| Westlake Village, California | |
| Settlement Type: | City |
| Blank Emblem Size: | 116 |
| Mapsize: | 250x200px |
| Pushpin Map: | USA |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location in the United States |
| Pushpin Relief: | 1 |
| Coordinates: | 34.1419°N -118.8194°W |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: | United States |
| Subdivision Type1: | State |
| Subdivision Name1: | California |
| Subdivision Type2: | County |
| Subdivision Name2: | Los Angeles |
| Subdivision Type3: | Region |
| Subdivision Name3: | Conejo Valley |
| Established Title3: | Incorporated (city) |
| Established Date3: | December 11, 1981[1] |
| Government Type: | Council-Manager |
| Leader Title: | Mayor |
| Leader Name: | Brad Halpern |
| Leader Title1: | Mayor Pro Tem |
| Leader Name1: | Ray Pearl |
| Leader Title2: | City Council |
| Leader Name2: | Kelly Honig Ned E Davis Susan McSweeney |
| Leader Title3: | City Manager |
| Leader Name3: | Rob de Geus |
| Leader Title4: | Deputy City Manager |
| Leader Name4: | Philippe Eskandar |
| Unit Pref: | Imperial |
| Area Footnotes: | [2] |
| Area Total Km2: | 14.26 |
| Area Total Sq Mi: | 5.51 |
| Area Land Km2: | 13.43 |
| Area Land Sq Mi: | 5.19 |
| Area Water Km2: | 0.83 |
| Area Water Sq Mi: | 0.32 |
| Area Water Percent: | 5.80 |
| Elevation M: | 268 |
| Elevation Ft: | 880 |
| Population Footnotes: | [3] |
| Population Total: | 8029 |
| Population As Of: | 2020 |
| Population Density Km2: | auto |
| Population Density Sq Mi: | auto |
| Timezone: | PST |
| Utc Offset: | -8 |
| Timezone Dst: | PDT |
| Utc Offset Dst: | -7 |
| Postal Code Type: | ZIP Code |
| Postal Code: | 91359, 91361, 91362[4] |
| Area Code Type: | Area code |
| Area Code: | 747/818 |
| Blank Name: | FIPS code |
| Blank Info: | 06-84438 |
| Pop Est As Of: | 2019 |
Westlake Village is a city in Los Angeles County, California on its western border with Ventura County. It incorporated in 1981 becoming the 82nd municipality of Los Angeles County.[5] [6] The population of the city was 8,029 at the 2020 census, down from 8,270 at the 2010 census.
The city is named after the master-planned community of Westlake to avoid confusion with the Los Angeles neighborhood of the same name. With a lake at the center, the community straddles the line between Los Angeles and Ventura counties. Roughly two-thirds of the community was previously annexed into the city of Thousand Oaks.
About 3,000 years ago, the Chumash moved into the region and lived by hunting rabbits and other game, and gathering grains and acorns. Excavations, archaeological sites, and polychrome rock paintings in the area provide a glimpse into the social and economic complexity of the ancient Chumash world.[7] [8] [9]
A Chumash village was settled here in 500 BCE, known as Hipuc.[10] The Chumash Indians gathered and prepared acorns and other seeds. These were collected in the fall. The Chumash also hunted wild animals, fish and gathered plants. Their diet consisted of acorns, gophers, cottontail rabbits, skunks, jack rabbits, rats, mice, and seeds. They made their clothing from the skins of animals such as rabbits, deer, and sea otters. Women wore long skirts woven from grass or soft bark, while men wore pieces of deerskin tied around their waists. Both men and women painted designs on their bodies and wore shell beads.[11]
On a return trip from Northern California in January 1770, a group of men led by Gaspar de Portolá are believed to be the first Europeans to encounter the Chumash Indians in the Conejo Valley. Father Juan Crespí, chaplain and diarist of the expedition, wrote about El Triumfo, a Chumash village. He wrote that there was plenty of water and firewood in the village, and that the land was covered with pastures. He wrote: "We are on a plain of considerable extent and much beauty, forested on all parts by live oaks and oak trees, with much pasturage and water." Crespí named the place El triunfo del Dulcísimo Nombre de Jesús (in English: The Triumph of the Sweetest Name of Jesus) to a camping place by a creek.
Other villages were found throughout the valley, including Satwiwa and two villages near Ventu Park Road in Newbury Park. These Chumash villages are believed by archeologists to have first been settled over 2,000 years ago. Another village was located by Lake Sherwood.[12]
In 1795, the area became part of one of the first Spanish land grants, Rancho Simi, given to the Pico family of California. When Mexico won independence from Spain in 1821, Alta California became Mexican territory, and the Rancho Simi grant was confirmed in 1842.
