Santa Paula, California

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Santa Paula is a city within Ventura County, California, United States. The population was 28,598 at the 2000 census. It has been dubbed the "Citrus Capital of the World." As the initial headquarters of the company that became Unocal, it was one of the early centers of California's enormous petroleum industry.

1 Geography
2 History
3 Demographics
4 Economy
5 Quality of life
6 Climate
7 Popular media
8 Notable natives and residents
9 External links

[edit] Geography

Santa Paula is located at 34°21′21″N, 119°4′6″W (34.355792, -119.068425).^GR1

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 11.9 km² (4.6 mi²), all land.

[edit] History

The vicinity of Santa Paula was originally inhabited by the Chumash, a Native American people. Father Junipero Serra became active in the area during the Spanish mission period. In 1928, the town was devastated by the failure of William Mulholland's St. Francis Dam.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census^GR2 of 2000, there were 28,598 people, 8,136 households, and 6,435 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,400.4/km² (6,214.6/mi²). There were 8,341 housing units at an average density of 700.1/km² (1,812.6/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 55.23% White, 0.41% African American, 1.41% Native American, 0.70% Asian, 0.19% Pacific Islander, 37.37% from other races, and 4.68% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 71.19% of the population.

There were 8,136 households out of which 44.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.1% were married couples living together, 13.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 20.9% were non-families. 17.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.49 and the average family size was 3.86.

In the city the population was spread out with 31.4% under the age of 18, 10.9% from 18 to 24, 29.7% from 25 to 44, 17.3% from 45 to 64, and 10.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females there were 103.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 102.3 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $41,651, and the median income for a family was $45,419. Males had a median income of $32,165 versus $25,818 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,736. About 12.2% of families and 14.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.4% of those under age 18 and 9.1% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] Economy

Santa Paula's economy is primarily agriculturally based, originally focusing on the growing of oranges and lemons. Recently, however, avocados have also been grown, and an avocado was added to the city's official seal. Santa Paula's mediterranean climate combined with an estimated 20 feet of topsoil have made it one of the best locations for growing citrus.

Santa Paula has very few large retail stores, the largest of which is likely K-Mart. Most residents travel to neighboring cities to purchase hard goods.^{[citation needed]} Santa Paula's main street area consists mostly of 99 cent stores and novelty shops. The city is home to a smattering of corner stores and small grocery markets. These small corner shops and markets have a distinct Latin-American flavor, selling myriad items imported from Mexico. In addition they almost always have a large meat department which sells a variety of seafood, poultry, and beef.

Many of the immigrant workers living in Santa Paula prefer not to keep their money in a bank. Instead, many of the corner markets offer banking-type services where they can store their financial reserves.^{[original research?]}

[edit] Quality of life

Santa Paula has often been described as a quaint town, boasting a main street reminiscent of Middle America but with a Mexican flavor. Though small in terms of population, the city is generally bustling with life. People are always out and about, walking, socializing, or playing sports at the city's many public parks.

[edit] Climate

The climate of Santa Paula is perhaps one of the best in the nation, boasting summers that top out in the low 80's and winters with highs in the low 70's. Neighboring coastal cities like Ventura experience slightly colder winters and suffer from low lying clouds during much of the year. Though temperatures can sometimes soar above 100F for brief periods during the summer, air conditioning is considered more of a luxury than a necessity. Temperatures regularly plummet to the 30's during the night in the winter, but snow is extremely uncommon and found only in the surrounding mountains. Summers are usually cloud free and rain falls mostly during the winter months.

[edit] Popular media

On the television drama The West Wing, Santa Paula is the hometown of fictional Presidential candidate Arnold Vinick. 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 fictional Republican Senator in the town's train depot. (Santa Paula for Vinick) In October of 2005, NBC released Vinick's official biography and revealed Santa Paula as the town in which he was raised. [1] Santa Paula also served as one of the locations for the upcoming motion picture "Mr. Woodcock" starring Billy Bob Thornton.

The 2007 flick Georgia Rule is currently being filmed in Santa Paula.

Santa Paula was the early film capital of California. Gaston Melies brought his Star Film Company to the city in 1911, filming movies such as the The Ghost of Sulphur Mountain.

[edit] Notable natives and residents

Miguel "Dead Mike" Rodrigo: of Howard Stern Planet fame.
Jim Colborn: Former Major League Baseball pitcher. Also had a cameo in the movie For the Love of the Game, starring kevin Costner.
Lupe Aquino: Former WBC Superwelter Weight Champion, turned promoter.
Todd Seabaugh: Played for the Pittsburg Stealers.
Steve McQueen (Actor): He owned a house near the airport.
Bill Nash: Writer and Photographer for publications across the United States