Santa Paula, California | |
|---|---|
 .jpg) _(cropped).jpg) Top:Thomas Aquinas College; Bottom: historic train depot (left) and downtown (right) | |
 Flag  Seal | |
| Nickname: Citrus Capital of the World[1] | |
 Location inVentura County and the state ofCalifornia | |
  Santa Paula, California Location in the United States | |
| Coordinates:34°21′21″N119°4′6″W / 34.35583°N 119.06833°W /34.35583; -119.06833 | |
| Country | United States |
| State | California |
| County | Ventura |
| Founded | 1872[2] |
| Incorporated | April 22, 1902[3] |
| Government | |
| • Type | Council–manager |
| • Body | City council[4]
|
| • City manager | Dan Singer[5] |
| • State senator | Monique Limón (D)[6] |
| • Assemblymember | Steve Bennett (D)[6] |
| • U.S. rep. | Julia Brownley (D)[7] |
| Area | |
• City | 5.70 sq mi (14.75 km2) |
| • Land | 5.53 sq mi (14.32 km2) |
| • Water | 0.16 sq mi (0.42 km2) 2.87% |
| Elevation | 279 ft (85 m) |
| Population | |
• City | 30,657 |
| • Density | 5,390/sq mi (2,081/km2) |
| • Metro | 823,318 |
| Time zone | UTC−8 (Pacific) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−7 (PDT) |
| ZIP Codes | 93060, 93061 |
| Area code | 805 |
| FIPS code | 06-70042 |
| GNIS feature IDs | 1652793,2411826 |
| Website | spcity |
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Santa Paula is a city inVentura County, California, United States. Situated amid the orchards of theSanta Clara River Valley, the city advertises itself to tourists as the "Citrus Capital of the World".[12] Santa Paula was one of theearly centers of California's petroleum industry. TheUnion Oil Company Building, the founding headquarters of theUnion Oil Company of California in 1890, now houses the California Oil Museum.[12] The population was 30,657 at the2020 census, up from 29,321 at the2010 census.
The area of what today is Santa Paula was inhabited by theChumash, aNative American people, before the Spanish arrived. In 1769, the SpanishPortola expedition, first Europeans to see inland areas of California, came down theSanta Clara River Valley from the previous night's encampment nearFillmore and camped in the vicinity of Santa Paula onAugust 12, near one of the creeks coming into the valley from the north (most likely Santa Paula Creek). FrayJuan Crespi, aFranciscan missionary traveling with the expedition, had previously named the valleyCañada de Santa Clara. He noted that the party traveled about 9 to 10 miles (14 to 16 km) that day and camped near a large native village, which he namedSan Pedro Amoliano.[13] The site of the expedition's arrival has been designated California Historical Landmark No. 727.[14][note 1][note 2][15]
Franciscan missionaries, led by FatherJunipero Serra, became active in the area after the founding of theSan Buenaventura Mission and established anAsistencia; the town takes its name from the CatholicSaint Paula. Santa Paula is located on the 1843Rancho Santa Paula y Saticoy Mexican land grant.
In 1872 Nathan Weston Blanchard purchased 2,700 acres (10.9 km2) and laid out the townsite. Considered the founder of the community, he planted seedling orange trees in 1874.[16][17] Several small oil companies owned byWallace Hardison,Lyman Stewart andThomas R. Bard were combined and became theUnion Oil Company in 1890.[18][19]
Santa Paula was incorporated in April 1902.[20] The first mayor was Lewis Arthur Hardison.[21]
In April 1911,Gaston Méliès moved hisStar Film Company fromSan Antonio, Texas to a site just north of Santa Paula.[22]
The largeSouth Mountain Oil Field southeast of town, just across theSanta Clara River, was discovered by the Oak Ridge Oil Company in 1916, and developed methodically through the 1920s, bringing further economic diversification and growth to the area. While the field peaked in production in the 1950s,Occidental Petroleum continues to extract oil through its Vintage Production subsidiary and remains a significant local employer.
