Oxnard, California

Oxnard is the most populous city in Ventura County with a population of 197,889 as of the 2010 census. The beach front city is located west of Camarillo and south of the city of Ventura on the Pacific Ocean. It surrounds the small city of Port Hueneme. The 21 miles of beaches include Hollywood Beach, Hollywood-By-The-Sea, Madalay Beach, McGrath State Beach, Mugu Rock State Beach, Oxnard Shores, Oxnard State Beach, and Silver Strand Beach. Oxnard is also home to Channel Islands Harbor which supports over 2,500 boats and four yacht clubs. It is also home to the Elite Theatre Company.  Transportation to Channel Islands National Park is available from the harbor on a scheduled basis.  International trade is a major factor in the economy due to its proximity to the Port of Hueneme which is the only deep water commercial port between Los Angeles and San Francisco.

 

Oxnard Airport

Oxnard Airport, a general aviation airport, is owned by the County of Ventura and is located about one mile west of the central business district of Oxnard. The airport was opened in 1934, but in late 1941, it was assigned to the U.S. Navy. It was assigned back to the County of Ventura in 1948.

 

Oxnard College

Oxnard College is a two year community college, established in 1975, located in Oxnard, Ventura County. It serves primarily the Oxnard Plain cities of Oxnard, Camarillo, and Port Hueneme. Most earned credits are transferable to four year colleges and universities including California State University Channel Islands, UCLA, and Cal State Northridge. The Dental Hygienist Program consistently ranks in the top five national programs.

 

Cal Lutheran - Oxnard

California Lutheran University (CLU) which is headquartered in Thousand Oaks has an Oxnard campus located at 2201 Outlet Center Drive. The highly rated private university is affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America.

 

Oxnard Beach Park

Oxnard Beach is a public beach maintained and operated by the city of Oxnard. It is a wide sandy beach with abundant picnic areas and a large playground. The views of the Channel Islands are clear and you will see many pleasure boats that are docked at the Channel Islands Harbor.

 

River Ridge Golf Club

Vineyard Golf Course

The 18-hole championship Vineyard Golf Course at the River Ridge Golf Club in Oxnard was designed by William P. Bell & Sons. It opened in 1968 and is a public golf course. It offers impressive views of the Pacific Ocean and various areas of Ventura County.

 

Oxnard Community Concert Association

The Oxnard Community Concert Association, founded in 1945, provides a variety of high quality entertainment throughout the year at the Oxnard Performing Arts Center. Performances have included country, classical, Broadway, folk, jazz, and blues. In addition to providing concerts, the Oxnard Community Concert Association has a Student Outreach Program where musical instruments are donated to students at local Ventura County Schools.

 

New West Symphony - Oxnard

The New West Symphony, established in 1995, is the professional, resident orchestra of the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, the Oxnard Performing Arts Center, and Santa Monica’s Barnum Hall. The Symphony presents six Masterpiece series concerts annually, performing major works.

 

Community Center Park - Oxnard

Community Center Park is a community park in Oxnard featuring a baseball field, clubhouse and locker rooms, restrooms, and open space. The park is next to Community Center Park West.

 

Community Center Park West - Oxnard

Community Center Park West in Oxnard has 8 outdoor lighted tennis courts and is adjacent to Community Center Park.

 

The Murphy Auto Museum - Oxnard

The Murphy Auto Museum in Oxnard is a non-profit organization that displays more than 40 automobiles built over the last 100 plus years. Included is a 1903 Oldsmobile, 1913 Ford Model T, 1937 Packard, 1949 Cadillac, 1952 Chevrolet Suburban Woody, 1955 Bentley, 1966 Corvette Stingray, 1967 GTO, 1956 Studebaker, and many more.

 

Mullin Automotive Museum

The Mullin Automotive Museum in Oxnard, established in 2010, is a 47,000 square foot facility holding a magnificent collection of over fifty French Art Deco cars from the 1920’s and 1930’s, including Bugattis, Delages, Delahays, Hispano Suizas, Talbot - Lagos, and Voisins. The private collection, owned by Peter W. Mullin is generally open to the public one or two days per month. The museum should be contacted for information. It is absolutely worth visiting.

 

Calleguas Creek Site

The Calleguas Creek Site is a 1.4 acre archeological site in Ventura County near Oxnard. The site was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978 because it once included as many as five villages occupied by the Chumash People for several thousand years. The site includes burial grounds and has been the source of many historically valuable artifacts. The precise location has not been disclosed to the public in order to avoid private exploitation of the area.

 

Henry T. Oxnard Historic District

The Henry T. Oxnard Historic District is a 70 acre historic district in Oxnard that includes F and G Streets between Palm and 5th Street. The district was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1999 and includes 139 historic buildings mostly built before 1925. Anyone interested in the history of Oxnard and Ventura County should visit the district.

 

Heritage Square - Oxnard

Heritage Square is the historic district in Oxnard consisting of 15 beautifully restored historic structures including several restaurants. Docent guided tours are available and are absolutely a must for anyone interested in the History of Oxnard and Ventura County. Each year, the city of Oxnard sponsors Heritage Square Summer Concerts.

