SafekipediaVentura County, California
Adapted from Wikipedia · Discoverer experience
Ventura County is a place in the southern part of the U.S. state of California. As of the 2020 census, the population was 843,843 people. The biggest city in the county is Oxnard, California, and the main city where important decisions are made is Ventura, California.
The county is part of the Oxnard–Thousand Oaks–Ventura, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area. This area is included in the larger Greater Los Angeles region, which means it is close to the big city of Los Angeles. Ventura County is also the southernmost county along the California Central Coast.
Two special islands, Anacapa Island and San Nicolas Island, belong to Ventura County. Anakapa Island is the most visited island in Channel Islands National Park, making it a popular spot for visitors.
History
Indigenous
Ventura County was home to the Chumash people, who lived there for thousands of years. They were skilled hunters, fishermen, and traders. The Chumash are famous for their beautiful rock paintings and baskets. You can see some of their rock paintings at places like the Burro Flats Painted Cave in Simi Valley. They used special canoes called tomol to travel along the coast.
Many place names in Ventura County come from the Chumash language. For example, Ojai means “moon,” and Simi Valley comes from a word meaning “stringy clouds.”
Spanish period
In 1542, the first Europeans arrived when an expedition led by Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo stopped near Point Mugu.
In 1769, a Spanish expedition passed through the area. In 1782, a mission named Mission San Buenaventura was founded by Father Junípero Serra. The town that grew around the mission is now called Ventura.
During this time, Spanish leaders gave out large pieces of land called ranchos to people, mostly for raising animals.
Mexican period
After Mexico won independence from Spain in 1822, California became part of Mexico. Mission San Buenaventura began to decline, and many of the Native people left. The Mexican government gave out more land grants, called ranchos.
American period
The Mexican–American War ended in 1848, and California became part of the United States. In 1873, Ventura County was officially created, separating from Santa Barbara County.
New towns began to appear, such as Hueneme, Santa Paula, and Oxnard. The Southern Pacific Railroad helped connect these towns.
Oil was discovered in the county in the early 1900s, bringing new growth and change.
Modern period
Ventura County has two main parts: East County and West County. East County includes places like Thousand Oaks and Simi Valley. West County includes Camarillo, Oxnard, and Ventura.
In the mid-20th century, many people moved from Los Angeles into East County, especially into the Conejo and Simi Valleys. This brought lots of new growth.
Thomas Fire
Main article: Thomas Fire
The Thomas Fire was a huge wildfire that burned in Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties in December 2017. It was one of the largest wildfires in California’s recent history, covering a big area and causing lots of damage to homes and farms. It was finally put out in January 2018.
Geography
Ventura County is located in southern California. It covers an area of 2,208 square miles, with 1,843 square miles of land and 365 square miles of water. The largest city is Oxnard, and the county seat is Ventura.
The county includes parts of the Oxnard Plain and several valleys such as the Santa Clara River Valley, Conejo Valley, and Simi Valley. It also features coastal mountains like the Santa Ynez Mountains and Simi Hills. Most people live in the southern part of the county, especially in the Oxnard Plain and the Simi and Conejo Valleys. The Santa Clara River is the main waterway, and Lake Casitas is the largest body of water. Mount Pinos is the highest peak and is important to the Chumash people. The climate varies due to the county's different elevations and landscapes. The county is considered one of the best places to live in the United States because of its mild climate and natural beauty.
Physical geography
Ventura County has 555,953 acres of land outside national forests, meaning 53 percent of the county is national forest. Outside these forests, about 59 percent of the land is used for farming, and 17.5 percent is urban areas. North of Highway 126, the land is mostly mountains and wilderness, including parts of the Los Padres National Forest and several protected wild areas.
The coastal plain, formed by sediments from the Santa Clara River, has varying elevations. Most of the county's farmland is on this plain. The county has many mountains, valleys, and a long coastline with several popular beaches and surf spots. The Channel Islands, including Anacapa and San Nicholas Islands, are part of the county.
