Ventura, CA

Ventura, California

Introduction to Ventura, California

The California city of Ventura (whose actual name is San Buenaventura) is located in western Ventura County, about 60 miles north of Los Angeles. The city is linked to the Los Angeles metropolitan area and to nearby Santa Barbara by US Highway 101, also known as the Ventura Freeway. Other cities close to Ventura include Fillmore, Valencia, and Santa Paula. The nearby Port of Hueneme, a major resource for domestic and international trade and the only deep-water port between San Francisco and Los Angeles, is located only 12 miles south of Ventura.

The early roots of Ventura can be traced as far back as 1782, when Father Junípero Serra founded Mission San Buenaventura, establishing the foundation of what would become the city. In 1890, the Union Oil Company was established and in 1914 drilling began at the main Ventura oil field, which produced 90,000 barrels a day at its peak. The fertile soil of the region between the Ventura and Santa Clara rivers, encompassing the city of Ventura, gave rise to another major local industry: citrus farming. In 1893, local farmers banded together to form the Southern California Fruit Exchange, later to become Sunkist Growers, the world's largest citrus-producing organization.

Incorporated in 1866, Ventura remained relatively isolated and rural for most of the following century. The city did not attract many immigrants during this time due to its inaccessibility. Travel from the south was slow and hazardous, there was only one road leading from the north, and the city was hemmed in eastward by mountainous terrain and deep canyons. In later years, the construction of roads and highways (most notably the Maricopa Highway in the 1920s and US Highway 101 in the 1950s and 1960s) mitigated this condition and led to a steady growth of the city, whose population has quadrupled in the last two decades.

Things to do in Ventura

Downtown Ventura is home to the Mission San Buenaventura. Also located downtown is the Ortega adobe, home to the Ortega family (now famous for their chili products). The Olivas Adobe, an early California Rancho home located adjacent to the Olivas Park Golf Course, is a present-day museum and site for performing arts. The Ventura Harbor is home to Ventura Harbor Village, a shopping village with nearby seafood restaurants. Ventura is also an excellent surfing town, with Surfer's Point being a popular spot.

Nearby Santa Barbara (27 miles to the northwest) is home to several more attractions. Among them are:

• Santa Barbara Museum of Art
• Santa Barbara Botanic Garden
• Santa Barbara Maritime Museum
• Santa Barbara Historical Museum
• Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History
• Mission Santa Barbara
• Goleta Rail Museum

Pro sports fans are about a 90-minute drive away from Major League action featuring Los Angeles teams, including: The Los Angeles Dodgers (baseball), the Los Angeles Lakers (NBA basketball), the Los Angeles Clippers (also NBA), the Los Angeles Kings (NHL hockey), the Los Angeles Riptide (MLL lacrosse), the Los Angeles Galaxy (MLS soccer), and the Los Angeles Avengers (Arena Football League).

High Points

Ventura strengths, compared to Peers (similar size places nationally) or State (other places in California):

Category	Trophy
Walking and Biking to Work (vs. Peers)	Top 19%

Comparative Profile of Ventura, CA

Comparing Ventura to similar size places nationwide (Peers) and to other places in California (State):

Ratings range from (lowest) to (highest).

The People

Characteristic	Compared to Peers	Compared to State
Well-Paid Single Men
Male Share of the Population
Well-Paid Single Women
Age of the Population
Racial Diversity
Senior Citizens
Children Under 5 Years Old
Female Share of the Population

Families

Characteristic	Compared to Peers	Compared to State
Average Household Size
Portion of People Married

Wealth

Characteristic	Compared to Peers	Compared to State
Median Family Income
College Educated Adults
People in Middle Class or Better
People Above Poverty

Commute & Sprawl

Characteristic	Compared to Peers	Compared to State
Working at Home
Walking and Biking to Work
Short Commute Times
Public Transportation Use

Housing

Characteristic	Compared to Peers	Compared to State
Seasonal and Vacation Housing
Studio & One-Bedroom Rentals
Housing Recently Built
People Living Alone
Affordability of Property Taxes
Affordability of Rents

Crime

Characteristic	Compared to Peers	Compared to State
Low Violent Crime
Low Property Crime

Ventura Almanac

Ventura Population (2000)

(From 2000 Census, as reported by individuals)

Neighborhood and Nearby Area Names

According to the US Postal Service, Ventura, its neighborhoods, and/or surrounding areas are also referred to as:

Note that not all alternate names are acceptable for use in US Post Office addresses.

Nearby Cities and Towns

Starbucks in Ventura

Ventura High Schools (2004)

BUENA HIGH
5670 TELEGRAPH ROAD
805-289-1826
Serves 2,113 students.
Student/teacher ratio: 25.7

VENTURA HIGH
2155 E. MAIN ST.
805-641-5116
Serves 2,068 students.
Student/teacher ratio: 25.9

FOOTHILL TECHNOLOGY HIGH
100 DAY RD.
805-289-0023
A magnet school.
Serves 836 students.
Student/teacher ratio: 21.7

PACIFIC HIGH (CONT.)
501 COLLEGE DR.
805-289-7950
A Non-traditional School
A Title I school.
Serves 236 students.
Student/teacher ratio: 19.2

EL CAMINO HIGH (ALTER).
501 COLLEGE DR.
805-289-7955
A Non-traditional School
Serves 216 students.
Student/teacher ratio: 30.9

VENTURA ISLANDS HIGH (CONT.)
2155 E. MAIN ST.
805-289-1826
A Non-traditional School
Title I eligible, not participating.
Serves 25 students.
Student/teacher ratio: 12.5

BUENA VISTA HIGH (CONT.)
5670 TELEGRAPH ROAD
805-289-1826
A Non-traditional School
Title I eligible, not participating.
Serves 24 students.
Student/teacher ratio: 12

Ventura Colleges

Click school name for a detailed profile.

Ventura Adult and Continuing Education

Ventura College

(List of All California Colleges)

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