Editing El Rio, California

{{other uses|El Río (disambiguation)}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
<!-- See the table at Template:Infobox settlement for all fields and descriptions of their usage. -->
<!-- Basic info  ---------------->
|name = El Rio, California
|other_name = 
|nickname = 
|settlement_type = {{ubl|[[Unincorporated community]]|[[Census designated place]]}}
<!-- images and maps  ----------->
|image_skyline = Roger Jones Community Center.jpg
|imagesize = 
|image_caption = Roger Jones Community Center
|image_map = Ventura_County_California_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_El_Rio_Highlighted.svg
|mapsize = 250x200px
|map_caption = Location in [[Ventura County, California|Ventura County]] and the state of [[California]]
|pushpin_map = <!-- the name of a location map as per http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Location_map -->
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<!-- Location ------------------>
|subdivision_type = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
|subdivision_name         = United States
|subdivision_type1 = [[U.S. state|State]]
|subdivision_name1        = [[California]]
|subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in California|County]]
|subdivision_name2 = [[Ventura County, California|Ventura]]
<!-- Politics ----------------->
|leader_title1 = [[California's 19th State Senate district|State Senator]]
|leader_name1 = {{Representative|casd|19|fmt=sleader}}<ref name=swd/>
|leader_title2 = [[California's 38th State Assembly district|CA Assembly]]
|leader_name2 = {{Representative|caad|38|fmt=sleader}}<ref name=swd>{{Cite web |url=http://statewidedatabase.org/gis/gis2011/index_2011.html |title=Statewide Database |publisher=UC Regents |access-date=December 8, 2014}}</ref>
|leader_title3 = [[California's 26th congressional district|U. S. Rep.]]
|leader_name3 = {{Representative|cacd|26|fmt=usleader}}<ref>{{Cite GovTrack|CA|26|access-date=October 5, 2014}}</ref>
|established_title = Town founded
|established_date = 1875
<!-- Area------------------>
| unit_pref               = US
| area_footnotes          = <ref>{{Cite US Gazetteer|2010|places|CA}}</ref>
| area_total_sq_mi        = 2.024
| area_land_sq_mi         = 2.024
| area_water_sq_mi        = 0
| area_total_km2          = 5.242
| area_land_km2           = 5.242
| area_water_km2          = 0
| area_water_percent      = 0
|area_metro_sq_mi = 
<!-- Elevation ------------>
|elevation_footnotes = <ref>{{Cite GNIS|1652703|El Rio|access-date=April 19, 2015}}</ref>
|elevation_ft = 92
|elevation_m = 28
<!-- Population ----------->
|population_as_of = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_footnotes = <ref name="US Census Bureau 2020 El Rio, CA Population">{{cite web |title=US Census Bureau |url=https://data.census.gov/all?q=El%20Rio%20CDP,%20California |website=www.census.gov |access-date=8 September 2024}}</ref>
|population_total = 7037
|population_density_sq_mi = auto
|population_metro = 
|population_density_metro_sq_mi = 
<!-- General information  --------------->
|timezone = [[Pacific Time Zone|Pacific]]
|utc_offset = -8
|timezone_DST = [[Pacific Daylight Time|PDT]]
|utc_offset_DST = -7
|coordinates             = {{coord|34|14|21|N|119|9|32|W|region:US_type:city|display=inline,title}}
|postal_code_type = [[ZIP code]]
|postal_code = 93036 ([[Oxnard, California|Oxnard]] [[post office|P.O.]])
|area_code_type = [[North American Numbering Plan|Area code]]
|area_code = [[Area code 805|805]]
|blank_name = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS]] code
|blank_info = {{FIPS|06|22370}}
|blank1_name = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature IDs
|blank1_info = {{GNIS 4|1652703}}, {{GNIS 4|2408061}}
}}
'''El Rio''' ({{IPAc-en|ɛ|l|_|ˈ|r|iː|oʊ|audio=En-us-el rio.ogg}}; [[Spanish language|Spanish]]: ''El Río'', meaning "The River") is a small, rural<ref name="Capace, Nancy 1999 Page 237">Capace, Nancy (1999). ''Encyclopedia of California''. North American Book Dist LLC. Page 237. {{ISBN|9780403093182}}.</ref> [[unincorporated area|unincorporated]] town in [[Ventura County, California]], United States, on the northeast side of the [[U.S. Route 101 in California|101 Freeway]] and [[Oxnard, California|Oxnard]], and south of the [[Santa Clara River (California)|Santa Clara River]]. The town was founded in 1875 and named '''New Jerusalem''' by the owner of general store who became the first postmaster in 1882.<ref name="Capace, Nancy 1999 Page 237"/> In 1885, a school and Santa Clara Catholic Church were built. Located near where the [[Coast Line (UP)|coastal railroad line]] crosses the Santa Clara River, the town's name was changed to El Rio around 1900. The former wagon river crossing route became the [[Ventura Freeway]] which separates the community from the commercial developments that grew up on the southwest side of the freeway. That portion of the historic community and sections closer to the river have been annexed to the city of Oxnard.  Vineyard Avenue ([[California State Route 232|State Route 232]]) is the central business district for the largely residential community.