In 1881, the Russell brothers purchased a large portion of the land for cattle ranching. According to Patricia Allen, historian and family descendant, Andrew Russell beat the competition in buying the land by racing across 6,000 acres (24 km) on a fifteen-minute trip in a buckboard and sealed the deal with a $20 gold piece. The price per acre was $2.50. The area continued to be known as the Russell Ranch although it was sold in 1925 to William Randolph Hearst and again in 1943 to Fred Albertson. The Russell family leased back part of the land to continue its successful cattle ranch operation while the Albertson Company used the vast area as a movie ranch. Many movies and television shows were filmed in the Conejo Valley, including Robin Hood, King Rat, Laredo, and various episodes of Tarzan, Buck Rogers, Gunsmoke and Bonanza. The 1940 film Danger Ahead was filmed on Westlake Boulevard.[13]
In 1963, Daniel K. Ludwig's American-Hawaiian Steamship Company bought the 12,000 acre (49 km) ranch for $32 million and, in partnership with Prudential Insurance Company, commissioned the preparation of a master plan by architectural and planning firm A. C. Martin and Associates.[14] This new "city in the country" planned to have a firm economic base including commercial areas, residential neighborhoods, and ample green space with the lake as a focal point. Prominent architects, engineers, and land planners participated in designing the new community, a distinctive example of planned 1960s-style suburbanism.[15] [16] [17] [18]
The original tract was divided by the Los Angeles/Ventura county line. In 1968 and 1972, two portions of the Westlake development consisting of 8544acres on the Ventura County side were annexed into the city of Thousand Oaks.[19] In 1981, the Los Angeles County portion (3456acres or roughly 1/3) of the Westlake master-planned community was incorporated as the City of Westlake Village. California state law prevents a city from existing in two separate counties.[20]
In addition to being a bedroom community for Los Angeles via the Ventura (101) Freeway, it is also home to many large commercial offices and the headquarters of the Dole Food Company, K-Swiss and J.D. Power and Associates. The western region office (Region 5) of Anheuser-Busch Inc. is also located in the community. Pacific Coast Highway, and the Ronald Reagan (118) Freeway also run nearby. It is a short drive to the mall in Thousand Oaks.
Much of Westlake Village is surrounded by open space, including hiking and horse trails, as well as the vast Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area.[21] The town is in the northwestern Santa Monica Mountains area, and is 9miles inland from the Pacific Ocean. The area is within a wildlife corridor linking the Santa Monica Mountains with other undeveloped habitat. Mountain lions have been seen roaming the neighborhoods.[22] The lake lies within the watershed of Malibu Creek. Water from the lake must be released into the creek in compliance with an agreement between the California State Water Resources Control Board and the Westlake Lake Management Association, a private entity that oversees the operation of the lake.
The area has several golf courses: the Westlake Golf Course, Sherwood Country Club, and North Ranch Country Club.
Over one half of the original "Westlake" development lies west across the county line, wholly within the city limits of Thousand Oaks. This boundary which divides the Incorporated City of Westlake Village, and Thousand Oaks portion of Westlake Village, crosses over the Westlake Golf Course, halfway between Lakeview Canyon and Lindero Canyon roads, and half of the Lake itself. Lake Sherwood is nearby.
The City of Westlake Village is located approximately 40miles West of downtown Los Angeles in the Conejo Valley. Other communities in the surrounding area include Thousand Oaks, Oak Park, Agoura Hills, Calabasas, Newbury Park, and Malibu.
Coastal breezes sweep through canyons to allow Westlake to sometimes be up to 10 degrees cooler and considerably less hazy than nearby San Fernando Valley during the summer months. However, it generally remains 10 degrees hotter than the coastal plains below the Conejo Grade, in the communities of Santa Rosa Valley, Camarillo, and Ventura among others.
The 2010 United States Census[23] reported that the self-incorporated portion of Westlake Village, on the Los Angeles County side, had a population of 8,270. The population density was 1502.4sp=usNaNsp=us. The racial makeup of Westlake Village was 7,326 (88.6%) white (83.9% non-Hispanic white),[24] 98 (1.2%) African American, 12 (0.1%) Native American, 490 (5.9%) Asian, 13 (0.2%) Pacific Islander, 114 (1.4%) from other races, and 217 (2.6%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 533 persons (6.4%).
The Census reported that 8,142 people (98.5% of the population) lived in households, 121 (1.5%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 7 (0.1%) were institutionalized.
There were 3,262 households, out of which 971 (29.8%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 1,985 (60.9%) were married couples living together, 292 (9.0%) had a female householder with no husband present, 119 (3.6%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 103 (3.2%) unmarried partnerships. 712 households (21.8%) were made up of individuals, and 376 (11.5%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50. There were 2,396 families (73.5% of all households); the average family size was 2.92.
The population was spread out, with 1,737 people (21.0%) under the age of 18, 479 people (5.8%) aged 18 to 24, 1,380 people (16.7%) aged 25 to 44, 2,917 people (35.3%) aged 45 to 64, and 1,757 people (21.2%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 48.7 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.2 males.
