Even though it's Ventura County's largest city, Oxnard hasn't lost its small-town appeal.
"The biggest thing Oxnard offers is a large city that still retains a small-community atmosphere," said Tom Holden, who served as a city councilman for nearly 10 years and opened the Family Optometric Group with his wife, Linda Knapp, in 1987.
With its rich agricultural land, downtown historic houses and coastal beauty, Oxnard offers something for everyone.
"From my perspective, it has everything," Holden said. "The beach is just a few minutes away and it's so close to other venues."
Holden, an Oxnard native, lives with his family in the city's historic district in a house his grandparents built in 1922. Oxnard's Heritage Square has 15 restored or replica houses, and the Henry T. Oxnard District, a turn-of-the century neighborhood, received county recognition as a landmark for 139 homes along F and G streets in downtown Oxnard.
"The historical part of Oxnard and downtown are definitely coming back and will be thriving soon," he said.
Oxnard residents are also quick to mention the people as a reason for living there. Frances and David Martinez, 71 and 75, respectively, moved to Oxnard from Santa Barbara about 20 years ago. The couple settled in south Oxnard and is now retired.
"It's really grown a lot," Frances said. "We are still very happy with our neighbors, who are all very friendly people. To us, it has been very nice living here."
Holden said, "It's a very down-to-earth place and the people are very authentic. A lot of our friends here go way back, and many of them have parents who knew my parents."
Sean Cisneros, 22, is a guitar player for a local band, Station Orion. He's lived in Oxnard for about 17 years and cites the beach and the Point on Silver Strand as among Oxnard's best assets. Although he moved to Santa Cruz and then to the the San Fernando Valley a few years ago, he always returned to Oxnard.
"I still made my way back," he said. "On a deeper level, I live here because of my family, friends and music. They're the people and things I'm connected to."
The one component that many Oxnard residents would like to change about their community is the crime rate.
"Most people, including me, would say that providing the necessary resources to address the issue of public safety and violent crimes is important," Holden said.
Frances Martinez said, "I would like to put a stop to graffiti and do more to beautify our city."
Despite the high rate of violent crime, Oxnard residents like Holden, the Martinezes and Cisneros don't plan on leaving anytime soon.
"I've got a vested interest here with three kids; at this point in my life, Oxnard is providing a great place to raise my family. We're here to stay."
"We've been very comfortable here," Frances Martinez said. "We wouldn't change it for anything."
VITAL STATISTICS
- Location: Nine miles southeast of Ventura
- Origin of name: Named for the Oxnard brothers.
- Nicknames: Also known as Sugartown, Biggest Little City of the Coast, Land of Everlasting Summer, Lima Bean Capital, Strawberry Capital, Gateway to the Channel Islands
- Official flower: Geranium
- Official tree: Coral tree
- Web site: http://www.ci.oxnard.ca.us/
- ZIP codes: 93030, 93035, 93033, 93036
- Colonia: 93030
- El Rio: 93030
- Hollywood Beach: 93035
- Nyeland Acres: 93030
- Saviers: 93033, 93034
- Silver Strand: 93035
- Incorporation date: June 30, 1903
- Type of government: General law with council/manager system
- Average annual high temperature: 73 degrees
- Average annual low temperature: 51 degrees
- Average annual rainfall: 15.62 inches
- Elevation (near City Hall): 53 feet