The population was 7,198 at the 2010 census, up from 6,193 at the time the [[2000 United States Census|2000 census]] was enumerated. For statistical purposes, the United States Census Bureau has defined a portion of the unincorporated area as El Rio [[census-designated place]] (CDP) which does not precisely correspond to the historical community that is much larger with significant portions having been annexed to the city of Oxnard.

==Etymology==
El Rio was first named New Jerusalem by Simon Cohn in 1875. The post office later changed its name to El Rio in 1895, which is the Spanish translation for “the river”.<ref name="Capace, Nancy 1999 Page 237"/>

==History==
Early inhabitants of the area were the [[Chumash people|Chumash]], a Native American tribe who continue to inhabit the area.{{r|EIR 2001 |page=4.12-1}} The Chumash region extends from [[Point Conception]] to [[Santa Monica, California|Santa Monica]] and back into the foothills as far as the [[California Coast Ranges#South Coast Ranges|Coast Range]]. One of their largest settlements was at nearby [[Saticoy, California|Saticoy]], because of the bubbling springs that were found there.

On May 6, 1837, Juan M. Sanchez (1791&ndash;1873), a former [[Presidio of Santa Barbara|Santa Barbara Presidio]] soldier, was granted the [[Rancho Santa Clara del Norte]],<ref name=venturacogensoc.org>{{cite web |title=Spanish and Mexican Land Grants in Ventura County |last=Ventura County Genealogical Society |url=http://www.venturacogensoc.org/cpage.php?pt=38 |access-date=2013-10-22}}</ref> which contained {{convert|13989|acre|km2|0}} of land extending from the [[Santa Clara River (California)|Santa Clara River]] south to the northern boundary of present-day [[Camarillo, California|Camarillo]], and from the present day [[U.S. Route 101 in California|101 Freeway]] east to the west end of South Mountain.<ref>{{gnis|249741|South Mountain}}</ref> Sanchez and his wife, Ines Guevara de Sanchez (1794&ndash;1862), had their adobe home built below the western slope of South Mountain, within a heavy group of eucalyptus trees at the east end of present-day Rose Avenue, an avenue that was lined on both sides with tall eucalyptus trees.

