Westlake Village, California | |
|---|---|
 Aerial view of theWestlake subdivision | |
 Location of Westlake Village inLos Angeles County | |
  Westlake Village, California Location in the United States | |
| Coordinates:34°8′31″N118°49′10″W / 34.14194°N 118.81944°W /34.14194; -118.81944 | |
| Country | United States |
| State | California |
| County | Los Angeles |
| Region | Conejo Valley |
| Incorporated (city) | December 11, 1981[1] |
| Government | |
| • Type | Council-Manager |
| • Mayor | Kelly Honig |
| • Mayor Pro Tem | Susan McSweeney |
| • City Council | Brad Halpern Ray Pearl Ned E Davis |
| • City Manager | Rob de Geus |
| • Deputy City Manager | Philippe Eskandar |
| Area | |
• Total | 5.51 sq mi (14.26 km2) |
| • Land | 5.19 sq mi (13.43 km2) |
| • Water | 0.32 sq mi (0.83 km2) 5.80% |
| Elevation | 879 ft (268 m) |
| Population | |
• Total | 8,029 |
| • Density | 1,548/sq mi (597.8/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-8 (PST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-7 (PDT) |
| ZIP Code | 91359, 91361, 91362[4] |
| Area code | 747/818 |
| FIPS code | 06-84438 |
| Website | www |
Westlake Village is a city inLos Angeles County, California, on its western border withVentura County. Upon its incorporation in 1981, Westlake Village became the 82nd municipality of Los Angeles County.[5][6] The population of the city was 8,029 at the2020 census, down from 8,270 at the2010 census.[3]
The city is named after the master-planned community surroundingWestlake Lake.[7] With the lake at the center, the community straddles the line between Los Angeles and Ventura counties. Roughly two-thirds of the community is in the Ventura County city ofThousand Oaks.
.jpg)
About 3,000 years ago, theChumash moved into the region and lived by huntingrabbits and othergame, and gathering grains and acorns. Excavations, archaeological sites, and polychrome rock paintings in the area provide a glimpse into the social and economic complexity of the ancient Chumash world.[8][9][10]
A Chumash village was settled here in 500 BCE, known as Hipuc.[11] The Chumash Indians gathered and prepared acorns and other seeds. These were collected in the fall. The Chumash also hunted wild animals, fish and gathered plants. Their diet consisted of acorns, gophers, cottontail rabbits, skunks, jack rabbits, rats, mice, and seeds. They made their clothing from the skins of animals such as rabbits, deer, and sea otters. Women wore long skirts woven from grass or soft bark, while men wore pieces of deerskin tied around their waists. Both men and women painted designs on their bodies and wore shell beads.[12]
On a return trip from Northern California in January 1770, a group of men led byGaspar de Portolá are believed to be the first Europeans to encounter the Chumash Indians in the Conejo Valley. FatherJuan Crespí, chaplain and diarist of the expedition, wrote about El Triumfo, a Chumash village. He wrote that there was plenty of water and firewood in the village, and that the land was covered with pastures. He wrote: "We are on a plain of considerable extent and much beauty, forested on all parts by live oaks andoak trees, with much pasturage and water." Crespí named the placeEl triunfo del Dulcísimo Nombre de Jesús (in English:The Triumph of the Sweetest Name of Jesus) to a camping place by a creek.
Other villages were found throughout the valley, includingSatwiwa and two villages near Ventu Park Road inNewbury Park. These Chumash villages are believed by archeologists to have first been settled over 2,000 years ago. Another village was located byLake Sherwood.[13]
In 1795, the area became part of one of the first Spanish land grants,Rancho Simi, given to thePico family of California. When Mexico won independence from Spain in 1821,Alta California became Mexican territory, and the Rancho Simi grant was confirmed in 1842.
