| City of Camarillo | |
|---|---|
| — City — | |
| Looking southeast across Camarillo from the northwestern hills on a warm sunny day in late October | |
| Motto: "Las Personas son la Ciudad" (English: "The People are the City") |
|
| Location in Ventura County and the state of California | |
| Coordinates: | |
| Country | United States |
| State | California |
| County | Ventura |
| Settled | 1898 |
| Incorporated (city) | 1964 |
| Government | |
| • City Manager | Bruce Feng[1] |
| • Senate | Tony Strickland (R) |
| • Assembly | Audra Strickland (R) |
| • U. S. Congress | Elton Gallegly (R) |
| • Ventura County Board of Supervisors | Kathy Long (D) |
| Area[2] | |
| • Total | 19.543 sq mi (50.617 km2) |
| • Land | 19.528 sq mi (50.577 km2) |
| • Water | 0.015 sq mi (0.040 km2) 0.08% |
| Elevation | 177 ft (54 m) |
| Population (2010) | |
| • Total | 65,201 |
| • Density | 3,336.3/sq mi (1,288.1/km2) |
| Time zone | PST (UTC-8) |
| • Summer (DST) | PDT (UTC-7) |
| ZIP code | 93010-93012 |
| Area code(s) | 805 |
| FIPS code | 06-10046 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1652682 |
| Website | ci.camarillo.ca.us |
Camarillo ( /ˌkæməˈriːoʊ/) is a city in Ventura County, California, United States. The population was 65,201 at the 2010 census, up from 57,084 at the 2000 census. The Ventura Freeway (U.S. Route 101) is the city's primary thoroughfare.
Camarillo is named for Adolfo and Juan Camarillo, two of the few Californios (pre-1848 California natives of Hispanic ancestry) to preserve the city's heritage after the arrival of Anglo settlers. As with most cities in Ventura County, it is noted for its resistance to new development. Some of the most desirable land in the city limits, located on the north and south sides of the Ventura Freeway, is "permanently" zoned for agricultural use. The construction in these zones shows the progress made towards erosion of this permanence. It is home to the Ventura County, California, Sheriff's Department Academy, as well as the department's other assets; such as the VCSD Air Unit, SWAT Unit, Bomb Squad, and Reserve Officer Academy.
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Camarillo is located at (34.225607, -119.032207).[3] According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 19.5 square miles (51 km2). 0.015 square miles (0.039 km2) of the area (0.08%) is water.
Camarillo is located in the eastern Oxnard Plain, with the Santa Susana Mountains to the north, the Camarillo Hills to the northwest, the Conejo Valley to the east, and the western reaches of the Santa Monica Mountains to the south.
The 2010 United States Census[4] reported that Camarillo had a population of 65,201. The population density was 3,336.3 people per square mile (1,288.1/km²). The racial makeup of Camarillo was 48,947 (75.1%) White, 1,216 (1.9%) African American, 397 (0.6%) Native American, 6,633 (10.2%) Asian, 116 (0.2%) Pacific Islander, 4,774 (7.3%) from other races, and 3,118 (4.8%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 14,958 persons (22.9%).
The Census reported that 64,705 people (99.2% of the population) lived in households, 155 (0.2%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 341 (0.5%) were institutionalized.
There were 24,504 households, out of which 8,103 (33.1%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 13,565 (55.4%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 2,386 (9.7%) had a female householder with no husband present, 1,078 (4.4%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 1,099 (4.5%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 158 (0.6%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 5,986 households (24.4%) were made up of individuals and 3,231 (13.2%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.64. There were 17,029 families (69.5% of all households); the average family size was 3.14.
The population was spread out with 15,115 people (23.2%) under the age of 18, 5,164 people (7.9%) aged 18 to 24, 15,895 people (24.4%) aged 25 to 44, 17,825 people (27.3%) aged 45 to 64, and 11,202 people (17.2%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40.8 years. For every 100 females there were 93.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.7 males.