The town was founded in 1875 and named New Jerusalem, California, by Simon Cohn (1852&ndash;1936),<ref>"El Rio [Ventura Co.]. ''California Place Names: The Origin and Etymology of Current Geographical Names, Fourth Edition''. 2004. p. 122.</ref> a [[Kingdom of Prussia|Prussian]] [[Jew]]ish merchant who built a [[general store]] at the location.<ref>{{citation |title=Evolution of a Metropolitan Skyline. |author= A.C. Martin interviewed by Marlene L. Laskey |year= 1985 |page=2|publisher=Regents of the University of California |department=Oral History Program, [[UCLA]] |url=https://archive.org/details/evolutionofmetro00mart }}</ref> The [[United States Post Office Department|U.S. Post Office Department]] established New Jerusalem Post Office on July 26, 1882, and Cohn was appointed the first postmaster. The first one-room [[one-room school|schoolhouse]] was opened in 1885.<ref name=rio.k12.ca.us>{{cite web |title=Rio School District Website |url=http://rioschools.org/district/district-history/|access-date=2014-05-30}}</ref> Santa Clara Catholic Church was founded the same year though services has been conducted since 1877.<ref>Storer, Mark (November 27, 2010) "Mass to celebrate milestone for Oxnard parish: Santa Clara is marking 125th year as church" ''[[Ventura County Star]]''</ref> It was the first Catholic church to be built in Ventura County since the founding of [[Mission San Buenaventura]] 95 years earlier.<ref>{{cite news|last=Chawkins |first=Steve |date=November 30, 1989 |title=Plaque Marks Site of Area's First Church |newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]] |access-date=17 March 2016|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-11-30-ve-175-story.html}}</ref>

Octaviano and Rosaria Moraga were early settlers who first came to county in the 1870s from [[Sonora, Mexico]]. Octaviano worked as the barkeeper at the New Parian Hotel in [[Ventura, California|Ventura]], and ran a boarding house they owned in Ventura. They eventually were able to buy land in New Jerusalem where Octaviano ran a livery stable. He also drove a two-horse stage between [[Port Hueneme]] and the [[East Ventura (Metrolink station)|Montalvo train station]]. His descendants were part of the El Rio community up into the 21st century.<ref>Moraga, Frank (April 20, 2008) [http://www.vcstar.com/news/2008/apr/20/el-rio-loses-another-link-to-historic-past/ "El Rio loses another link to historic past"] ''[[Ventura County Star]]''</ref>

On February 14, 1895, the postal authority changed the name of the town to Jerusalem.<ref>"Post Office Opens After Four Decades." ''Los Angeles Times''. Oct. 5, 1953, from Oxnard, Oct. 4. p. B 9.</ref> Four months later, they changed it to Elrio (one word.) In 1905, they changed it to El Rio, two words, which means in [[Spanish language|Spanish]] "The River,"<ref>{{cite book | url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ | title=The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States | publisher=Govt. Print. Off. | author=Gannett, Henry | year=1905 | pages=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ/page/n117 118]}}</ref> referring to the nearby [[Santa Clara River (California)|Santa Clara]] or to [[Rancho El Rio de Santa Clara o la Colonia|El Rio de Santa Clara o La Colonia]]. The town was at a crossroads on the boundary of two ranchos (El Rio de Santa Clara o La Colonia and [[Rancho Santa Clara del Norte]]).{{r|EIR 2001 |page=4.12-3}}

The El Rio Post Office was discontinued on October 31, 1911. It was reestablished in 1953.<ref>[[ibid.]]</ref> Until [[Rio Mesa High School]] was built on Central Avenue northeast of El Rio and opened in 1965,<ref name=riomesahigh.us>{{cite web |title=About Rio Mesa High School |url=http://www.riomesahigh.us/about/school.htm |access-date=2010-10-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101206213047/http://www.riomesahigh.us/about/school.htm |archive-date=2010-12-06 |url-status=dead }}</ref> El Rio students were bused to [[Oxnard High School]] and later to [[Adolfo Camarillo High School|Camarillo High School]] in [[Camarillo, California|Camarillo]]. The post office was discontinued again in 1966.<ref>"El Rio [Ventura]." ''Durham's Place-Names of Greater Los Angeles: Includes Los Angeles, Orange and Ventura Counties''. 2001. p. 58.</ref>

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the [[census-designated place]] (CDP) has a total area of {{convert|2.0|sqmi|km2}}, all of it land.

East and southeast of town, within the adjoining agricultural area, is the [[Santa Clara Avenue Oil Field]].