The Santa Clara River Valley is the most prominent valley, stretching east-southwest. The Ventura River Valley and Ojai Valley are also important areas. The county's coastline is 43 miles long and includes many state beaches and surf spots.
Climate
Ventura County has a range of climates due to its varied landscapes. Summer rainfall is limited, so crops need irrigation. Temperatures near the ocean are around 60 °F, while northern areas are cooler. The coastal plain has temperature ranges of 70 °F to 80 °F, but interior areas can be much hotter. Coastal areas have over 300 days of growing season, while northern areas have fewer. Rainfall varies from less than five inches annually in dry areas to over 60 inches in wetter, higher elevations. Snowfall is common in northern parts of the county.
Air quality
See also: Ventura County Air Pollution Control District
Automobile emissions are the main source of air pollution. Other sources include chemical plants, gasoline stations, paint, and cleaning products.
Adjacent counties
- Santa Barbara County, California — west
- Kern County, California — north
- Los Angeles County, California — east
National protected areas
- Angeles National Forest (part)
- Channel Islands National Park (part)
- Hopper Mountain National Wildlife Refuge
- Los Padres National Forest (part)
- Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area (part)
- Dick Smith Wilderness (part)
Rivers
Rivers in Ventura County include:
- Los Sauces Creek
- Madrianio Creek
- Padre Juan Canyon
- Ventura River
- Manuel Canyon
- Cañada Larga
- Cañada de Alisos
- Coyote Creek
- Lake Casitas
- Laguna Creek
- Willow Creek
- Santa Ana Creek
- Roble-Casitas Canal
- Poplin Creek
- Deep Cat Lake
- East Fork Coyote Creek
- West Fork Coyote Creek
- Lake Casitas
- Matilija Creek
- Rattlesnake Creek
- Lime Creek
- Murietta Creek
- Middle Fork Matilija Creek
- Upper North Fork Matilija Creek
- North Fork Matilija Creek (This and Matilija Creek form the Ventura River's headwaters.)
- Santa Clara River
- Calleguas Creek
Demographics
2020 census
According to the 2020 census, Ventura County had a population of 843,843 people. The median age was 39.5 years, with 22.2% of residents under 18 and 16.9% aged 65 or older. For every 100 females, there were 96.5 males.
The racial makeup was 50.8% White, 1.8% Black or African American, 1.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 7.7% Asian, 0.2% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 20.6% from some other race, and 17.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents made up 43.3% of the population.
Most people, 96.6%, lived in urban areas, while 3.4% lived in rural areas. There were 279,715 households, with 34.9% having children under 18. About 20.3% of households were single-person homes, and 10.4% had someone living alone who was 65 or older.
There were 293,080 housing units, with 4.6% vacant. Of the occupied units, 63.3% were owned by people, and 36.7% were rented. The rate for vacant owner homes was 0.7%, and for vacant rentals, it was 4.0%.
2010
The 2010 United States census reported Ventura County had a population of 823,318. The racial makeup was 68.7% White, 1.8% African American, 1.0% Native American, 6.7% Asian, 0.2% Pacific Islander, 17.0% from other races, and 4.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents were 40.3% of the population.
2000
In the year 2000, there were 753,197 people living in Ventura County. The racial makeup 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 the population was Hispanic or Latino of any race.
In terms of ancestry, 9.8% were of German origin, 7.7% English, and 7.1% Irish, according to Census 2000. At home, 67.1% spoke only English, 26.2% spoke Spanish, and 1.5% Tagalog.
There were 243,234 households. About 39.7% had children under 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. About 18.9% of households were single-person homes, and 7.4% had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 3.04, and the average family size was 3.46.
The population was spread out, with 28.4% under age 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, and for every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.5 males.
The median income for a household was $59,666, and for a family, it was $65,285. Males earned a median income of $45,310, while females earned $32,216. The per capita income 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.
