillmore & Western Railroad carry passengers through orange groves and large agricultural fields surrounding the area. The city is the gateway to the Sespe Wildlife Refuge and Wilderness Area of the Los Padres National Forest. Founded by Southern Pacific Railroad in 1888, the city was named after Jerome A. Fillmore, the general superintendent for the railroad. The first commercial orange grove was planted in Fillmore in 1889. Fillmore Citrus Fruit Association, which became Sunkist Growers, was organized by 100 Southern California orange growers in 1897. Moorpark Nestled in a fertile valley surrounded by the Topa Topa Mountains, Moorpark is an agricultural town that originated in the late 1800s with a population of 30, a post office and several stores. The largest of the Spanish land grants, the 113,000-acre Rancho Simi was given by the United States to Don Jose Noriega in 1865. Because of droughts and hard times the land was subdivided, and Robert Poindexter bought the portion that was to become Moorpark. The community was named for the Moorpark apricot that grew in abundance in the area when Poindexter plotted the city streets and planted the stately pepper trees in the downtown area. The completion of the Southern Pacific railway route through Moorpark and Oxnard in 1904 produced an immediate growth spurt in the community. The rich soil supported a great variety of produce, including apricot and walnut orchards, and raising poultry continues to play an important role in the local agricultural economy. In later years developers built numerous home tracts and in many cases the surrounding land became too valuable to farm. With the development of the 23 Freeway and 118 Freeway, residents have easier access to the Conejo Valley to the south and San Fernando Valley to the east. Moorpark prides itself on a desirable balance of agriculture and high-tech companies, with family-oriented neighborhoods. The city’s record as one of the safest cities in the county and the schools’ outstanding academic achievements reinforce its reputation as a place where families can live and work. Following the rapid growth of the 1970s and ‘80s, residents voted to incorporate Moorpark in 1983. The city covers an area of 12.44 square miles, which includes 14 parks for recreational use. Moorpark College, a public institution, provides an accredited two-year program in academics and vocational studies. Unique to the college is the Exotic Animal & Training Program, where students prepare for careers in wildlife centers, zoos and entertainment fields. The Animal Training Zoo is open most weekends to the public. Moorpark College physics and astronomy departments boast the county’s only public observatory. A historical downtown area called High Street attracts shoppers to step back in time and stroll among old-fashioned shops. Every fall the community celebrates its heritage with the “Country Days Festival.” Ojai East of Ventura along scenic Highway 33 lies the town of Ojai, immortalized as the mythical Shangri-La in the 1937 film “Lost Horizon.” Ojai Valley is secluded within mountains on all sides and spans approximately 10 miles by 3 miles. The city is about two hours north of Los Angeles and inland from Ventura. The name Ojai comes from a Chumash Indian word meaning “moon” or “nest.” The natural beauty and mild climate has done much to nourish its reputation as a “nest,” a place to restore and rejuvenate the mind and body in the valley’s mineral hot springs and spas. In addition, the town is renowned as an international center for the arts. It attracts famous artists, writers, sculptors, weavers, musicians and artisans from around the world. The Ojai Center for the Arts is the oldest arts facility in the state, and the lovely Libbey Bowl features a world-class concert series. The town, as tourists find it today, was the vision of Edward J. Libby, a wealthy glass manufacturer from the Midwest who moved to the valley in 1914. That vision of “a dream city of soft harmonies, smooth flowing lines and warm colors” gave Ojai the dome tower above the downtown post office and its other architectural landmarks. The surrounding Topa Topa Mountains, Los Padres National Forest and Lake Casitas Recreation Area provide outstanding recreational opportunities. It is a wonderful place to embark for backpacking and hiking trips into the Los Padres National Forest, which makes up about half of Ventura County. Southeast of the community, the 2,700-acre Lake Casitas boasts excellent fresh water fishing, picnicking and camping. Smaller communities surrounding Ojai include Foster Park, Casitas Springs, Oak View and Mira Monte south on Route 33, Meiners Oaks and Wheeler Springs northwest, and Summit 10 miles northeast on Route 150.