It has an average elevation of 80 feet.<ref name="Capace, Nancy 1999 Page 237"/>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2016}}</ref>
}}
El Rio has the highest percentage of manufacturing workers in Ventura County: 34% of residents have jobs within the manufacturing industries.<ref>McCormack, Don (1999). ''McCormack's Guides Santa Barbara and Ventura 2000''. Mccormacks Guides. Page 77. {{ISBN|9781929365098}}.</ref>

===2010===
The [[2010 United States Census]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.census.gov/2010census/popmap/ipmtext.php?fl=06:0622370|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140715035320/http://www.census.gov/2010census/popmap/ipmtext.php?fl=06:0622370|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 15, 2014|title=2010 Census Interactive Population Search: CA - El Rio CDP|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|access-date=July 12, 2014}}</ref> reported that El Rio had a population of 7,198. The population density was {{convert|3,556.5|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of El Rio was 3,495 (48.6%) [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 58 (0.8%) [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 201 (2.8%) [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 73 (1.0%) [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 24 (0.3%) [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 3,027 (42.1%) from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 320 (4.4%) from two or more races.  [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 6,188 persons (86.0%).

The Census reported that 7,190 people (99.9% of the population) lived in households, 8 (0.1%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 0 (0%) were institutionalized.

There were 1,629 households, out of which 904 (55.5%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 940 (57.7%) were [[marriage|opposite-sex married couples]] living together, 284 (17.4%) had a female householder with no husband present, 164 (10.1%) had a male householder with no wife present.  There were 102 (6.3%) [[POSSLQ|unmarried opposite-sex partnerships]], and 14 (0.9%) [[same-sex partnerships|same-sex married couples or partnerships]]. 181 households (11.1%) were made up of individuals, and 79 (4.8%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 4.41.  There were 1,388 [[family (U.S. Census)|families]] (85.2% of all households); the average family size was 4.47.

The population was spread out, with 2,157 people (30.0%) under the age of 18, 930 people (12.9%) aged 18 to 24, 2,028 people (28.2%) aged 25 to 44, 1,421 people (19.7%) aged 45 to 64, and 662 people (9.2%) who were 65 years of age or older.  The median age was 29.6 years. For every 100 females, there were 106.9 males.  For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 106.0 males.

There were 1,700 housing units at an average density of {{convert|840.0|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}, of which 981 (60.2%) were owner-occupied, and 648 (39.8%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.4%; the rental vacancy rate was 2.8%.  4,223 people (58.7% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 2,967 people (41.2%) lived in rental housing units.

===2000===
As of the [[2000 United States Census|census of 2000]],<ref name="GR2">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=2008-01-31 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref> there were 6,193 people, 1,467 households, and 1,273 families residing in the CDP. The [[population density]] was 3,961.2 people per square mile (1,532.8/km2). There were 1,491 housing units at an average density of 953.7 per square mile (369.0/km2). The racial makeup of the CDP was 47.60% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 1.26% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 2.52% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 1.39% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.34% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 42.48% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 4.41% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 77.36% of the population.

There were 1,467 households, out of which 45.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.7% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 15.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 13.2% were non-families. 10.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 4.22 and the average family size was 4.31.

In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 33.0% under the age of 18, 11.2% from 18 to 24, 28.7% from 25 to 44, 16.6% from 45 to 64, and 10.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 29 years. For every 100 females, there were 105.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 106.7 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $50,273, and the median income for a family was $56,339. Males had a median income of $35,041 versus $22,254 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the CDP was $14,898. About 9.4% of families and 13.6% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 19.2% of those under age 18 and 3.9% of those age 65 or over.

