| City of Santa Paula | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| — City — | |||
|
|||
| Location in Ventura County and the state of California | |||
| Coordinates: | |||
| Country | United States | ||
| State | California | ||
| County | Ventura | ||
| Government | |||
| • N/A | |||
| • Senate | Sharon Runner (R) | ||
| • Assembly | Jeff Gorell (R) | ||
| • U. S. Congress | Elton Gallegly (R) | ||
| Area[1] | |||
| • Total | 4.707 sq mi (12.189 km2) | ||
| • Land | 4.593 sq mi (11.895 km2) | ||
| • Water | 0.114 sq mi (0.294 km2) 2.41% | ||
| Elevation | 279 ft (85 m) | ||
| Population (2010) | |||
| • Total | 29,321 | ||
| • Density | 6,229.2/sq mi (2,405.5/km2) | ||
| Time zone | Pacific (PST) (UTC-8) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | PDT (UTC-7) | ||
| ZIP codes | 93060-93061 | ||
| Area code(s) | 805 | ||
| FIPS code | 06-70042 | ||
| GNIS feature ID | 1652793 | ||
| Website | www.ci.santa-paula.ca.us | ||
Santa Paula is a city within Ventura County, California, United States. The population was 29,321 at the 2010 census, up from 28,598 at the 2000 census. It has been dubbed the "Citrus Capital of the World." As the initial headquarters of the Union Oil Company of California, Santa Paula was one of the early centers of California's enormous petroleum industry.
Contents |
Santa Paula is located at (34.355792, -119.068425).[2]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 4.7 square miles (12 km2), 4.6 square miles (12 km2) of it land and 0.1 square miles (0.26 km2) of it (2.41%) water.
The vicinity of Santa Paula was originally inhabited by the Chumash, a Native American people. Father Junipero Serra became active in the area during the Spanish mission period; the town takes its name from the Catholic Saint Paula. Santa Paula is located on the 1843 Rancho Santa Paula y Saticoy Mexican land grant.
In 1872 Nathan Weston Blanchard purchased 2,700 acres (10.9 km2) and founded the town of Santa Paula. Several small oil companies owned by Wallace Hardison, Lyman Stewart and Thomas R. Bard combined to become the Union Oil Company in 1890.
In April 1911, Gaston Méliès moved his Star Film Company from San Antonio, Texas to a site just north of Santa Paula.
The large South Mountain Oil Field southeast of town, just across the Santa Clara River, was discovered by the Oak Ridge Oil Company in 1916, and developed methodically through the 1920s, bringing further economic diversification and growth to the area. While the field peaked in production in the 1950s, Occidental Petroleum continues to extract oil through its Vintage Production subsidiary and remains a significant local employer.
In 1928, the town was devastated by the failure of William Mulholland's St. Francis Dam.
The 2010 United States Census[3] reported that Santa Paula had a population of 29,321. The population density was 6,230.3 people per square mile (2,405.5/km²). The racial makeup of Santa Paula was 18,458 (63.0%) White, 152 (0.5%) African American, 460 (1.6%) Native American, 216 (0.7%) Asian, 24 (0.1%) Pacific Islander, 8,924 (30.4%) from other races, and 1,087 (3.7%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 23,299 persons (79.5%).
The Census reported that 29,188 people (99.5% of the population) lived in households, 44 (0.2%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 89 (0.3%) were institutionalized.
There were 8,347 households, out of which 4,087 (49.0%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 4,767 (57.1%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 1,267 (15.2%) had a female householder with no husband present, 650 (7.8%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 540 (6.5%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 45 (0.5%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 1,331 households (15.9%) were made up of individuals and 678 (8.1%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.50. There were 6,684 families (80.1% of all households); the average family size was 3.85.
The population was spread out with 8,722 people (29.7%) under the age of 18, 3,295 people (11.2%) aged 18 to 24, 8,012 people (27.3%) aged 25 to 44, 6,193 people (21.1%) aged 45 to 64, and 3,099 people (10.6%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31.1 years. For every 100 females there were 101.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.5 males.
There were 8,749 housing units at an average density of 1,859.1 per square mile (717.8/km²), of which 4,694 (56.2%) were owner-occupied, and 3,653 (43.8%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.0%; the rental vacancy rate was 4.1%. 15,528 people (53.0% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 13,660 people (46.6%) lived in rental housing units.
As of the census of 2000, there were 28,598 people, 8,137 households, and 6,435 families residing in the city. The population density was 6,214.6 inhabitants per square mile (2,400.4/km²). There were 8,341 housing units at an average density of 1,812.6 per square mile (700.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 35.2% White, 5.41% African American, 1.02% Native American, 0.70% Asian, 0.19% Pacific Islander, .37% from other races, and 4.68% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 61.2% of the population.[4]
There were 8,136 households out of which 44.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.1% were married couples living together, 13.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 20.9% were non-families. 17.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.49 and the average family size was 3.86.