A major expansion began in 2016 when construction started on a 500-acre (200 ha)master-planned community of 1,500 homes.[23]
The town has been devastated by floods, fires, and was once affected by a nearby truck explosion that resulted in an industrial disaster.
TheGreat Flood of 1862 began on December 24, 1861, when it rained for almost four weeks, reaching a total of 35 inches (890 mm) atLos Angeles.
The failure and near complete collapse of theSt. Francis Dam took place in the middle of the night on March 12, 1928. The dam was holding a full reservoir of 12.4 billion gallons (47 billion liters) of water that surged down San Francisquito Canyon and emptied into the Santa Clara River. The town was first hit by the waters at approximately 3:00 a.m. Though hundreds of homes and structures were destroyed, the loss of life would have been greater if it were not for two motorcycle police officers that noisily warned as many people as possible.[24] A sculpture called "The Watchers" in downtown Santa Paula depicts this act of heroism.[25]
In December 2017, the Thomas Fire broke out nearby. While it was the largestwildfire in modern California history at the time, theSanta Ana winds drove the fire towardVentura andSanta Barbara. Over a thousand structures were destroyed which included a few out buildings just outside the city. It was finally confirmed to be fully contained in January 2018, and a reported 281,893 acres (440 sq mi; 114,078 ha) had burned. One firefighter and one civilian were the only fatalities directly caused by the fire. The cost of the fire rose to be an estimated $297 million.
On October 31, 2019, the Maria Fire was reported burning at the top of South Mountain between Santa Paula andSomis and expanded throughout that evening.[26] Heavily influenced by 20–30 mph (32–48 km/h) winds within the canyons, the fire became a full scale conflagration, growing from 50 to 750 acres (20 to 304 ha) inside an hour, to over 4,000 acres (16 km2) after several hours.[26][27] The fire worked its way north towards Santa Paula where the topography of theSanta Clara River Valley which can serve as a funnel forSanta Ana winds.[28] Mandatory evacuations were ordered for a wide swath of over 1,800 homes surrounding the fire area, affecting over 7,500 residences.[26][27]
Avacuum truck exploded at the Santa Clara Waste Water plant in the early morning hours of November 18, 2014. Two workers were injured in the initial explosion, three responding fire-fighters were injured by the fumes from the spill of a highly volatile chemical mixture, and 50 others were exposed to fumes and required treatment at local hospitals.[29][30] The driver was transporting waste from a temporary storage drum to a processing center when he stopped to take a meal break.[31] The rear of the truck exploded, spreading a white liquid over a 300-by-400-foot area (91 by 122 m) that spontaneously combusted as it dried and was sensitive to shock, pressure and the application of water or oxygen. The tires of the first fire truck on the scene and the boots of three firefighters sparked small explosions when they drove and walked over the substance as they went to help the injured workers.[32][33] The incident evolved into a disaster when later in the morning additional materials began to burn and explode, which resulted in a three-mile-long plume of toxic smoke (4.8 km) and the closing ofHighway 126.[34] Chemical smoke drifted over the area and nearby residents and businesses were required to evacuate.[35]
About 1,000 US gallons (3,800 L; 830 imp gal) of a chemical mixture consisted of some sort oforganic peroxide.[36] Three weeks after the incident, the substance was still highly susceptible to friction and seemed to react to something as slight as wind.[37]Sodium chlorite was identified in an internal investigation by the firm in the months following the disaster. They claimed that the chemical was being using as a water treatment agent for the first time and was stored in the same type of storage container as wastewater.[38][dead link] The worker combined the chemical with wastewater in the vacuum truck where the chemical interacting withorganic material caused an explosion that blew off the back of the truck. A former county district attorney, retained by a company attorney, issued a report in March 2015 that provided an explanation of events indicating that the worker may have accidentally combined the chemicals.[38][39] Later, investigators found that an inspection by aDefense Logistics Agency contractor was scheduled for that morning and officials of the firm had directed the transfer of these hazardous materials to another location.[40]
