ZIP Code 93001

Ventura, officially named San Buenaventura (Spanish for "Saint Bonaventure"), is a city on the Southern Coast of California and the county seat of Ventura County. The population was 110,763 at the 2020 census. Ventura is a popular tourist destination, owing to its historic landmarks, beaches, and resorts. The city was founded by the Spanish in 1782, when Saint Junípero Serra established Mission SanBuenaventure. The 1920s brought a major oil boom, which along with the postWorld War II economic expansion, significantly developed and expanded Ventura. The largest concentration of activity, known as China Alley, was just across Main Street from the Main Street pier. The Ventura Chumash were in contact with the Channel Islands Chumashing. Both mainland and island ChumASH utilized large plank-sewn seagoing canoes, called Tomol, with the island people bringing shell bead money, island chert, and sea otter pelts to trade for mainland products like acorns and deer meat. The first mission burned in 1801 and a replacement building of brick and stone was completed in 1809. The bell tower and facade of the new mission was destroyed by an 1812 earthquake. The Mission was rebuilt and functions as a parish church. After the Civil War, settlers came to the area, buying land from the Mexicans, including railroad magnate Thomas A. Bardate. By 1917, the longest wooden pier in California had been rebuilt to 1,700 feet in length.

History

Archaeological discoveries in the area suggest that humans have populated the region for at least 10,00012,000 years. Archaeological research demonstrates that the Chumash people have deep roots in central and southern coastal regions of California. The Ventura Oil Field produced 90,000 barrels per day (14,000 m3/d) at its peak in 1919. The Battle of San Buenaventura was fought in 1838 between competing armies from northern and southern California. Ventura Pier was built in 1872 at a cost of $45,000 and was the longest wooden pier in California. Landmarks built during the oil boom include the First Baptist Church of Ventura (1926), the Mission Theatre (1928), and the Hotel Santa Clara (1930). The city of Ventura is located on the banks of the Santa Clara River, which flows down the Ventura River to the San Francisco Bay. The city is home to the Ventura Museum, which was founded in 1859. The town's name is derived from the Ventura Chumashing, a Native American tribe. The first recorded European visitors to inland areas of California were the Spanish Portolà expedition in 1769. The area was settled sometime around 1000 A.D. and was known as "Ventura" until the 1800s when the name was changed to "California" by the U.S. Department of the Interior. It is now the site of the Ventura International Airport, a major international airport, and the Ventura Airport, which opened in 1959.

Geography

Ventura is located northwest of Los Angeles on the California coast. The western portion of the city stretches north along the Ventura River which is characterized by a narrow valley with steeply sloped areas along both sides. Much of the eastern portion is on a relatively flat alluvial coastal plain lying along the western edge of the Oxnard Plain. The city is within a seismically active region like much of California and is crossed by several potentially active fault systems. The Ventura Fault is capable of an 8.0 earthquake and a local tsunami up to 23 feet in height. According to the United States Census Bureau, Ventura has a total area of 32.1 square miles (83 km²), of which 21.7 square mile (56 km²) is land and 10.4 square miles [27 km²], comprising 32.53% is water. The sea breeze off the Pacific Ocean moderating temperatures. It is not uncommon for the city to be affected by Santa Ana winds off the Transverse Ranges on occasion, which increase temperatures dramatically. The town has a Mediterranean climate, typical of most coastal California cities. It has a population of around 2,000. The population of Ventura was 2,100 in the 2010 census. The area of the town is about 32.4 sq miles (81 km²). It is located on the northern tip of the Santa Clara River Valley, which forms the city's southerly boundary. It extends up to the beginning of the Christmas River Valley at the historic community of Saticoy.

