Valencia, Santa Clarita, California

Valencia is a neighborhood in Santa Clarita located within Los Angeles County, California, United States. It is the most populous of the four unincorporated communities (along with Saugus, Newhall, and Canyon Country) that merged to create the city of Santa Clarita in 1987.[1] It is situated in the western part of Santa Clarita, running from Newhall to the south (below Lyons Avenue) to north of Copper Hill Drive. Valencia was founded as a master-planned community with the first development, Old Orchard I, built on Lyons Avenue behind the Old Orchard Elementary.[2]

Valencia
Neighborhood of Santa Clarita
Welcome sign
Valencia
Position in the Santa Clarita Valley
Valencia
Valencia (the Los Angeles metropolitan area)
Valencia
Valencia (California)
Coordinates: 34.42°N 118.56°W / 34.42; -118.56
Country United States
State California
County Los Angeles
City Santa Clarita
Elevation
1,130 ft (340 m)
Population
 (2010)
 • Total61,327
Time zoneUTC-8 (Pacific (PST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-7 (PDT)
ZIP Code
91354, 91355, 91385
Area code(s)661
GNIS feature ID2583151
U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Valencia, Santa Clarita, California
A typical stretch of Newhall Ranch Road. The bridge carries a paseo over the roadway.

History

In 1769, the Spanish Portola expedition, the first Europeans to see inland areas of California, came up and over the pass from the San Fernando Valley and camped near the river on August 8–9. They found a large native village there and witnessed a wedding celebration. Fray Juan Crespi, a Franciscan missionary travelling with the expedition, named the river "Santa Clara" and noted in his diary that the place would be a good location for a mission. On the return trip, however, the party found a less strenuous trail through Conejo Valley. Later travelers also preferred that route, and Mission San Fernando Rey de España was established down in the valley.[3]

The master planned portion of Valencia was first planned in the 1960s by the Newhall Land and Farming Company. Development began in 1967, continues to the present day, and is nearing completion. Valencia is notable for its landscaped boulevards connecting a mix of apartment buildings, single-family detached homes, shopping centers, office parks and industrial warehouses.

Valencia is the location of Westfield Valencia Town Center, a large shopping mall owned by Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield. Centered on a fountain, its anchor stores include Macy's, JCPenney, Forever 21, Regal Cinemas, H&M, and Gold's Gym. The mall also contains numerous restaurants.

Valencia is home to Valencia High School and the main campus of College of the Canyons. It is directly east of Interstate 5.

Community

Valencia's residential areas are separated into villages, each with its own lifestyle (see List of Valencia, California residential villages). Almost all of Valencia's villages are close to schools, shopping, and other amenities. In many of the villages, homeowner associations oversee the quality and upkeep of housing developments ranging in size from a few dozen homes to over a thousand. Many villages also have a neighborhood watch program in force.

Valencia also has a system of paved pathways over or under the streets and boulevards, which are called paseos. They connect the entire community, making it possible to travel throughout nearly all of Valencia on foot or by bicycle without crossing a street at grade level. The paseo network is connected to the Santa Clara River Trail which runs east along the Santa Clara River to Canyon Country.

As of 2010, the estimated population of the 91354 ZIP code was 28,722 and the estimated median household income was $111,098; the estimated population of the 91355 ZIP code was 32,605 and the estimated median household income was $89,596. ZIP code 91385 is for post office boxes and has no information for population or median income.[4]

Attractions

Six Flags Magic Mountain is located in the community.[5]

Notable people

See also

References
  1. Boston, John; Santa Clarita Valley Historical Society (2009). Santa Clarita Valley. Charleston, SC: Arcadia Publishing. p. 124. ISBN 9780738569383. Retrieved August 20, 2016.
  2. http://www.oldorchard1.org/
  3. Bolton, Herbert E. (1927). Fray Juan Crespi: Missionary Explorer on the Pacific Coast, 1769-1774. HathiTrust Digital Library. pp. 152–155. Retrieved April 8, 2014.
  4. "Community Facts" American FactFinder, United States Census Bureau
  5. "The Newhall Land and Farming Company". Encyclopedia of Company Histories. The Gale Group. Retrieved April 20, 2007.
  6. Beach volleyball information page
  7. Mertes, Micah (November 21, 2016). "Omaha native film editor goes from 'Frozen' to new Disney film 'Moana'". Omaha World-Herald.
  8. Lisa Dillman (August 14, 2000). "Winning Isn't Only Thing in Men's 100 Freestyle". Los Angeles Times.
  9. "Taylor Lautner Wants to Go Back to School". Extratv.warnerbros.com. June 29, 2010.
  10. "Naya Rivera Bio". UsMagazine.com.
  11. "Michael Trevino Biography". Mostbeautifulman.com. Archived from the original on February 2, 2015.
  12. Berry, Zuri (April 29, 2011). "Patriots select RB Shane Vereen with the 56th pick". NY Times Co.
  13. "Playmate data".
  14. Smith, Perry (November 30, 2013). "Paul Walker, Santa Clarita CEO Reportedly Killed in Fatal Single-Car Crash". KHTS Radio.
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