Travel guideHistorySightsNightlifeMap

Oxnard History, California

Oxnard is the Ventura County, California’s largest city when it comes to population. It is situated westwards on the fertile plains of Oxnard. Founded in the year of 1903, Oxnard is a home to almost 200,000 citizens.

The great history of Oxnard

Before the Europeans arrived, this area was inhabited by the Chumash Native Americans. Later in 1542, Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo, a Spanish explorer claimed the land for Spain.

Ranching was what was taking the entire hold of the place among the Californio settlers. They had lost their very regional influence during the time California became one of the states of U.S in the year 1850. It was almost during same time that this area was being settled by the American farmers. These American farmers were the ones who were cultivating lima beans and barley.

Henry Oxnard was the person who was operating a very successful sugar beet factory along with his 3 brothers in Chino, California. He was greatly enticed for building a 2 million dollar factory over the plain inlands from the Port Hueneme. Quite shortly after beet campaign 1897, a very new town emerged. By fortuity, the Oxnard brothers never resided the namesake city.

As the town of Oxnard grew with time, a rail road station was built in spring of 1898. This was constructed to serve the plant that attracted a lot of Japanese, Mexican and Chinese population of laborers. Oxnard was incorporated in the city of California in 30 June 1903. An incredible public library was opened in the year of 1907. Before and while the World War II was going on, the Port Hueneme and Point Mugu’s naval bases were established successfully in the area. This was done to take great advantage of this area that was the only crucial navigable port over the coast of California that lay between San Francisco Bay and Port of Los Angeles. This largely encouraged the defense based aerospace and the communication industries’ development.

It was especially in the middle of the century Oxnard grew well and flourished gaining high popularity with time. It developed with the areas outside downtown as well and saw its rapid growth. As the time went by Oxnard underwent more experiences in its history and became the amazing town that it is today.