Oxnard The largest city in Ventura County, Oxnard is a seaside community of about 190,000 residents that has a wide variety of attractions for both newcomers and tourists, residents and businesses alike: beautiful beaches, vast agricultural fields and a thriving business community. With miles of beaches, it is ideally situated just south of Ventura along Highway 101 and 62 miles north of Los Angeles. With a climate that’s nearly perfect – average temperatures range between 52 degrees minimum and 69.6 degrees – it’s no wonder that the city offers an array of outdoor activities such as hiking, biking, boating, tennis and golf. The Channel Islands Harbor, gateway to the Channel Islands, features all types of boating and water activities. The city also has fascinating museums. The Ventura Maritime Museum at Fisherman’s Wharf showcases an internationally known collection of maritime art and ship models dating from 1650 to the present, as well as local maritime history. The city also has two other famous museums: The Carnegie Art Museum housed in the neoclassical library building built in 1901 and the Gull Wings Children’s Museum featuring interactive hands-on displays and many more activities for children. The Carnegie Art Museum features changing exhibits by world-famous artists and photographers, along with displays that highlight local artists.
Oxnard has some of the richest agricultural land in the world. Renowned as “the Strawberry Capital,” Oxnard produces almost half of the state’s crop of strawberries and celebrates the crop with its annual “California Strawberry Festival” that attracts about 60,000 people a year. There they can taste every type of strawberry recipe imaginable. The city’s agricultural roots played a major role in the naming of the city. The name comes from the four Oxnard brothers who built a sugar beet factory in the area in the 1890s. A town quickly sprang up near the factory. Almost overnight businesses and residences appeared around the town square, called the “Plaza.” Schools and churches emerged almost as rapidly. The city of Oxnard was incorporated in 1903, taking its name from the Oxnard brothers who had founded the sugar beet factory. The center of the city’s downtown area can be found in the beautiful and historical buildings of Heritage Square. It is a place where history lives and architectural treasures are preserved — blocks of Victorian mansions, professional offices, specialty stores, restaurants, a community theater and a visitor center. Guided tours are conducted every Saturday, complete with presentations of living history, and a summer concert series is an annual highlight for listeners of all ages. These are just some of the many festivals and fairs that are held in Oxnard during the year. Others include the Christmas Parade of Lights in Channel Islands Harbor and a celebration of the whale migration. Performing arts also can be found in Oxnard, which is home to the Channel Islands Symphony Orchestra and the New West Symphony. The Performing Arts Center and the Petit Playhouse host a variety of entertainers and performers. Beach communities along the Oxnard coast include Hollywood Beach, Hollywood by the Sea and Silver Strand; northeast on Interstate 101 lies Nyeland Acres. Port Hueneme Just south of Oxnard, in the city of Port Hueneme is the Port of Hueneme, the only deep-water port between Los Angeles and San Francisco. The fourth busiest of the state’s 12 deep-water harbors, the port is the West Coast entry for luxury automobiles and agricultural imports from South America, among many other products. The defense industry, together with civilian support industries, is significant to Port Hueneme’s economy. It serves as headquarters for the Navy’s Construction Battalion Center home of the “Pacific Seabees.” USNCBC occupies more than half of the total land area of Port Hueneme. The Point Mugu Naval Air Station and the California Air National Guard are located just 6 miles southeast of Port Hueneme. These two commands add $251 million in economic impact to the area, as compared to $496 million attributed solely by USNCBC. There is much more to this diverse community of 22,500 people: spectacular beaches, a popular fishing pier, parks and affordable housing. Its annual birthday party, the Hueneme Beach Festival, attracts thousands to the beachfront for surf, ski and paddleboard races and the International Iron Man competition. The city is one of the county’s oldest communities, first known as Wynema when the county was part of Santa Barbara County. The name is pronounced “Why-ne-me” a Chumash Indian word meaning “resting place.” The Chumash would travel from Ventura to Port Hueneme where they would rest before embarking on journeys to the Channel Islands. When Thomas R. Bard laid out the community in 1872, he called