==Arts and culture== 
The Albert H. Soliz Library in the community is a branch of the [[Ventura County Library]] system.<ref>{{gnis|1871278|Soliz-El Rio Branch Ventura County Library}}</ref> Poet and novelist [[Michele Serros]] a book-signing event here in 2006 when her young-adult novel “''Honey Blonde Chica''” was published. She remarked "''This library was my home away from home when I was growing up''."<ref>McKinnon, Lisa (January 5, 2015) [http://www.vcstar.com/obituaries/chicana-role-model-author-oxnard-native-serros-succumbs-to-cancer-at-48_60101131 "‘Chicana Role Model' author, Oxnard native Serros succumbs to cancer at 48"] ''[[Ventura County Star]]''</ref> The Roger Jones Community Center is nearby with an adjoining public park.<ref>{{gnis|1871272|Roger Jones Community Center}}</ref>

==Infrastructure== 
A majority of the streets in the older unincorporated area do not have sidewalks. As traffic has increased, the safety of school children and other pedestrians has been a concern for the community.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.vcstar.com/news/education/schoolwatch/upgrades-near-oxnardarea-school-aid-in-pedestrian-safety_86971191|title=Upgrades near Oxnard-area school aid in pedestrian safety|first=Claudia |last=Boyd-Barrett |work=[[Ventura County Star]] |date= May 15, 2015}}</ref><ref name=Cloverdale>{{cite news|url=http://www.vcstar.com/news/education/rio-community-bands-together-to-pave-road-for-to|title=Rio community bands together to pave road for schoolchildren's trek to school|first=Anne |last=Kallas|work=[[Ventura County Star]] |date= July 27, 2012}}</ref> Cloverdale Mutual Water District serves 135 households in the community which is about 500 residents.<ref name=Cloverdale/><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.vcstar.com/story/news/local/communities/oxnard/2019/05/16/hundreds-banned-using-nitrate-contaminated-water-el-rio-vineyard-avenue-acres-mutual-water-company/3698942002/|title=Tainted tap water shut off for thousands in El Rio|website=Ventura County Star|language=en|access-date=2019-05-17}}</ref>
In the 1990s, the area's existing septic tanks were banned because of groundwater contamination in this area of the [[Oxnard Plain]] adjacent to the Santa Clara River.<ref name="LAT 2004-09-13">{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2004-sep-13-me-newcity13-story.html|title=Oxnard Ready to Launch a Revised RiverPark Project|date=September 13, 2004|first=Daryl |last=Kelley |newspaper= [[Los Angeles Times]]|access-date=18 March 2016}}</ref> A $35 million conversion to a sewer system was undertaken by the county.<ref>[http://www.vcstar.com/news/local-news/oxnard/el-rio-community-leader-florence-young-dies-at-age-91_26537206 "El Rio community leader Florence Young dies at age 91"] (Oct 24, 2014) ''[[Ventura County Star]]''</ref>{{r|LAT 2004-09-13}} The area storm water drains into the adjacent Santa Clara River.<ref>{{cite news|title=RiverPark deal ends drainage dispute |first=Scott |last=Hadly|date= October 18, 2010|work=[[Ventura County Star]]|url=http://www.vcstar.com/news/riverpark-developer-watershed-settle-dispute}}</ref>

Ventura County juvenile justice center is located on the outskirts of El Rio near the small community of Strickland and [[Rio Mesa High School]]. The high-security facility on  Vineyard Avenue is colloquially known as [[juvenile hall]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.vcstar.com/story/news/local/2016/09/16/treatment-changes-leave-juvenile-centers-half-empty/89439594/ |title=Treatment changes leave juvenile centers half empty |date= September 16, 2016 |newspaper=Ventura County Star |first=Kathleen |last=Wilson |access-date=18 September 2016}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist|refs=

<ref name="EIR 2001">{{Cite report |date=December 2001 |title=RiverPark Specific Plan Draft EIR |url=https://www.oxnard.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/4-12_Cultural.pdf |publisher=City of Oxnard}}</ref>

}}

{{Ventura County, California}}
{{Greater Los Angeles Area}}
{{Santa Clara River}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Census-designated places in California]]
[[Category:Census-designated places in Ventura County, California]]
[[Category:Geography of Oxnard, California]]
[[Category:History of Ventura County, California]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1875]]
[[Category:Neighborhoods in Ventura County, California]]