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Real Estate & Homes in Thousand Oaks - Thousand Oaks Information
Thousand Oaks
Thousand Oaks History
Approximately 3,000 years ago, a tribe of people known as the Chumash populated the Thousand Oaks/Conejo Valley region. The matriarchal society lived quietly off of the lush natural vegetation and wildlife of the region. Spanish explorers arrived in 1542 and named the land the property of the Spanish king, Charles I. Despite this claim, the Spanish left the region alone for two and a half centuries. Except for the Chumash, the green valley located less than 20 miles off the Pacific Coast remained largely unpopulated until the early-1800s. Spanish settlements cropped up when a governor granted some of the land away to his soldiers. One of those grants came to be known as the Rancho El Conejo, meaning ranch of the rabbit. Today, the region is still called the Conejo Valley. The 19th century brought opportunistic pioneers into the Conejo Valley. By the 1880s, a small settlement was established around a post office and a stagecoach stop on the route between Los Angeles and San Francisco. Once motor cars and came on the scene and prompted the development of a highway along California's coastline, even more traffic was directed through the Thousand Oaks region.
The settlement received a big push towards the future when the Janss Family, known California land investors, purchased 10,000 acres of farmland. The family's intention was to create a balanced community with employment, entertainment, and educational and residential opportunities. At that time, Thousand Oaks was primarily agricultural; chicken ranching and dairy farming were the primary means of support. The Janss' vision was to diversify the resident population by offering schools, churches and shopping. The plan to develop the community was helped along with the opening of the Lion Farm, later known as Jungleland. Between 1927 and 1960, Jungleland attracted thousands of visitors to the Conejo Valley to watch the farm's trained 'wild' animals perform. By the early 1960s, the growing town had much of its infrastructure in place, including California Lutheran College, a four-year liberal arts school. In 1964, residents voted to incorporate their community as the City of Thousand Oaks. The name was descriptive, rather than hopeful; the community was peppered with mature oak trees.
About Thousand Oaks
Thousand Oaks has now evolved into the 'total community' envisioned by the Janss family. A rolling green landscape, an abundance of trees, strong property values and a central location make for a calm, family-oriented lifestyle. The city has developed under a master plan that fosters balance among public, commercial and residential spaces. While there are two large shopping centers in the city - and many smaller ones - as well as industrial parks and a huge auto mall, Thousand Oaks still retains its quiet residential neighborhoods. The Meyers Group Real Estate Information ranked the city as the most popular location in the county among new homebuyers. Prices for detached, single-family homes currently range from the high-$500,000s up to $5 million or more. Some of the benefits of Thousand Oaks living include the excellent schooling, low crime rate and a prevailing sense of community pride. The middle to upper middle class population is known for its active involvement in local schools, community groups and activities. Thousand Oaks includes the residential community of Newbury Park and a portion of the master-planned Westlake Village. Newbury Park is in the northwestern portion of Thousand Oaks, where the historic Grand Union Hotel was built in 1876. Westlake Village is actually divided by the Ventura/Los Angeles County line; the Ventura side of the community is technically part of Thousand Oaks, while the Los Angeles side is an incorporated city.
Activities
Thousand Oaks offers ample free-time activities, including outdoor recreation, youth sports, golf, art exhibits and performances, historic/cultural sites and shopping. Beaches, amusement parks and nightlife are also located within driving distance. The award-winning Conejo Recreation and Parks District operates more than 40 park sites and extensive public facilities. The teen center, arts center, aquatics center, senior center and athletic fields and courts ensure that there are always activities available for all ages. Locals can also participate in organized walks and hikes throughout the undeveloped acreage surrounding the city. Additional hiking opportunities are available through the National Park Service of the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, headquartered in Thousand Oaks. Families can easily enjoy all types of competitive sports with their children as well. Youth sports organizations, including Little League, Pop Warner Football and AYSO, have a strong presence in the community. Golf is available at several courses in and around Thousand Oaks. Los Robles Greens, Sherwood Country Club and Sunset Hills Country club are the local options; Tierra Rejada Golf Course, North Ranch Country Club and Westlake Golf Course are some options in the neighboring communities of Moorpark and Westlake Village. The Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza hosts arts performances and exhibits.
The 1,800-seat Countrywide Performing Arts Center is the largest facility of its kind between Los Angeles and San Francisco. Performances include Broadway musicals, classical and contemporary music, comedians, all types of dance, speakers, live theatre and more. The city also hosts an annual Arts Festival in September. While Thousand Oaks is a very contemporary community, it is not without markers of its diverse past. The Chumash Interpretive Center is dedicated to educating visitors about the lifestyle of the tribe who lived in the area prior to the Spanish settlement. Activities include exhibits, tours, hikes, nature walks and a drum celebration. The center is located in an undeveloped area of the Santa Monica Mountain Range, providing a glimpse of how the land looked long ago - with lush, native vegetation, wildlife and natural rock formations. Another historic site of note is the Stagecoach Inn Museum, the site of the Grand Union Hotel (later called the Stagecoach Inn) that opened its doors in 1876. At that time, it was advertised as a resort for hunters and fisherman. The site became a museum in the 1960s, but had to be rebuilt 10 years later after a mysterious fire burned it down. The museum was rebuilt after its original appearance and now includes replicas of a pioneer home and a Chumash home. Shopping is available at the Oaks Mall and the Janss Marketplace.
Schools
Public schooling is provided by Conejo Valley Unified School District. The district manages 29 campuses, serving greater than 21,000 students from Thousand Oaks, Newbury Park and Westlake Village. College programs are available nearby at California Lutheran University (CLU), Moorpark College and Pepperdine University. CLU has been offering private liberal arts programs in Thousand Oaks since 1959. Full-time enrollment is about 2,500. Moorpark College is a two-year, public institution located about eight miles north of Thousand Oaks. Pepperdine is a well-regarded private university in Malibu, about 15 miles west of Thousand Oaks.
Thousand Oaks Fast Facts
Location: Thousand Oaks is located in southern Ventura County, about 15 miles from the Pacific Coast and halfway between Los Angeles and Santa Barbara. U.S. Route 101 and State Routes 23 and 118 are easily accessible, providing major routes to neighboring communities and throughout the state.
Total area*: 54.9 square miles
Population*: 117,005
Housing units*: 42,958
Average annual rainfall: 18.2 inches
Average temperatures: summer, 72; winter, 55
*Information provided by 2000 Census
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