Ventura County
Location and importance
Ventura lies on the U.S. 101 and is 60mi/96km northwest of Los Angeles, 30mi/48km from Santa Barbara, and about 190mi/300km from San Diego. Ventura is an abbreviation for the San Buenaventura Mission. Around this center the town of Ventura has developed over decades
It lies in the middle of an agricultural region. During the previous century people began to grow citrus fruits, avocados and other produce. Today it is the USA's most important area for the cultivation of citrus fruits.
In the early twenties oil was discovered very near to Ventura. This led to the town's economic upswing, and today there is a large oil refinery here.
Since the end of the Second World War holidaymakers have been enticed to Ventura by the superb beaches, especially the San Buenaventura State Beach, a marina which will accommodate 1,500 motor and sailing boats, as well as by the excursion boats plying between here and the Channel Islands.