About My Town
A LOOK AT VENTURA COUNTY INCLUDING OXNARD, VENTURA & SANTA PAULA
The County:
It doesn’t take long to discover the charms of Ventura County. A quick drive along the coast and through the countryside reveals beautiful beaches, some of the richest agricultural land on earth, snow-capped mountains and green lush communities. And approximately 750,000 residents enjoy the charms of living in the county.
Ventura County is bordered by 43 miles of sunny beaches and is surrounded by miles of state and national parks, protecting the natural environment for all types of recreational use. The county covers 1,873 square miles, including 43 miles of shoreline, bordered by the Pacific Ocean on the southwest, Los Angeles County on the southeast, Kern County on the north and Santa Barbara on the west. The Las Prades National Forest encompasses most of the northern half of the county and Lakes Castias and Piru are at each end of the county. Public beaches encircle 7.48 miles along the county’s shoreline and state beach parks covers 411 acres.
Western Ventura County has two major military bases: Point Mugu Naval Air Station and Port Hueneme Naval Construction Battalion Center. There are five incorporated cities (Camarillo, Fillmore, Ojai, Santa Paula, Ventura and Simi Valley) and numerous smaller communities. To the east are Newbury Park, Thousand Oaks and Oak Park. Communities bordering Ventura County include Westlake Village, Agoura Hills, Calabasa and Canoga Park.
Residents enjoy a lifestyle that is the envy of other Californians, combining a wonderful climate, multitude of recreational opportunities, family values and an expanding economy.
Business Strengths: 
The convenience of Ventura’s location is one of the more attractiveaspects for businesses. The proximity to the vast marketplace of Los Angeles makes the county perfect for companies that need access to a large metropolitan area, while Port Hueneme Harbor is the fourth busiest port in the state, a gateway to the world.
While oil provided the initial economic boom, agriculture has always provided business stability to the area. In recent years, numerous national and international corporations have moved their headquarters and operations into the county, including Bugle Boy, Kinkos and Dole.
Patagonia has made the Working Mother Magazine’s list of “100 Best Companies for Working Mothers” for ten consecutive years. Other companies that made the list include GTE Corp., which has its regional offices in Thousand Oaks, and Imation Corp., which has a manufacturing facility in Camarillo.
Ventura County ranks sixth in high tech jobs in the state, with 65 technology jobs per 1,000 workers, ahead of such cities as Los Angeles and San Francisco. Moorpark, Simi Valley and Thousand Oaks have emerged as nationally prominent cities for the high technology industry.
Transportation and Commuting:
Highways 1, 101, 118, and 126 lead into and out of Ventura County. Highways 1 and 101 are the main routes to Los Angeles on the south and to Santa Barbara on the north. Highway 118 connects with the San Fernando Valley and Los Angeles to the east and Highway 126 to Santa Clarita and Interstate 5 to the east. Routes 33 and 150 lead to Ojai and the Las Padres National Forest to the north. Driving to favorite locations in Los Angeles and Southern California can be reached within an hour or two. Neighboring Santa Barbara County and the Central Coast are also a short drive from Ventura.
Driving one’s own car is the most convenient way to get around in Ventura County. However, there are alternate ways to travel if one does not own a car. An extensive transportation system includes freeways, rail lines, bus lines, and airports, with Port Hueneme the only deepwater harbor between Los Angeles and San Francisco.
Metrolink Commuter Rail transportation to downtown Los Angeles and beyond goes as far north as Oxnard, with stations in Camarillo, Moorpark, and Simi Valley. Amtrak operates daily passenger service with its major station in Oxnard, and connecting stations in Camarillo, Moorpark, Simi Valley and Ventura. The Ventura County Railroad serves the industrial areas of Oxnard, Port Hueneme and the U.S. Navy Construction Battalion Center.
The Ventura County Airport in Oxnard is served by two airlines and provides eight round trips to Los Angeles daily. General aviation service is available at the Camarillo and Santa Paula airports.
The area transit systems and taxi services offer an alternative to automobiles, some having curb-to-curb van service by reservation and fixed transit bus routes. The South Coast Area Transit provides bus service to Ventura, Oxnard, Port Hueneme, Ojai, Santa Paula and the unincorporated areas of the county. The Great American Stageline provides shuttle service to and from L.A. International Airport and Burbank Airport. The Greyhound Bus Line has a terminal in downtown Ventura, providing transportation to Los Angeles and Santa Barbara where transfers can be made to destinations beyond.
Climate and Weather
Weather is in the Ventura news more than some people might imagine. Yes, the coastal moisture keeps evenings cool, and the mild ocean breezes cool the coastal villages.
The coastal area’s Mediterranean climate boasts an average annual temperature of 74.2 degrees. There are actually six different micro-climates, ranging from the mild temperatures along the coast to the temperate valleys and harsh snow-topped mountains at 8,831 feet above sea level.
City of Ventura
First of all, the real name of the city is San Buenaventura, a title officially bestowed in 1866 -- which is Spanish for "city of good fortune." The name San Buenaventura derives from the Catholic mission established here in 1782 by Father Junipero Serra. The original mission, chapel, and grounds have all been beautifully restored and maintained, as has the downtown Old Historic District that surrounds it.
Even though the city only takes up 21 square miles, it is the hub of the county. The city is centrally located 65 miles northwest of Los Angeles and 25 miles southeast of Santa Barbara via Highway 101 (aka the Ventura Freeway). It is 364 miles south of San Francisco.
With a population of 109,000, Ventura is well known for its beaches, shopping, arts, agriculture and strong economic base, which is diversified among public and private industry, education, health care and agriculture.
The most fascinating statistic that we discovered while researching Ventura was the fact that the population of the town has quadrupled in the last two decades. So - in 1980 or so there were just 22,000 people in the city! That's a testament to the town's quality as a place to live and work. (Information provided by Ventura.com)
City of Oxnard
Imagine a quiet, seaside town on the Pacific, where pristine stretches of coastline provide the perfect setting for sunset-watching or a sunrise stroll. An eclectic assortment of beachfront homes afford breathtaking views. Life is peaceful here without being too isolating. You've got access to all of the modern conveniences you need, and should you desire a taste of big-city life, Los Angeles is within easy driving distance. Or, if you'd like a change of scenery without the congestion of L.A., just head in the opposite direction; you'll soon arrive in Santa Barbara, one of California's loveliest cities. (Information provided by the City of Oxnard)
City of Santa Paula
Santa Paula was founded in 1875. The City of Santa Paula is nestled among miles of lemon, orange, and avocado orchards in the Santa Clarita River Valley.
Nestled between two mountain ridges, and with a present population still under 30,000 as well as year round an almost perfect climate (daily average 70°F), it is easy to see why Santa Paula is considered the ideal place to live, work, and play. In essence, Santa Paula still represents what a small town in Southern California was meant to be--a community with clean air, friendly people, an unsurpassed naturally beautiful setting, and room to grow.
Only 12 miles away from the City of Ventura, county seat of Ventura County, and the Pacific Ocean coast line, Santa Paula is strategically connected by land, air, and sea to major consumer and industrial markets.
To the West via the 101 Fwy, Santa Barbara is only 40 miles away; and to the South via Fwy 101 or Fwy 5, is LAX and the Los Angeles basin (70 miles) and Orange County (95 miles). The easy access provided by Hwy 126 to major California freeway systems makes it possible for Santa Paula business establishments to do business conveniently with any part of California or beyond. (Information provided by the Santa Paula Chamber of Commerce)