Demographics

The 2010 United States Census reported that Ventura had a population of 106,433. The racial makeup of the city was 78.8% White, 1.4% African American, 3.0% Asian, 0.2% Pacific Islander, 11.1% from other races, and 4.3% from two or more races. The population was spread out, with 23,918 people (22.5%) under the age of 18, 9,581 people (9.0%) aged 18 to 24, 28,814 people (27.1%) aged 25 to 44, 29,957 people (28.1!) aged 45 to 64, and 14,163 people (13.3%) who were 65 years of age or older. There were 42,827 housing units at an average density of 1,334.4 per square mile (515.2/km²), of which 22,600 (55.9%) were owner-occupied, and 17,838 (44.1) were occupied by renters. In 2000, there were 100,916 people, 38,524 households, and 25,233 families residing in the city. The average household size was 2.57, and the average family size was 3.14. In 2010, the city's population was 105,000, and its population density was 3,316.2 inhabitants per squaremile (1,280.4/km 2). The city's median age was 39.0 years.

Economy

Ventura is a popular tourist destination in Southern California. Businesses related to tourism and hospitality account for a significant portion of Ventura's economic activity. Ventura Ventures Technology Center was created as an economic engine to develop jobs and companies locally, as well as attract entrepreneurs to the area. Top employers in the city are: Patagonia, Petunia Pickle Bottom, The Barna Group, and The Trade Desk. Cannabis is legal in California, but local governments can prohibit companies from growing, testing, and selling cannabis within their jurisdiction by licensing none or only some of these activities. The City Council adopted a resolution allowing a maximum number of cannabis businesses in theCity in February 2021. The ordinances allow up to three retail permits and up to 10 distribution permits. Three retail and one distribution business without a retail component can begin to work with the city on safety, security, odor control and other issues before opening for business. Two more permits for the city's coastal zone, which includes downtown could be issued after further information is received from the California Coastal Commission. In October 2022, the City Manager selected four businesses to be allowed to operate in the City after a lengthy application and ranking process. The city's 2020 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report is available at www.ventura.org/economic-reports/2020-comprehensive-annual-financial-report. For confidential support call the Samaritans on 08457 90 90 90, visit a local Samaritans branch or see www.samaritans.org for details.

Arts and culture

The Majestic Ventura Theater is an early 20th-century landmark in the downtown. The Ventura County Fairgrounds has hosted acts such as Jimi Hendrix, The Grateful Dead, Phish, Smokey Robinson, All American Rejects, Smash Mouth, and Sugar Ray. Downtown includes restaurants, wine bars, breweries, and the Rubicon Theatre Company. There are three branches of the Ventura County Library in the City of Ventura: E.P. Foster Library on Main Street, Avenue Library on Ventura Avenue, and Hill Road Library on the east side of the city. The Evelyn and Howard Boroughs Library of Ventura College, dedicated in 2005, serves the students, faculty and staff of the college as well as the general public of Ventura County. The Channel Islands National Park Headquarters is also located at the harbor, and boats to the Channel Islands depart daily. In Plaza Park (Chestnut and Santa Clara streets, downtown) stands a large Moreton Bay fig tree. Across the street, the main post office has murals on interior walls commissioned by the Section of Painting and Sculpture of the U.S. Treasury Department as New Deal art. In early October 2017, one of the trees on a hilltop, visible from much of Ventura, was destroyed by high winds. Access to the hill is private property, and it is not possible to get to the other side of it through private property. The city's downtown is home to the Mission San Buenaventura, museums, galleries, dining and shopping.

