The Strawberry & Lima Bean Capital of the World

The City of Oxnard is located in Ventura County, about 60 miles northwest of the City of Los Angeles and 35 miles south of Santa Barbara. The differences between Los Angeles and Ventura Counties are immediately visible here: Oxnard is surrounded by farms and orchards. In fact, Oxnard is home to some of the richest agricultural land in the world. It has grown from cattle ranching to agriculture to the defense industry to a diversified community of commercial, industrial, agricultural and residential development.

Oxnard is a major transportation hub for Ventura County, housing the only deepwater port between Los Angeles and San Francisco, major commuter lines like the Ventura Freeway, Amtrak, Union Pacific, Metrolink and Greyhound and providing commuter flights from Oxnard Airport to Los Angeles International Airport. Two naval bases make their home amongst Oxnard real estate: Point Mugu and Port Hueneme. Point Mugu is part of the Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division and Port Hueneme is the busiest commercial port between Los Angeles and San Francisco.

Oxnard’s History
The first Europeans settled the area with the establishment of the nearby San Buenaventura Mission. When California became a state in 1850, more and more people started settling in Oxnard. Agriculture, specifically barley and lima beans, were the main industry at that time. In 1899, the Southern Pacific Railroad laid track directly to Oxnard’s American Sugar Beet Factory. The factory created jobs and workers increased the city’s population, leading to the formation of the Oxnard Improvement Company, which laid out a town around a town square.

After its incorporation in 1903, the town prospered for many years, building stores, restaurants, laundries, banks salons and hotels. The library, built-in 1907, is the only original building from this era to still be standing today.

During the Great Depression, Oxnard’s location on one of the main waterways along the west coast allowed it to add commercial water shipping to its long list of businesses. Canneries and steamship companies lined up to utilize Oxnard’s waterfront property.

World War II brought another growth spurt to Oxnard real estate with the establishment of the Port Hueneme naval base. Point Mugu Naval Air Station came along in 1946 and the Oxnard Air Force Base was opened in 1952, adding the defense industry to Oxnard’s economic base. Even with the beet factory’s closure in 1958, Oxnard’s economy never suffered, thanks to its diverse economic base. Oxnard has continued to grow and thrive to the present day.

Education in Oxnard
Students attend public schools in Oxnard run by the Hueneme Elementary School District, Ocean View Elementary School District, Oxnard Union High School District, Oxnard Elementary School District and Rio Elementary School District. There are 32 elementary schools, nine middle schools, eight high schools and one charter school operating in Oxnard. Additionally, parents have 13 private schools to choose from as an alternative to public education for their children.

Oxnard Tourism
One of the many industries that are cultivated amongst Oxnard real estate is tourism. Some of the top attractions include the Herzog Wine Cellars, the Murphy Auto Museum, Centennial Plaza in downtown Oxnard, Channel Islands Harbor, the Carnegie Art Museum, the Ventura County Maritime Museum, Heritage Square, Scarlett Belle Paddlewheel Riverboat and even kart racing. There are also several parks to visit while in Oxnard. With the fabulous shopping and dining available, it’s easy to see why Oxnard has flourished throughout its history.