There were 25,702 housing units at an average density of 1,315.1 per square mile (507.8/km²), of which 17,059 (69.6%) were owner-occupied, and 7,445 (30.4%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.4%; the rental vacancy rate was 5.2%. 45,522 people (69.8% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 19,183 people (29.4%) lived in rental housing units.
As of the census[5] of 2000, there were 57,084 people, 24,376 households, and 15,242 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,015.3 inhabitants per square mile (1,164.2/km²). There were 24,376 housing units at an average density of 1,159.4 per square mile (447.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 70.90% White, 1.90% African American, 0.52% Native American, 9.40% Asian, 0.60% Pacific Islander, 13.20% from other races, and 3.90% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 23.10% of the population.
There were 24,376 households out of which 33.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.7% were married couples living together, 8.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.9% were non-families. 24.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.62 and the average family size was 3.12.
In the city the population was spread out with 25.3% under the age of 18, 6.5% from 18 to 24, 28.5% from 25 to 44, 22.7% from 45 to 64, and 17.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 93.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.2 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $62,457, and the median income for a family was $72,676 (these figures had risen to $78,677 and $92,683 respectively as of a 2007 estimate[6]). Males had a median income of $51,507 versus $36,240 for females. The per capita income for the city was $28,635. About 3.6% of families and 5.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.9% of those under age 18 and 4.6% of those age 65 or older.
Public Library: Effective January 1, 2011, the City of Camarillo Public Library opened as municipal public library.[7] On October 13, 2010, the Camarillo City Council voted 5-0 to withdraw from the Ventura County Library System, and enter into a public-private contract with Library Systems & Services (LSSI) of Germantown, Maryland, a private company that administers several libraries throughout the United States, to provide locally hired staffing and to manage the day-to-day operations of the City of Camarillo Public Library. Under the partnership agreement, the library will remain in the public trust, managed by the City of Camarillo and operated by LSSI. [8] [9] [10]
Nearby Academic Libraries: California State University Channel Islands, California Lutheran University, St. Thomas Aquinas, Moorpark College, Oxnard College, and Ventura College.
Camarillo and the surrounding area has a temperate, Mediterranean-type climate. Its location in a coastal valley brings mild ocean breezes and temperatures in the 70's throughout most of the year. An average rainfall of 13 inches (330 mm) occurs primarily from November to February. The city has over 300 days of sunshine a year and an average humidity of 62%.
Snow has only fallen about 3 times in the last thirty years and is seldom more than a dusting. Snow is often visible during the winter months above the 4,000-foot (1,200 m) level in the mountains to the north. The proximity of the ocean sometimes causes morning fog in the spring and early summer.
Camarillo is primarily a bedroom community made up of large housing tracts, with elementary schools and small strip malls serving the nearby neighborhoods. The primary public high schools serving Camarillo are Adolfo Camarillo High School in Mission Oaks and Rio Mesa High School, just over the Oxnard/Camarillo line. A new high school near the intersection of Lewis Road and Las Posas Road is planned. The private Cornerstone Christian School is also located in Camarillo. The Boys and Girls Club of Camarillo located at 1500 Temple has been serving the community and providing a positive place for kids since 1967. The Club serves close to 400 kids per day and is primarily funded by donations from the Community. The Club charges $60 per year for membership. The Club is a vital resource for the families of Camarillo. William Locker was appointed CEO/President in October 2009. The YMCA recently opened a new facility on Village at the Park Drive, and a new library was constructed and opened on March 31, 2007.[11]
The incidence of all types of crime committed in the city is far below the national average.[12]
Many sports leagues, including adult leagues, such as baseball, basketball, football, and the largest AYSO soccer league west of the Mississippi are located in Camarillo. An outdoor in-line hockey rink was recently put into Freedom Park, near the Camarillo Airport.
At the city's incorporation in 1964, a council-manager form of government was created. The five member city council is elected at large for four year terms. As of January 2011, the mayor of Camarillo is Mike Morgan.[13]
The council is responsible for establishing policy, enacting laws and making legal and financial decisions for the city. A city manager, hired by the council and answerable to it, is responsible for the day to day operation of the city. He is charged with overall management of the five city departments and 97 full time employees. Services such as water, sewer, trash collection, street maintenance and traffic engineering are provided by a combination of contractors and city employees.