By 2005, the median household income had risen to $66,859, with a mean of $85,032. Per capita income was $29,634, ranking Ventura County as the sixth wealthiest in California.
Housing
Ventura County often has limited housing, making it an expensive place to live in Southern California. As of March 2018[update], the county was not meeting its state housing goals. Cities are responsible for their own housing plans, while the county handles plans for areas not within any city. Groups working on affordable housing for veterans and low-income people have long waiting lists. The same is true for farmworker housing, although new units continue to be built.
Metropolitan Statistical Area
The United States Office of Management and Budget named Ventura County the Oxnard–Thousand Oaks–Ventura, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area. The United States Census Bureau listed this area as the 66th most populous metropolitan statistical area in the United States as of July 1, 2012.
The Office of Management and Budget also included the Oxnard–Thousand Oaks–Ventura, CA area as part of the larger Los Angeles–Long Beach, CA Combined Statistical Area, the second most populous combined statistical area and primary statistical area in the United States as of July 1, 2012.
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1880 | 5,073 | — | |
| 1890 | 10,071 | 98.5% | |
| 1900 | 14,367 | 42.7% | |
| 1910 | 18,347 | 27.7% | |
| 1920 | 28,724 | 56.6% | |
| 1930 | 54,976 | 91.4% | |
| 1940 | 69,685 | 26.8% | |
| 1950 | 114,647 | 64.5% | |
| 1960 | 199,138 | 73.7% | |
| 1970 | 376,430 | 89.0% | |
| 1980 | 529,174 | 40.6% | |
| 1990 | 669,016 | 26.4% | |
| 2000 | 753,197 | 12.6% | |
| 2010 | 823,318 | 9.3% | |
| 2020 | 843,843 | 2.5% | |
| 2025 (est.) | 830,851 |  | −1.5% |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1790–1960 1900–1990 1990–2000 2010 2020 | |||
| Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 1980 | Pop 1990 | Pop 2000 | Pop 2010 | Pop 2020 | % 1980 | % 1990 | % 2000 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 383,064 | 440,555 | 427,449 | 400,868 | 360,850 | 72.39% | 65.85% | 56.75% | 48.69% | 42.76% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 10,832 | 14,559 | 13,490 | 13,082 | 13,704 | 2.05% | 2.18% | 1.79% | 1.59% | 1.62% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 4,899 | 3,430 | 3,177 | 2,389 | 2,020 | 0.93% | 0.51% | 0.42% | 0.29% | 0.24% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 15,994 | 32,665 | 39,452 | 54,099 | 63,252 | 3.02% | 4.88% | 5.24% | 6.57% | 7.50% |
| Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH) | x | x | 1,379 | 1,353 | 1,415 | x | x | 0.18% | 0.16% | 0.17% |
| Other race alone (NH) | 1,193 | 855 | 1,122 | 1,371 | 4,451 | 0.23% | 0.13% | 0.15% | 0.17% | 0.53% |
| Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) | x | x | 15,394 | 18,589 | 32,866 | x | x | 2.04% | 2.26% | 3.89% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 113,192 | 176,952 | 251,734 | 331,567 | 365,285 | 21.39% | 26.45% | 33.42% | 40.27% | 43.29% |
| Total | 529,174 | 669,016 | 753,197 | 823,318 | 843,843 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
Economy
In 2019, Ventura County had challenges because homes were hard to afford and there weren’t many new jobs.
The county grows lots of fruits, like lemons, which bring in over $244 million each year. Other crops include Valencia oranges, mandarins, and tangelos, which add more money to the local economy.
The county also started growing hemp after laws changed in 2018. By 2019, nearly 4,100 acres were used for this crop, worth about $35.5 million. Some cities made rules to control where hemp can be grown because of smells and where it is near homes and schools.
Big technology companies in the county include Amgen in Thousand Oaks and The Trade Desk in Ventura, which is a leader in advertising for streaming services.