In the city the population was spread out with 31.4% under the age of 18, 10.9% from 18 to 24, 29.7% from 25 to 44, 17.3% 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 103.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 102.3 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $41,651, and the median income for a family was $45,419. Males had a median income of $32,165 versus $25,818 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,736. About 12.2% of families and 14.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.4% of those under age 18 and 9.1% of those age 65 or over.
Santa Paula's economy is primarily agriculturally based, originally focusing on the growing of oranges and lemons. Recently, however, avocados have also been grown, and an avocado was added to the city's official seal (Calavo Growers, Inc. is headquartered here.) Santa Paula's mediterranean climate combined with an estimated 20 feet (6.1 m) of topsoil have made it one of the best locations for growing citrus.
Santa Paula has very few large retail stores, the largest of which are Kmart and Vons. Many residents travel to neighboring cities to purchase hard goods. Santa Paula's Main Street area consists mostly of clothing shops, specialty shops, novelty shops, 99-cent stores, restaurants, service-oriented businesses and office space. The city is home to a smattering of neighborhood stores and small grocery markets. Many of these small shops and markets have a distinct Latin-American flavor, often selling myriad imported items. In addition some markets also have a meat department which sells a variety of beef, poultry, and seafood.
Santa Paula has often been described as a quaint town, boasting a main street reminiscent of Middle America but with a Mexican flavor. In contrast to many Southern California cities which have grown into massive metropolitan areas teeming with people, highways, and buildings, Santa Paula is an oasis of tranquility nestled between large greenbelts of citrus and avocado orchards. Unlike neighboring cities such as Oxnard and Ventura, Santa Paula suffers from very little traffic. City roads are free of congestion, and drivers on the Santa Paula Freeway (SR 126) only experience traffic in the event of a major accident. However, despite the city's lower population and semi-rural setting, Santa Paula is generally bustling with life. People are always out and about, walking, socializing, or playing sports at the city's public parks.
The California Oil Museum,[5] within the historic Union Oil building is located downtown, and the Santa Paula Museum of Art and Farm Heritage Museum are in the planning stages in the same area. The Santa Paula Mural Project has completed numerous murals depicting the city's history.
Santa Paula was the early film capital of California. Gaston Méliès brought his Star Film Company to the city in 1911, filming movies such as The Ghost of Sulphur Mountain.
Santa Paula has been featured in Hollywood media on numerous occasions, some examples include:
On the television drama The West Wing, Santa Paula is the hometown of fictional Presidential candidate Arnold Vinick (Alan Alda). In early 2005, Santa Paula Mayor Mary Ann Krause began a lobbying campaign to have Santa Paula declared Vinick's hometown. In a publicity move for the town, city officials officially "claim[ed] Senator Arnold Vinick as a resident of Santa Paula," in April 2005, and opened an official campaign headquarters for the fictional Republican Senator in the town's train depot. (Santa Paula for Vinick) On October 14, 2005, NBC released Vinick's official biography and revealed Santa Paula as the town in which he was raised. [1]
The Santa Paula Train Depot was one of the locations for the Thornbirds mini-series starting Richard Chamberlain.
Parts of the movie Disorganized Crime 1989 starring Fred Gwynne of the Munsters, was filmed downtown on Main Street.
Santa Paula also served as one of the locations for the motion picture Mr. Woodcock (2007) starring Billy Bob Thornton.
A good portion of Joe Dirt (2001) starring David Spade was filmed downtown as well as at the popular restaurant Mary B's.
The Lindsay Lohan movie Georgia Rule (2007) was filmed in Santa Paula.
The majority of the 1997 film Leave It to Beaver was filmed in Santa Paula, with many Santa Paula residents being cast in minor character roles and as extras. The famous scene of Beaver trapped in the giant coffee cup had Main Street Santa Paula blocked off for almost a week while filming continued.
Dennis DeYoung, former lead singer of the popular 1970s rock group Styx, filmed the music video for Desert Moon, also the title of his first solo album, at the Santa Paula train depot in 1984.
Also, parts of the Brian De Palma movie Carrie (1976) starring Sissy Spacek were filmed in the small town.
Other movies that were filmed partially in Santa Paula include The Philadelphia Experiment (1984), For Love of the Game (1999) Bubble Boy (2001) starring Jake Gyllenhaal and Bedtime Stories (2008) starring Adam Sandler .
The James M. Sharp House is an historical Italian Villa style house built in 1890. It is located on West Telegraph Road, just outside of Santa Paula, and has been the setting for several movies including Amityville 4 (1989), and The Black Gate (1995), and How To Make An American Quilt (1995).
Various commercials, including a Super Bowl Budweiser commercial, have been filmed in downtown Santa Paula.
| Topatopa Mountains | Fillmore Santa Clarita SR 126 |
|||
| Ventura Santa Barbara U.S. 101 |
||||
| Santa Paula | ||||
| South Mountain Camarillo |
Los Angeles I-5 via SR 126 |
|
|||||||||||||||||