Police services are provided by the Ventura County Sheriff's Department under contract to the city, headquartered in a police station owned by the city. The Sheriff's department helicopter fleet is hangared at Camarillo Airport. Ventura County Fire Department provides fire protection, with four stations within the city limits.
The major source of city funding is sales tax revenue. The mix of retail and commercial businesses in the city provides a stable tax base. The recent addition of a Factory Outlet Center and a new shopping center has added significantly to the sales tax revenues.
The Chumash Indians were the first known settlers in what is now known as Ventura County. Fishermen built their villages along the Pacific Coast near the mouths of the Calleguas Creek and Santa Clara River. Artifacts from their settlements are on display in the Ventura County Historical Museum and their paintings are still visible on canyon walls and in caves in the area.
The Portuguese navigator Juan Cabrillo, while exploring the Pacific coast for the king of Spain, came upon the Chumash in an area near Point Mugu. He explored the surrounding region and claimed it in the name of Spain in 1542. Cabrillo was followed in 1602 by Sebastian Viscaino on a mapping expedition for the King of Spain. The Chumash continued to inhabit the coast until 1768 when Russians, having established a settlement 800 miles (1,300 km) to the north, launched expeditions challenging the Spanish land claims. In the 18th century, the Spanish began settling California and built the first of what would become a chain of 21 missions in San Diego. Father Junípero Serra establish the ninth mission in Ventura in 1782 bringing more settlers to the area and exposing the Indians who had settled around the mission to many European diseases to which they had no immunity. Their numbers diminished until the Chumash, once the largest Indian nation in California, had largely vanished by 1839.
By the early 1820s, Mexico had gained independence from Spain, and shortly afterward California allied itself with Mexico. The Mexican land grant system was liberalized in 1824 resulting in many large grants in California and the proliferation of Ranchos north of the border. One grant to José Pedro Ruiz created Rancho Calleguas in 1837, in the area that is now Camarillo. The grant was later sold to Juan Camarillo, who had arrived in 1834 as a member of the Hijar-Padres Expedition;[14] it was his sons Adolfo and Juan that are credited with the founding of the town that was to bear their name. The earlier proposed name of Calleguas was rejected as too difficult to pronounce.
At about same time the town of Springville had begun to form just to the west of the emerging town of Camarillo but when the Southern Pacific railroad was built and chose Camarillo as the location for a depot, Springville's existence was threatened. It is now only a dot on the map in an area south of the freeway at the western end of the current Camarillo city limits.
Don Juan Camarillo, brother of Adolfo, donated 100 acres (0.40 km2) to be used as a seminary to be named in honor of Saint John the Evangelist.[14] The Roman Catholic seminary was founded in 1927 as St. John's Seminary.
Camarillo's growth was slow from founding through World War II. In the late 1940s, building lots on Ventura Boulevard, the main downtown street, were being offered for $450 and home lots on the adjoining streets were $250, with few buyers. Travel to and from Los Angeles was difficult, owing to the narrow, tortuous road climbing the Conejo Grade to the east of the city.
The main industry during this period was agriculture, and the area surrounding the small town was blanketed with orange, lemon and walnut groves. The State Mental hospital south of the town was the largest employer. A few houses had sprung up to the north and south of town center. The Oxnard Airforce Base, built during World War II to the west of town, the Navy Facility at Point Mugu and the Seabee base at Port Hueneme brought many military personnel to the area, but there was little private industry or other source of non-agricultural employment.