Heritage Square began in 1985 as a vision to preserve the historical and architectural uniqueness of turn-of-the-century Oxnard. It officially opened in 1991. Through the commitment of some of Oxnard’s original families, other investors, and the City of Oxnard, eleven homes, a church, water tower, pump house and storehouse have been moved to a single block and restored to their original condition. Serving the community as an event and cultural center and major tourist attraction, the Square offers a wide variety of community festivities and event facilities in addition to hosting over 25 businesses including restaurants, a wine tasting room, and a visitor center gift shop.

The fifteen restored historic structures in Heritage Square are:

  • Perkins Pump House
    715 South A Street
    1887 - Visitor Center
  • Perkins / Clayberg Home
    721 South A Street
    1887 - Queen Anne & Stick
  • Heritage Square Hall
    731 South A Street
    1902 - Carpenter Gothic
  • Scarlett House
    741 South A Street
    1902 - Queen Anne
  • Fry / Putenny House
    750 South B Street
    1900 - Queen Anne
  • Laurent / McGrath House
    740 South B Street
    1901 - Colonial Revival
  • Justin Petit Ranch House
    730 South B Street
    1896 - Queen Anne
  • Maulhardt Storehouse / Winery
    720 South B Street
    1876 - Replica
  • Patterson / Hartveld Ranch House
    710 South B Street
    1905 - Colonial Revival
  • Snively / Ruggles Ranch
    230 Seventh Street
    1885 - Classical Revival
  • Pfeiler Ranch House
    220 Seventh Street
    1877 - Italiante
  • Petre Ranch House
    210 Seventh Street
    1912 - California Bungalow
  • Connelly Ranch House
    200 Seventh Street
    1912 - Craftsman & Prairie
  • Gordon Ranch House
    711 South A Street
    1910 - Tudor / Craftsman
  • Pfeiler Water Tower
    South of Pfeiler House
    1877 - 3,000 Gallon Tank

Channel Islands Maritime Museum

The Channel Islands Maritime Museum, at the Channel Islands Harbor in Oxnard, has constantly changing exhibitions including numerous ship models and world class maritime art. Memberships are available and there is a great gift shop where unique items can be found.

 

The Woolworth Museum - Oxnard

Oxnard is home to the only Woolworth Museum in the world. The building is located at 210 West Fourth Street and consists of a 16,800 square foot circa 1950 retail building. The museum includes great photos covering the period 1879 through the 1960s, lunch counters, vending machines, antiques, menus, original merchandise, articles from the F. W. Woolworth Building in New York, and more. The F. W. Woolworth Building in New York was built in 1913 and once stood as the tallest building in the world. F. W. Woolworth, creator of the original five-and-dime stores, ceased operating under the Woolworth name in 1997. The firm currently operates as Foot Locker. The museum is definitely worth visiting.

 

Plaza Park - Oxnard

Plaza Park is a community park located in downtown Oxnard at W. 5th Street and South B Street. The park was the original city square. Four centered paths lead into the park from each bordering street where they meet at a large central pagoda built in 1910. The park provides lots of green open space and mature shade trees.

 

Carnegie Art Museum

Carnegie Cultural Arts Center

The Carnegie Arts Museum is a Neo-Classical building and art museum in Oxnard next to Plaza Park. It opened in 1907 as the Oxnard Public Library and was later renamed the Carnegie Cultural Arts Center in 1977 before becoming the Carnegie Art Museum in 1986. In 1971, the museum became the first building in Ventura County to be listed on the National Register of Historical Places. The museum has a permanent collection of nearly 1,600 paintings, drawings, photographs, and prints primarily from 20th century artists.

 

Oxnard Recreation and Community Services

The city of Oxnard provides three centers that are operated by Oxnard Recreation and Community Services. The centers are the Wilson Senior Center, the South Oxnard Senior Center, and the Colonia Senior Center. The three centers offer classes, excursions, book clubs, art classes, social services, and much more.

 

Oxnard Public Library

The Oxnard Public Library is owned and operated by the city of Oxnard and consists of three facilities: the Downtown Main Library, the South Oxnard Branch Library, and the Colonia Branch Library. The main library has 22 computers and a homework center for children of all ages.

 

Oxnard Adult School

Oxnard Adult School provides adult students with the opportunity to learn new careers, upgrade skills for existing careers, learn English, improve English skills, and more. The main campus is at 1101 W. 2nd Street in Oxnard. Some classes are offered in Camarillo. The cost is low and the quality offered is high.

 

EI Rio

EI Rio is a small unincorporated area adjacent to Oxnard and surrounded by Oxnard partially in all directions. The Ventura County town was founded in 1875 and was then named New Jerusalem. Its name was changed to EI Rio in 1895 which is the Spanish name for "the river" which is north and west of EI Rio. Much of EI Rio has been annexed to Oxnard over the years.

 

 

California Historical Landmarks in Ventura County

National Register of Historic Places in Ventura County

 

 

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