it Hueneme, and the name was changed to Port Hueneme when the port was built in 1939. As an integral part of Oxnard, Port Hueneme is easily accessible from the Pacific Coast Highway 1 and Freeway 101. Santa Paula Called the “Citrus Capital of the World,” Santa Paula is a comfortable small town with a fascinating history, located in the Santa Clara Valley along State Route 126. The state’s first commercial orange groves were planted in Santa Paula in 1872, and agriculture remains the area’s most important industry. After oil was discovered there in 1880, three companies merged to form Union Oil (Unocal). Today the Santa Paula California Union Oil Museum on Main Street commemorates the birthplace of the oil industry. This community of some 29,000 residents features a quaint Main Street downtown, a splendid collection of Victorian and Craftsman homes, and the famous live Santa Paula Theater Center. The center sponsors the October Ghost Walk, and December’s Holiday Home Tours. It is known as the Antique Plane Capital of the World, with an extensive collection of antique and experimental planes at the Santa Paula airport. As for the town’s name, it is believed Santa Paula was named after a noble Roman matron. Simi Valley The city of Simi Valley is located along the southeastern border of Ventura County and the San Fernando Valley. The city’s name comes from a Chumash Indian word meaning “valley of the winds.” As a part of the Spanish land grant, the Old Simi Adobe was stopover site between the missions in the late 1700s, and it was later incorporated into the residence built by Robert Strathern and is now a historical landmark. The small agricultural community flourished until the 1940s when new housing tracts opened the land to buyers from Los Angeles. At that time Ray Corrigan’s movie ranch below Santa Susana Pass became location for hundreds of Western films and the television series “Little House on the Prairie.” Corriganville Park has been reopened to the public, offering four miles of trails that have posts marking where many of the Western films’ scenes were shot. The small-town atmosphere, lower taxes, affordable houses, clean air and mild climate have made the area one of the fastest-growing cities in the state. In the past 10 years, it has been ranked consistently by the FBI as one of the safest cities of its size in the United States. Outlook Magazine ranked Simi Valley as seventh in the state for business growth based on quality of life, educational opportunities, pro-business climate, labor pool and available infrastructure. The city has successfully blended the dynamics of a corporate business center with the warmth of a residential community. It is home to some major corporate employers: Boeing Rocketdyne, Countrywide Home Loans, Farmers Insurance regional office, Bugle Boy Industries, Dataproducts Corp., Seagate Technology and Standard Abrasives. Recent additions to the business community include a variety of Internet and technology companies, along with a number of manufacturing industries. Every year the Simi Valley Chamber of Commerce hosts the Street Fair, at which more than 100 businesses displays their wares to residents. The Simi Valley Cultural Arts Center includes a 240-seat theater that was converted from a historical Gothic church from the 1920s. In addition to 27 parks, camping and picnic areas, and extensive equestrian trails, Simi Valley has movie and live theaters, three golf courses, an ice skating rink and four swimming pools. The ice skating rink is home to the Ventura Mariners, a part of the Western States Hockey League. The area also has its own minor league football team, the Simi Valley Swarm, which plays in the Pacific Football League. At the top of the tourist attractions in Ventura County is the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum in Simi Valley. It was dedicated in 1991 and sits high atop a hill with a spectacular view of the surrounding countryside. It celebrates the former president’s life and presidency through photographs, memorabilia, a replica of the Oval Office and a section of the Berlin Wall. The next major display to open is the actual Boeing 707 aircraft that served as Air Force 1 for so many years. Thousand Oaks Just 39 miles west of Los Angeles and 20 minutes south of Ventura on Freeway 101, the upscale residential community of Thousand Oaks lies within the Conejo Valley, a picturesque mountain-rimmed plateau at the Ventura-Los Angeles County line. The city traces its roots to a Spanish grant that became known as the Conejo Valley (valley of the rabbits) and to the Janss family who developed the general plan for the community. In the 1920s crowds flocked to see Louis Goebel’s lions and other performing jungle animals at the lion farm later called Jungleland. When the residents voted for