Santa Paula, California

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Santa Paula, California
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settlement_type = City
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map_caption = Location in Ventura County and the state of California


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subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_name1 = California
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = Ventura
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leader_title = N/A
leader_name =
leader_title1 =
leader_title1 = Senate
leader_name1 = George Runner (R)
leader_title2 = Assembly
leader_name2 = Audra Strickland (R)
leader_title3 = U. S. Congress
leader_name3 = Elton Gallegly (R)
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area_total_km2 = 11.9
area_land_km2 = 11.9
area_water_km2 = 0
area_total_sq_mi = 4.6
area_land_sq_mi = 4.6
area_water_sq_mi = 0
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population_as_of = 2000
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population_total = 28598
population_density_km2 = 2403.2
population_density_sq_mi = 6217
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timezone = Pacific (PST)
utc_offset = -8
timezone_DST = PDT
utc_offset_DST = -7
latd = 34 |latm = 21 |lats = 21 |latNS = N
longd = 119 |longm = 4 |longs = 6 |longEW = W
elevation_footnotes =
elevation_m = 85
elevation_ft = 279
postal_code_type = ZIP codes
postal_code = 93060-93061
area_code = 805
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 06-70042
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 1652793
website =
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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 Union Oil Company of California, Santa Paula was one of the early centers of California's enormous petroleum industry.

Geography

Santa Paula is located at coor dms|34|21|21|N|119|4|6|W|city (34.355792, -119.068425).GR|1

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

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; the town takes its name from the Catholic saint Paula. In 1928, the town was devastated by the failure of William Mulholland's St. Francis Dam.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 28,598 people, 8,137 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 10.2% White, 0.41% African American, 1.02% Native American, 0.70% Asian, 0.19% Pacific Islander, .37% from other races, and 4.68% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 71.2% of the population. [http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/SAFFFacts?_event=Search&geo_id=&_geoContext=&_street=&_county=Santa+Paula&_cityTown=Santa+Paula&_state=04000US06&_zip=&_lang=en&_sse=on&pctxt=fph&pgsl=010&show_2003_tab=&redirect=Y]

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.

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 (Hass Avocados is headquartered here.) Santa Paula's mediterranean climate combined with an estimated convert|20|ft|m 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.Fact|date=January 2008 Most residents travel to neighboring cities to purchase hard goods.Fact|date=March 2007 Santa Paula's main street area consists mostly of 99 cent stores and novelty shops.Fact|date=January 2008 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.Fact|date=January 2008 In addition they almost always have a large meat department which sells a variety of seafood, poultry, and beef.Fact|date=January 2008

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. In contrast to many Southern California cities which have grown into massive metropolitan areas teeming with people, highways, and buildings, Santa Paula is an oasis of tranquility nestled between large greenbelts of citrus and avocado orchards. And, unlike many of the neighboring cities such as Ventura and Camarillo, Santa Paula suffers from very little traffic. City roads are free of congestion, and drivers on the Santa Paula Freeway only experience traffic in the event of a major accident. However, despite the city's lower population and semi-rural setting, Santa Paula is generally bustling with life. People are always out and about, walking, socializing, or playing sports at the city's many public parks.

The Santa Paula Oil Museum, within the historic Union Oil building is located downtown, and the Santa Paula Museum of Art and Farm Heritage Museum are in the planning stages in the same area. The Santa Paula Mural Project has commissioned numerous murals depicting the city's history.

Climate

The climate of Santa Paula is perhaps one of the best in the nation, with occasional thunderstorms and hail gracing the town during the winter. 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 convert|100|°F|°C|abbr=on for brief periods during the summer, air conditioning is considered more of a luxury than a necessity. Temperatures regularly plummet to the 30s during the night in the winter, but snow is extremely uncommon and found only in the surrounding mountains.

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. ( [http://www.ci.santa-paula.ca.us/vinick/ Santa Paula for Vinick] ) On October 14, 2005, NBC released Vinick's official biography and revealed Santa Paula as the town in which he was raised. [http://www.nbc.com/The_West_Wing/Campaign/Vinick_Sullivan/] Santa Paula also served as one of the locations for the motion picture "Mr. Woodcock" starring Billy Bob Thornton.

A good portion of "Joe Dirt" was filmed downtown as well as at the popular restaurant Mary B's.The 2007 movie flop Georgia Rule was filmed in Santa Paula. The majority of the film Leave 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 Santa Paula blocked off for almost a week while filming continued.

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 Ghost of Sulphur Mountain".

Dennis DeYoung, former lead singer of the popular 1970s rock group Styx, filmed the music video for Desert Moon, also the title of his first solo album, in the Santa Paula train depot in 1984.

Also the movie "Carrie" was filmed in the small town

Notable natives and residents

*Jim Colborn: Former Major League Baseball pitcher
*Kevin Costner: Actor/Director, attended McKevette Elementary School
*Danny Flores: Singer known as "Godfather of Latin Rock"
*Cheech Marin: Actor/Comedian of the famed Cheech and Chong stoner movies

ee also

*Santa Paula Airport
*Santa Paula Freeway
*Santa Paula Hospital
*Saint Paul, Minnesota (Paul is the masculine version of Paula)

External links

* [http://www.ci.santa-paula.ca.us/ Official website]
* [http://www.conejovalley.com/communities/santapaula.html Santa Paula @ The Official Conejo Valley Website] , a Web site with local history, events, and community information.
* [http://www.idcide.com/citydata/ca/santa-paula.htm Santa Paula city profile] Geographic Location (8-way)
Centre = Santa Paula
North = Topatopa Mountains
Northeast = Fillmore
Santa Clarita
"SR 126"
East =
Southeast = Los Angeles
"I-5 via SR 126"

South = Camarillo
Southwest =
West = Ventura
Santa Barbara
"U.S. 101"
Northwest =