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About Ventura County, California

Facts and General Information About Ventura County

Ventura County was formed in 1873. The Chumash Indians were native inhabitants. Early Spanish settlers described the area as the "land of everlasting summers" and named the region "San Buenaventura", which means "good fortune."

Ventura County, a large county, with a population of around 742,000 ranks 26th in land size for California counties and covers an area of 1,873 square miles, including 43 miles of some of the most beautiful coastline in California. Along this coastline you can find some 7.5 miles of public beaches, 411 acres of State beach parks and a number of beach communities and marines. Ventura County is the gateway to Channel Islands National Park, one of only four designated national marine sanctuaries composed of five tranquil islands located a few miles off the Ventura County coast, comprising a 250,000 acre wilderness preserve and marine sanctuary. Drive approximately 13 miles inland and you will find the spectacular Los Padres National Forest which accounts for 860 square miles, or 46% of the the northern portion of the county.

Ventura County Climate. The climate is one of the main reasons people love living in this part of California. Coastal areas offer a Mediterranean climate often described as the best in the world, with average annual temperatures of 74.2 degrees. Ventura County's mountains, valleys and seashore give the area six different micro-climates, more than any other county in the nation.

Ventura County is a a general law county, governed by a five-member Board of Supervisors, elected by districts; actions taken by the Board can apply county-wide or only in unincorporated areas. The county has then incorparated cities being Camarillo, Fillmore, Moorpark, Ojai, Oxnard, Port Hueneme, Santa Paula, Simi Valley, Thousand Oaks and Ventura, which is the county seat. There are thirty-five independent Special Districts providing services that range from water to sanitation, parks and recreation, resource conservation, community services and cemetery.

Ventura County Schools. The county has outstanding school districts with State and National Academic Decathalon winning high schools where scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) scores have consistently exceeded both State and National averages for the past 10 years. For higher education you will find, three community colleges which are located in Ventura, Oxnard and Moorpark; Cal State Channel in Camarillo; California Lutheran University, an independent four-year liberal arts and graduate institution is located in Thousand Oaks and Branch and satellite campus operations of California State University Northridge and the University of California at Santa Barbara are located in Ventura.

Ventura County Economics. A strong economic base with a large and diverse labor pool, the area includes major industries such as Agriculture, Biotechnology, Telecommunications & Advanced Technologies, Manufacturing, Tourism, Military Testing and Development makes Ventura County a very attactive place to do buisness. The Port of Hueneme is the State's smallest and only deep-water port between Los Angeles and San Francisco, and plays a significant role in the local economy. The port serves as the western U.S. distribution network for many imported vehicles and is a major shipping point for agriculture with the largest refrigerated fruit terminal on the west coast; primarily bananas and lemons. The United States Navy, which has a combined economic impact to the County of about 1.2 billion a year represents the largest employer in the region.

Ventura County Real Estate. Home values in Ventura County range from $300,000 to $4,000,000 with and average sales price for a single family home at around $650,000. Whatever type of home you are looking for you can find it in Ventura County. For example, there are Beach homes and water front homes along the coast. Hill side homes with fantastic ocean or mountain views in Ventura. There country estates with acreage, small ranches, farm land, townhomes, condominiums, mobile homes, gated communities and retirement communities. Call us (805.640.8354) or send us an e-mail with your questions about Ventura County Real Estate.

Other reasons people are attracted to Ventura County are:

  • Ventura County SAFE CITIES - The cities of Thousand Oaks and Simi Valley consistently rank at the top (one and two) of the FBI's annual ranking of safest cities in the nation with populations of 100,000 +.
  • Ventura County RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES - Numerous year - round activities range from walking on the beach to enjoying a concert in a park, sailing to the Channel Islands, or hiking in the Los Padres National Forest, camping and fishing at one of the lakes, golfing at a championship course, surfing at some of the best surfing beaches in the state, biking or jogging on beautiful bike paths, or horseback riding on a mountain trail.
  • Ventura County CULTURAL ACTIVITIES - Ventura County is home to the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum which is located in Simi Valley, the Fillmore and Western historic railway offering train rides, the San Buenaventura Mission, the Union Oil Museum in Santa Paula, art galleries featuring the work of world famous artists in Ojai and a state-of-the-art Civic Arts Plaza in Thousand Oaks offering symphony, ballet and a variety of quality theatrical performances.
  • Ventura County TRANSPORTATION - U.S. Highway 101 is the major route linking Ventura County to Los Angeles and to the north. Also available are Metrolink commuter trains and Amtrak.

Where is Ventura County

The map below shows you the location of Ventura County. Ventura County is located between Los Angeles County and Santa Barbara County in California.

Ventura County Map

Looking at Ventura County from above: Mountains, the oceans, lakes and valleys.

Ventura County Terrain

Ventura County Terrain

Ventura County Mountains and Valleys

Ventura County Resources