El Rio, California
Encyclopedia
El Rio is a small unincorporated
census-designated
town in Ventura County, California
, USA, on the northeast side of the 101 Freeway and Oxnard
, and south of the Santa Clara River
. The population was 7,198 at the 2010 census, up from 6,193 at the time the 2000 census was enumerated.
The main thoroughfare in El Rio is Vineyard Avenue (State Route 232
).
to Santa Monica
and back into the foothills as far as the Coast Range. One of their largest settlements was at nearby Saticoy
, because of the bubbling springs that were found there.
On May 6, 1837, Juan M. Sanchez (1791–1873), a former Santa Barbara Presidio
soldier, was granted the Rancho Santa Clara del Norte
, which contained 13989 acres (57 km²) of land extending from the Santa Clara River
south to the northern boundary of present day Camarillo
, and from the present day 101 Freeway east to the west end of South Mountain. Sanchez and his wife, Ines Guevara de Sanchez (1794–1862), 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 (1852–1936), a Prussia
n Jewish merchant who owned a general store
at the location. The 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 schoolhouse
was opened in 1885.
On February 14, 1895, the postal authority changed the name of the town to Jerusalem. Four months later, they changed it to Elrio, one word. In 1905, they changed it to El Rio, two words, which means in Spanish
"The River," aptly referring to the nearby Santa Clara
.
The El Rio Post Office was discontinued on October 31, 1911. It was reestablished in 1953. Until Rio Mesa High School
was built on Central Avenue northeast of El Rio and opened in 1965, El Rio students were bussed to Oxnard High School and later to Camarillo High School
in Camarillo
. The post office was discontinued again in 1966.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the census-designated place
(CDP) has a total area of 2 square miles (5.2 km²), all of it land.
was 3,556.5 people per square mile (1,373.2/km²). The racial makeup of El Rio was 3,495 (48.6%) White, 58 (0.8%) African American, 201 (2.8%) Native American, 73 (1.0%) Asian, 24 (0.3%) Pacific Islander, 3,027 (42.1%) from other races
, and 320 (4.4%) from two or more races. Hispanic or 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 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%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships
, and 14 (0.9%) 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 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 840.0 per square mile (324.3/km²), 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.
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, 1.26% African American, 2.52% Native American, 1.39% Asian, 0.34% Pacific Islander, 42.48% from other races
, and 4.41% from two or more races. Hispanic or 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 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.
Unincorporated area
In law, an unincorporated area is a region of land that is not a part of any municipality.To "incorporate" in this context means to form a municipal corporation, a city, town, or village with its own government. An unincorporated community is usually not subject to or taxed by a municipal government...
census-designated
Census-designated place
A census-designated place is a concentration of population identified by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes. CDPs are delineated for each decennial census as the statistical counterparts of incorporated places such as cities, towns and villages...
town in Ventura County, California
Ventura County, California
Ventura County is a county in the southern part of the U.S. state of California. It is located on California's Pacific coast. It is often referred to as the Gold Coast, and has a reputation of being one of the safest populated places and one of the most affluent places in the country...
, USA, on the northeast side of the 101 Freeway and Oxnard
Oxnard, California
Oxnard is the 113th largest city in the United States, 19th largest city in California and largest city in Ventura County, California, by way of population. It is located at the western edge of the fertile Oxnard Plain, and is an important agricultural center, with its distinction as the...
, and south of the Santa Clara River
Santa Clara River (California)
The Santa Clara River is approximately long, located in southern California in the United States. It drains an area of the coastal mountains north of Los Angeles. The Santa Clara is one of the largest river systems along the coast of Southern California and one of only a few remaining river...
. The population was 7,198 at the 2010 census, up from 6,193 at the time the 2000 census was enumerated.
The main thoroughfare in El Rio is Vineyard Avenue (State Route 232
California State Route 232
State Route 232 is a state highway in Ventura County, California. It serves as a connector between SR 1, US 101, and SR 118.-Route description:...
).
History
Early inhabitants of the area were the Chumash, a peaceful tribe who built canoes and milled the acorns. Their region extended from Point ConceptionPoint Conception
Point Conception is a headland along the Pacific coast of U.S. state of California, located in southwestern Santa Barbara County. It is the point where the Santa Barbara Channel meets the Pacific Ocean, and as the corner between the mostly north-south trending portion of coast to the north and the...
to Santa Monica
Santa Monica, California
Santa Monica is a beachfront city in western Los Angeles County, California, US. Situated on Santa Monica Bay, it is surrounded on three sides by the city of Los Angeles — Pacific Palisades on the northwest, Brentwood on the north, West Los Angeles on the northeast, Mar Vista on the east, and...
and back into the foothills as far as the Coast Range. One of their largest settlements was at nearby Saticoy
Saticoy, California
Saticoy is an unincorporated town and census-designated place in Ventura County, California. It lies in the Santa Clara River Valley, south of the intersection of Wells Road and the Santa Paula Freeway, on the east side of Ventura, and north of the Santa Clara River at the head of the delta...
, because of the bubbling springs that were found there.
On May 6, 1837, Juan M. Sanchez (1791–1873), a former Santa Barbara Presidio
Presidio of Santa Barbara
The El Presidio Real de Santa Bárbara, also known as the Royal Presidio of Santa Barbara, was a military installation in Santa Barbara, California. It was built by Spain in 1782, with the mission of defending the Second Military District in California...
soldier, was granted the Rancho Santa Clara del Norte
Rancho Santa Clara del Norte
Rancho Santa Clara del Norte was a Mexican land grant in present day Ventura County, California given in 1837 by Governor Juan B. Alvarado to Juan Maria Sanchez...