incorporation in 1964, they selected the name of Thousand Oaks for the new city, honoring the majestic oak trees in the area. In 1970 the city passed an ordinance to protect and preserve the centuries-old oak trees, and it has earned “Tree City USA” and “Trail City National Hall of Fame 1996” awards. In an effort to maintain its natural environment, more than 14,000 acres have been designated as open space to allow Thousand Oaks residents to enjoy the natural beauty. The city operates a golf course, 33 parks and ball fields, in addition to Wildwood Park. Today, it is a regional cultural center thanks to the 22-acre Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza. The performing arts center, completed in 1994, features the 1,800-seat Fred Kavli theatre and the 400-seat Janet and Ray Scherr Forum Theatre; it includes a six-level parking structure. Besides award-winning public schools, Thousand Oaks is the home of the first four-year university in Ventura County — California Lutheran University, which was founded in 1959 on a 290-acre campus. The Highway 101 corridor through Thousand Oaks and neighboring communities has benefited from the exodus of companies moving west from Los Angeles. Thousand Oaks was chosen to be one of two cities to first receive Americast, GTE’s new Media Ventures cable television service. It serves as the corporate and regional headquarters for Jafra Cosmetics, General Motors, General Telephone of California and Baxter Healthcare. Also located in the city are Wellpoint Health Network, one of the nation’s largest managed-care companies, and State Farm Insurance. According to Meyers Group Real Estate Information, the city is the most desired location for new home buyers among all of the cities in Ventura County because of its low-crime rating and the top academic achievement record of its schools. In the ranch-filled Hidden Valley, south of Thousand Oaks, is the new movie-star and millionaire residential mecca, Sherwood Valley. Developed by David Murdock, it maintains a peaceful country setting with gate-guarded privacy. Sherwood’s lake and 1,900 acres are sprinkled with sprawling mansions, country club and the famous Jack Nicklaus Championship Golf Course. Numerous celebrities have called Thousand Oaks and the larger Conejo Valley home, among them baseball hall-of-famer Sparky Anderson, Frankie Avalon, Amanda Bynes, NHL great Wayne Gretzky, Mariel Hemingway, wrestler Hulk Hogan, Martin Lawrence, Heather Lockyear, Mickey Rooney, Kurt Russell, Tom Selleck, Will Smith, Barbra Streisand, Tiger Woods and many others. Ventura A coastal community just an hour north of Los Angeles, the city of Ventura is indeed the “City of Good Fortune” with its surrounding mountains, miles of uncrowded beaches and mild climate. The city’s name comes from San Buenaventura (the Spanish Saint Bonaventura) to whom the Mission San Buenaventura was dedicated. However, it is assumed that the shorter name Ventura was more convenient than the longer one. Ventura developed at its own pace because of its early isolation from the southern part of the state. For most of the 103 years from incorporation to the completion of the Ventura Freeway in 1969, the community was difficult to get to from Los Angeles, 63 miles to the south of Ventura. The city was incorporated as a town by the California Legislature in 1866, and it adopted its own city charter in 1932. The 200-year-old Mission San Buenaventura may be a historical landmark that attracts hundreds of visitors, but the charming seaside town boasts many other historical and tourist sights. It is the home of the Ventura County Museum of History and Art, which depicts the history of the county in dioramas and exhibits; Albinger Archaeological Museum, which displays thousands of artifacts recovered at the site; and the 150-year-old Olivas Adobe, which was the main residence on the Rancho San Miguel. The San Buenaventura City Hall purchased and restored, in 1971, the former Ventura County Court House built in 1912. It is noted for its gleaming terra cotta exterior, copper-sheathed dome and elegant Italian marble foyer, and coffered ceilings. Fronting the building is a bronze replica of John Paol Kangas’ WPA statue of Father Junipero Serra, founder of the Mission San Buenaventura in 1782. In addition, residents and visitors enjoy the renovated downtown, featuring streets of antique stores, upscale restaurants and art galleries. Frequent festivals, guided tours and the colorful trolley add an extra touch of fun. The Erle Stanley Gardner tour (he began his Perry Mason mystery books in Ventura) is popular with many. Fourteen of the public schools have earned California Distinguished Awards and one middle school a National Distinguished School Award. In addition to Ventura Community College with an enrollment of 10,000, both