117-761: The Carnegie Art Museum is a public art museum owned by the City of Oxnard, California in the building originally occupied by the Oxnard Public Library . The Neo-Classical building, located adjacent to Oxnard's Plaza Park, opened in 1907 as the Oxnard Public Library and was converted into an art museum in 1986. In July 1971, it became the first building in Ventura County and the first Carnegie library in California to be listed on
234-493: A US state in 1850. At about the same time, the area was settled by American farmers, who cultivated barley and lima beans. Henry T. Oxnard , founder of Moorhead, Minnesota -based American Crystal Sugar Company who operated a successful sugar beet factory with his three brothers (Benjamin, James, and Robert) in Chino, California , was enticed to build a $ 2 million factory on the plain inland from Port Hueneme . Shortly after
351-578: A city excessively burdened by multiple sources of pollution. Two of the power plants use ocean water cooling. The Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) has categorized much of Oxnard in the top 10 percent of ZIP codes most negatively impacted by pollution in the state. In May 2015, the Oxnard City Council unanimously voted to extend the city moratorium on power plant construction. This moratorium extension occurred due to NRG/Southern California Edison's proposal, also called
468-475: A considerable range in climate because of differences in topography between one part of the county and another. Rainfall is limited in summer and crops have to be irrigated. The average annual temperature is near 60 °F at low elevations near the ocean, in the 50s over most of the northern two-thirds of the county, and less than 45 °F in the Topatopa Mountains . The annual range in temperature
585-537: A favorable climate, is considered one of the most fertile areas in the world." In 1995, SOAR (Save Open Space and Agricultural Resources) was initiated by farmers, ranchers, and citizens of Ventura County to keep land in the Oxnard Plain from development. The Oxnard Plain is well known for its strawberries . According to the USDA , Oxnard is California's largest strawberry producer, supplying about one-third of
702-423: A female householder with no husband present, 4,043 (8.1%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 3,316 (6.7%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships and 395 (0.8%) same-sex married couples or partnerships . 7,090 households (14.2%) were individuals, and 2,665 (5.4%) had someone who was 65 or older living alone. The average household size was 3.95. There were 39,996 families (80.3% of all households);
819-467: A household in the city was $ 48,603, and the median income for a family was $ 49,150. Males had a median income of $ 30,643 versus $ 25,381 for females. The per capita income for the city was $ 15,288. About 11.4% of families and 15.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.4% of those under age 18 and 8.8% of those age 65 or over. The economy of Oxnard includes defense , international trade , agriculture, manufacturing, and tourism. Oxnard
936-426: A household in the county was $ 59,666, and the median income for a family was $ 65,285. Males had a median income of $ 45,310, versus $ 32,216 for females. The per capita income for the county was $ 24,600. About 6.4% of families and 9.2% of the population were below the poverty line , including 11.6% of those under age 18 and 6.3% of those aged 65 or over. According to an updated 2005 US Census, median household income
1053-470: A large swath of agricultural land is fully developed into a business park by late 2021, it is estimated that up to 8,700 jobs will be created in the area. An Amazon fulfillment center opened in 2022 that serves Ventura, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo counties. "The areas studied showed a high percentage of Group I soils, primarily located on the relatively flat Oxnard Plain . The Oxnard Plain , because of these high-quality agricultural soils, coupled with
1170-853: A majority-Latino city, the Ku Klux Klan , which historically had a weak presence in Ventura County, unsuccessfully tried to form a chapter in Oxnard . In June 2004, the Oxnard Police Department and the Ventura County Sheriff imposed a gang injunction over a 6.6-square-mile (17 km ) area of the central district of the city , to restrict gang activity. The injunction was upheld in the Ventura County Superior Court and made
1287-586: A minimum of 600 feet (180 m) from schools or daycare centers. A special-use permit was approved for a retail store in an Oxnard Shores neighborhood shopping center in February 2022 amidst organized opposition from the neighborhood. The first dispensary in the city opened in the downtown area in December 2022. Oxnard cultural institutions include the Carnegie Art Museum , founded in 1907 as
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#17327932145181404-587: A permanent law in 2005. A similar injunction was imposed in September 2006 over a 4.26-square-mile (11.0 km ) area of the south side of the city. Prohibited activities include associating with other known gang members, witness intimidation , possessing firearms or using gang gestures . Since then, court decisions have made adding people to the civil orders more stringent, stemming from lawsuits in Los Angeles and Orange counties. Judges determined that it
1521-459: A population of Chinese, Japanese, and Mexican laborers and enough commerce to merit the designation of a town. The Oxnard brothers, who never lived in their namesake city, sold the Chino and the giant red-brick Oxnard factory in 1899 for nearly $ 4 million. The Oxnard factory, with its landmark twin smokestacks, operated from August 19, 1899, until October 26, 1959. Factory operations were interrupted in
1638-619: A small regional airport, Oxnard Airport (OXR). The town also has significant connections to the nearby oil fields Oxnard Oil Field and the West Montalvo Oil Field . The high density of oil, industry, and agricultural activities around the city, has led to several environmental issues . Oxnard's population was 202,063 in 2020, and is largely Latino. It is the most populous city in the Oxnard–Thousand Oaks–Ventura, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area . Before
1755-556: Is a county located in the southern part of the U.S. state of California . As of the 2020 census , the population was 843,843. The largest city is Oxnard , and the county seat is the city of Ventura . Ventura County comprises the Oxnard–Thousand Oaks–Ventura, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is part of the Greater Los Angeles area (Los Angeles–Long Beach, CA Combined Statistical Area). It
