Fillmore, California
Encyclopedia
Fillmore is a city in Ventura County
, California
, United States
. The population was 15,002 at the 2010 census, up from 13,643 at the 2000 census.
Fillmore still has a small-town atmosphere which is becoming increasingly rare in suburbanized Ventura County. The farms of nearby Bardsdale
, as well as the town's relatively remote location away from the sprawl of the West and South parts of the County, have helped preserve this atmosphere.
, the city has a total area of 3.4 square miles (8.8 km²), 99.97% of it land and 0.03% of it water.
. Fillmore is located in the Santa Clara River Valley
. Fillmore is also located within an historic Ventura County agricultural and tree-farming belt. Educational facilities include one high school, one middle school, and 5 elementary schools. Sespe Condor Sanctuary
, where the critically endangered California Condor
are recovering, lies to the north. The nearby Sespe Creek
is a tributary of the Santa Clara River
. It is primarily served by State Highways 126 and 23.
Fillmore has a classic "turn of the century" downtown architecture, a one-screen theater (the Fillmore Towne Theatre
), a historic train depot (the Fillmore and Western Railway), a much photographed city hall, and many unique shops and businesses, including a local winery operation. It is home to Elkins Ranch Golf Course. The small farming community of Bardsdale
is located about three miles (5 km) from Fillmore, directly across the Santa Clara River
. Also located nearby are a fish hatchery and the Sespe Creek and Sespe Wilderness, home to the California Condor
Sespe sanctuary.
Because of its preserved downtown, Fillmore is a popular filming location for television and movies. The January 4, 2007, episode of CSI
entitled Leaving Las Vegas prominently featured old-town Fillmore as the fictional town of "Larkston, Nevada". Parts of the television series Jericho
and Big Love
are also filmed there.
. The single largest employer is the Fillmore Unified School District.http://www.fillmoreca.com/collage.jpg
was 4,458.5 people per square mile (1,721.4/km²). The racial makeup of Fillmore was 8,581 (57.2%) White, 75 (0.5%) African American, 180 (1.2%) Native American, 155 (1.0%) Asian, 12 (0.1%) Pacific Islander, 5,204 (34.7%) from other races
, and 795 (5.3%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 11,212 persons (74.7%).
The Census reported that 14,836 people (98.9% of the population) lived in households, 83 (0.6%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 83 (0.6%) were institutionalized.
There were 4,156 households, out of which 2,053 (49.4%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 2,483 (59.7%) were opposite-sex married couples
living together, 569 (13.7%) had a female householder with no husband present, 312 (7.5%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 259 (6.2%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships
, and 34 (0.8%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 642 households (15.4%) were made up of individuals and 299 (7.2%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.57. There were 3,364 families
(80.9% of all households); the average family size was 3.92.
The population was spread out with 4,534 people (30.2%) under the age of 18, 1,555 people (10.4%) aged 18 to 24, 4,141 people (27.6%) aged 25 to 44, 3,221 people (21.5%) aged 45 to 64, and 1,551 people (10.3%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31.9 years. For every 100 females there were 99.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.9 males.
There were 4,408 housing units at an average density of 1,310.0 per square mile (505.8/km²), of which 2,674 (64.3%) were owner-occupied, and 1,482 (35.7%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 3.0%; the rental vacancy rate was 4.5%. 9,324 people (62.2% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 5,512 people (36.7%) lived in rental housing units.
of 2000, there were 13,643 people, 3,762 households, and 3,032 families residing in the city. The population density
was 4,910.8 inhabitants per square mile (1,894.8/km²). There were 3,852 housing units at an average density of 1,386.5 per square mile (535.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 53.5% White, 0.3% African American, 1.4% Native American, 1% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander
, and 39.5% from other races
. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 66.6% of the population.
There were 3,762 households out of which 45.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.3% were married couples
living together, 12.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 19.4% were non-families. 16.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.56 and the average family size was 3.94.
In the city the population was spread out with 32.3% under the age of 18, 10.7% from 18 to 24, 29.0% from 25 to 44, 17.5% from 45 to 64, and 10.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females there were 101.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 102.4 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $45,510, and the median income for a family was $47,449. Males had a median income of $34,441 versus $24,660 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $15,010. About 11.4% of families and 13.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.3% of those under age 18 and 7.4% of those age 65 or over.
, an area with over 450 square miles (1,165.5 km²). Fillmore's Police Department is headed by Capt. Tim Hagel, 5 Patrol Sergeants, 2 Detectives, 35 regular deputies, 1 cadet and 1 dispatcher, 2 Sheriff's Store Front. Fillmore is also served by three Sheriff's Store Front Locations, a Juvenile Liaison Program with the School District, Citizens Patrol Disaster Response Team, Fillmore Mountain Search and Rescue Team and Citizens Patrol.
The Fillmore Police Department has a Bike Patrol Unit, which consists of eight specially trained deputies. The Bike Patrol is utilized for proactive patrols, civic events, enforcement of public nuisance crimes, and other team operations. Each year the Santa Clara Valley Station offers a Bike Rodeo for the youth in the community.
Also, the Fillmore Station is home to a Special Enforcement Detail that provides a variety of specialized duties including gang enforcement, tagging/graffiti investigations, and alcohol beverage control. This unit is utilized for any specific crime concerns that are beyond the scope of normal patrol resources.