University of California Santa Barbara and California State University Northridge have off-campus centers in Ventura, offering a variety of bachelor and master degrees. For its 102,300 residents, Ventura offers a strong business environment that has been enriched by the arrival of several international firms. Kinko’s, Patagonia and the Affinity Group have established their headquarters in the city. The Ventura County government offices located in the city is a major employer in the area, and the growing tourism industry has more than doubled in the past 10 years. Ventura’s museums, harbor and beaches help in attracting more than 1.5 million visitors a year. Ventura is naturally endowed with a host of opportunities for outdoor recreation: biking, bird-watching, camping, boating, surfing, snorkeling, fishing, horseback riding, skating, whale watching, sports, etc. And the city provides more than 30 public parks and beaches as well as Buenaventura Golf Course and Olivas Park Golf Course. Beach communities north of Ventura on Interstate 101 include La Conchita Del Mar, Seacliff, Faria Beach, Solimar Beach and Pierpoint Bay; other communities in the area include Montalvo, surrounded by East Ventura, and Saticoy east on State Route 126. Other Communities Agoura Hills Situated in the foothills of the Santa Monica Mountains, the city of Agoura Hills is actually located in Los Angeles County. Residents here enjoy oak-covered canyons, rolling hillsides and mild temperatures. Although it is only 40 miles from downtown Los Angeles, the city has the advantages of being a city while maintaining a friendly rural small-town atmosphere.
Bardsdale Bell Canyon Calabasas A major community along Freeway 101, Calabasas is also located in northwest Los Angeles County, about 25 miles from downtown Los Angeles, eight miles east of the Ventura County line. Calabasas is adjacent to Malibu, Topanga, Agoura Hills and Woodland Hills in the San Fernando Valley. During the 19th century Calabasas developed a reputation of being a wild and lawless town known for its one-day justice. With that “Wild West Legacy” linked to movie production, the city has renovated its old town center of western storefronts and wooden sidewalks. It is also known as Calabasas Junction, where a weekly Farmers’ Market replaces the general store. As the community entered the 20th century, its Old West look appeared in the movies and on television. The popular “M*A*S*H” television series was filmed in the local hills, and “Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman” was filmed at Paramount Ranch. Some believe that the name Calabasas is a Chumash translation of “where the geese fly,” as recorded at the San Fernando Mission around 1795. Others think the name’s origin was the Spanish word for pumpkins from the tale of a Basque farmer whose pumpkin-filled cart overturned while he was en route to Los Angeles. The city’s chamber of commerce celebrates this tradition with a big pumpkin festival every year. Calabasas has created a lifestyle that is admired around the nation, partially due to the region’s high-tech corridor. Although the city incorporated only a decade ago, the city is committed to accommodating the needs of the residential and business communities; it was rated by an L.A. Countywide study to be one of the most economical cities for operating a business. City business taxes, fees, licenses and utilities bills are very low compared to other areas. The new millennium was marked with a new 22,400-square-foot civic complex and library. Today, Calabasas is a city of master-planned communities that borders the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation area. Residents enjoy all types of outdoor activities. Calabasas is well known for its distinctive upscale European shopping and entertainment villages, the Commons at Calabasas and Parkway Calabasas Center. Another popular attraction is the new bicycle commuter route that connects to the cities of Woodland Hills and Thousand Oaks. Casa Conejo Casa Conejo can be found in a roughly square-shaped area within the city limits of Thousand Oaks. Its name appears to be fading from the geographic lexicon, as most people consider it to be a part of the Newbury Park section of the city. Casitas Springs Casitas Springs, as well as other rural residential areas such as Meiners Oaks, Mira Monte and Oak View are located along the Highway 33 corridor between Ventura and Ojai. They are in an unincorporated area and fall under the county’s supervisorial District 1. Channel Islands The U.S. Postal Service has developed the ZIP Code 93035 for what it calls Channel Islands, north of the Construction Battalion Center, south of East Wooley Road, west of Ventura Road and east of Victoria Avenue. Channel Islands National Park consists of nearly 25,000 acres, half