1872-399: Is a combination of neighborhoods and urban development focused on the downtown, coastline, and harbor areas. The city's main land uses are industrial, residential, commercial, and open space. One and two-story buildings characterize the city. The two tallest buildings in the county are in the northern part of the city at Topa Financial Plaza. The fourteen-floor high-rise was built in 1973, and
1989-647: Is a manufacturing center in the Greater Los Angeles Area . The Port of Hueneme is the only deep-harbor commercial port between Los Angeles and San Francisco and moves trade within the Pacific Rim economies. Companies utilizing the Port include Del Monte Foods , Chiquita , BMW , Land Rover , and Jaguar . Other industries include finance, transportation, the high tech industry, and energy, particularly petroleum. Two large active oil fields underlie
2106-805: Is a well-known birding area. The beach historically contained marshes, salt flats, sloughs, and lagoons, but surrounding agriculture and industry have drained, filled, and degraded the beach and wetlands. A dune-transition zone-marsh system is still along much of the beach. The 2010 United States Census reported that Oxnard had a population of 197,899. The population density was 7,358 inhabitants per square mile (2,841/km ). The racial makeup of Oxnard included 95,346 (48.2%) White , 5,771 (2.9%) African American , 2,953 (1.5%) Native American , 14,550 (7.4%) Asian , 658 (0.3%) Pacific Islander , 69,527 (35.1%) from other races , and 9,094 (4.6%) from two or more races. In addition, 145,551 people (73.5%) were Hispanic or Latino of any race. Non-Hispanic Whites were 14.9% of
2223-794: Is also considered the southernmost county along the California Central Coast . Two of the Channel Islands are part of the county: Anacapa Island , which is the most visited island in Channel Islands National Park , and San Nicolas Island . Ventura County was historically inhabited by the Chumash people , who also settled much of Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo Counties, with their presence dating back 10,000–12,000 years. The Chumash were hunter-gatherers , fishermen, and also traders with
2340-517: Is between 70 °F and 80 °F on the Coastal Plain and as much as 100 °F in the interior. For July, the average maximum temperature is between 70 °F and 80 °F on the Coastal Plain but exceeds 90 °F in the upper part of the Ventura- and Cuyama River Valleys. For January, the average minimum temperature is near 40 °F on the coast but in the lower 30s and upper 20s in
2457-543: Is expended here and in Watsonville and Salinas . Economically significant insects include the Greenhouse Whitefly ( Trialeurodes vaporariorum ). In 2018, 80% of the voters approved a cannabis tax. The city council adopted a "go slow" approach upon the legalization of recreational cannabis in California. Companies must be licensed by the local agency and the state to grow, test, or sell cannabis and
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#17327932145182574-724: Is home to the Petit Playhouse and the Elite Theatre Company. The Oxnard Performing Arts and Convention Center is home to the New West Symphony . The Gottfried Maulhardt/Albert Pfeiler Farm site is an historic farm park. Oxnard also has the Oxnard Independent Film Festival and the annual Channel Islands Tall Ships Festival. The Herzog Winery is based in Oxnard along with other wine tasting rooms. During late July,
2691-526: Is in greenbelts between the cities. Because of this, its private low-key location, its country feel, and its proximity to Los Angeles, the Conejo Valley area has become a very attractive place to live. Like most areas of Ventura County, it once had relatively inexpensive real estate, but prices have risen sharply. For example, real estate in Newbury Park has increased in price by more than 250% in
2808-505: Is known for its steep coastal terrain with little beach access, nearby County Line Beach in the south coast community of Solromar is part of the fabled Malibu coastline. Ventura County has plenty of other surf spots along the coast including the notable surf spot, Rincon Point , on the Santa Barbara County-line. The Channel Islands in Ventura County are Anacapa and San Nicholas Islands . Ventura County has
2925-715: Is on a tectonically active plate since most of Coastal California is near the boundaries between the Pacific and North American Plates. The San Andreas Fault , which demarcates this boundary, is about 40 miles away. One active fault that transverses Oxnard is the Oak Ridge Fault , which straddles the Santa Clara River Valley westward from the Santa Susana Mountains , crosses the Oxnard Plain through Oxnard, and extends into
3042-422: Is small, conserving water and obtaining water from additional sources outside of Ventura County are vital concerns. The climate, though mostly mild and dry, varies because of the variations in topography through for instance differences in elevation and physical geography. The Santa Clara River is the principal waterway. Lake Casitas , an artificial reservoir, is the largest body of water. The highest peaks in
3159-594: Is the most populous city in Ventura County and the 22nd-most-populous city in California. Incorporated in 1903, Oxnard lies approximately 60 miles (97 km) northwest of downtown Los Angeles . It is at the western edge of the fertile Oxnard Plain , adjacent to agricultural fields with strawberries, lima beans and other vegetable crops. Oxnard is also a major transportation hub in Southern California , with Amtrak , Union Pacific , Metrolink , Greyhound , and Intercalifornias stopping there. It also has
3276-566: The Chumash Wilderness in the northernmost portion, adjacent to Kern County , as well as the large Sespe Wilderness and portions of both the Dick Smith Wilderness and Matilija Wilderness (both of these protected areas straddle the line with Santa Barbara County). All of the wilderness areas are within the jurisdiction of Los Padres National Forest. The coastal plain was formed by the deposition of sediments from
3393-692: The Mojave , Yokuts , and Tongva Indians. The Chumash are also known for their rock paintings and for their great basketry. Chumash Indian Museum in Thousand Oaks has several reconstructed Chumash houses ('apa) and there are several Chumash pictographs in the county, including the Burro Flats Painted Cave in Simi Valley. The plank canoe, called a tomol in Chumash , was important to their way of life. Canoe launching points on
3510-537: The National Register of Historic Places . In late 1904 Oxnard's first mayor, Richard B. Haydock, wrote a letter to Andrew Carnegie soliciting a donation to build a library in Oxnard. In February 1906, Carnegie offered to donate $ 10,000 toward the construction of a library if the City of Oxnard would furnish the site and agree to provide at least $ 1,000 per year to maintain it. By September 1906, construction