In the mid-1950s, the Ventura Freeway, which bisects the town, was completed from Los Angeles to points north, making it an easy one-hour trip to Camarillo. The freeway was originally planned to follow the path of Potrero Road, south of Camarillo, which would have completely by-passed the soon-to-be city. However, after much debate, city officials persuaded Caltrans to lay the freeway parallel to Ventura Boulevard, creating the infamously steep descent from the Santa Monica Mountains, known as the Conejo Grade. The grade is about 2.7 miles (4.3 km) and posted as a 7% grade—which translates as about one thousand feet of elevation change in less than three miles (70 meters per kilometer). There is a California Highway Patrol brake inspection station at the top of the grade and a stop is mandatory for all 18-wheel trucks. The completion of the freeway facilitated the growth that followed. In 1962, the population was 7,500 and 3M began construction for the Mincom and Magnetic Tape Divisions, which would ultimately employ 900 people, becoming the largest local employer. That plant currently houses a factory for 3M spinoff Imation. Housing tracts were built where orchards once stood. House prices were $14,000 to $65,000.
At this time plans were made for the incorporation of the city to control the rapid expansion. Camarillo became a city in 1964 and soon put into place a General Plan and building codes that were to lead to an attractive city environment. In 1964 the closest traffic signal was 2 miles (3.2 km) from the City center on the road to Point Mugu, and the first shopping center and supermarket were under construction. Because of the late date of city incorporation, the local telephone exchange is still listed as part of Oxnard. Much of the city was expected to be developed to the south of Ventura Blvd, however it was to the north that the new city grew, and the land south of Ventura Blvd remains reserved for agricultural use to this day.
Many of the home buyers during the 1960s were military veterans, who had been stationed at one of the local bases during their service. The temperate climate and the living conditions lured them back. With the establishment of both the Pacific Missile Range and the Naval Civil Engineering Laboratory at Port Hueneme many found employment that utilized their military training. Other newcomers were those who worked and lived in the San Fernando Valley and were willing to endure the commute for the opportunity to raise their families in a smog-free, semirural environment. Still others relocated here with their employers, like 3M, and Harbor Freight Tools who built facilities in and around the city to take advantage of the large workforce. Technicolor Video Services Inc. is the largest DVD duplicator in the world.[15]
Camarillo State Mental Hospital was established near the city in the 1930s so that persons suffering from mental illnesses or tuberculosis could recover in Ventura County's balmy climate. Jazzman Charlie Parker's "Relaxin' at Camarillo," written while he was detoxing from heroin addiction, is a tribute to the facility. The song "Camarillo" by punk outfit Fear is also written about the facility. The band Ambrosia released a song called "Ready for Camarillo" on their 1978 Life Beyond L.A. album. "Ready for Camarillo" also appeared as the single B side of their hit "How Much I Feel." Perhaps the most famous song associated with the facility was "Hotel California", by The Eagles, which is widely rumored to be about lead singer Don Henley's brother's struggles to overcome a mental disorder, but Henley claims this connection is false. The former hospital is the now the site of California State University, Channel Islands. The University has retained the distinctive Mission Revival Style architecture bell tower in the South quad. The band Brazzaville released a video called "Camarillo" in 2007, with mental hospital-like imagery and lyrics concerning lead singer David Brown's relatives' stay in the institution.
Frank Zappa famously, and perhaps deliberately, mispronounced the city's name in the song Camarillo Brillo, also about a stay in the institution, but in this case to get clean.
The Camarillo State Hospital was closed in the 1990s and remained vacant until the site was converted into California State University, Channel Islands (CSUCI). CSUCI officially opened in August 2002 and is now accredited by the WASC.
Mission Oaks is the name given by developer Pardee Homes to a 1,312 acres (531 ha) parcel of land located in the north-eastern portion of the city. This parcel was developed as a planned community over the span of 35 years, and was completed in October 2004.[16] The area developed by Pardee Homes makes up approximately 15% of Camarillo's total land. Due to the decades-long timescale of the project, many residents are unaware of Mission Oaks' proprietary nature, and the area east of Lewis Road (State Route 34), south of Somis and north of the 101 Freeway is generally thought of as Mission Oaks regardless of which company built the buildings in the area.
In the mid-1990s, multiple large retail centers, including one of California's largest outlet malls[17] and movie theater were built south of US 101 and west of Carmen Drive. These new retail centers have provided a large influx of cash to the city; from 1993 to 1998 sales tax revenues nearly doubled from approximately $3.5 million to approximately $6.5 million.[18] On April 23, 2009, several new shops and restaurants opened at the Camarillo Premium Outlets, designated "The Promenade". The Promenade is 220,000 square feet (20,000 m2), while the Premium Outlets is 454,000. The new center has 45 stores and restaurants, bringing the total to about 160 [19]
Semtech and Salem Communications are based in Camarillo.
According to the city's 2009 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report,[20] the top employers in the city are:
| # | Employer | # of Employees |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | WellPoint | 1,191 |
| 2 | Pleasant Valley School District | 658 |
| 3 | Harbor Freight Tools | 556 |
| 4 | St. John's Pleasant Valley Hospital | 532 |
| 5 | Hi-Temp Insulation | 480 |
| 6 | Zebra Technologies | 418 |
| 7 | Technicolor | 404 |
| 8 | Ventura County Star | 280 |
| 9 | SolarWorld | 254 |
| 10 | Vitesse Semiconductor | 252 |
| 11 | Teledyne Scientific & Imaging | 188 |
| 12 | Data Exchange | 165 |
Camarillo Airport (ICAO: KCMA, FAA LID: CMA) is a public airport located three miles (5 km) west of the central business district of Camarillo. The airport has one runway and exclusively serves privately-operated general aviation and executive aircraft with no scheduled commercial service.
The airport was originally established in 1942 when the California State Highway Department constructed an auxiliary landing field with a 5,000 ft (1,500 m) runway, which was later extended to 8,000 ft (2,400 m) in 1951 to accommodate what by then had developed into Oxnard Air Force Base. The airport runway was further extended in 1959 to accommodate jet fighter aircraft such as the Northrop F-89 and McDonnell F-101B, used as part of the Los Angeles area Air Defense network. In Mid-1960s the base received 17 new F-106 Delta Darts. On January 1, 1970, Oxnard AFB was deactivated and the base became surplus property. Oxnard had 99 Officers and 990 enlisted assigned prior to its closing. The last commanding officer of the 414th Fighter Group was Colonel Paul D. Cofer.
Camarillo Airport now serves as the current base of operations of the Ventura County Sheriff's Department Aviation Unit and the home of the VCSD's Training Facility and Academy, the Ventura County Criminal Justice Training Center. The Camarillo Airport also serves as the base of operations for the Ventura County Fire Department and facilitates the Oxnard College Regional Fire Academy and the Ventura County Reserve Officers Training Center.
Camarillo has one train station, served by both Amtrak's Pacific Surfliner from San Luis Obispo to San Diego and Metrolink's Ventura County Line from Los Angeles Union Station to Montalvo. Nine Pacific Surfliner trains serve the station daily and six Metrolink trains serve the station each weekday. This limited Metrolink service runs only at peak hours in the peak direction of travel (i.e. three morning departures to Los Angeles and three evening arrivals from Los Angeles).[21]
CAT operates one scheduled bus line on Monday through Friday within Camarillo, and Dial-A-Ride services for the disabled on Monday through Saturday. VISTA operates buses between Camarillo and several nearby cities, including the Conejo Express to the Warner Center area in western Los Angeles County.
A rural region northeast of Camarillo, California may be referred to as Santa Rosa or Camrosa. Camrosa is believed to be a contraction of Camarillo and Santa Rosa. The area includes just over a five mile (8 km) distance along Santa Rosa Road from the city limit east to Moorpark Road. The area is unincorporated as of 2007. Wired telephone service to the area appears comes from the Camarillo telephone exchange, while homes on the hillside overlooking the valley (from the south) are from Thousand Oaks.[22] Geographic features supporting these names include:
This Santa Rosa is not the same as the Sonoma County city of the same name.
Notable current and former residents of Camarillo include, in alphabetical order:
| Ventura Santa Barbara U.S. 101 |
Saticoy Santa Paula SR 34, SR 118 |
Somis Moorpark SR 34, SR 118 |
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| Oxnard U.S. 101 SR 34 |
Santa Rosa Valley | |||
| Camarillo | ||||
| Port Hueneme Point Mugu |
CSU Channel Islands Santa Monica Mountains |
Thousand Oaks Los Angeles U.S. 101 |
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