Arts and culture
Further information: List of museums in the California Central Coast
Ventura County has many interesting museums. The Albinger Archaeological Museum in Ventura shows items from five different cultures over 3,500 years, including the Chumash Indians. The Channel Islands Maritime Museum in Oxnard focuses on the history and culture of the ocean.
The Chumash Indian Museum in Thousand Oaks helps people learn about the Chumash people and their history. The Museum of Ventura County, also in Ventura, teaches about the region's history and art. In Santa Paula, the Santa Paula Art Museum has two buildings with art exhibits and classes.
Sports
Ventura is home to a soccer club called the Ventura County Fusion, which plays in the USL Premier Development League. In 2024, a new soccer team called Ventura County Football Club, which used to be known as Galaxy 2, started playing in Ventura County. This team is the first Major League Soccer affiliate to be based there, and its home games are held at Cal Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks.
Government and policing
Ventura County is run like many other counties in California. It follows rules set by the state and does not have its own special set of laws. The county is led by a group of five leaders called the Board of Supervisors. They are elected by people living in different parts of the county and serve for four years. The board picks a main leader and a helper each year. They also choose someone to be in charge of running the county, who then picks other leaders for different jobs.
The county has its own police force, called the Ventura County Sheriff's Department, which helps keep people safe in places without their own police. Some cities in the county, like Ventura and Oxnard, have their own police teams. The county works with leaders in government to make decisions that affect the area, including people from nearby areas in California.
The county created a big plan in 2020 to guide how it will grow and change until 2040. This plan talks about many important topics, like where people can live, how they will get around, and how to keep the environment safe. Many people shared ideas to help make this plan.
Politics
Ventura County used to vote mostly for Republican candidates for many years. But recently, more people have started voting for Democratic candidates in both state and federal elections. From 1992 to 2016, no party got more than 55% of the votes in the county.
On March 3, 2008, more people registered as Democrats than Republicans, and this difference has grown since then. Some cities like Camarillo, Moorpark, Simi Valley, and Thousand Oaks still have more registered Republicans. But in other cities and towns, there are more registered Democrats, while the areas outside the cities are almost evenly split between the two parties.
Gubernatorial elections results
Voter registration statistics (2013)
Cities by population and voter registration
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 2024 | 158,901 | 40.99% | 217,424 | 56.08% | 11,379 | 2.93% |
| 2020 | 162,207 | 38.36% | 251,388 | 59.45% | 9,230 | 2.18% |
| 2016 | 132,323 | 37.62% | 194,402 | 55.27% | 25,001 | 7.11% |
| 2012 | 147,958 | 45.25% | 170,929 | 52.28% | 8,087 | 2.47% |
| 2008 | 145,853 | 42.92% | 187,601 | 55.21% | 6,346 | 1.87% |
