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the Ku Klux Klan tried to form a chapter in Oxnard in the late 1970s Tags: Visual edit Mobile edit Mobile web edit Advanced mobile edit |
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Ranching began to take hold among [[Californio]] settlers, who lost their regional influence when California became a US state in 1850. At about the same time, the area was settled by American farmers, who cultivated [[barley]] and lima beans.
[[Henry T. Oxnard]], founder of [[Moorhead, Minnesota]]-based [[American Crystal Sugar Company]] who operated a successful [[sugar beet]] factory with his three brothers (Benjamin, James, and Robert) in [[Chino, California]], was enticed to build a $2 million factory on the plain inland from [[Port Hueneme]].<ref>{{citation|title=Oxnard, California|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=puooAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA59|work=The Louisiana Planter and Sugar Manufacturer|date=July 5, 1902|issue=XXIX No. 1|page=59|department=BEET SUGAR |access-date=January 23, 2019|via=Google Books}}</ref> Shortly after the 1897 beet campaign, a new town emerged, now commemorated on the [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Ventura County, California|National Register of Historic Places]] as the [[Henry T. Oxnard Historic District]]. Oxnard intended to name the settlement after the [[Greek language|Greek]] word for "sugar", ''zachari'', but frustrated by bureaucracy, named it after himself. Given the potential growth of the town of Oxnard, in the spring of 1898, a railroad station was built to service the plant, which attracted a population of Chinese, Japanese, and Mexican laborers and enough commerce to merit the designation of a town. The Oxnard brothers, who never lived in their namesake city, sold both the Chino and the giant red-brick Oxnard factory in 1899 for nearly $4 million. The Oxnard factory with its landmark twin smokestacks operated from August 19, 1899, until October 26, 1959. Factory operations were interrupted in the [[Oxnard Strike of 1903]].
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===Wildlife and ecology===
{{see also|California coastal sage and chaparral}}
The area contains a number of important biological communities. Native plant communities include [[coastal sage scrub]], California Annual Grassland, and Coastal Dune Scrub species;
The balance of wildlife in Oxnard is similar to that of most places in southern California, with small mammals being common in urbanized areas, like squirrels, raccoons, and skunks. Coyotes prey on these smaller mammals. Small birds and mammals can be food for stray, feral, and pet dogs and cats.<ref>Wolch, West and Gaines ''Transspecies Urban Theory'' from Satiety and Space 1995. volume 13, pages 735–760</ref>
===Environmental issues===
Oxnard has more coastal [[List of power stations in California|power plants]] than any other city in California, with three [[fossil-fuel power plant]]s providing energy for cities in both Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties.<ref>{{cite news|title=Not One More Power Plant on Oxnard's Coast| url=http://caleja.org/2015/07/not-one-more-power-plant-on-oxnards-coast/|access-date=May 24, 2016|work=caleja.org|publisher=California Environmental Justice Alliance}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Proposed Puente Power Plant in Oxnard|url=http://www.environmentaldefensecenter.org/programs_post_type/climate-energy/proposed-puente-power-plant-in-oxnard/|website=www.environmentaldefensecenter.org|publisher=» Environmental Defense Center|access-date=May 24, 2016}}</ref> The [[California Environmental Protection Agency]] (CalEPA) has identified Oxnard as a city excessively burdened by multiple sources of pollution.