3627-526: The Oxnard Strike of 1903 . Oxnard was incorporated as a California city on June 30, 1903, and the public library was opened in 1907. Before and during World War II, the naval bases of Point Mugu and Port Hueneme were established in the area to take advantage of the only major navigable port on California's coast between the Port of Los Angeles and San Francisco Bay , and the bases in turn encouraged
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3744-607: The Santa Barbara Channel . The coastline is subject to inundation by a tsunami up to 23 feet in height. The fault has significantly contributed to seismic activity in the Oxnard region and beyond. The January 17, 1994, 6.7 M w Northridge earthquake is believed to have occurred in the Santa Clarita extension of the Oak Ridge Fault. Landslides and ridge-top shattering resulting from
3861-614: The Santa Clara River and from the streams of the Calleguas-Conejo drainage system. It has a mean elevation of fifty feet (15 m), but at points south of the Santa Clara River, the elevation is as much as 150 feet (46 m), and at points north of the river, as much as 300 feet (91 m). The coastal plain is generally known as the Oxnard Plain with the part that centers on Camarillo lying east of
3978-634: The U.S. 101 corridor and sent population rising in West County cities as well. The largest population growth there has been in Camarillo, Oxnard, and Ventura. Development in the East County and along the US 101 corridor is rare today, because most of these cities, such as Thousand Oaks and Simi Valley, are approaching build-out. Although the area still has plenty of open space and land, almost all of it
4095-665: The Ventura River is a narrow valley north of Ventura . Ojai Valley is connected to the Ventura River Valley by San Antonio Creek. The small Upper Ojai Valley , east of Ojai Valley and 300 to 500 feet (91 to 152 m) higher, drains to the Ventura River on the west and to Santa Paula Creek on the east. Ojai and Upper Ojai Valleys are surrounded by mountains and are rich agricultural areas. The Ventura River flows south and drains an area of 226 square miles (590 km ). Over South Mountain and Oak Ridge, south of
4212-868: The Wagon Wheel Junction in 1947 (demolished 2011). He was also involved in the development of the high-rise towers at the Topa Financial Plaza, the Channel Islands Harbor, Casa Sirena Resort, the Esplanade Shopping Mall, Fisherman's Wharf, the Carriage Square Shopping Center, the Maritime Museum, and many other hotel, restaurant and retail projects. In the late 1970s, as the demographic shifted towards becoming
4329-516: The 1897 beet campaign, a new town emerged, now commemorated on the National Register of Historic Places as the Henry T. Oxnard Historic District . Oxnard intended to name the settlement after the Greek word for "sugar", zachari , but frustrated by bureaucracy, named it after himself. Given the potential growth of Oxnard, in the spring of 1898, a railroad station was built to service the plant, attracting
4446-516: The 1980s and 90s. On February 4, 2016, the Los Angeles Rams (an NFL team) selected Oxnard to be the site of their official team activities and minicamp. On February 19, 2016, the city of Oxnard and the Rams reached a tentative agreement to host official team activities and minicamps at River Ridge Playing Fields. On February 23, 2016, the Oxnard City Council voted unanimously 5–0 to allow
4563-517: The 21-floor high-rise was built in 1986. The city is surrounded by agricultural land and the Pacific Ocean, as well as the Santa Clara River . The city's primary development lies along Highway 101 and the other main roads. The Henry T. Oxnard Historic District is a 70-acre (28 ha) historic district that was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Oxnard. Covering approximately F and G Sts., between Palm and 5th Sts., in
4680-482: The Chumash language that was spoken in Ventura County was Ventureño . Several place names in the county has originated from Chumash, including Ojai , which means moon, and Simi Valley, which originates from the word Shimiyi and refers to the stringy, thread-like clouds that typify the region. Others include Point Mugu from the word Muwu (meaning "beach"), Saticoy from the word Sa'aqtiko'y (meaning "sheltered for
4797-636: The Conejo Grade. Geographically East County is the end of the Santa Monica Mountains , in which the Conejo Valley is located, and where there is a considerable increase in elevation. Communities which are considered to be in the East County are Thousand Oaks , Newbury Park , Lake Sherwood , Hidden Valley , Santa Rosa Valley, part of Westlake Village, Oak Park , Moorpark, and Simi Valley. A majority of these communities are in
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4914-476: The Conejo Valley. West County, which is everything west of the Conejo Grade, consists of communities such as Camarillo , Oxnard, Somis, Point Mugu, Port Hueneme, Ventura, Ojai, Santa Paula, and Fillmore. West County consists of some of the first developed cities in the county. The largest beach communities are located in West County on the coastline of the Channel Islands Harbor. Starting in
5031-703: The King of Spain was now owned by the nation of Mexico. By the 1830s, Mission San Buenaventura was in a decline with fewer neophytes joining the mission. The number of cattle owned by the mission dropped from first to fifteenth ranking in the California Missions. The missions were secularized by the Mexican government in 1834 . The Mexican governors began granting land rights to Mexican Californians, often retiring soldiers. By 1846, there were 19 rancho grants in Ventura County. In 1836, Mission San Buenaventura
5148-643: The Las Posas-Simi area from the Santa Rosa Valley and Tierra Rejada Valley. The intermountain valley of the Santa Clara River is the most prominent valley in the county and trends east–southwest. The Santa Clara River drains an area of 1,605 square miles (4,160 km ) and flows from its headwaters in Los Angeles to where it empties into the Pacific. Its principal tributaries are Piru Creek , Santa Paula Creek, and Sespe Creek . The valley of
5265-581: The Los Angeles Rams to use the River Ridge Playing Fields facility from April 18 to June 17 and the locker room space from March 28 until June 24. River Ridge Golf Course has two 18-hole courses flanked by housing developments. Oxnard lies within the 26th congressional district , which is represented by Democrat Julia Brownley . Ventura County Ventura County ( / v ɛ n ˈ t ʊər ə / )
