Once a sleepy seaside agricultural community, Oxnard has grown considerably in recent years. The harbor is a major draw for boaters and serves as the shipping-off point for excursions to Channel Islands National Park. The town returns to its agricultural roots every May for the California Strawberry Festival.
Oxnard and Ventura are shoreline communities with the Coast Range in their backyards and the Pacific Ocean at their doorsteps. Ventura's Mission San Buenaventura, founded in 1782, was the last mission to be dedicated by Franciscan Junipero Serra. Be sure to tour the new 31-mile Scenic Coastal Drive that weaves through the coastal cities of Port Hueneme, Oxnard and Ventura.
Oxnard is located on the Pacific Coast in Southern California. It is approximately 62 miles northwest of downtown Los Angeles and 35 miles south of Santa Barbara. With a population of just over 158,000 (1999) it is the largest city in Ventura County. Oxnard has a mild climate with an average maximum temperature of about 70º. It is always a surprise to homebuyers new to the area that only one in about a thousand homes have air conditioning!
Oxnard is named after the family that developed the first major industry here, a sugar beet factory in the 1890's. From time to time someone suggests changing Oxnard's name to something else--Channel Islands to name one example. So far, it's still Oxnard! (Although many folks do refer to the area or Oxnard adjacent to the harbor and beach as Channel Islands.) That's why we say "Oxnard... more than just a pretty name."
Oxnard has a commuter service airport that accommodates small aircraft. Shuttles there will take you to and from Los Angeles International Airport. The Channel Islands Harbor in Oxnard is a classic seaside area offering everything for the ocean lover--Fisherman's Wharf, the Maritime Museum, many fine restaurants and shops. It is a favorite hangout for tourists and locals alike.
Housing ranges from modest to magnificent. And Oxnard has the best housing values in Ventura County. The beach neighborhoods, Oxnard Shores, Hollywood Beach, Hollywood-by-the-Sea, Silverstrand are the some of the nicest and most affordable to be found anywhere between Los Angeles and Santa Barbara. The Channel Islands Marina extends under Harbor Boulevard with single family homes and condos on the water.
Slightly inland, there are more housing choices, from Historic "F" Street and the surrounding neighborhood with its classic "California Craftsman" homes, to the homes and townhomes surrounding the River Ridge Golf Course. Oxnard has something for everyone.
Surrounded by acres of rich farmland, miles of uncrowded beaches, and boasting one of the best climates in the world, you may find Oxnard the perfect place to call home.
Just off the coast, the Channel Islands National Park, an archipelago comprised of five islands, is the only U.S. wildlife sanctuary of its kind. It can be reached by boat or plane from Oxnard's Channel Islands Harbor or Ventura Harbor. Head for the big island of Santa Cruz to stroll on pristine beaches.
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