Oxnard, California: Difference between revisions

File:Oxnard City Logo.jpg

Skyline of Oxnard.

Customized street sign in Oxnard. Such designs are for nearly every street sign in the city.

The City of Oxnard is the largest city in Ventura County in terms of population, as well as one of the world's most important agricultural centers, with it's distinction as the strawberry and lima bean capital. It was incorporated as a city in California in 1903, and named after the Oxnard brothers who opened a sugar factory on it’s plains in 1882. As of the 2000 census, it has a population of 170,358, but a May 1, 2005 California Department of Finance estimate shows the city's population at just over 200,000, with the Oxnard-Ventura Metropolitan Area at nearly half a million people. The city is home to two large Navy bases (Port Hueneme and Point Mugu), and the Port of Hueneme is the busiest commercial port between Los Angeles and San Francisco. Oxnard is also a major tranist hub in Southern California, with Amtrack, Union Pacific, Metrolink, Greyhound, Intercalifornias and many others stopping in Oxnard. Oxnard also has a regional airport called Oxnard Airport, but it's only destination is Los Angeles International Airport. There are plans to construct an international airport in the Oxnard region in the near future. People are attracted to the city for its near-perfect weather, its miles of unspoiled beaches, its vibrant economy (home to several major companies), its unique ambience, and the opportunity to realize the "American Dream."

History

The Chumash Indians were the first residents of the Oxnard area. Later, in 1542, Portuguese explorer Juan Rodriquez Cabrillo sailed into Point Mugu lagoon. Cabrillo dubbed what he found "the land of everlasting summers" and claimed the land for King Charles I of Spain. Occasionally, one might see around town an old bumper sticker declaring that "Oxnard is Not Just Another Pretty Name," and a frequently asked question is "How did Oxnard get its name? Few people know how the City of Oxnard got its name. Its founder, Henry T. Oxnard, intended to name the city after a Greek word for "sugar". Finally, frustrated with trying to communicate his desires to the state bureacrat, he gave up and named the city after his family. The earliest inhabitants of the Oxnard areas were the Chumash Indians who lived in round, thatched houses and were known for their well constructed plank canoes and fine basket work. After a number of Spanish explorations, Jose de Galvez, utilizing powers bestowed upon him by King Charles III, appointed Father Junipero Serra to head missions in Alta California. Mission San Buenaventura was the half-way point between the San Diego and Monterey missions and was established in 1782. Pueblo life and sprawling ranchos began to spring up around the site of the mission, and Californio families exerted their influence until the State of California was added to the Union in 1850.g the mid nineteenth century, immigrants began to pour in from the east coast and Europe. The major industry, agriculture, produced great crops of barley and lima beans. Achille and Henry Levy opened an agricultural brokerage business in 1882, and finally a bank, which encouraged and assisted farmers. Then, in 1897, ranchers Albert Maulhardt and Johannes Borchard believed sugar beets would be a profitable crop for the area, and invited Henry Oxnard to construct a local factory to process the harvests. Oxnard and his three brothers operated the American Beet Sugar factory in Chino, California and encouraged by a pledge of 18,000 acres of sugar beets from local farmers, built a factory in the heart of the rich fields. The Southern Pacific Railroad constructed a spur right to the factory site so the processed beets could be shipped out A town quickly sprang up near the factory. Almost overnight businesses and residences appeared around the town square, called the "Plaza", and schools and churches emerged almost as rapidly. The City of Oxnard was incorporated in 1903, taking its name from the Oxnard brothers who had founded the sugar beet factory. The factory attracted many Chinese, Japanese and Mexican workers to Oxnard and the sugar beet industry brought diversification to agriculture. Major crops then included beans, beets, and barley, and businesses in town consisted of general merchandise, restaurants, laundries, saloons, and banks. Oxnard built its first public library, a classically styled, Andrew Carnegie gift, on the north-west corner of the plaza in 1907. The building stands today as a county historical landmark and is the only remaining structure from the early days of the plaza. Agriculture has remained the major industry, but Oxnard has witnessed a steady population increase beginning in the 1940's. The establishment of military bases at Port Hueneme and Point Mugu during World War II, and the rise of electronic, aerospace, and other manufacturing industries have contributed to the growth of the city and its surrounding metropolitan area.

Geography

Oxnard is located at 34°11'29" North, 119°10'57" West (34.191292, -119.182497)Template:GR.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 94.8 km² (36.6 mi²). 65.6 km² (25.3 mi²) of it is land and 29.2 km² (11.3 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 30.83% water.

The weather conditions are generally considered to be the best in the world. No other place is as temperate or as consistently sunny and dry.

Demographics

The 2005 population of Oxnard is estimated to be over 200,000 people. As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there are 170,358 people, 43,576 households, and 34,947 families residing in the city. The population density is 2,598.8/km² (6,729.7/mi²). There are 45,166 housing units at an average density of 689.0/km² (1,784.2/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 42.08% White, 3.78% African American, 1.26% Native American, 7.39% Asian, 0.41% Pacific Islander, 40.36% from other races, and 4.72% from two or more races. 66.22% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There are 43,576 households out of which 46.1% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.4% are married couples living together, 14.1% have a female householder with no husband present, and 19.8% are non-families. 14.6% of all households are made up of individuals and 5.6% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 3.85 and the average family size is 4.16.

In the city the population is spread out with 31.8% under the age of 18, 11.8% from 18 to 24, 31.0% from 25 to 44, 17.3% from 45 to 64, and 8.1% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 29 years. For every 100 females there are 104.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 104.0 males.

The median income for a household in the city is $48,603, and the median income for a family is $49,150. Males have a median income of $30,643 versus $25,381 for females. The per capita income for the city is $15,288. 15.1% of the population and 11.4% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 18.4% of those under the age of 18 and 8.8% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.

External links

• City of Oxnard website