5382-639: The Mission. Fremont and the Battalion continued south to sign the Treaty of Cahuenga with General Andrés Pico . The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo formally transferred California to the United States in 1848. By 1849, a constitution had been adopted for the California territory. The new Legislature met and divided the pending state into 27 counties. At the time, the area that would become Ventura County
5499-582: The Northridge earthquake were observed above Moorpark , a city 19.6 mi (31.5 km) east of Oxnard. Oxnard is the location of the National Weather Service forecast office that serves the Los Angeles area. The city is situated in a Mediterranean (dry subtropical ) climate zone, experiencing mild and relatively wet winters, and warm, dry summers, in a climate called the warm-summer Mediterranean climate . Onshore breezes keep
5616-528: The Oxnard Public Library by philanthropist Andrew Carnegie ; the Chandler Vintage Museum of Transportation and Wildlife , founded by the late Los Angeles Times publisher Otis Chandler , and the Channel Islands Maritime Museum . The Henry T. Oxnard Historic District is adjacent to the commercial downtown area and dates back to the founding of the city. Heritage Square in downtown is a collection of restored Victorian and Craftsman houses that Oxnard's pioneer ranching families once owned. Heritage Square
5733-409: The Oxnard–Thousand Oaks–Ventura, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area. The United States Census Bureau ranked the Oxnard–Thousand Oaks–Ventura, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area as the 66th most populous metropolitan statistical area of the United States as of July 1, 2012. The Office of Management and Budget has further designated the Oxnard–Thousand Oaks–Ventura, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area as
5850-421: The Puente Power Project, to construct a new fossil-fuel power plant. The following day, an NRG representative stated their case to replace the old power generation plant at Mandalay Beach with a new, hi-tech, much cleaner, and more efficient plant. Pesticides are used in the agricultural fields surrounding Oxnard, as the area is one of the nation's leading strawberry producers, with agriculture being one of
5967-419: The Revelon Slough is called Pleasant Valley. Most of the arable land in the county is found on the coastal plain. Small coastal mountains rim Ventura County on its landward side. They range in elevation from 50 feet (15 m) along the coast south of the coastal plain, to about 3,100 feet (940 m) in the Santa Monica Mountains. The Santa Ynez Mountains, the Topatopa Mountains , and the Piru Mountains make up
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#17327932145186084-466: The Santa Clara River, are Las Posas Valley and Simi Valley. Las Posas Valley extends eastward from the Oxnard Plain almost to Simi Valley, which is in the east end of Ventura County. The city of Simi Valley is bounded on the east by the Santa Susana Mountains and on the south by the Simi Hills. To the south, over the Camarillo- and Las Posas Hills, are Santa Rosa- and Tierra Rejada Valleys, which extend from Camarillo eastward for ten miles (16 km). In
6201-460: The Santa Clarita Valley killing as many as 600 people, destroying 1,240 homes and flooding 7,900 acres (32 km ) of land, devastating farm fields and orchards. This was the single largest disaster to strike Ventura County and the second largest, in terms of lives lost, in the state. Ventura County can be separated into two major parts, East County and West County, which are divided by the Conejo Grade . East County consists of all cities east of
6318-402: The State's annual strawberry volume. From the end of September through the end of October, strawberries are planted and harvesting occurs from mid-December through mid-July in Oxnard. The peak harvesting season in California runs from April through June when up to 10 million pint baskets of strawberries are shipped daily. The state of California supplies over 85 percent of U.S. strawberries, with
6435-400: The U.S. supplying a quarter of total world production of strawberries. The annual California Strawberry Festival features vendors as well as food items based on the fruit such as strawberry nachos, strawberry pizza, strawberry funnel cake, strawberry sundaes, and strawberry champagne. Pests that attack this crop are economically impactful in this town. Much of the research and effort
6552-546: The annual Salsa Festival is held in downtown Oxnard, featuring a salsa tasting tent, local bands, a large dance floor, local vendors, as well as many salsa based food vendors. The Dallas Cowboys currently hold their pre-season training camp at River Ridge Field in Oxnard. They also trained in Oxnard in 2001, 2004–06, 2008–10 and 2012–16 (the Cowboys trained at California Lutheran University in nearby Thousand Oaks in 1963–89). The New Orleans Saints trained in Oxnard in 2011. The Los Angeles Raiders trained at River Ridge in
6669-449: The annual total is more than thirty-three inches. The drier parts of the county get less than five inches of rain annually, and the higher and wetter parts get more than 60 inches annually. Measureable amounts of rainfall in Ventura County are reported on thirty to thirty-five days annually, and half an inch or more on six to twelve days annually. In the northern parts of Ventura County, snowfall averages five inches or more per year, and along
6786-424: The arrival of Europeans, the area was inhabited by Chumash Native Americans. The first European to encounter the area was explorer João Rodrigues Cabrilho , who claimed it for Spain in 1542. During the mission period , Mission San Buenaventura , established in 1782, used the area for raising cattle. Ranching began to take hold among Californio settlers, who lost their regional influence when California became
6903-652: The average family size was 4.20. The population was spread out, with 59,018 people (29.8%) under the age of 18, 23,913 people (12.1%) aged 18 to 24, 57,966 people (29.3%) aged 25 to 44, 40,584 people (20.5%) aged 45 to 64, and 16,418 people (8.3%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 29.9 years. For every 100 females, there were 103.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 102.4 males. There were 52,772 housing units at an average density of 1,962 units per square mile (758 units/km ), of which 27,760 (55.7%) were owner-occupied, and 22,037 (44.3%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate
7020-559: The building became the Carnegie Art Museum, owned and operated by the City of Oxnard. The museum had 37,000 visitors in 2002. It has hosted exhibitions by Southern California artists, including Michael Dvortcsak , Joyce Trieman , Frank Romero and Gronk . The Museum also has a permanent collection of more than 1,500 art and ethnographic objects, including over 600 paintings, drawings, prints and photographs primarily by 20th century California artists such as Arthur Beaumont , Colin Campbell Cooper , Millard Sheets , and Leo Politi . In 2019
7137-444: The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places , becoming the first site so designated in Ventura County . It also served as a facade for the " Dan August " television show starring Burt Reynolds in the early 1970s. Oxnard, California Oxnard ( / ˈ ɒ k s n ɑːr d / ) is a city in Ventura County in the U.S. state of California , United States. On California's Central Coast , it
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#17327932145187254-504: The census of 2000, there were 753,197 people, 243,234 households, and 182,911 families living in the county. The population density was 408 inhabitants per square mile (158/km ). There were 251,712 housing units at an average density of 136 per square mile (53/km ). The racial makeup of the county was 69.9% White , 5.4% Asian , 2.0% Black or African American , 0.9% Native American , 0.2% Pacific Islander , 17.7% from other races , and 3.9% from two or more races. About one third (33.4%) of
7371-662: The city and adjacent areas: the Oxnard Oil Field , east of the city along 5th Street, and the West Montalvo Oil Field along the coast to the west of town. Tenby Inc.'s Oxnard Refinery, on 5th Street east of Del Norte Avenue, processes oil from both fields. According to the city's 2024/25 Budget, the top employers in the city are: Some of the major companies headquartered in Oxnard are Haas Automation, Seminis , Raypak, Drum Workshop , Borla Performance, Boss Audio , Seed Beauty , and Robbins Auto Tops Procter & Gamble and Sysco maintain their West Coast operations in Oxnard. In October 2020, city officials announced that once
7488-427: The city considered laying off the employees at the museum and at the Oxnard Performing Arts Center and shuttering both facilities. At that time, city officials stated the closure was temporary and the museum could reopen when new downtown development began, which was expected within about three years. In February 1971, the Ventura County Cultural Heritage Board listed the building as a heritage landmark. In July 1971,
7605-405: The city limits to make way for agriculture and urban and industrial development. Also native to the region is the endangered Ventura Marsh Milkvetch , and the last self-sustaining population is in Oxnard in the center of an approved housing development. The Santa Clara River separates Oxnard and Ventura. Tributaries to this river include Sespe Creek , Piru Creek , and Castaic Creek . Oxnard
7722-777: The city limits to make way for development. Also native to the region is the endangered Ventura Marsh Milkvetch , with the last self-sustaining population in Oxnard being at the center of a housing development. The balance of wildlife in Oxnard is similar to most places in southern California, with small mammals being common in urbanized areas, like squirrels, raccoons, and skunks. Coyotes prey on these smaller mammals. Small birds and mammals can be food for stray, feral, and pet dogs and cats. Oxnard has more coastal power plants than any other city in California, with three fossil-fuel power plants providing energy for cities in both Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties. The California Environmental Protection Agency (CalEPA) has identified Oxnard as
7839-409: The city may authorize none or only some of these activities. Local governments may not prohibit adults who comply with state laws from growing, using, or transporting marijuana for personal use. After an initial ban, businesses focusing on manufacturing, testing, and distributing cannabis were allowed to apply for a permit to operate in July 2019. An initial process in May 2020 to select retail proposals
7956-425: The city remains officially known as San Buenaventura, it is more commonly referred to as Ventura. The rail line to Northern California originally went through Saugus , Fillmore and Santa Paula, providing a boom to those communities along the line. In 1905, Tunnel #26 was completed between Chatsworth and Corriganville near Simi Valley, shortening the rail route. At a length of 7,369 feet (2,246 m), Tunnel #26
8073-494: The city signed a contract with Thomas Carroll for $ 14,000 to build the dual-use facility. Carnegie agreed to pay half of the additional appropriation in addition to the original $ 10,000 gift. The final cost was $ 14,000 with Carnegie contributing $ 12,000 and the city contributing $ 2,000. The main floor was occupied by the library, and the basement was Oxnard's city hall. The library was opened on May 16, 1907. Five years later, Oxnard's library had "the largest circulation of any city of
8190-539: The city was 42.1% White , 3.8% African American , 1.3% Native American , 7.4% Asian , 0.4% Pacific Islander , 40.4% from other races , and 4.7% from two or more races. Two-thirds of the population (66.2%) was Hispanic or Latino of any race. There were 43,576 households, of which 46.1% had children under 18 living with them, 59.4% were married couples living together, 14.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 19.8% were non-families. 14.6% of all households comprised individuals, and 5.6% had someone who
8307-415: The city, the district includes 139 contributing buildings and includes homes mostly built before 1925. It contains abundant Craftsman architecturelCraftsmanand Revival architecture. Ormond Beach is a beach along the Oxnard coast. The beach, which stretches for two miles, adjoins the Ormond Wetlands, some farmland, and power plant remains. It covers the area in between Points Hueneme and Mugu and
8424-648: The communities of Oxnard cooler in summer and warmer in winter than those further inland. The average mean temperature is 61 °F (16 °C). The average minimum temperature is 52 °F (11 °C) and the average maximum temperature is 69 °F (21 °C). Generally, the weather is mild and dry, with around 300 days of sunshine annually. The average annual precipitation is 15.62 in (397 mm). The area contains several critical biological communities. Native plant communities include coastal sage scrub , California Annual Grassland, and Coastal Dune Scrub species; most native plants have been eliminated from within
8541-403: The county government is responsible for housing goals in unincorporated areas. Several affordable housing groups that are actively working on building housing for veterans and low income people have long waiting lists. Farmworker housing also has waiting lists though designated units continue to be built. The United States Office of Management and Budget has designated Ventura County as