of which are under the ocean’s surface and include the islands of San Miguel, Santa Rosa, Santa Cruz, Anacapa and Santa Barbara extending from Point Conception near Santa Barbara to just north of Los Angeles. It is one of four designated national marine sanctuaries that represent the largest federally protected marine area in the United States. With the islands’ isolation from the mainland, the marine sanctuary offers unspoiled beauty that is unmatched anywhere along the coast. Visitors can watch seals and sea lions play in the islands’ many inlets and bays and watch pelicans, cormorants, gulls and many other bird species as they play around the islands. The islands can be best visited by boat, but visitors can go to the popular Channel Islands National Park Visitor Center near the Ventura Harbor Village. It features a living tide pool, exhibits and a film on the islands. Also provided is information on tours and camping on the islands. El Rio El Rio, as well as nearby Del Norte and Nyeland Acres, are located about 7 miles east of Ventura and adjacent to the northern boundary of Oxnard. These unincorporated communities are in the county’s supervisorial District 5 and have a Municipal Advisory Council that makes recommendations to the county. The El Rio/Del Norte MAC meets the third Thursday of every month at 7 p.m. in the Rio School District Office, 3300 Cortez St., Oxnard. El Rio was the crossing place of the Santa Clara River and was founded by merchant Simon Cohn in 1875, although settlers had been in the area since 1868. Hidden Hills The city of Hidden Hills is nestled between the western foothills of the San Fernando Valley in Los Angeles County and the Ventura County line. The equestrian community covers 2 square miles and was founded by real estate developer A.E. Hanson in the late 1950s, becoming a city on Oct. 19, 1961. The nearly 2,000 residents enjoy a city that has preserved a country lifestyle that has nearly vanished from the surrounding communities of Southern California. The existence of white three-rail wooden fences, corrals, barns, natural rustic equestrian trails, only one school and one-third of a traditional, modern-day traffic signal tell visitors that this is a special place to live. Hidden Hills residents sponsor an annual fiesta, parade, marathon, horse events, tennis tournament and golf tournament to celebrate the community heritage. Hollywood Beach & Silver Strand Located 4 miles southwest of Oxnard, these beach and coastal communities were developed around the same period and named for movie and filming activities taking place at that time. They are served by the Channel Islands Beach Community Services District. The district office is located at 353 Santa Monica Drive, Oxnard; information: 985-6021. These areas are located in the county’s supervisorial District 5. La Conchita Located 11 miles northwest of Ventura, La Conchita is a small beach community along U.S. Highway 101 near the Ventura/Santa Barbara county line. The community falls within the county’s supervisorial District 1. The entire town consists of two streets parallel to the beach, with 10 short perpendicular roads that end at the base of Rincon Mountain. La Conchita has been the site of some disastrous mudslides, the most recent one in 2005, when mud buried four blocks of the town, killing 10 people and injuring 14 others. Lake Sherwood Located 3 miles south of Thousand Oaks, this rural residential area is characterized by ranches and exclusive homes. It was named after the area was used in the filming of the movie “Robin Hood.” Leisure Village Nestled between the Pacific Ocean and beautiful rolling hills, Leisure Village is a gated senior community of 2,136 single-story all-electric homes. It is located in Camarillo, mid-way between Santa Barbara and Los Angeles, with easy access to the 101 Freeway. Construction of the homes began in 1973 and was completed in 1984. Residents enjoy a variety of activities within the village, including an Olympic-size swimming pool, golf, recreation center, courts for all types of sports, and planned excursions and trips. Behind the scenes, the village staff maintain the grounds, landscaping, homes and 24-hour security patrol. Lockwood Valley Located 6 miles northwest of Frazier Mountain in the Los Padres National Forest, Lockwood Valley is a remote residential pocket composed primarily of ranches. It falls within the county’s supervisorial District 3. Meiners Oaks Meiners Oaks is located in the heart of the Ojai Valley. Mira Monte Montalvo Located and totally surrounded by the eastern portion of Ventura, this residential pocket borders U.S. Highway 101. It falls within the county’s supervisorial District 1. Montalvo was named after the Spanish author Garcia Ordonez de Montalvo. The community’s ZIP Codes are 93003 and 93005.