In 1881, the Russell brothers purchased a large portion of the land for cattle ranching. According to Patricia Allen, historian and family descendant, Andrew Russell beat the competition in buying the land by racing across 6,000 acres (24 km2) on a fifteen-minute trip in a buckboard and sealed the deal with a $20 gold piece. The price per acre was $2.50. The area continued to be known as the Russell Ranch although it was sold in 1925 toWilliam Randolph Hearst and again in 1943 to Fred Albertson. The Russell family leased back part of the land to continue its successful cattle ranch operation while the Albertson Company used the vast area as a movie ranch. Many movies and television shows were filmed in the Conejo Valley, includingRobin Hood,King Rat,Laredo, and various episodes ofTarzan,Buck Rogers,Gunsmoke andBonanza. The 1940 filmDanger Ahead was filmed on Westlake Boulevard.[14]
In 1963,Daniel K. Ludwig'sAmerican-Hawaiian Steamship Company bought the 12,000 acre (49 km2) ranch for $32 million and, in partnership withPrudential Insurance Company, commissioned the preparation of a master plan by architectural and planning firm A. C. Martin and Associates.[7] This new "city in the country" planned to have a firm economic base including commercial areas, residential neighborhoods, and ample green space with the lake as a focal point. Prominent architects, engineers, and land planners participated in designing the new community, a distinctive example of planned 1960s-stylesuburbanism.[15][16][17][18]
The original tract was divided by the Los Angeles/Ventura county line. In 1968 and 1972, two portions of the Westlake development consisting of 8,544 acres (35 km2) on the Ventura County side were annexed into the city ofThousand Oaks.[19] In 1981, the Los Angeles County portion (3,456 acres (13.99 km2) or roughly 1/3) of the Westlake master-planned community was incorporated as the City of Westlake Village. California state law prevents a city from existing in two separate counties.[20]
In addition to being abedroom community for Los Angeles via theVentura (101) Freeway, Westlake Village is also home to many large commercial offices and the headquarters of theDole Food Company,K-Swiss andJ.D. Power and Associates. The western regional office (Region 5) ofAnheuser-Busch Inc. is also located in the community.Pacific Coast Highway and theRonald Reagan (CA 118) Freeway also run nearby. It is a short drive to the mall in Thousand Oaks.
Much of Westlake Village is surrounded by open space, including hiking and horse trails, as well as the vastSanta Monica Mountains National Recreation Area.[21] The town is in the northwesternSanta Monica Mountains area, and is 9 miles (14 km) inland from the Pacific Ocean. The area is within awildlife corridor linking the Santa Monica Mountains with other undeveloped habitat. Mountain lions have been seen roaming the neighborhoods.[22] The lake lies within the watershed ofMalibu Creek. Water from the lake must be released into the creek in compliance with an agreement between theCalifornia State Water Resources Control Board and the Westlake Lake Management Association, a private entity that oversees the operation of the lake.[23]
The area has several golf courses: theWestlake Golf Course,Sherwood Country Club, and North Ranch Country Club.
Over one half of the original "Westlake" development lies west across the county line, wholly within the city limits ofThousand Oaks. This boundary, which divides the incorporated City of Westlake Village and the Thousand Oaks portion of Westlake Village, crosses over the Westlake Golf Course, halfway between Lakeview Canyon and Lindero Canyon roads, and half of the lake itself.Lake Sherwood is nearby.
The City of Westlake Village is located approximately 40 miles (64 km) west of downtown Los Angeles in theConejo Valley. Other communities in the surrounding area includeThousand Oaks,Oak Park,Agoura Hills,Calabasas,Newbury Park, andMalibu.
Coastal breezes sweep through canyons to allow Westlake to sometimes be up to 10 degrees cooler and considerably less hazy than the nearbySan Fernando Valley during the summer months. However, it generally remains 10 degrees hotter than the coastal plains below the Conejo Grade, in the communities ofSanta Rosa Valley,Camarillo, andVentura among others.
