Why Thousand Oaks
Thousand Oaks is a city situated in Ventura County, California, forming the primary populated core of the Conejo Valley in northwestern Greater Los Angeles. Located approximately 15 miles from the city of Los Angeles and 40 miles from Downtown Los Angeles, the community derives its name from the tens of thousands of oak trees found throughout the region. The municipality shares its eastern boundary with Westlake Village at the Los Angeles County line.
Human settlement in the region began more than 10,000 years ago with the Chumash people, who established major settlements such as Sap'wi and Satwiwa alongside smaller villages including Yitimasɨh and Šihaw. Recorded history began in 1542 with Spanish arrival, leading to the establishment of the 48,671-acre El Rancho Conejo grant in 1803 during the Alta California era. The area transitioned to Mexican territory in 1822 and became part of the United States in 1850. By the late nineteenth century, the valley served as a stagecoach route between Los Angeles and Santa Barbara, and a Norwegian immigrant community settled in the area around the turn of the century, constructing the hand-built Norwegian Grade in 1911.
In the 1920s, land development increased and the area became a frequent filming location for Hollywood movies, particularly westerns shot in places such as Wildwood Regional Park. The opening of Goebel's Lion Farm in 1926—later renamed Jungleland USA—brought wild animals and public shows to the area, supplying trained animals for film productions until its closure in 1969 on the site where the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza stands today. The region also attracted numerous film actors who acquired local ranches.
After voters selected the city's name and approved incorporation in 1964, Thousand Oaks expanded during the late 1960s and 1970s by annexing the majority of Newbury Park and large sections of the Westlake master-planned community. A major population boom transformed the former agricultural and ranching area into a business center that attracted high-technology firms and biotechnology companies.
Cultural and historical attractions include the Chumash Indian Museum, the Chumash Interpretive Center featuring ancient rock pictographs, and the Satwiwa Native American Indian Culture Center located at the foothills of Mount Boney. Local heritage is also preserved at the Stagecoach Inn Museum, built in 1876, while California Lutheran University hosts the Scandinavian American Cultural and Historical Foundation and the annual Scandinavian Festival.
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