Oak Park Piru Piru is the location of Lake Piru, one of Ventura County’s major recreational attractions. This region is a recreational paradise, offering camping, hiking, boating, water skiing, swimming, picnicking and fishing. Lake Piru is a 4-mile-long lake near Fillmore Fish Hatchery. Fishermen can cast their lines to hook the “catch of the day”: bass, catfish, crappie and bluegill. The Santa Clara River Valley offers a par-71 golf course. Near Santa Paula, a semi-private 18-hole course awaits golf enthusiasts. The community of Piru, most of which is visible just north of State Route 126, is located east of Fillmore. The community is undergoing a rare growth spurt. New tract homes have begun to spring up in this sleepy hamlet. Aside from Lake Piru, its most notable claim to fame is the Piru Mansion, originally built by the Cook family in the late 19th century and completely rebuilt from the foundation up by the Newhall family in the late 20th century. Piru has an advisory council that makes recommendations to the county. The council meets the third Wednesday at 7 p.m. at the Piru Community Center, Warring Park, 802 Orchard, Piru. Piru falls within the county’s supervisorial District 3. Pleasant Valley The Pleasant Valley Recreation and Park District is located in and around the city of Camarillo, approximately 10 miles inland from the Pacific Ocean. The district was formed in 1962 under the State Public Resources Code of California. The district serves an area of approximately 44 square miles and has grown from one park to 24 parks since its inception 35 years ago. Within the district, a variety of recreational facilities exists, including: swimming pools (indoor and outdoor), lighted ball fields, tennis courts, racquetball courts, a running track, children’s play equipment, picnic shelters, barbecues and much more. Point Mugu The Point Mugu Naval Air Station and the California Air National Guard are located just 6 miles southeast of Port Hueneme. These two commands add $251 million in economic impact to the area. The inhabited area of Point Mugu is the naval base. Mugu Lagoon is an important wetlands area. Saticoy Located 9 miles east of Ventura, this unincorporated area is a combination of residential and light industrial uses. The Saticoy Local Recreation Advisory Council meets the second Tuesday at 7 p.m. at the Saticoy Community Center, 11168 Violeta, Ventura. This area falls within the county’s supervisorial District 1. Somis Three miles northeast of Camarillo, off Highway 34, lies the rural village of Somis, famous for the Somis Nut House (candies, nuts, dried fruits and goodies) and its numerous roadside fruit and vegetable stands. It’s primarily and agricultural area, but is also home to a fire station, hardware store, market, post office and elementary school. It has no formal local government. Ventura Harbor Ventura Harbor offers unsurpassed attractions amid spectacular beauty. It is a spectacular setting of sail and power boats where people can stroll past myriad shops and restaurants. The place to start is the picturesque Ventura Harbor Village, located on Spinnaker Drive just off Harbor Drive. It embodies a Mediterranean-style seaside village featuring more than 40 shops and restaurants and a busy marina, along with boat rentals and sport fishing. Adjacent to the village are public beaches and a free public boat ramp, including Harbor Cove Beach that is considered to be the safest swimming beach, protected from strong currents by a jetty and a marina. The harbor is home to Channel Islands National Park comprised of five offshore islands. The park is the only natural life sanctuary of its kind in the United States, and it offers many types of excursions to the islands for diving, camping, kayaking, and hiking.
Westlake Village The city of Westlake Village, 38 miles west of downtown Los Angeles and 8 miles from the Pacific Ocean, is recognized as one of the nation’s finest areas to live, work and raise a family. It originated as a portion of a master-planned community that straddled the Ventura-Los Angeles county lines. The Ventura County section of Westlake Village was annexed into the city of Thousand Oaks in 1968 and 1971, but the Los Angeles side became today’s incorporated community of 8,508 residents. Today, both sides of Westlake Village, with an area population of nearly 30,000, identify as a single community, despite the county boundary that separates them. The wisdom of the master planners in preserving, protecting and enhancing the natural environment of the area is evident in the consistent growth and vitality of Westlake Village. Residents and businesses receive high-quality community services. The city government works closely with the Thousand Oaks-Westlake Village Chamber of Commerce in partnership to improve the Conejo Valley; and the city is developing a citywide integrated streetscape master plan for additional amenities such as fountains, landscaping and parks. The community is noted for its consistently low crime rate and outstanding schools earning “California Distinguished School” and national “Blue Ribbon” awards. There are a 150-acre lake, miles of equestrian and hiking trails, and numerous outdoor activities for all ages.