| 2004 | 160,314 | 51.19% | 148,859 | 47.53% | 4,020 | 1.28% |
| 2000 | 136,173 | 48.17% | 133,258 | 47.14% | 13,261 | 4.69% |
| 1996 | 109,202 | 43.47% | 110,772 | 44.10% | 31,220 | 12.43% |
| 1992 | 94,911 | 35.46% | 99,011 | 36.99% | 73,725 | 27.55% |
| 1988 | 147,604 | 61.64% | 89,065 | 37.19% | 2,804 | 1.17% |
| 1984 | 151,383 | 68.67% | 66,550 | 30.19% | 2,529 | 1.15% |
| 1980 | 114,930 | 60.28% | 56,311 | 29.54% | 19,409 | 10.18% |
| 1976 | 82,670 | 53.20% | 68,529 | 44.10% | 4,201 | 2.70% |
| 1972 | 95,310 | 63.20% | 49,307 | 32.70% | 6,188 | 4.10% |
| 1968 | 59,705 | 51.35% | 47,794 | 41.11% | 8,762 | 7.54% |
| 1964 | 40,264 | 40.99% | 57,805 | 58.84% | 169 | 0.17% |
| 1960 | 35,074 | 49.59% | 35,334 | 49.96% | 315 | 0.45% |
| 1956 | 26,342 | 49.92% | 26,276 | 49.80% | 149 | 0.28% |
| 1952 | 24,534 | 52.47% | 21,967 | 46.98% | 256 | 0.55% |
| 1948 | 13,930 | 42.15% | 18,100 | 54.77% | 1,019 | 3.08% |
| 1944 | 11,071 | 40.19% | 16,342 | 59.33% | 131 | 0.48% |
| 1940 | 11,225 | 42.15% | 15,182 | 57.00% | 227 | 0.85% |
| 1936 | 7,579 | 35.75% | 13,384 | 63.14% | 235 | 1.11% |
| 1932 | 6,908 | 37.27% | 10,903 | 58.82% | 724 | 3.91% |
| 1928 | 9,017 | 70.17% | 3,717 | 28.92% | 117 | 0.91% |
| 1924 | 5,705 | 65.16% | 911 | 10.41% | 2,139 | 24.43% |
| 1920 | 5,231 | 76.00% | 1,305 | 18.96% | 347 | 5.04% |
| 1916 | 3,980 | 55.18% | 2,835 | 39.30% | 398 | 5.52% |
| 1912 | 71 | 1.47% | 2,108 | 43.62% | 2,654 | 54.91% |
| 1908 | 1,864 | 56.57% | 1,181 | 35.84% | 250 | 7.59% |
| 1904 | 1,995 | 63.86% | 840 | 26.89% | 289 | 9.25% |
| 1900 | 1,708 | 53.54% | 1,333 | 41.79% | 149 | 4.67% |
| 1896 | 1,553 | 50.41% | 1,465 | 47.55% | 63 | 2.04% |
| 1892 | 1,283 | 46.60% | 958 | 34.80% | 512 | 18.60% |
| 1888 | 1,107 | 53.84% | 906 | 44.07% | 43 | 2.09% |
| 1884 | 749 | 53.96% | 603 | 43.44% | 36 | 2.59% |
| 1880 | 599 | 53.24% | 522 | 46.40% | 4 | 0.36% |
| Year | Republican | Democratic |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 45.5% 127,709 | 54.5% 153,226 |
| 2018 | 44.4% 137,393 | 55.6% 171,729 |
| 2014 | 46.9% 93,797 | 53.1% 106,072 |
| 2010 | 49.3% 128,082 | 45.3% 117,800 |
| 2006 | 61.0% 134,862 | 34.3% 75,790 |
| 2002 | 47.2% 91,193 | 43.2% 83,557 |
| 1998 | 43.8% 91,093 | 53.0% 110,226 |
| 1994 | 62.4% 136,417 | 33.4% 73,163 |
| 1990 | 57.6% 106,234 | 36.9% 68,139 |
| 1986 | 67.2% 118,640 | 31.1% 54,893 |
| 1982 | 55.2% 99,130 | 42.4% 76,094 |
| 1978 | 40.6% 57,777 | 52.8% 75,173 |
| 1974 | 50.5% 60,122 | 47.2% 56,189 |
| 1970 | 58.6% 63,790 | 38.9% 42,350 |
| 1966 | 60.9% 58,068 | 39.1% 37,224 |
| 1962 | 45.2% 31,899 | 53.5% 37,777 |
Education
K-12 education
Ventura County has many school districts that help children learn from kindergarten through high school. Some of the larger unified school districts include Conejo Valley Unified School District, El Tejon Unified School District, Fillmore Unified School District, Las Virgenes Unified School District, Moorpark Unified School District, Oak Park Unified School District, Ojai Unified School District, Santa Paula Unified School District, Simi Valley Unified School District, and Ventura Unified School District. There are also secondary and elementary districts such as Oxnard Union High School District, Hueneme Elementary School District, and Mesa Union Elementary School District.