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 7,455 | — | |
| 2000 | 8,368 | 12.2% | |
| 2010 | 8,270 | −1.2% | |
| 2020 | 8,029 | −2.9% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[24] 1860–1870[25][26] 1880-1890[27] 1900[28] 1910[29] 1920[30] 1930[31] 1940[32] 1950[33] 1960[34] 1970[35] 1980[36] 1990[37]2000[38] 2010[39] 2020[40] | |||
Westlake Village first appeared as a city in the1990 U.S. census, part of the Calabasas census community division (CCD).[37]
| Race / Ethnicity(NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 2000[41] | Pop 2010[42] | Pop 2020[40] | % 2000 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 7,248 | 6,940 | 6,248 | 86.62% | 83.92% | 77.82% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 68 | 97 | 67 | 0.81% | 1.17% | 0.83% |
| Native American orAlaska Native alone (NH) | 6 | 9 | 6 | 0.07% | 0.11% | 0.07% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 498 | 485 | 619 | 5.95% | 5.86% | 7.71% |
| Native Hawaiian orPacific Islander alone (NH) | 2 | 11 | 4 | 0.02% | 0.13% | 0.05% |
| Other race alone (NH) | 17 | 21 | 24 | 0.20% | 0.25% | 0.30% |
| Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) | 143 | 174 | 410 | 1.71% | 2.10% | 5.11% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 386 | 533 | 651 | 4.61% | 6.44% | 8.11% |
| Total | 8,368 | 8,270 | 8,029 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
The2020 United States census reported that Westlake Village had a population of 8,029. The population density was 1,547.9 inhabitants per square mile (597.6/km2). The racial makeup was 79.9%White, 0.9%African American, 0.2%Native American, 7.7%Asian, 0.1%Pacific Islander, 1.6% fromother races, and 9.7% from two or more races.Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8.1% of the population.[43]
The census reported that 99.7% of the population lived in households, 0.3% lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and no one was institutionalized.[43]
There were 3,264 households, out of which 27.0% included children under the age of 18, 59.2% were married-couple households, 3.6% werecohabiting couple households, 24.7% had a female householder with no partner present, and 12.5% had a male householder with no partner present. 21.4% of households were one person, and 13.2% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.45.[43] There were 2,394families (73.3% of all households).[44]
The age distribution was 18.0% under the age of 18, 7.3% aged 18 to 24, 15.2% aged 25 to 44, 31.5% aged 45 to 64, and 28.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 51.9 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.1 males.[43]
There were 3,438 housing units at an average density of 662.8 units per square mile (255.9 units/km2), of which 3,264 (94.9%) were occupied. Of these, 80.9% were owner-occupied, and 19.1% were occupied by renters.[43]
In 2023, the US Census Bureau estimated that the median household income was $174,069, and theper capita income was $95,373. About 5.7% of families and 6.4% of the population were below the poverty line.[45]
The2010 United States census[46] reported that the self-incorporated portion of Westlake Village, on the Los Angeles County side, had a population of 8,270. The population density was 1,502.4 inhabitants per square mile (580.1/km2). The racial makeup of Westlake Village was 7,326 (88.6%)white (83.9% non-Hispanic white),[47] 98 (1.2%)African American, 12 (0.1%)Native American, 490 (5.9%)Asian, 13 (0.2%)Pacific Islander, 114 (1.4%) fromother races, and 217 (2.6%) from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino of any race were 533 persons (6.4%).
The Census reported that 8,142 people (98.5% of the population) lived in households, 121 (1.5%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 7 (0.1%) were institutionalized.
There were 3,262 households, out of which 971 (29.8%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 1,985 (60.9%) weremarried couples living together, 292 (9.0%) had a female householder with no husband present, 119 (3.6%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 103 (3.2%)unmarried partnerships. 712 households (21.8%) were made up of individuals, and 376 (11.5%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50. There were 2,396families (73.5% of all households); the average family size was 2.92.
The population was spread out, with 1,737 people (21.0%) under the age of 18, 479 people (5.8%) aged 18 to 24, 1,380 people (16.7%) aged 25 to 44, 2,917 people (35.3%) aged 45 to 64, and 1,757 people (21.2%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 48.7 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.2 males.
There were 3,384 housing units at an average density of 614.7 per square mile (237.3/km2), of which 2,745 (84.2%) were owner-occupied, and 517 (15.8%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.0%; the rental vacancy rate was 4.4%. 6,906 people (83.5% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 1,236 people (14.9%) lived in rental housing units.