Sports

Ventura is famed for the quality and frequency of the surfing conditions at spots such as Surfer's Point near the Ventura County Fairgrounds. Ventura is the home to the soccer clubs Ventura County Football Club and Ventura County Fusion, of the USL Premier Development League. It is also the home of the Santa Catalina High School football team and the Ventura High School swimming and diving team. The city is home to a number of charities, including the Ventura Rotary Club, which was established in 1883. The Ventura County Museum is located in the city's historic downtown area. The Santa Catalinos Museum is also located in Ventura. The town's main attraction is the Ventura Opera House, which dates back to the 17th century. It was built in the 19th century and is one of the oldest theaters in the U.S., along with the Santa Barbara Opera House and the Santa Cruz Opera House. It has been home to some of the world's most famous artists, including Salvador Dali, Mathewson, Picasso and Toni Morrison, and is the site of the California State Museum. It also hosts the annual Ventura International Film Festival, which runs until the end of the year in the town of Ventura. In the summer, the city is known for its surfing, particularly at the popular surf spots Surfer’s Point and Surfers’ Point. The area is also famous for its nightlife, with many nightclubs, bars and restaurants, and a variety of live music venues.

Government

Ventura had an at-large system of electing council members but changed to seven council districts in 2018 due to threatened legal action based on the California Voting Rights Act. Council members have 4-year terms and their elections are staggered so three or four are up for re-election every two years. The council elects from among its own members a mayor and deputy mayor who serve two-year term. Ventura is located within California's 26th congressional district, with Julia Brownley currently serving as its representative in the U.S. Congress. The city of San Buenaventura is located in Ventura County, California and is home to the University of California, San Diego. The university is a member of the California State University system and the California Institute of the Arts. The University of San Diego is a constituent city of Ventura County and is the home of the College of Arts and Sciences. It is located on the Santa Catalina Peninsula and is known as the "Gateway to the Pacific Coast" and is located near the town of Santa Barbara. The town has a population of 2.5 million and is one of the fastest growing cities in the United States. It was founded in 1858 and was the site of the Spanish-American War in the early 1800s. It has been home to a number of prominent figures in the arts and culture, such as the painter Salvador Dali and the sculptor Diego Gómez-Maldonado. It also has a history of being a center for the arts, particularly the playwrights.

Education

Ventura has four college campuses: Ventura College, Southern California Institute of Law, Santa Barbara Business College and Ventura College. Public school students from kindergarten through 12th grade attend schools in the Ventura Unified School District. Private schools include St. Bonaventure High School, a Catholic school, Ventura County Christian School, Ventura Missionary School, evangelical Christian schools, and Holy Cross School, Sacred Heart, and Our Lady of the Assumption, Roman Catholic schools for grades pre-kindergarten through 8. Ventura College is a community college, part of the Ventura County Community College District. The Brooks Institute of Photography shut down in 2016 after many years in the community. The Ventura High School District has five high schools: Ventura High in the midtown area, Buena High in east Ventura, Foothill Technology High school, Pacific High School and El Camino High School. The school district also has an independent study program located on the Ventura College campus. The Ventura College of Law is a non-profit law school founded in 1969. It is located in the city's downtown area and is part of Ventura College's community college district. It offers a variety of programs, including law, business, business and health care. It also offers a private law program, Ventura College Law School, which is located on its campus. The college is a member of the California State University, Los Angeles (CSULA) system, which offers a number of programs for lawyers and other professionals. It was founded by the University of California at Los Angeles in 1968.

Infrastructure

The major road through Ventura is the Ventura Freeway (U.S. Route 101) The downtown Ventura Amtrak Station is served by Amtrak's Pacific Surfliner from San Luis Obispo to San Diego. The East Ventura Station, in the historic Montalvo neighborhood, serves as the western terminus of the Ventura County Line of the Metrolink commuter rail system. Local bus service is provided by Gold Coast Transit. Commuter and intercity bus services are provided by VCTC Intercity and by MTD to Santa Barbara. The city of Ventura provides water to its residents and some unincorporated areas near the city. Water sources are Lake Casitas, the Ventura River, and groundwater. The water system includes 3 treatment plants, 10 wells, and 27 reservoirs. Sanitary sewer services are treated at a single plant in 1955. The plant, within a former portion of the estuary of the Santa Clara River, has ponds of treated water that attract birds. Some recycled water from the plant is used for landscaping and other non potable uses. The town of Ventura has a population of 2.2 million. The population of Ventura was 2.3 million in the year 2000, and is expected to grow to 2.6 million by 2015. It is the most populous city in California, with a population growth rate of 0.7%. The city's population has grown at a rate of 1.7 percent per year since the early 1990s. It has an unemployment rate of 3.1 per cent.