Libraries
Public libraries
The Ventura County Library has 12 locations where people can read books and do research. It includes branches in Ventura and smaller towns across the county. Some cities, like Camarillo, Moorpark, Oxnard, Santa Paula, Simi Valley, and Thousand Oaks, have their own libraries too.
Academic libraries
Colleges and universities in Ventura County have libraries to help students and teachers with their research. These include libraries at St. John's Seminary in Camarillo, Ventura College, California State University Channel Islands in Camarillo, Moorpark College, Oxnard College, California Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks, and Thomas Aquinas College in Santa Paula.
Other libraries
The Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley is a special library that holds important historical documents and exhibits. The Ventura County Law Library in the Government Center provides legal resources for judges, lawyers, and government workers.
Transportation
Major highways
Public transportation
Ventura County has trains run by Amtrak and Metrolink along the coast, plus buses from Greyhound Lines, Gold Coast Transit, and VISTA. The county manages bus routes with the Ventura County Transportation Commission (VCTC). Some cities like Camarillo, Moorpark, Simi Valley, and Thousand Oaks also have their own small bus services.
Park services help visitors reach the five islands of Channel Islands National Park.
Airports
- Oxnard Airport, west of Downtown Oxnard, was the county's only commercial airport but no longer has public flights. It is the largest airport in the county.
- Camarillo Airport, once a US Air Force Base, is now used for general flying. It hosts the Ventura County Sheriff's Department Aviation Unit and training centers.
- Santa Paula Airport is a private airport for public use for general aviation.
Communities
Ventura County has several cities, including Camarillo, Fillmore, Moorpark, Oxnard, Port Hueneme, Santa Paula, Simi Valley, Thousand Oaks, and Ventura, which is also the county seat.
There are also many smaller places that are not their own cities. Some of these include Bardsdale, Bell Canyon, Buckhorn, Casa Conejo, and many more.
The list of places is based on information from the 2020 census of Ventura County.
| Rank | City/Town/etc. | Municipal type | Population (2020 Census) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oxnard | City | 202,736 |
| 2 | Thousand Oaks | City | 126,966 |
| 3 | Simi Valley | City | 126,356 |
| 4 | † Ventura (San Buenaventura) | City | 110,763 |
| 5 | Camarillo | City | 70,741 |
| 6 | Moorpark | City | 36,284 |
| 7 | Santa Paula | City | 30,657 |
| 8 | Port Hueneme | City | 21,954 |
| 9 | Fillmore | City | 16,419 |
| 10 | Oak Park | CDP | 13,898 |
| 11 | Ojai | City | 7,637 |
| 12 | El Rio | CDP | 7,037 |
| 13 | Mira Monte | CDP | 6,618 |
| 14 | Oak View | CDP | 6,215 |
| 15 | Meiners Oaks | CDP | 3,911 |
| 16 | Santa Rosa Valley | CDP | 3,312 |
| 17 | Casa Conejo | CDP | 3,267 |
| 18 | Channel Islands Beach | CDP | 2,870 |
| 19 | Piru | CDP | 2,587 |
| 20 | Bell Canyon | CDP | 1,946 |
| 21 | Lake Sherwood | CDP | 1,759 |
| 22 | Somis | CDP | 1,429 |
| 23 | Santa Susana | CDP | 1,160 |
| 24 | Saticoy | CDP | 1,133, |
In popular culture
Lake Sherwood was used as a filming location for the 1922 movie Robin Hood starring Douglas Fairbanks, and later for The Adventures of Robin Hood in 1938 with Errol Flynn.
Many famous movies and TV shows have been filmed in Ventura County, including The Young and the Brave from 1963, Swordfish in 2000, and Back to the Future Part III. Other films such as Little Miss Sunshine, Sideways, and Erin Brockovich also used parts of the county for their scenes.
Downtown Ventura is home to the Majestic Ventura Theater, a beautiful old theater that hosts concerts. It has welcomed famous musicians like John Prine, Van Halen, and Red Hot Chili Peppers, along with many other talented artists.
Images
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