8658-537: The county include Mount Pinos (8,831 ft; 2,692 m), Frazier Mountain (8,017 ft; 2,444 m), and Reyes Peak (7,525 ft; 2,294 m) in the Transverse Ranges . The uplands are well-timbered with coniferous forests , and receive plentiful snow in the winter. Mount Pinos is sacred to the Chumash Indians. It is known to them as Iwihinmu, and was considered to be the center of
8775-497: The county's total area is made up of national forest. Of the land outside of national forest land, approximately 59 percent is agricultural and 17.5 percent urban. North of Highway 126, the county is mountainous and mostly uninhabited, and contains some of the most unspoiled, rugged and inaccessible wilderness remaining in southern California. Most of this land is in the Los Padres National Forest , and includes
8892-497: The development of the defense-based aerospace and communications industries. In the mid-20th century, Oxnard grew and developed the areas outside the downtown area, including homes, industry, retail, and a new harbor named Channel Islands Harbor . Martin V. ("Bud") Smith (1916–2001) became an influential developer. Smith's first enterprise in 1941 was the Colonial House Restaurant (demolished 1988) and then
9009-653: The early intellectual founders of the Franciscan order. The town that grew up around the mission was originally named San Buenaventura (and retains the name officially), it has been known as Ventura since 1891. In the 1790s, the Spanish Governor of California began granting land concessions to Spanish Californians who were often retiring soldiers. These concessions were known as ranchos and consisted of thousands of acres of land that were used primarily as ranch land for livestock. In Ventura County, Rancho Simi
9126-484: The expedition, Father Juan Crespí , kept a journal of the trip and noted that the area was ideal for a mission to be established and it was a "good site to which nothing is lacking". Also on this expedition was Father Junípero Serra , who later founded a mission on this site. On March 31, 1782, the Mission San Buenaventura was founded by Father Serra. It is named after Saint Bonaventure , one of
9243-506: The fire caused over $ 2.176 billion (2018 USD) in damages, including more than $ 204.5 million in suppression costs, becoming the seventh-most destructive wildfire in state history. The agriculture industry suffered at least $ 171 million in losses due to the Thomas Fire. Southern California Edison paid the county over $ 11 million in claims related to damages and costs since its equipment was likely associated with one ignition point of
9360-419: The fire near Santa Paula. According to the U.S. Census Bureau , the county has a total area of 2,208 square miles (5,720 km ), of which 1,843 square miles (4,770 km ) is land and 365 square miles (950 km ) (16.5%) is water. Parts of the county are on the Oxnard Plain which includes the cities of Oxnard , Camarillo , Port Hueneme and much of Ventura . Other cities and communities lie in
9477-488: The first high school opening in 1890. Other towns were being established in the county. A plan for Hueneme (later Port Hueneme) was recorded in 1874, and Santa Paula 's plan was recorded in 1875. Along the banks of the Santa Clara River, the township of New Jerusalem (which would eventually be named El Rio ) was founded in 1875 by the owner of general store named Simon Cohen who became its first postmaster and banker in 1882. The community of Nordhoff (later renamed Ojai )
9594-575: The hills north of Ventura, was producing 90,000 barrels (14,000 m ) of oil a day, with annual production of over 1.5 million barrels. More oil fields came online in the 1920s and 1930s, with the Rincon field , the second largest, in 1927, and the adjacent San Miguelito in 1931. In the early hours of the morning of March 12–13, 1928, the St. Francis Dam collapsed, sending nearly 12,500 million U.S. gallons (47 gigaliters) of water rushing through
9711-677: The hills south of Santa Rosa Valley is the broad Conejo Valley. Santa Rosa Valley, Conejo Valley, Simi Valley, and Tierra Rejada Valley are drained by Calleguas Creek and its principal tributary, Conejo Creek. These creeks originate in the Santa Susana and Santa Monica Mountains . The county's diverse 43-mile (69 km) coastline features a variety of terrain. There are many State beaches: Emma Wood , San Buenaventura , McGrath , and Mandalay State Beach . Other beaches include Channel Islands Beach , Solimar Beach , Oxnard Beach Park , and Silver Strand Beach . While Point Mugu State Park
9828-602: The intermountain valleys of the Transverse Range. The Santa Clara River Valley is the most prominent valley, while other valleys include Conejo Valley , Simi Valley , Santa Rosa Valley , Tierra Rejada Valley and Las Posas Valley. Other parts of the county are on small coastal mountains, such as the Santa Ynez Mountains , Simi Hills , Santa Monica Mountains and the Piru Mountains. Most of
9945-486: The last 10 years. The Thomas Fire was a massive wildfire that affected Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties, and one of multiple wildfires that ignited in Southern California in December 2017. It burned approximately 281,893 acres (440 sq mi; 114,078 ha), becoming the largest wildfire in modern California history , before it was fully contained on January 12, 2018. The Thomas Fire destroyed at least 1,063 structures, while damaging 280 others; and
10062-617: The lingering smell in the dirt to uncover artifacts that showed heavy utilization by mission inhabitants, Indians, early settlers and Spanish and Mexican soldiers. The Mexican–American War began in 1846 but its effect was not felt in Ventura County until 1847. In January of that year, Captain John C. Frémont led the California Battalion into San Buenaventura to find that the Europeans had fled, leaving only Native Americans in
10179-481: The mainland for trade with the Chumash of the Channel Islands were located at the mouth of the Ventura River , Mugu Lagoon and Point Hueneme. This has led to speculations among archeologists of whether the Chumash could have had a pre-historic contact with Polynesians . According to diachronic linguistics , certain words such as tomolo'o (canoe) could be related to Polynesian languages . The dialect of
10296-703: The mid-20th century, there was a large growth in population in the East County, moving from the San Fernando Valley in Los Angeles and out into the Conejo and Simi Valleys. Part of the Conejo Valley is situated in Los Angeles County . This part consists of Calabasas , Hidden Hills , Agoura Hills , Agoura , and Westlake Village . The other half of the Conejo Valley, which belongs to Ventura County, consists of Lake Sherwood , Hidden Valley , Oak Park , Thousand Oaks , and Newbury Park , which