Air Quality, Water Quality, Superfund Sites & UV Index

The Air Quality index is in Ventura, Ventura County, California = 24. These Air Quality index is based on annual reports from the EPA. Higher values are better (100=best). The number of ozone alert days is used as an indicator of air quality, as are the amounts of seven pollutants including particulates, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, lead, and volatile organic chemicals. The Water Quality Index is 44. A measure of the quality of an area’s water supply as rated by the EPA. Higher values are better (100=best). The EPA has a complex method of measuring the watershed quality, using 15 indicators such as pollutants, turbidity, sediments, and toxic discharges. The Superfund Sites Index is 81. Higher is better (100=best). Based upon the number and impact of EPA Superfund pollution sites in the county, including spending on the cleanup efforts. The UV Index in Ventura = 6 and is a measure of an area's exposure to the sun's ultraviolet rays. This is most often a combination of sunny weather, altitude, and latitude. The UV Index has been defined by the WHO (www.who.int/news-room/questions-and-answers/item/radiation-the-ultraviolet-(uv)-index) and is uniform worldwide.

Employed

The most recent city population of 110,763 individuals with a median age of 39 age the population grows by 4.31% in Ventura, Ventura County, California population since 2000 and are distributed over a density of 3,400 residents per square mile of area (1,300/km²). There are average 2.57 people per household in the 39,931 households with an average household income of $65,746 a year. The unemployment rate in Alabama is 10.00% of the available work force and has dropped -6.07% over the most recent 12-month period and the projected change in job supply over the next decade based on migration patterns, economic growth, and other factors will increase by 17.86%. The number of physicians in Ventura per 100,000 population = 190.7.

Weather

The annual rainfall in Ventura = 14.4 inches and the annual snowfall = 0 inches. The annual number of days with measurable precipitation (over .01 inch) = 31. The average number of days per year that are predominantly sunny = 272. 74 degrees Fahrenheit is the average daily high temperature for the month of July and 44.3 degrees Fahrenheit is the average daily low temperature for the month of January. The Comfort Index (higher=better) is 51, where higher values mean a more pleasant climate. The Comfort Index measure recognizes that humidity by itself isn't the problem. (Have you noticed nobody ever complains about the weather being 'cold and humid?) It's in the summertime that we notice the humidity the most, when it's hot and muggy. Our Comfort Index uses a combination of afternoon summer temperature and humidity to closely predict the effect that the humidity will have on people.

Median Home Cost

The percentage of housing units in Ventura, Ventura County, California which are owned by the occupant = 56.84%. A housing unit is a house, apartment, mobile home, or room occupied as separate living quarters. The average age of homes = 38 years with median home cost = $331,650 and home appreciation of -11.04%. This is the value of the years most recent home sales data. Its important to note that this is not the average (or arithmetic mean). The median home price is the middle value when you arrange all the sales prices of homes from lowest to highest. This is a better indicator than the average, because the median is not changed as much by a few unusually high or low values. The property tax rate of $7.62 shown here is the rate per $1,000 of home value. If for simplification for example the tax rate is $14.00 and the home value is $250,000, the property tax would be $14.00 x ($250,000/1000), or $3500. This is the 'effective' tax rate.

Study

The local school district spends $4,424 per student. There are 29.8 students for each teacher in the school, 2469 students for each Librarian and 542 students for each Counselor. 9.43% of the area’s population over the age of 25 with an Associate Degree or other 2-year college degree, 17.79% with a master’s degree, Ph.D. or other advanced college degree and 11.20% with high school diplomas or high school equivalency degrees (GEDs).