Oxnard, California

Welcome to Oxnard

Oxnard is a sunny city in Ventura County, California. It is the biggest city in the county and lies along the beautiful Central Coast. Oxnard is the 22nd-most-populous city in all of California!

The city sits on the edge of the fertile Oxnard Plain, where farmers grow yummy crops like strawberries and lima beans. You can enjoy fresh fruit and vegetables here all year long. Oxnard is an important place for travel in Southern California. Many people pass through here on trains like Amtrak and buses like Greyhound. There is even a small airport called Oxnard Airport (OXR) for private planes.

Long ago, the Chumash Native Americans lived where Oxnard is today. In 1542, an explorer named João Rodrigues Cabrilho claimed the land for Spain. American farmers began living here around 1850, growing barley and lima beans. In 1897, Henry T. Oxnard built a big sugar beet factory, and the town grew around it. Oxnard became an official city on June 30, 1903. Today, Oxnard has new homes, businesses, and a lovely harbor called Channel Islands Harbor.

Oxnard has many places to learn about art and history. You can visit the Carnegie Art Museum, which opened in 1907 as a library thanks to a kind man named Andrew Carnegie. There is also the Chandler Vintage Museum of Transportation and Wildlife, started by Otis Chandler, who used to publish the Los Angeles Times. The Channel Islands Maritime Museum shows you about life near the ocean.

The city holds fun events too, like the Oxnard Independent Film Festival and the Channel Islands Tall Ships Festival. You can visit the Herzog Winery and enjoy other wine tasting rooms. Every late July, the Salsa Festival happens in downtown Oxnard with dancing, music, and tasty foods. Since 1994, the Reggae Jam on the Coast has been held at College Park, and it attracts many visitors.

Oxnard is also where the Dallas Cowboys hold their pre-season training camp at River Ridge Field. Other teams like the New Orleans Saints and the Los Angeles Raiders have also trained here during different years.

Oxnard has 54 public schools for students from kindergarten through 12th grade. The city and nearby areas are served by four school districts for younger students. All public high schools in Oxnard are part of the Oxnard Union High School District. For college, Oxnard has Oxnard College and is close to California State University Channel Islands.

The Ventura Freeway (US 101) is the main highway through Oxnard. It connects the city to Ventura, Santa Barbara, and Los Angeles. The Pacific Coast Highway (State Route 1) runs along the coast toward Malibu. The Oxnard Transit Center is a key spot for public transportation. Trains like the Ventura County Line and Pacific Surfliners connect Oxnard to Los Angeles and San Diego. Local buses operated by Gold Coast Transit and VCTC Intercity help people travel around the city and to nearby places.

Oxnard has a special friendship with a city named Ocotlán in Mexico. This friendship began around 1976, and they showed their connection with a flag.