<ref name="puente1">{{cite web|title=California Energy Commission Informational Hearing for the proposed "Puente" Energy Facility Application|url=http://docketpublic.energy.ca.gov/PublicDocuments/15-AFC-01/TN205905_20150828T140956_Senator_HannahBeth_Jackson_Comments_on_the_CEC_Informational_He.pdf|website=California Energy Commission|publisher=State of California|access-date=May 24, 2016}}</ref> Two of the power plants use ocean water cooling.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Battery storage project slated near Oxnard will be among the nation's biggest|url=https://www.vcstar.com/story/news/2020/05/15/battery-storage-project-oxnard-ventura-energy-storage-tesla-strata-solar/3110101001/|last=Leung|first=Wendy|website=Ventura County Star|language=en|access-date=May 16, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/environment/story/2019-09-24/california-may-keep-open-gas-plants-that-hurt-marine-life|title=California could face power shortages if these gas plants shut down, officials say|last=Roth|first=Sammy|date=September 24, 2019|newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]]|language=en-US|access-date=October 2, 2019}}</ref> The [[California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment|Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment]] (OEHHA) has categorized much of Oxnard in the top 10 percent of ZIP codes most negatively impacted by pollution in the state.<ref name="puente1" /><ref>{{cite news|last1=Morales|first1=Maricela|title=Not one more power plant in Oxnard|url=https://causenow.org/article/not-one-more-power-plant-oxnard|access-date=May 24, 2016|work=causenow.org|publisher=CAUSE|date=July 12, 2015|archive-date=September 22, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160922181456/https://causenow.org/article/not-one-more-power-plant-oxnard|url-status=dead}}</ref>
[[Pesticides]] are used in the agricultural fields surrounding Oxnard, as the area is one of the nation's leading [[strawberry]] producers, with agriculture being one of the top contributors to Oxnard's economy. Strawberries depend on large applications of fumigants containing pesticides. The Center for Health Journalism reported four ZIP codes with the highest pesticide use in the state clustered around Oxnard.<ref name="center">{{cite news|last1=Gross|first1=Liza|title=How Data Reporting Can Help You Find New Angles On Oft-told Tales |url=http://www.centerforhealthjournalism.org/resources/lessons/how-data-reporting-can-help-you-find-new-angles-oft-told-tales|access-date=May 24, 2016|work=Center for Health Journalism}}</ref>
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Oxnard cultural institutions include the [[Carnegie Art Museum]], founded in 1907 as the Oxnard Public Library by philanthropist [[Andrew Carnegie]]; the [[Chandler Vintage Museum of Transportation and Wildlife]], founded by the late [[Los Angeles Times]] publisher [[Otis Chandler]], the [[Murphy Auto Museum]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://murphyautomuseum.org |title=Murphyautomuseum.org |publisher=Murphyautomuseum.org |date=May 1, 2011 |access-date=November 13, 2011}}</ref> and the [[Channel Islands Maritime Museum]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tfaoi.com/newsmu/nmus162.htm |title=TFAOI.com |publisher=TFAOI.com |access-date=November 13, 2011}}</ref> The [[Henry T. Oxnard Historic District]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.oxnardhistoricdistrict.com |title=Oxnardhistoricdistrict.com |publisher=Oxnardhistoricdistrict.com |date=February 5, 1999 |access-date=November 13, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190429041350/http://oxnardhistoricdistrict.com/ |archive-date=April 29, 2019 |url-status=dead }}</ref> is adjacent to the commercial downtown area and dates back to the founding of the city.
