Overview

Santa Paula is a city within Ventura County. 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.

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 (Calavo Growers, Inc. is headquartered here.) Santa Paula's mediterranean climate combined with an estimated 20 feet (6.1 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 are Kmart and Vons. Many residents travel to neighboring cities to purchase hard goods. Santa Paula's Main Street area consists mostly of clothing shops, specialty shops, novelty shops, 99-cent stores, restaurants, service-oriented businesses and office space. The city is home to a smattering of neighborhood stores and small grocery markets. Many of these small shops and markets have a distinct Latin-American flavor, often selling myriad imported items. In addition some markets also have a meat department which sells a variety of beef, poultry, and seafood.

In the Media

Santa Paula is in many movies, tv shows and commericals, though many would never come up with the name of the town. Some of them are as follows:

  • Leave it to Beaver
  • Mr. Woodcock
  • Joe Dirt
  • Georgia Rule
  • For the Love of the Game
  • Bubble Boy
  • West Wing
  • Allstate Commericals

Notable natives and residents

  • Jim Colborn: Former Major League Baseball pitcher and coach
  • Brent Cookson: Baseball Player with the LA Dodgers. Spent most of his career in the minor league
  • Danny Flores: Muscian, known for the song“Tequila”. Also became known as the "Godfather of Latino Rock ‘n’ Roll".
  • Bill Nash: Writer for many publications, including the Ventura County Star and The Rotarian
  • Steve McQueen: Actor, spent the last two years of his life (1979-1980) in Santa Paula

Attractions

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