Get to know Oxnard, CA

The Ventura County city of Oxnard lies roughly 30 miles west of Los Angeles.  Henry T. Oxnard, founder of American Crystal Sugar Company, was enticed to the area in 1897.  He and his three brothers operated a successful sugar beet factory in Chino and sought to open a factory inland from Port Hueneme.  Oxnard intended to name the community Zachari, the Greek word for sugar, but called it after himself after facing bureaucratic frustrations.  The town continued to grow when a railroad station was built in 1898 to accommodate the plant.  The City of Oxnard was incorporated in 1903.  Aerospace and communication industries developed during World War II.  The city developed throughout the 20th century, spreading out from the downtown area to build homes and space for industry, retail, and the new Channel Islands Harbor.  Defense, international trade, agriculture, manufacturing, and tourism form the economic base of Oxnard today.  St. John’s Regional Medical Center, the Oxnard Unified High School District, and Waterway Plastics are the main employers in the city.

Quick Facts

Population: 203,495

Median Household Income: $60,621

Median Property Value: $345,800