Heritage Square in downtown is a collection of restored [[Victorian architecture|Victorian]] and [[American Craftsman|Craftsman]] houses that were once owned by Oxnard's pioneer ranching families.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://articles.latimes.com/1990-09-03/local/me-1584_1_heritage-square |title=OXNARD : Heritage Square Receives Last House |first=Laura |last=Pitter |newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=September 3, 1990 |access-date=June 10, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://articles.latimes.com/1991-11-07/news/vl-1228_1_heritage-square |title=STRUCTURES : Houses of History : Heritage Square is one of the more surreal estates in Ventura County. It harks back to Oxnard's more glorious past. |newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]] |first=Josef |last=Woodard |date=November 7, 1991 |access-date=June 10, 2016}}</ref> Heritage Square is home to the Petit Playhouse<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oxnardtourism.com/heritagesq/petit.html |title=Oxnartourism.com |publisher=Oxnardtourism.com |date=March 20, 2011 |access-date=November 13, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071128072207/http://www.oxnardtourism.com/heritagesq/petit.html |archive-date=November 28, 2007 }}</ref> and the Elite Theatre Company.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oxnardtourism.com/elite/elite.html |title=Oxnardtourism.com |publisher=Oxnardtourism.com |date=January 1, 1999 |access-date=November 13, 2011}}</ref> The Oxnard Performing Arts and Convention Center<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.vcstar.com/story/news/2019/11/15/oxnard-performing-arts-center-california/2564279001/|title=No operator in place for Oxnard performing arts center as year-end deadline nears|last=Leung|first=Wendy|date=November 15, 2019|newspaper=[[Ventura County Star]]|language=en|access-date=November 17, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.oxnardpacc.com |title=Oxnardpacc.com |publisher=Oxnardpacc.com |access-date=November 13, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171205004430/http://www.oxnardpacc.com/ |archive-date=December 5, 2017 |url-status=dead }}</ref> is home to the [[New West Symphony]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newwestsymphony.org |title=Newwestsymphony.org |publisher=Newwestsymphony.org |access-date=November 13, 2011}}</ref> The Gottfried Maulhardt/Albert Pfeiler Farm site is an historic farm park.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Varela |first1=Brian J. |title=Oxnard to sell historical 1870s farm park under the condition it stays open to the public |url=https://eu.vcstar.com/story/news/2021/08/03/oxnard-sells-historical-maulhardt-pfeiler-farm-park-foundation/5435464001/ |work =Ventura County Star |access-date=August 16, 2021}}</ref>
Oxnard also has the Oxnard Independent Film Festival<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oxnardfilmfest.com |title=Oxnardfilmfest.com |publisher=Oxnardfilmfest.com |access-date=November 13, 2011}}</ref> and the annual Channel Islands Tall Ships Festival.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tallshipschannelislands.com |title=Tallshipschannelislands.com |publisher=Tallshipschannelislands.com |access-date=November 13, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111115110933/http://www.tallshipschannelislands.com/ |archive-date=November 15, 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The Herzog Winery is based in Oxnard<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.herzogwinecellars.com |title=Herzogwinery.com |publisher=Herzogwinecellars.com |access-date=November 13, 2011}}</ref> along with other wine tasting rooms.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.ocregister.com/articles/cowboys-677596-information-through.html |title=Touchdown Oxnard: Often-overlooked town scores with Dallas Cowboys camp and other draws |first=Leo |last=Smith |date= August 14, 2015|newspaper=[[The Orange County Register]] |access-date=June 10, 2016}}</ref> During late July, the annual Salsa Festival is held in downtown Oxnard, featuring a salsa tasting tent, local bands, a large dance floor, local vendors, as well as many salsa based food vendors.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Oxnard Salsa Festival|url=https://oxnardsalsafestival.com/|access-date=October 22, 2020|website=Oxnard Salsa Festival|language=en-US}}</ref>
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On February 4, 2016, the [[Los Angeles Rams]] (an [[NFL]] team) selected Oxnard to be the site of their official team activities and mini camp. On February 19, 2016, the city of Oxnard and the Rams reached a tentative agreement to host official team activities and minicamp at River Ridge Playing Fields and on February 23, 2016, the Oxnard City Council voted unanimously 5–0 to allow the Los Angeles Rams to use the River Ridge Playing Fields facility from April 18 to June 17 and the locker room space from March 28 until June 24.
<!-- This section should have more information on the total number of golf courses in Oxnard. This single mention appears to be strictly for the benefit of Rover Ridge Golf Course. (It is the only course.)-->River Ridge Golf Course has two 18-hole courses flanked by housing developments.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.vcstar.com/story/news/2019/06/14/oxnard-river-ridge-golf-club-new-contract/1388261001/|title=Under budget constraints, Oxnard to ponder new contract for River Ridge Golf Club|last=Leung|first=Wendy|date=June 15, 2019|newspaper=[[Ventura County Star]]|language=en|access-date=June 16, 2019}}</ref>
==Government==
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