Westlake Village is located in the Highway 101 26-mile technology corridor of aerospace, electronics, defense and computer companies. Continued business growth is assured through fast-tracking of development requirements and a business-oriented city staff. Notes: Post Offices and ZIP Codes Worshiping in Ventura County |
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Outlook Magazine, a publication targeted toward chief executive officers, ranked Oxnard third among the California cities most suitable for relocating a business. The rating was based on workforce, quality of life, pro-business incentives, infrastructure, cost of living and natural resources.
Population: 106,744 (2007 estimate), 100,916 (2000 Census)
Agoura Hills features numerous equestrian, bicycle and jogging trails, along with a short drive to California’s famous beaches. The Santa Monica Mountains National Parks area offices are located in Agoura Hills, and the area provides a gateway to more than 500 miles of nature trails for hikers, backpackers, bikers, and campers. The area lies along the famous El Camino Real, the main roadway that the Chumash Indians first traveled and then the Franciscan Friars, and by the turn of the century it was used as a stage stop because of the nearby wells. In 1924 Ira and Leon Colodny purchased the George Lewis Ranch and divided it into 1-acre lots. The area became known as Picture City because it was used for backdrops for movies. Since incorporating in 1982, the city has seen remarkable growth through effective planning and economic development. The local schools in the Las Virgenes Unified School District are considered very desirable because of their outstanding record.
The Park’s Visitor Center at Ventura Harbor Village houses hands-on displays, video programs and information on the islands. A few miles to the north off Harbor Boulevard lies the San Buenaventura City Pier, which was completed in 1872 and was operated by the San Buenaventura Wharf Co. for passengers and freight during the city’s early days when it served a harbor of steamships waiting to load and unload. The wooden pier was renovated in 1993 to include restaurants, gift shops, a bait shop and fishing.
Historically, the Portola expedition searching for the best route from Ventura to the San Fernando Valley in 1770 camped at a Chumash village believed to be the site of Westlake Village. Father Juan Crespi named the village “el Triunfo del Nombre de Jesus,” or the Triumph in the Name of Jesus. In later years the beautiful hillside country became Spanish land grants, and in 1925 William Randolph Hearst bought the 12,000-acre Triunfo cattle ranch. From the 1920s the region served as the site for motion pictures and television productions; and the Las Turas Lake was renamed Lake Sherwood (see separate entry) after Douglas Fairbanks Sr. filmed “Robin Hood” there in 1921.ncorporated cities in Ventura County with the greatest population concentration, from highest to lowest, are Oxnard, Thousand Oaks, Simi Valley, Ventura, Camarillo, Moorpark, Santa Paula, Port Hueneme, Ojai and Fillmore. There are a number of smaller villages and rural residential communities scattered from the western coastal corridor to small pockets in the eastern, more mountainous areas of the county. Unincorporated communities include Bardsdale, Casa Conejo, Channel Islands Beach, El Rio, Faria Beach, La Conchita, Lake Sherwood, Meiners Oaks, Mira Monte, Newbury Park, Oak Park, Oak View, Piru, Point Mugu, Saticoy and Somis.
Residential Growth
Many of the communities that were built from these land grants grew into flourishing cities. However, each city in Ventura County has developed its own distinct personality in commerce and lifestyle. Santa Paula emerged as an oil boomtown, Oxnard grew around a large sugar beet factory, while Fillmore, Simi Valley, Moorpark and Camarillo flourished around agriculture. Thousand Oaks and Ojai were heralded as resort areas, and Port Hueneme became a premier fishing hub due to its deep-water harbor.
From the past to the present, each community in Ventura has contributed its unique character to the region while working to sustain the quality of life and economic strength vital to the county’s prosperity. Thousands of people reaching for fresher air to breathe and enough room to grow