10413-689: The northern border and Mount Pinos, more than twenty inches. Automobile emissions account for most of the air pollution . Other sources include chemical plants , gasoline stations , paint and cleaning products . Rivers in Ventura County include: The 2010 United States Census reported that Ventura County had a population of 823,318. The racial makeup of Ventura County was 565,804 (68.7%) White , 15,163 (1.8%) African American , 8,068 (1.0%) Native American , 55,446 (6.7%) Asian , 1,643 (0.2%) Pacific Islander , 140,253 (17.0%) from other races , and 36,941 (4.5%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 331,567 persons (40.3%). As of
10530-805: The northern boundary of the coastal plain, the Santa Susana Mountains are alongside the eastern boundary of the county, and the Simi Hills and the Santa Monica Mountains are along the southern border with Los Angeles County . South Mountain and Oak Ridge are low and long mountains that separate Santa Clara Valley from the Las Posas Valley and Simi Valley . The Camarillo Hills and the Las Posas Hills extend from Camarillo to Simi Valley and separate
10647-481: The northern parts of Ventura County. No temperature data are available for the highest point in the county, Mount Pinos . The length of the growing season ranges more than 300 days near the coast to less than 175 days in the coldest part in northern Ventura County. In both the northern and southern ends of the county, the annual precipitation totals between ten and fifteen inches. In the Topatopa Mountains,
10764-406: The petroleum products under Ventura County but none were financially successful, and the oil speculators eventually changed from oil to land development. In 1913, oil exploration began in earnest, with Ralph Lloyd obtaining the financial support of veteran oil man Joseph B. Dabney. Their first well, named "Lloyd No. 1", was started on January 20, 1914. The well struck oil at 2,558 feet (780 m) but
10881-433: The population in 2010, compared to 42.6% in 1980. The Census reported that 196,465 people (99.3% of the population) lived in households, 932 (0.5%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 502 (0.3%) were institutionalized. There were 49,797 households, out of which 25,794 (51.8%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 28,319 (56.9%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 7,634 (15.3%) had
10998-537: The population is Hispanic or Latino of any race. 9.8% were of German, 7.7% English and 7.1% Irish ancestry according to Census 2000 . 67.1% spoke English, 26.2% Spanish and 1.5% Tagalog as their first language. There were 243,234 households, of which 39.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.5% were married couples living together, 10.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.8% were non-families. 18.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.4% had someone living alone who
11115-543: The population of Ventura County lives in the southern portion of the county. The major population centers are the Oxnard Plain and the Simi and Conejo Valleys. In local media, the county is usually split between the eastern portion, generally associated with the San Fernando Valley , and the western portion, often referred to as “Oxnard-Ventura". To the east is Los Angeles County . Because the total amount of precipitation
11232-458: The sixth class in the State." In 1923, the library was expanded with the opening of a new three-story addition on the east side of the building, allowing the library to expand its holdings to 20,000 books. The structure continued to serve as Oxnard's city hall until 1949 and as the Oxnard Public Library until 1963. In March 1963, the Oxnard Public Library moved to a new location, and the building
11349-607: The top contributors to Oxnard's economy. Strawberries depend on large applications of fumigants containing pesticides. The Center for Health Journalism reported four ZIP codes with the highest pesticide use in the state clustered around Oxnard. The historical architectural styles of Oxnard ranch family homes are Victorian era, Italian style, and Carpenter Gothic . In the Henry T. Oxnard Historic District , there are five Prairie School and eight Tudor Revival homes. The district includes Mission/Spanish Revival , Bungalow/craftsman , Colonial Revival , and other architecture. Oxnard
11466-471: The town of San Buenaventura was incorporated, becoming the first officially recognized town in what would become Ventura County. On January 1, 1873, Ventura County was officially split from Santa Barbara County, bringing a flurry of change. That same year, a courthouse and wharf were built in San Buenaventura. A bank was opened and the first public library was created. The school system grew, with
11583-407: The train stop. That community, now bearing the name of the factory shortened to the one word train stop Oxnard, has become the largest city in Ventura County. Oil has been known in Ventura County since before the arrival of the Europeans, as the native Chumash people used tar from natural seeps as a sealant and waterproofing for baskets and canoes. In the 1860s, several attempts were made to harvest
11700-538: The universe; being the highest peak in the vicinity, it has unimpeded views in three directions. The USDA Economic Research Service rated Ventura County the most desirable county to live in the 48 contiguous states, using six metrics of climate ("mild, sunny winters, temperate summers, low humidity"), topographic variation, and access to water, "that reflect environmental qualities most people prefer." There are 555,953 acres (224,986 ha) outside of national forest land in Ventura County, which means that 53 percent of
11817-404: The way for development westward. The communities that have seen the most substantial development are Calabasas, Hidden Hills, Agoura Hills, Westlake Village, Thousand Oaks, and Newbury Park. The neighboring East County area of Simi Valley saw its already considerable population of nearly 60,000 inhabitants in 1970 grow to over 100,000 over the following two decades. Development moved farther down
11934-540: The wind"), and Sespe Creek from the word S'eqp'e (meaning "kneecap"). In October 1542, the expedition led by Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo anchored in an inlet near Point Mugu ; its members were the first Europeans to arrive in the area that would become Ventura County. Active occupation of California by Spain began in 1769. Gaspar de Portolà led a military expedition by land from San Diego to Monterey , passing through Ventura County in August of that year. A priest with
