Port Hueneme, California

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Location of Port Hueneme, California

Port Hueneme (pronounced "port why-NEE-mee",) is a small harbor city in Ventura County, California surrounded by Oxnard. The name derives from the Spanish spelling of the Chumash wene me, meaning "resting-place".

The population was 21,845 at the 2000 census. It boasts a south-facing beach, known for its surfing and beach park, which stretches eastward about a mile from the harbor and the naval base and includes a fishing pier.

1 The Port
2 The Military
3 Alaska Airlines Flight 261
4 Geography
5 Demographics
6 External links

[edit] The Port

Port Hueneme is the only deep water port between the Port of Long Beach and the Port of San Francisco, and the only military deep water port between San Diego Bay and Puget Sound.

The harbor is a shipping and receiving point for a wide variety of goods destined for the Los Angeles Basin, and beyond including automobiles, pineapples, and bananas. Agricultural products such as onions, strawberries, and flowers are shipped.

[edit] The Military

The Naval Reserve Center of Port Hueneme facility.

The United States Navy maintains a facility at Port Hueneme, in support of the naval air station at Point Mugu to the south, with which it comprises Naval Base Ventura County. Port Hueneme is the West Coast home of the Construction Battalion, the famous "Seabees," as well as a link in the coastal radar system.

Naval Base Ventura County is the largest employer in Ventura County, and is the key component of the economy of the City of Port Hueneme. NBVC and its tenants employ over 6,000 civilians, 9,000 military personnel and 1,300 contractor personnel. In addition, NBVC hosts over 60 tenant commands.

Also located on the military facility at Port Hueneme is the Navy and Marine Operational Support Center Port Hueneme, which is the successor to the Naval Reserve Center Santa Barbara.

[edit] Alaska Airlines Flight 261

Main article: Alaska Airlines Flight 261

The Sundial Memorial of Alaska Airlines Flight 261

Alaska Airlines Flight 261 was a flight route operated by Alaska Airlines that provided service between Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, San Francisco International Airport in San Francisco, California, and Seattle-Tacoma International Airport in Seattle, Washington.

On January 31, 2000, after experiencing problems with the horizontal stabilizer, the flight was diverted to Los Angeles International Airport. During the diversion, the plane inverted and crashed at high speed into the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Port Hueneme near Anacapa Island on January 31, 2000. All 83 passengers and 5 crew members on board perished.

The residents and businesses of Port Hueneme were very helpful during the days and weeks following the crash. Roughly one year after the crash, the friends and family of the victims dedicated a giant sundial on Hueneme Beach as both a memorial to their loved ones and a work of public art in gratitude to the residents of Port Hueneme for their assistance in the recovery effort.^{[citation needed]}

On January 31, 2007, the bronze heart on the sundial was found sawed off. The thief has yet to be found, but a new heart is being made.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Geography

Port Hueneme is located on the southwest portion of the Oxnard Plain at 34°9′37″N, 119°11′40″W (34.160250, -119.194509)^GR1, on the Pacific Ocean.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 12.1 km² (4.7 mi²). 11.5 km² (4.4 mi²) of it is land and 0.6 km² (0.2 mi²) of it (4.72%) is water.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census^GR2 of 2000, there were 21,845 people, 7,268 households, and 5,000 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,895.4/km² (4,912.9/mi²). There were 7,908 housing units at an average density of 686.1/km² (1,778.5/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 57.27% White, 6.06% African American, 1.69% Native American, 6.33% Asian, 0.50% Pacific Islander, 21.84% from other races, and 6.30% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 41.02% of the population.

There were 7,268 households out of which 37.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.9% were married couples living together, 13.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.2% were non-families. 24.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.86 and the average family size was 3.42.

In the city the population was spread out with 27.6% under the age of 18, 13.2% from 18 to 24, 32.0% from 25 to 44, 16.5% from 45 to 64, and 10.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females there were 101.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.7 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $42,246, and the median income for a family was $46,056. Males had a median income of $30,314 versus $25,703 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,311. About 9.8% of families and 12.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.7% of those under age 18 and 8.9% of those age 65 or over.