Although the explosion and resulting fumes caused injuries including the lungs of three fire-fighters who remained off-duty indefinitely, the material scattered around the site was found to be non-hazardous for clean-up purposes.[41] The two fire engines that arrived first were scrapped. A local emergency was declared that lasted for three months.[42][39][43][44] The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency oversaw the decontamination of the site. The material was neutralized and solidified on site and taken to a landfill.[41]
On August 7, 2015, a Ventura County grand jury indicted the Santa Clara Waste Water Co., the affiliated Green Compass and nine company executives and managers.[45] Following the indictment, thedistrict attorney had the nine defendants arrested on suspicion of several felonies and misdemeanors, including filing a false or forged instrument, dissuading a witness from reporting a crime, known failure to warn of serious concealed danger, withholding information regarding a substantial danger to public safety, conspiracy to commit a crime, causing impairment of an employee's body, and disposal of hazardous waste.[46] The individuals pleaded guilty. The two corporate entities reached an agreement in June 2019 after they had already paid about $800,000 in restitution.[47][45][48][49]
The city of Santa Paula has a total area of 5.7 square miles (15 km2), 5.5 square miles (14 km2) of it land and 0.16 square miles (0.41 km2) of it (2.87%) water.[8] Santa Paula is located in theSanta Clara River Valley on the north bank of theSanta Clara River and is surrounded by fruit orchards. The downtown area is centered around Main Street, which is home to the oldest homes in the city. Homes are often bungalows, cottages,Victorian-style houses andcraftsman homes.[50][51]
Santa Paula has awarm-summer mediterranean climate (Csb) typical of the coastalSouthern California with warm summers and cool winters.
| Climate data for Santa Paula, California, 1981–2010 normals, extremes 1894–2008 | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 97 (36) | 92 (33) | 98 (37) | 105 (41) | 106 (41) | 108 (42) | 105 (41) | 105 (41) | 110 (43) | 108 (42) | 99 (37) | 99 (37) | 110 (43) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 69.3 (20.7) | 69.2 (20.7) | 71 (22) | 74 (23) | 75.1 (23.9) | 77.2 (25.1) | 80.7 (27.1) | 82.7 (28.2) | 81.6 (27.6) | 78.5 (25.8) | 73.8 (23.2) | 69.2 (20.7) | 75.2 (24.0) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 55.2 (12.9) | 55.9 (13.3) | 57.5 (14.2) | 60 (16) | 62.5 (16.9) | 65.1 (18.4) | 68.8 (20.4) | 69.4 (20.8) | 68.1 (20.1) | 64.4 (18.0) | 59.1 (15.1) | 55.2 (12.9) | 61.8 (16.6) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 41.1 (5.1) | 42.5 (5.8) | 43.9 (6.6) | 45.9 (7.7) | 50 (10) | 53.1 (11.7) | 56.9 (13.8) | 56.1 (13.4) | 54.7 (12.6) | 50.2 (10.1) | 44.4 (6.9) | 41.1 (5.1) | 48.3 (9.1) |
| Record low °F (°C) | 20 (−7) | 23 (−5) | 25 (−4) | 30 (−1) | 35 (2) | 35 (2) | 38 (3) | 36 (2) | 40 (4) | 32 (0) | 28 (−2) | 22 (−6) | 20 (−7) |
| Averageprecipitation inches (mm) | 3.72 (94) | 4.85 (123) | 2.69 (68) | 0.83 (21) | 0.35 (8.9) | 0.07 (1.8) | 0.01 (0.25) | 0.04 (1.0) | 0.16 (4.1) | 0.69 (18) | 1.44 (37) | 2.53 (64) | 17.38 (441) |
| Average precipitation days(≥ 0.01 in) | 5.9 | 5.7 | 4.7 | 1.8 | 0.8 | 0.3 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 1.0 | 1.3 | 3.0 | 4.0 | 28.9 |
| Source 1: NOAA[52] | |||||||||||||
| Source 2: National Weather Service[53] | |||||||||||||
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Bears can come down out of the hills and roam in neighboring agricultural areas and occasionally come into residential neighborhoods.[54][55]Mountain lions have periodically been spotted in residents' backyards.[56]
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1880 | 188 | — | |
| 1890 | 1,047 | 456.9% | |
| 1910 | 2,216 | — | |
| 1920 | 3,967 | 79.0% | |
| 1930 | 7,452 | 87.8% | |
| 1940 | 8,986 | 20.6% | |
| 1950 | 11,049 | 23.0% | |
| 1960 | 13,279 | 20.2% | |
| 1970 | 18,001 | 35.6% | |
| 1980 | 20,658 | 14.8% | |
| 1990 | 25,062 | 21.3% | |
| 2000 | 28,598 | 14.1% | |
| 2010 | 29,321 | 2.5% | |
| 2020 | 30,657 | 4.6% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[57] | |||
The2020 United States census reported that Santa Paula had a population of 30,657. The population density was 5,543.8 inhabitants per square mile (2,140.5/km2). The racial makeup of Santa Paula was 32.1%White, 0.4%African American, 2.7%Native American, 0.8%Asian, 0.1%Pacific Islander, 42.4% fromother races, and 21.5% from two or more races.Hispanic or Latino of any race were 81.7% of the population.[58]
The census reported that 99.6% of the population lived in households, 0.1% lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 0.3% were institutionalized.[58]
There were 8,917 households, out of which 44.3% included children under the age of 18, 53.8% were married-couple households, 6.5% werecohabiting couple households, 25.1% had a female householder with no partner present, and 14.6% had a male householder with no partner present. 16.0% of households were one person, and 9.7% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 3.43.[58] There were 7,046families (79.0% of all households).[59]
The age distribution was 26.4% under the age of 18, 9.9% aged 18 to 24, 26.6% aged 25 to 44, 23.1% aged 45 to 64, and 13.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35.0 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.4 males.[58]
There were 9,187 housing units at an average density of 1,661.3 units per square mile (641.4 units/km2), of which 8,917 (97.1%) were occupied. Of these, 53.9% were owner-occupied, and 46.1% were occupied by renters.[58]
In 2023, the US Census Bureau estimated that the median household income was $77,130, and theper capita income was $30,453. About 12.2% of families and 15.3% of the population were below the poverty line.[60]
The2010 United States census[61] reported that Santa Paula had a population of 29,321. The population density was 6,230.3 inhabitants per square mile (2,405.5/km2). The racial makeup of Santa Paula was 18,458 (63.0%)White, 152 (0.5%)African American, 460 (1.6%)Native American, 216 (0.7%)Asian, 24 (0.1%)Pacific Islander, 8,924 (30.4%) fromother races, and 1,087 (3.7%) from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino of any race were 23,299 persons (79.5%).
The Census reported that 29,188 people (99.5% of the population) lived in households, 44 (0.2%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 89 (0.3%) were institutionalized.
There were 8,347 households, out of which 4,087 (49.0%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 4,767 (57.1%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 1,267 (15.2%) had a female householder with no husband present, 650 (7.8%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 540 (6.5%)unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 45 (0.5%)same-sex married couples or partnerships. 1,331 households (15.9%) were made up of individuals, and 678 (8.1%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.50. There were 6,684families (80.1% of all households); the average family size was 3.85.
The population was spread out, with 8,722 people (29.7%) under the age of 18, 3,295 people (11.2%) aged 18 to 24, 8,012 people (27.3%) aged 25 to 44, 6,193 people (21.1%) aged 45 to 64, and 3,099 people (10.6%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31.1 years. For every 100 females, there were 101.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.5 males.
There were 8,749 housing units at an average density of 1,859.1 per square mile (717.8/km2), of which 4,694 (56.2%) were owner-occupied, and 3,653 (43.8%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.0%; the rental vacancy rate was 4.1%. 15,528 people (53.0% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 13,660 people (46.6%) lived in rental housing units.
While agriculture is the most important industry in Santa Paula today, the city experienced an economic boom after oil was discovered in 1880.[50]
The economy is primarily agriculturally based, originally focusing on the growing of oranges and lemons.[50] Santa Paula's mediterranean climate combined with an estimated 20 feet (6.1 m) of topsoil have made it a prime location for growing citrus.Avocado has also become a major crop and an avocado was added to the city's official seal. Calavo Growers, Inc. is headquartered here.[62]
Santa Paula has very few large retail stores but residents often travel to neighboring cities to purchase hard goods. The Main Street area consists mostly of clothing shops, specialty shops, novelty shops,dollar stores, restaurants, service-oriented businesses and office space. The city also has neighborhood stores and small grocery markets. Many of these small shops and markets have a distinct Latin-American flavor, often selling a myriad of imported items. In addition some markets also have a meat department which sells a variety of beef, poultry, and seafood.
A 501-acre expansion (203 ha) on the eastern edge of Santa Paula was approved in 2015. This residential and commercial development byLimoneira was known as "East Area One" for the purpose of approval. Officials and residents were hoping this major expansion of the city would create new jobs and increase tax revenue for the cash-strapped city.[63] When the project was first proposed in 1997, concerns were raised that Limoneira was beginning to develop their extensive holdings of prime farmland. Company officials claimed that 83% of the Teague-McKevett parcel was either unsuitable for agriculture or had a low value because of poor soil and drainage.[64]
Goonhilly Earth Station operates anEarth station in Santa Paula. Prior to 2023, the Earth Station was operated byCOMSAT.[65]
The Santa Clara Valley represents one of the best preserved examples of a mature Southern California landscape of citrus groves.[17][66] Tourists find a town with a main street reminiscent ofMiddle America in an agricultural setting preserved through Ventura County's greenbelt agreements.[17] The California Oil Museum,[67] within the historic Union Oil building, is located downtown, as are the Santa Paula Art Museum[68] and Museum of Ventura County Agriculture Museum.[69] The Santa Paula Mural Project has completed numerous murals depicting the city's history.[70][71] The monogram "SP" on South Mountain above the city is visible from around town and along Highway 126. Students from Santa Paula High School first etched the letters into the hills in December 1922.[72]
The city changed from an at-large city council election to a district system on 2023 under the threat of a lawsuit under theCalifornia Voting Rights Act. The mayor's seat, which rotates among them, did not change.[73]
Historically, education was provided by theSanta Paula Elementary School District and theSanta Paula Union High School District. In 2013, the two bodies were merged to form theSanta Paula Unified School District. Many schools in Santa Paula, largely serving students from low-income families, are scoring low in state-administered tests, below the 30th percentile in statewide comparisons.[50]
Elementary schools
Middle school
High schools
Thomas Aquinas College, outside city limits
The Santa Paula Water Recycling Facility was built in 2010 for $63 million to treat the citysewage.[74] Santa Paula Water, a partnership of two corporations, financed, built and operated the facility under the agreement with the city. The city purchased the facility for $70.8 million in 2015 to take control and end a dispute over the failure of the plant to sufficiently remove chlorides. Although the new plant usedmodern treatment methods, the treated wastewater contained contaminants calledchlorides that must be removed under state law before being discharged into the Santa Clara River.[75]
The Santa Paula Fire Department providedfire protection andemergency medical services at thebasic life support level (BLS) from two fire stations.American Medical Response (AMR) is the paramedic ambulance provider for the city. On July 8, 2018, The Santa Paula Fire Department was disbanded after serving Santa Paula for 115 years. TheVentura County Fire Department now provides fire protection services for the City of Santa Paula. Both fire stations used by Santa Paula Fire were transferred to Ventura County Fire.[76]
The Santa Paula Police Department provideslaw enforcement services for the city. The overall crime rate is low.[50]
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The city has been featured in Hollywood media on numerous occasions. Some examples include:
Various commercials, including a Super Bowl Budweiser commercial, (The Human Bridge) have been filmed in downtown Santa Paula.
Santa Paula was the early film capital of California.Gaston Méliès brought hisStar Film Company to the city in 1911, filming movies such asThe Ghost of Sulphur Mountain.
Parts of the movieDisorganized Crime (1989), starringFred Gwynne, was filmed downtown on Main Street.
Main Street and other locations featured prominently in the 1990 Winona Ryder filmWelcome Home, Roxy Carmichael. And other films such as “Pee-wee's Big Holiday”.
Chaplin (1992) filmed throughout the surrounding area and held a casting call in town for background actors.
Santa Paula also served as one of the locations for the motion pictureMr. Woodcock (2007), starringBilly Bob Thornton.
A good portion ofJoe Dirt (2001) starringDavid Spade was filmed downtown as well as at the popular restaurant Mary B's.
TheLindsay Lohan movieGeorgia Rule (2007) was filmed in Santa Paula.
The majority of the 1997 filmLeave It to Beaver was filmed in Santa Paula, with many Santa Paula residents being cast in minor character roles and as extras. The famous scene of Beaver trapped in the giant coffee cup had Main Street blocked off for almost a week while filming continued.
Parts of theBrian De Palma movieCarrie (1976), starringSissy Spacek, were filmed in Santa Paula.
Other movies that were filmed partially in Santa Paula includeThe Philadelphia Experiment (1984), theChinatown sequelThe Two Jakes (1990), theMartin Short/Danny Glover buddy comedyPure Luck (1991),For Love of the Game (1999),Bubble Boy (2001), starringJake Gyllenhaal, andBedtime Stories (2008) starringAdam Sandler.
The James M. Sharp House is an historical Italian villa-style house built in 1890. It is located on West Telegraph Road, just outside Santa Paula, and has been the setting for several movies, includingAmityville 4 (1989),The Black Gate (1995), andHow to Make an American Quilt (1995).
The music video for “To Die For” bySam Smith was shot entirely in the town.[79]
Dennis DeYoung, former lead singer of the popular 1970s and 1980s rock groupStyx, filmed the music video forDesert Moon, also the title of his first solo album, atthe train depot in 1984.
The music video for the 2001 song “Video” by AmericanR&B artistIndia Arie was filmed in and around Santa Paula and its surrounding citrus groves. This was India Arie's debut song and video from herAcoustic Soul album.
Parts of the 1976 season 3 episode ofThe Rockford Files "Coulter City Wildcat", were filmed in Santa Paula.
On the television dramaThe West Wing, Santa Paula is the hometown of fictional presidential candidateArnold Vinick (Alan Alda). In early 2005, Santa Paula Mayor Mary Ann Krause began a lobbying campaign to have Santa Paula declared Vinick's hometown. In a publicity move for the town, city officials officially "claim[ed] Senator Arnold Vinick as a resident of Santa Paula," in April 2005, and opened an official campaign headquarters for the fictionalRepublicanSenator in the town's train depot. (Santa Paula for Vinick) On October 14, 2005,NBC released Vinick's officialbiography and revealed Santa Paula as the town in which he was raised.[80]
Santa Paula served as the backdrop for the fictional Charterville in the 1996–98 TV seriesBig Bad Beetleborgs.
An episode of the television seriesMatlock was filmed on Santa Paula St.
After a 1994 fire destroyed their sets in nearbyFillmore, the TV seriesThe Young Indiana Jones Chronicles filmed in various locations, including Santa Paula'sEbell Mansion.
TheSanta Paula Train Depot has been a location for various productions, including for the miniseriesThe Thorn Birds (1983), starringRichard Chamberlain and in the season 3 finale ofGlee (2012).
Scenes for the third season ofMayans M.C. were shot on Main Street in October 2020 and February 2021.[81]
Destinations from Santa Paula | |
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Municipalities and communities ofVentura County, California,United States | ||
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| Cities |  | |
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| Unincorporated communities | ||
| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
| International | |
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| National | |
| Geographic | |
| Other | |