, which contained 13989 acres (57 km²) of land extending from the Santa Clara River
Santa Clara River (California)
The Santa Clara River is approximately long, located in southern California in the United States. It drains an area of the coastal mountains north of Los Angeles. The Santa Clara is one of the largest river systems along the coast of Southern California and one of only a few remaining river...
south to the northern boundary of present day Camarillo
Camarillo, California
Camarillo is a city in Ventura County, California, United States. The population was 65,201 at the 2010 census, up from 57,084 at the 2000 census. The Ventura Freeway Camarillo is a city in Ventura County, California, United States. The population was 65,201 at the 2010 census, up from 57,084 at...
, and from the present day 101 Freeway east to the west end of South Mountain. Sanchez and his wife, Ines Guevara de Sanchez (1794–1862), 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 (1852–1936), a Prussia
Prussia
Prussia was a German kingdom and historic state originating out of the Duchy of Prussia and the Margraviate of Brandenburg. For centuries, the House of Hohenzollern ruled Prussia, successfully expanding its size by way of an unusually well-organized and effective army. Prussia shaped the history...
n Jewish merchant who owned a general store
General store
A general store, general merchandise store, or village shop is a rural or small town store that carries a general line of merchandise. It carries a broad selection of merchandise, sometimes in a small space, where people from the town and surrounding rural areas come to purchase all their general...
at the location. The U.S. Post Office Department
United States Post Office Department
The Post Office Department was the name of the United States Postal Service when it was a Cabinet department. It was headed by the Postmaster General....
established New Jerusalem Post Office on July 26, 1882, and Cohn was appointed the first postmaster. The first one-room schoolhouse
One-room school
One-room schools were commonplace throughout rural portions of various countries including the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom, Ireland and Spain in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. In most rural and small town schools, all of the students met in a single room...
was opened in 1885.
On February 14, 1895, the postal authority changed the name of the town to Jerusalem. Four months later, they changed it to Elrio, one word. In 1905, they changed it to El Rio, two words, which means in Spanish
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
"The River," aptly referring to the nearby Santa Clara
Santa Clara River (California)
The Santa Clara River is approximately long, located in southern California in the United States. It drains an area of the coastal mountains north of Los Angeles. The Santa Clara is one of the largest river systems along the coast of Southern California and one of only a few remaining river...
.
The El Rio Post Office was discontinued on October 31, 1911. It was reestablished in 1953. Until Rio Mesa High School
Rio Mesa High School
Rio Mesa High School is located in Oxnard, California and is within the Oxnard Union High School District. It serves the Oxnard communities of Northern Oxnard, River Park, Nyeland Acres, and El Rio, as well as the western portion of the city of Camarillo...
was built on Central Avenue northeast of El Rio and opened in 1965, El Rio students were bussed to Oxnard High School and later to Camarillo High School
Adolfo Camarillo High School
Adolfo Camarillo High School is a high school located at 4660 Mission Oaks Boulevard in Camarillo, California. It was recognized as a California Distinguished School in 1996 and in 2009 and a National Blue Ribbon School in 1998. It is part of the Oxnard Union High School District. The land was...
in Camarillo
Camarillo, California
Camarillo is a city in Ventura County, California, United States. The population was 65,201 at the 2010 census, up from 57,084 at the 2000 census. The Ventura Freeway Camarillo is a city in Ventura County, California, United States. The population was 65,201 at the 2010 census, up from 57,084 at...
. The post office was discontinued again in 1966.
Geography
El Rio is located at 34°14′21"N 119°9′32"W (34.239197, -119.158754).According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the census-designated place
Census-designated place
A census-designated place is a concentration of population identified by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes. CDPs are delineated for each decennial census as the statistical counterparts of incorporated places such as cities, towns and villages...
(CDP) has a total area of 2 square miles (5.2 km²), all of it land.
2010
The 2010 United States Census reported that El Rio had a population of 7,198. The population densityPopulation density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 3,556.5 people per square mile (1,373.2/km²). The racial makeup of El Rio was 3,495 (48.6%) White, 58 (0.8%) African American, 201 (2.8%) Native American, 73 (1.0%) Asian, 24 (0.3%) Pacific Islander, 3,027 (42.1%) from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 320 (4.4%) from two or more races. Hispanic or 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 opposite-sex married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
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%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships
POSSLQ
POSSLQ is an abbreviation for "Persons of Opposite Sex Sharing Living Quarters," a term coined in the late 1970s by the United States Census Bureau as part of an effort to more accurately gauge the prevalence of cohabitation in American households....
, and 14 (0.9%) 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 families
Family (U.S. Census)
A family or family household is defined by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes as "a householder and one or more other people related to the householder by birth, marriage, or adoption. They do not include same-sex married couples even if the marriage was performed in a state...
(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 840.0 per square mile (324.3/km²), 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 census of 2000, there were 6,193 people, 1,467 households, and 1,273 families residing in the CDP. The population densityPopulation density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
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, 1.26% African American, 2.52% Native American, 1.39% Asian, 0.34% Pacific Islander, 42.48% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 4.41% from two or more races. Hispanic or 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 married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
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
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
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.