12051-591: Was $ 66,859, while the mean was $ 85,032. Per capita income was up to $ 29,634, making it the 6th wealthiest county in California. Ventura County typically has limited housing inventory, making it a consistently expensive location in Southern California, where it is usually the third-most-expensive county behind Orange and Los Angeles counties. As of March 2018 , the county was not on track to meet its state-mandated housing goals. Individual cities are responsible for meeting their assigned housing goals, while
12168-500: Was 1.8%; the rental vacancy rate was 3.7%. 107,482 people (54.3% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units, and 88,983 (45.0%) lived in rental housing units. As of the census of 2000, there were 170,358 people, 43,576 households, and 34,947 families residing in the city. The population density was 6,729.7 inhabitants per square mile (2,598.4/km ). There were 45,166 housing units at an average density of 1,784.2 units per square mile (688.9 units/km ). The racial makeup of
12285-439: Was 65 or older living alone. The average household size was 3.85 and the average family size was 4.16 In the city, the population was spread out, with 31.8% under 18, 11.8% from 18 to 24, 31.0% from 25 to 44, 17.3% from 45 to 64, and 8.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 29 years. For every 100 females, there were 104.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 104.0 males. The median income for
12402-448: Was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.04 and the average family size was 3.46. In the county, the population was spread out, with 28.4% under the age of 18, 9.0% from 18 to 24, 30.7% from 25 to 44, 21.7% from 45 to 64, and 10.2% who were 65 or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.5 males. The median income for
12519-399: Was challenged by unsuccessful applicants. After revising the city ordinance, the council decided in September 2020 to allow ten retail licences to be issued. A social equity component to maximize the ability for communities of color to benefit from the new industry as owners and investors and managers and employees as allowed by state law was not included. The city requires dispensaries to be
12636-587: Was destroyed when it went wild. Other wells met a similar fate, until 1916, when a deal was struck with the Shell Oil Company . 1916 was the year that the large South Mountain Oil Field was discovered; other deals followed with General Petroleum in 1917 and Associated Oil Company in 1920. At its peak, the largest oil field in the county, the Ventura Avenue oilfield , discovered in 1919 in
12753-480: Was formerly an unincorporated area that is now the most westerly part of Thousand Oaks. Many working-class people migrated to this area during the 1960s and 1970s out of East and Central Los Angeles . As a result, there was a large growth in population into the Conejo Valley and into Ventura County through the U.S. Route 101 corridor. Making the U.S. 101 a full freeway in the 1960s, and the expansions that followed, helped make commuting to Los Angeles easier and opened
12870-573: Was granted in 1795 and Rancho El Conejo in 1802. Fernando Tico was granted Ojai and part of Ventura by Gov. Alvarado. In 1822, California was notified of Mexico's independence from Spain and the Governor of California , the Junta, the military in Monterey and the priests and neophytes at Mission San Buenaventura swore allegiance to Mexico on April 11, 1822. California land that had been vested in
12987-454: Was started in 1874. Bardsdale , Fillmore , Piru , and Montalvo were established in 1887. 1892 saw Simi (later Simi Valley), Somis , Saticoy , and Moorpark . Oxnard was a latecomer, not being established until 1898. The Southern Pacific Railroad laid tracks through San Buenaventura in 1887. For convenience in printing their timetables, Southern Pacific shortened San Buenaventura to Ventura. The Post Office soon followed suit. While
13104-507: Was the longest tunnel ever constructed in its day. This tunnel joined to the railroad spur coming the other direction from Montalvo through Camarillo, Moorpark and Simi Valley, making the contemporary main line used today. One stop along the way, at a 90-degree turn, was at a sugar beet processing factory. The factory bore the name of its absentee owners, the Oxnard Brothers. A small community of farm and factory workers grew near
13221-416: Was the southern part of Santa Barbara County . The 1860s brought many changes to the area. A drought caused many of the ranchos to experience financial difficulties and most were divided, sub-divided and sold. Large sections of land were bought by eastern capitalists based on favorable reports of petroleum deposits. A United States Post Office was opened at Mission San Buenaventura in 1861. On April 1, 1866,
13338-535: Was transferred from the Church to a secular administrator. The natives who had been working at the mission gradually left to work on the ranchos. By 1839, only 300 Indians were left at the Mission and it slipped into neglect. Several outhouses dating back to the 1800s were discovered in July 2007, at a site that had been cleared to prepare for development. The area proved to be a treasure trove for archaeologists who braved
13455-663: Was unconstitutional for people to be added to a gang injunction without a due process hearing. As a result of budget cuts due to the COVID-19 pandemic , the Oxnard police stopped maintaining and enforcing the injunction in 2020. Oxnard is located on the Oxnard Plain, an area with fertile soil. With its beaches, dunes, wetlands, creeks, and the Santa Clara River , the area contains several critical biological communities. Native plant communities include: coastal sage scrub , California Annual Grassland, and Coastal Dune Scrub species; however, most native plants have been eliminated from within
13572-535: Was underway. Mayor Haydock selected the Greek Neo-Classical architecture with Doric columns for the new library, which was designed by Los Angeles architect Franklin Burnham . Carnegie initially gave $ 10,000 toward construction of the library, but as the plans were drawn, the city decided to build a more expensive building that could also house the city's municipal offices and city hall. In July 1906,
13689-760: Was used between 1963 and 1975 by the Oxnard Convention and Visitors Bureau and the Chamber of Commerce. In 1977, the city received a $ 133,000 federal grant to restore the building, which re-opened on August 16, 1980, as the Carnegie Cultural Arts Center, which was the home of the Art Club of Oxnard, the Oxnard Historical Society Museum and the audiovisual portion of the Oxnard Public Library. In 1986,
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