According to the 2010 United States census, Westlake Village had a median household income of $112,083, with 3.9% of the population living below the federal poverty line.[47]
Dole Food Company is headquartered in Westlake Village. In 1994, Dole announced that it would finalize its plans to build its world headquarters on a 30-acre (120,000 m2) site owned by the company, located north of theVentura Freeway in Westlake Village. The decision had been delayed by groundwater contamination tests and reviewing of possible site plan revisions. Dole was expected to submit its plans for final approval by the Westlake Village City Council on February 9, 1994.[48]K-Swiss,Guitar Center,PennyMac Loan Services andRyland Homes also have their headquarters in Westlake Village.[49]
According to the city's 2024 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report,[50] the top employers in the city are:
| # | Employer | # of Employees |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bank of America | 650 |
| 2 | Four Seasons Hotel | 594 |
| 3 | Westlake Village Inn | 368 |
| 4 | Oaks Christian School | 320 |
| 5 | Costco | 316 |
| 6 | Conversant (Epsilon) | 225 |
| 7 | Target | 180 |
| 8 | Realtor.com (Move Inc.) | 150 |
| 9 | JD Power | 126 |
| 10 | iPayment (Paysafe Group) | 123 |
Adjacent to Westlake Village isSanta Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, which offers nature trails for hikers, backpackers, mountain bikers, equestrians, picnickers, and campers.[51]
Parks include:[52]
In thestate legislature, Westlake Village is located inCalifornia's 24th State Senate district, represented by DemocratBen Allen, and inCalifornia's 42nd State Assembly district, represented by DemocratJacqui Irwin. Federally, Westlake Village is located inCalifornia's 26th congressional district, which has aCook PVI of D +8 and is represented by DemocratJulia Brownley.
As of May 2009, 1,943 (33%) of the 5,876 registered voters in Westlake Village are registered as Democrats, 2,583 (44%) as Republicans, and 1,101 (19%) declined to state a party affiliation.[53]
TheLos Angeles County Sheriff's Department operates the Malibu/Lost Hills Station inCalabasas, serving Westlake Village.[54][55]
As of 1990, the Las Virgenes Municipal Water District includes Westlake Village.[56]
The majority of Westlake Village in Los Angeles County is in theLas Virgenes Unified School District (LVUSD).[57] Residents are zoned to White Oak Elementary School in Westlake Village, Lindero Canyon Middle School inAgoura Hills, andAgoura High School in Agoura Hills.[58]
A portion in the south is in theSanta Monica–Malibu Unified School District.[57]
The Ventura County portion of Westlake Village, which is part of the City of Thousand Oaks,[59] is in theConejo Valley Unified School District.[60]
An off-campus center ofCalifornia Lutheran University is located nearby in Thousand Oaks.[61][62]
The Las Virgenes Municipal Water District supplies potable, recycled and wastewater services to residents and businesses in Westlake Village.[23][63][64]
Westlake Village was home toRussell Ranch which was used to filmRobin Hood (1922),Come On, Tarzan (1932),Buck Rogers (1939),King Rat (1965),Laredo (1965–67),Gunsmoke (1955–1975) andBonanza (1959–1973).[104][105]The Lash (1930) was also filmed at Russell Ranch,[106] whileDanger Ahead (1940) was shot on Westlake Boulevard.[14] Baxter (GTE corporate headquarters at the time) was dubbed for a police station in the filmDemolition Man (1993), while scenes fromGridiron Gang (2006) were shot atWestlake High School.[107] Other movies filmed here includeThe Karate Kid (1984),American Pie (1999) andBridesmaids (2011).[108]
Two episodes ofCharlie's Angels (1976–1981) were filmed in Westlake Village: "The Killing Kind" (1976) and "Angel in a Box" (1979).[109]
Bonnie and Clyde (1967) features scenes from Skelton Canyon Road (Westlake Boulevard),[110] while the TV seriesThe FBI (1965–1974) was partly filmed at The Landing.[111]
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Geographic | |
