Valencia, Santa Clarita, California

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Welcome sign

A typical stretch of Newhall Ranch Road. The bridge carries a paseo over the roadway.

Valencia is a planned community located in Los Angeles County, California in the northwestern corner of the Santa Clarita Valley, adjacent to Interstate 5. In 1987, it was one of the four unincorporated communities (along with Saugus, Newhall, and Canyon Country) that merged to create the city of Santa Clarita, California.

Valencia was planned and developed in the 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s by the Newhall Land Company. It is notable for its well-landscaped boulevards connecting a balanced mix of apartment buildings, single-family detached homes, shopping centers, office parks and industrial warehouses.

Valencia also has an extensive system of paved pathways with grade separations over and under the boulevards. The pathways are called paseos. The paseos connect the entire community together making it possible to travel around Valencia without having to cross the streets. Landowners in the Valencia area pay special taxes to maintain the lush landscaping and the paseo system.

Valencia's residential areas are separated into villages. Each village is different from each other, in the ways of lifestyle (see List of Valencia, California's Residential Villages). Almost all of Valencia's villages are close to schools, shopping, etc. In many of the villages, homeowner's associations oversee the quality and upkeep of housing developments ranging in size from a few dozen homes to over a thousand. Many villages also have a Neighborhood Watch program in force.

Valencia is home to Six Flags Magic Mountain theme park and Hurricane Harbor water park. It is also the birthplace of major league baseball player Jon Garland, who plays for the Chicago White Sox.

Major schools in Valencia include: