Property Listing
California Vacation Rental Cities Albion Arnold Big Bear Lake Bodega Bay (Sonoma County) Bolinas Carlsbad Encinitas Felton Grass Valley Groveland (Yosemite Area) Gualala Half Moon Bay Healdsburg (Sonoma County) Hermosa Beach Hollywood Huntington Beach Johannesburg Kenwood (Sonoma County) La Jolla La Selva Beach Lake Arrowhead Lake Nacimiento Lake Tahoe Lakeport Mission Bay (San Diego area) Mission Beach Monte Rio (Sonoma County) Monterey Bay Napa (Napa County) Palm Desert Palm Springs Pine Mountain Club Point Arena/Irish Beach Redding San Diego San Francisco San Luis Obispo Santa Cruz Sea Ranch Shasta Lake Sunset Beach Twain Harte (Yosemite Area) Ventura	Bedrooms: 2 Sleeps: 6 Bathrooms: 1 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA VACATION HOME Welcome to Ventura, a relaxing destination on the picturesque shores of the Pacific Ocean! Ventura is a sparkling little gem nestled between gently rolling foothills and the shores of Southern Cali click here for property details >>	Related Articles Ventura

Ventura, California Vacation Rental Houses and Condos.

Incorporated in 1866, the city of San Buenaventura (usually referred to as Ventura) is the county seat of Ventura County, California. Ventura, California vacation rentals by owner house and condo rentals and Ventura is accessible via U.S. Route 101, California State Route 33, and California State Route 126.
 
Looking to the east end of Ventura from the Harbor of Ventura on the northwestern edge of the Oxnard Plain in Oxnard. Father Junípero Serra founded Mission San Buenaventura in 1782, forming the basis of what would become the city. In 1841, Governor Juan Bautista Alvarado granted the Rancho San Miguel to Raimundo Olivas, whose Olivas Adobe on the banks of the Santa Clara River was the most magnificent hacienda south of Monterey.

After the American Civil War, settlers came to the area either as property owners, buying land from the Mexicans, or simply as squatters. Vast holdings were later acquired by Easterners, including the railroad magnate, Thomas Scott. He was impressed by one of the young employees, Thomas R. Bard, who had been in charge of train supplies to Union troops, and Bard was sent west to handle Scott's property.

Bard is often regarded as the Father of Ventura and his descendants have been prominently identified with the growth of Ventura County. The Union Oil Company was organized with Bard as President in 1890, and has offices in Santa Paula. The main Ventura oil field was drilled in 1914 and at its peak produced 90,000 barrels a day. The city is located between the Ventura River and the Santa Clara River, leading to soil so fertile that citrus grew better here than anywhere else in the state. The citrus farmers formed Sunkist Growers, Incorporated, the world's largest organization of citrus production.

Not easily accessible, Ventura was not a target of immigrants, and as such, remained quiet and rural. For most of the century which followed the incorporation of Ventura in 1866, it remained isolated from the rest of the state.

From the south, travel by auto was slow and hazardous, until the completion of a four-lane expressway (US Highway 101) over the Conejo Grade in 1959. This route, now further widened and improved by 1969, is known as the Ventura Freeway, which directly links Ventura with the Los Angeles metropolitan area. Another route, US Highway 101 ALT (now the Pacific Coast Highway) traveled along the coast from Santa Monica via Oxnard, but was not heavily used.

From the north, entrance was by way of a single road along the beach and stagecoach passengers either had to wait until low tide when the horses could cross on the exposed wet sand, or go up the Ventura River Valley and then cross over the mountains to Santa Barbara via Casitas Pass, a long and difficult trip.

Inland, Ventura was hemmed in by (what is now) the Los Padres National Forest, composed of mountainous country and deep canyons. This route became passable with the completion of the Maricopa Highway in the 1920s.

Since then, Ventura has grown steadily. In 1920 there were 4,156 people. In 1930 the population had increased to 11,603, and by 1950 the population reached 16,643. In the last two decades it has quadrupled to approximately 102,000.

Ventura is also an excellent location for surfing. One great surf spot is Surfer's Point.

Downtown Ventura is home to the Mission San Buenaventura, museums, galleries, dining and shopping. Primary areas of activity include California Street and Main Street between Ventura Avenue and Fir Street. Also located in downtown is the historic Ortega adobe, home to the Ortega family now famous for their chile products. Numerous thrift stores contrast with high-end shops and restaurants.

In Plaza Park (Chestnut and Santa Clara Streets, downtown) one of the nations largest Morton Bay Fig Trees is marked with an historic plaque. Across the street is the main post office which houses WPA murals on its interior walls.

The Ventura Harbor is home to a thriving fishing industry, seafood restaurants and a shopping village. The Channel Islands National Park Headquarters are also located in the harbor, and the boats to the national park depart from the harbor daily.

The Olivas Adobe, one of the early California Rancho homes is operated today as a museum and performing arts venue. Located adjacent to the Olivas Park Golf Course, the home is one of the most visited historic sites on the central coast. Living history reinactments, demonstrations of Rancho life and wonderful ghost stories abound. A summer music series of performances held in the old home's courtyard feature an eclectic assortment of artists from blues to jazz to country.

The home of race car driver Cory Kruseman can be found here.

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.