The average household size was 2.57. There were 2,621 (6.5%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 371 (0.9%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. During the post–World War II economic expansion, the community grew easterly, building detached single-family homes over the rich agricultural land created by the Santa Clara River at the edge of the Oxnard Plain. The uplands are well-timbered with coniferous forests, and receive plentiful snow in the winter. San Miguel Chapel was the first outpost and center of operations while the first Mission San Buenaventura was being constructed. Not easily accessible, Ventura was not a target of immigrants, and remained quiet and rural. Known faults in California (and scientists continue to discover new ones) Select your county from the dropdown menu above to learn more about California earthquake risk and faults near you. The Ventura County Sheriff provides court protection, county jail administration, and patrol for the unincorporated areas of the county plus contracted police services for the incorporated cities of Thousand Oaks, Fillmore, Camarillo, Moorpark, and Ojai. U.S. Department of Agriculture (C. Robert Elford). Reclaimed marshland was subdivided in 1925 and houses were built in fits of development interrupted by years of economic depression, war, and coastal floods (in 1937 and 1962). The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2010 census of Ventura County. The flood reached Montalvo (a settlement that is now a neighborhood of Ventura) about 5:30 a.m., almost two miles (3 km) wide and traveling at a speed of 5 mph (8.0 km/h) per hour. The United States Office of Management and Budget has designated Ventura County as the Oxnard–Thousand Oaks–Ventura, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area. These creeks originate in the Santa Susana and Santa Monica Mountains.[56]. VACE is a member agency of the Ventura County Adult Education Consortium (VCAEC), a collaborative of regional educational providers with the goal of expanding and improving opportunities for adult learners. [20][21] The Mission was rebuilt and functions as a parish church. The Ventura Ranch KOA is a 76-acre campground nestled at the foot of Ventura County's highest mountain, Topa Topa. 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. 1916 was the year the large South Mountain Oil Field was discovered, and other deals followed with General Petroleum in 1917 and Associated Oil Company in 1920. [56][57] State law says local governments may not prohibit adults from growing, using or transporting marijuana for personal use but they can prohibit companies from growing, testing, and selling cannabis within their jurisdiction by licensing none or only some of these activities. He earned a BA in marketing and finance from California State University, Fullerton (CSUF) in 1978. At the Players Casino we are known for our friendly players and experienced staff, so come down and try your luck! Access to the hill is private property. Here's what's next", "These Ventura ponds are for the birds (and birders)", "Agency approves Parklands annexation in east Ventura", "'End of an era' in Montalvo, as sewer district prepares to hand off services", "Ventura launches campaign to promote film, television", "Two Trees: Look but don't touch (or hike near)", "Rest in peace, Two Tree; you will be missed but not forgotten", "Windy weather takes out one of Ventura's 'Two Trees, "Ventura Post Office "Agriculture and Industries of Ventura" – Ventura CA", "Ventura engaged in another costly battle in Pierpont neighborhood over sand", "Ventura garden harkens to historic woman's contributions to hybridize flowers", "Women who do things: Theodosia Burr Shepherd", "Ventura, Loreto discuss new sister city program during binational visit", Movies and televisions shows filmed in Ventura, Rancho El Rio de Santa Clara o la Colonia, cities with populations exceeding 100,000, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ventura,_California&oldid=1005544604, Incorporated cities and towns in California, Spanish mission settlements in North America, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles with unsourced statements from November 2020, Wikipedia articles with MusicBrainz area identifiers, Wikipedia articles with WORLDCATID identifiers, Srpskohrvatski / српскохрватски, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 8 February 2021, at 06:24. [85], Ventura County Law Library, located in the Ventura County Government Center, makes current legal resources available to judges, lawyers, government officials, and other users.[86]. Small coastal mountains rim Ventura County on its landward side. The highway is now known as the Ventura Freeway, but the original route through the town along Main Street has been designated El Camino Real, the historic pathway connecting the California missions. [34], The Southern Pacific Railroad laid tracks through San Buenaventura in 1887. The Family Law Self Help Center, also known as the Family Law Facilitator's (FLF) Office, is staffed by the Family Law Facilitator, attorneys, administrative staff and volunteers. European explorers encountered a Chumash village, referred to as Shisholop, here while traveling along the Pacific coast. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 3.12. For every 100 females, there were 96.9 males. Ventura provides water to its residents and some unincorporated areas near the city. Located adjacent to the Olivas Park Golf Course, the home is one of the most visited historic sites on the central Pacific Coast. Ventura College is a community college, part of the Ventura County Community College District. Ventura, officially San Buenaventura,[11] is the county seat of Ventura County, California, United States. [3] The largest city is Oxnard, and the county seat is the city of Ventura. [64] Other parts of the county are in California's 24th congressional district, represented by Democrat Salud Carbajal, California's 25th congressional district, represented by Republican Mike Garcia, and California's 30th congressional district, represented by Democrat Brad Sherman. Las Posas Valley extends eastward from the Oxnard Plain almost to Simi Valley, which is in the east end of Ventura County. The remaining cities and towns in the county have a Democratic plurality or majority on the voter rolls, while the unincorporated areas are split almost evenly between the parties. [101][102], The county became a major producer in the state for hemp after it was removed from a list of controlled substances along with other provisions of the Hemp Farming Act of 2018. [15] Archaeological research demonstrates that the Chumash people have deep roots in central and southern coastal regions of California, and has revealed artifacts from their culture. The plank canoe, called a tomol in Chumash, was important to their way of life. Routes. Water sources are Lake Casitas, the Ventura River, and groundwater. The median age was 39.0 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. This part consists of Calabasas, Hidden Hills, Agoura Hills, Agoura, and Westlake Village. 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. The Post Office soon followed suit. According to the City's 2016 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report,[52] the top employers in the city are: In 2009 the City of Ventura created Ventura Ventures Technology Center,[53] a business incubator with a high-tech focus. The winds swept into the Ventura area burning through hillside neighborhoods. Fish and Wildlife Service. The citrus farmers joined Sunkist Growers, Incorporated, the world's largest organization of citrus producers. The Santa Clara River forms the city's southerly boundary with the city limits reaching up to the beginning of the Santa Clara River Valley at the historic community of Saticoy.[41]. 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). Annual Estimates of the Population of Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Areas: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2012", "Table 2. rates. Development moved farther down the U.S. 101 corridor and sent population rising in West County cities as well. By the 1830s, Mission San Buenaventura was in a decline with fewer neophytes joining the mission. About 6.4% of families and 9.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.2% of those under age 18 and 5.3% of those age 65 or over. It was called 'Skatestreet Ventura'. Like most areas of Ventura County, it once had relatively inexpensive real estate, but prices have risen sharply. [18], 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.[19]. The Santa Clara River is the principal waterway. If you love to play 21st Century Blackjack and are in the Southern California area, the Players Casino is the place to get lucky! It has been a venue for concerts such as The Doors, Pearl Jam, Van Halen, X, Ray Charles, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Social Distortion, Bad Religion, Fugazi, Incubus, Tom Petty, They Might Be Giants, and Johnny Cash, as well as homegrown artists like KYLE, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy and Army of Freshmen.[58][59]. [105][104] Her seed and bulb business, the Theodosia B. Shepherd Company, is considered to be the foundation of the California seed industry and is listed as number 34 in the City of Ventura Historic Landmarks and Districts. The eco-designer Stewart+Brown has their factory just a few blocks from the ocean. National Geographic magazine compared the Mediterranean climate to the French Riviera. The median income for a household in the city was $52,297, and the other income for a family was $60,466. After this, many developers and residents came to Camarillo for the favorable weather. As of the census[48] of 2000, there were 100,916 people, 38,524 households, and 25,233 families residing in the city. An active wharf for 64 years, it was reinforced with steel pilings after 420 feet (130 m) of the pier was destroyed by a storm in 1995. The theater has hosted many internationally notable bands such as Gregg Allman, John Prine, Glenn Frey, The Doors, Devo, Joe Walsh, King's X, Van Halen, X, Paramore, She Wants Revenge, Pennywise, Red Hot Chili Peppers, DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince, The Game, DJ Quik, Lamb of God, Social Distortion, Bad Religion, Thrice, Avenged Sevenfold, Fugazi, Incubus, Tom Petty, America, They Might Be Giants, and Modest Mouse, as well as local artists such as Army of Freshmen, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, and Bruce Kimmell. Parts of the county are on the Oxnard Plain which includes the cities of Oxnard, Camarillo, Port Hueneme and much of Ventura. .mw-parser-output .geo-default,.mw-parser-output .geo-dms,.mw-parser-output .geo-dec{display:inline}.mw-parser-output .geo-nondefault,.mw-parser-output .geo-multi-punct{display:none}.mw-parser-output .longitude,.mw-parser-output .latitude{white-space:nowrap}34°16′51″N 119°17′41″W / 34.280823°N 119.294599°W / 34.280823; -119.294599. The largest beach communities are located in West County on the coastline of the Channel Islands Harbor. In addition, six cities within the county operate their own city libraries that are independent of the county system: Camarillo, Moorpark, Oxnard, Santa Paula, Simi Valley, and Thousand Oaks. Downtown Ventura hosts the Majestic Ventura Theater, an early 20th century theatre, which is situated about two blocks away from city hall. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000", "2010 Census P.L. At its peak, the largest oil field in the county, the Ventura Avenue oilfield, discovered in 1919 in the hills north of Ventura, was producing 90,000 barrels (14,000 m3) of oil a day, with annual production of over a million and a half barrels. This route, which was widened and improved by 1969, is known as the Ventura Freeway, which directly links Ventura with the rest of the Los Angeles–Long Beach, CA Combined Statistical Area. [21] It is named after Saint Bonaventure, one of the early intellectual founders of the Franciscan Order. 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. 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. Percentage of registered voters with respect to total population. On March 31, 1782, the Mission San Buenaventura was founded by Father Serra. [13][14] According to diachronic linguistics, certain words such as tomolo’o (canoe) could be related to Polynesian languages. The Westside of Ventura is a large subdivision of neighborhoods along Ventura Avenue. 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 East Ventura Station, in the historic Montalvo neighborhood, serves as the western terminus of the Ventura County Line of the Metrolink commuter rail system, which extends to Los Angeles' Union Station. The Ventura River flows south and drains an area of 226 square miles. The per capita income for the county was $24,600. Other cities and communities lie in the intermountain valleys of the Transverse Range. [50] Research and resource company The Barna Group is located near downtown Ventura. Downtown Ventura is home to the Mission San Buenaventura, museums, galleries, dining, and shopping. [69], Ventura County is home to several of the safest communities in the U.S., including Thousand Oaks, Simi Valley, Newbury Park, and Moorpark. [42] The Ventura Fault is capable of an 8.0 earthquake and a local tsunami up to 23 feet in height. The city of Simi Valley is bounded on the east by the Santa Susana Mountains and on the south by the Simi Hills. After the ceremony, the license/certificate is returned to the Ventura County Recorder’s Office. Vast holdings were later acquired by Easterners, including railroad magnate Thomas A. Scott. Ventura has a Mediterranean climate, typical of most coastal California cities, with the sea breeze off the Pacific Ocean moderating temperatures. Mark Lorenzen is the chief of the Ventura County Fire Department. Pierpont Bay has widely varying architectural styles, a small retail district Seaward Avenue, newer residents' demands for increased municipal maintenance, and continuing disputes about the proper regulation of the neighborhood's public beaches.[103]. Fremont and the Battalion continued south to sign the Treaty of Cahuenga with General Andrés Pico. [28], By 1849, a constitution had been adopted for the California territory. Ventura County Adult Education Consortium. The Santa Ynez Mountains, the Topatopa Mountains, and the Piru Mountains make up 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. Frank Churchill, a composer for Disney cartoons, started as a pianist in Ventura. The district has five high schools: Ventura High in the midtown area, Buena High in east Ventura, Foothill Technology High School, Pacific High School[73] and El Camino High School, an independent study program located on the Ventura College campus. Its principal tributaries are Piru Creek, Santa Paula Creek, and Sespe Creek. [12] They witnessed the ocean navigation skill of the native people and their use of the abundant local resources from sea and land. By 1839, only 300 Indians were left at the Mission and it slipped into neglect. For example, real estate in Newbury Park has increased in price by over 250% in the last 10 years. Under the legalization of the sale and distribution of cannabis in California, voters passed Measure I in 2020, which included a general cannabis business tax of up to $10 per square foot of canopy for cultivators, 8% gross receipts for retailers and 4% for all other business types. Development in the East County and along the US 101 corridor is rare today, because most of these cities are master-planned cities, such as Thousand Oaks and Simi Valley, and are approaching build-out. Two of the California Channel Islands are part of the county: Anacapa Island, which is the most visited island in Channel Islands National Park,[7] and San Nicolas Island. Gaspar de Portolà led a military expedition by land from San Diego to Monterey, passing through Ventura County in August of that year. [24], Ventura Pier was built in 1872 at a cost of $45,000 and was the longest wooden Pier in California. One stop along the way, at a 90 degree turn, was at a sugar beet processing factory. ", "Ventura OKs $200 million-plus plan to remove wastewater from estuary. The population density was 408 people per square mile (158/km2).