There were 3,384 housing units at an average density of 614.7sp=usNaNsp=us, of which 2,745 (84.2%) were owner-occupied, and 517 (15.8%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.0%; the rental vacancy rate was 4.4%. 6,906 people (83.5% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 1,236 people (14.9%) lived in rental housing units.
According to the 2010 United States Census, Westlake Village had a median household income of $112,083, with 3.9% of the population living below the federal poverty line.[24]
As of the census[25] of 2000, there were 8,469[26] people, 3,270 households, and 2,491 families residing in the city. The population density was 1605.9/mi2. There were 3,347 housing units at an average density of 642.3sp=usNaNsp=us. The racial makeup of the city was 89.70% White, 6.08% Asian, 0.82% African American, 0.13% Native American, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 1.02% from other races, and 2.17% from two or more races, plus one of California's largest communities for Russian American and American Jewish ancestral groups. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.61% of the population. Many locals (the Conejo Valley and Simi Valley region in general) were of Italian, Portuguese and Spanish ethnic origins.
The median income for a household in the city was $120,089,[26] and the median income for a family was $148,885.[27] The per-capita income for the city was $137,355[28] in 2007, while the median home price was (as of 2007) $1,163,800.
There were 3,270 households, out of which 32.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.8% were married couples living together, 8.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.8% were non-families. 19.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 2.93.
In the city, the age distribution of the population showed 23.8% under the age of 18, 3.9% from 18 to 24, 23.1% from 25 to 44, 31.9% from 45 to 64, and 17.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.7 males. About 2.5% of families and 2.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.6% of those under age 18 and 2.8% of those age 65 or over.
Dole Food Company is headquartered in Westlake Village. In 1994, Dole announced that it would finalize its plans to build its world headquarters on a 30acres site owned by the company, located north of the Ventura Freeway in Westlake Village. The decision had been delayed by groundwater contamination tests and reviewing of possible site plan revisions. Dole was expected to submit its plans for final approval by the Westlake Village City Council on February 9, 1994.[29] K-Swiss, Guitar Center, PennyMac Loan Services and Ryland Homes also have their headquarters in Westlake Village.[30]
According to the city's 2020 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report,[31] the top employers in the city are:
| Employer |
| ||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bank of America | 1,150 | |
| 2 | Four Seasons Hotel | 500 | |
| 3 | Move Inc. | 300 | |
| 4 | iPayment | 300 | |
| 5 | Costco | 275 | |
| 6 | Oaks Christian School | 250 | |
| 7 | Conversant | 225 | |
| 8 | Target | 200 | |
| 9 | Warner Pacific Insurance | 175 | |
| 10 | Call Source | 150 |
Adjacent to Westlake Village is Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, which offers nature trails for hikers, backpackers, mountain bikers, equestrians, picnickers, and campers.[32]
Parks include:[33]
In the state legislature Westlake Village is located in California's 27th State Senate district, represented by Democrat Henry Stern, and in California's 44th State Assembly district, represented by Democrat Jacqui Irwin. Federally, Westlake Village is located in California's 26th congressional district, which has a Cook PVI of D +2 and is represented by Democrat Julia Brownley.
As of May 2009, 1,943 (33%) of the 5,876 registered voters in Westlake Village are registered as Democrats, 2,583 (44%) as Republicans, and 1,101 (19%) declined to state a party affiliation.[34]
The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department operates the Malibu/Lost Hills Station in Calabasas, serving Westlake Village.[35] [36]
The community is in the Las Virgenes Unified School District (LVUSD). Residents are zoned to White Oak Elementary School in Westlake Village, Lindero Canyon Middle School in Agoura Hills, and Agoura High School in Agoura Hills.[37]
An off-campus center of California Lutheran University is located nearby in Thousand Oaks.[38] [39]
The Las Virgenes Municipal Water District supplies potable, recycled and wastewater services to residents and businesses in Westlake Village.[40] [41] [42]
Westlake Village was home to Russell Ranch which was used to film Robin Hood (1922), Come On, Tarzan (1932), Buck Rogers (1939), King Rat (1965), Laredo (1965–67), Gunsmoke (1955–1975) and Bonanza (1959–1973).[80] [81] The Lash (1930) was also filmed at Russell Ranch,[82] while Danger Ahead (1940) was shot on Westlake Boulevard.[13] Baxter (GTE corporate headquarters at the time) was dubbed for a police station in the film Demolition Man (1993), while scenes from Gridiron Gang (2006) were shot at Westlake High School.[83] Other movies filmed here include The Karate Kid (1984), American Pie (1999) and Bridesmaids (2011).[84]
Two episodes of Charlie's Angels (1976–1981) were filmed in Westlake Village: "The Killing Kind" (1976) and "Angel in a Box" (1979).[85]
Bonnie and Clyde (1967) features scenes from Skelton Canyon Road (Westlake Boulevard),[86] while the TV series The FBI (1965–1974) was partly filmed at The Landing.[87]