In August 2001, the City of Fillmore introduced its first traffic enforcement motorcycle, a BMW bike, which was purchased with technology grant funds from the State. The motor officer's primary duty is to enforce traffic laws within the city and to investigate traffic accidents that occur within the city limits. The officer is trained in accident reconstruction, skid marks analysis, and accident investigation.* http://www.vcsd.org/patrol_services/fillmore/index.html
Furthermore, during certain events, such as the 4th of July]] Festival, Fillmore May Festival extra law enforcement is required to patrol in order to maintain safety regulations.
Fillmore Middle School is the first school in California to offer skateboarding in its Physical Education Program.
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...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 15,002 at the 2010 census, up from 13,643 at the 2000 census.
History
Fillmore was founded in 1888 by Jerome A. Fillmore, General Superintendent of the Southern Pacific Railroad. On August 1, 1888, a street map of the town of Fillmore was recorded in the Ventura County Courthouse. By 1900 Fillmore had a population of 150. The first schoolhouse was built in 1874. It was 20 by 30 feet (6.1 by 9.1 meters) with three windows on each side. The first graduating class of Fillmore High School was in 1910 with four students. 1889 saw the first commercial orange grove planted in Fillmore. During the “orange rush” of 1897, the Fillmore Citrus Fruit Association was formed and would eventually become Sunkist Growers. Fillmore’s first orange packing house was built at the corner of Sespe Avenue and A Street, on property purchased for $50 (sources: Fillmore Chamber of Commerce and Heritage Valley Tourism Bureau).Fillmore still has a small-town atmosphere which is becoming increasingly rare in suburbanized Ventura County. The farms of nearby Bardsdale
Bardsdale, California
Bardsdale is an unincorporated community in Ventura County, California, USA. It is located in the orange blossom and agricultural belt of the Santa Clara River Valley, south of the Santa Clara River and on the north slope of South Mountain. The closest town is Fillmore, which is on the north side...
, as well as the town's relatively remote location away from the sprawl of the West and South parts of the County, have helped preserve this atmosphere.
Geography and description
According to the United States Census BureauUnited 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 city has a total area of 3.4 square miles (8.8 km²), 99.97% of it land and 0.03% of it water.
Cityscape
Fillmore is a small valley town in Northern Ventura County just below the San Cayetano Mountain peak in the Los Padres National ForestLos Padres National Forest
Los Padres National Forest is a forest located in southern and central California, which includes most of the mountainous land along the California coast from Ventura to Monterey, extending inland...
. Fillmore is located in the Santa Clara River Valley
Santa Clara River Valley
The Santa Clara River Valley is a valley that runs from east to west through Ventura County and northwest Los Angeles County, California...
. Fillmore is also located within an historic Ventura County agricultural and tree-farming belt. Educational facilities include one high school, one middle school, and 5 elementary schools. Sespe Condor Sanctuary
Sespe Condor Sanctuary
Sespe Condor Sanctuary is a wildlife refuge in the Los Padres National Forest. The United States Forest Service established the sanctuary in 1947 for the California condor, which is an endangered species and the largest living bird in North America...
, where the critically endangered California Condor
California Condor
The California Condor is a New World vulture, the largest North American land bird. Currently, this condor inhabits only the Grand Canyon area, Zion National Park, and coastal mountains of central and southern California and northern Baja California...
are recovering, lies to the north. The nearby Sespe Creek
Sespe Creek
Sespe Creek is a stream, some long, in Ventura County, California, in the United States. The creek starts at Potrero Seco in the Sierra Madre Mountains, and is formed by more than thirty tributary streams before it empties into the Santa Clara River in Fillmore. Thirty-one miles of Sespe Creek are...
is a tributary 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...
. It is primarily served by State Highways 126 and 23.
Fillmore has a classic "turn of the century" downtown architecture, a one-screen theater (the Fillmore Towne Theatre
Fillmore Towne Theatre
Fillmore Towne Theatre is located at 338 Central Avenue in Fillmore, California and is a central landmark of the town.-History:The single-screen theater was used to show silent films and the stage area was used for vaudeville. Mary Pickford performed here....
), a historic train depot (the Fillmore and Western Railway), a much photographed city hall, and many unique shops and businesses, including a local winery operation. It is home to Elkins Ranch Golf Course. The small farming community of Bardsdale
Bardsdale, California
Bardsdale is an unincorporated community in Ventura County, California, USA. It is located in the orange blossom and agricultural belt of the Santa Clara River Valley, south of the Santa Clara River and on the north slope of South Mountain. The closest town is Fillmore, which is on the north side...
is located about three miles (5 km) from Fillmore, directly across 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...
. Also located nearby are a fish hatchery and the Sespe Creek and Sespe Wilderness, home to the California Condor
California Condor
The California Condor is a New World vulture, the largest North American land bird. Currently, this condor inhabits only the Grand Canyon area, Zion National Park, and coastal mountains of central and southern California and northern Baja California...
Sespe sanctuary.
Because of its preserved downtown, Fillmore is a popular filming location for television and movies. The January 4, 2007, episode of CSI
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation is an American crime drama television series, which premiered on CBS on October 6, 2000. The show was created by Anthony E. Zuiker and produced by Jerry Bruckheimer...
entitled Leaving Las Vegas prominently featured old-town Fillmore as the fictional town of "Larkston, Nevada". Parts of the television series Jericho
Jericho (TV series)
Jericho is an American action/drama series that centers on the residents of the fictional town of Jericho, Kansas, in the aftermath of nuclear attacks on 23 major cities in the contiguous United States...
and Big Love
Big Love
Big Love is an American television drama that aired on HBO between March 2006 and March 2011. The show is about a fictional fundamentalist Mormon family in Utah that practices polygamy...
are also filmed there.
Industry and economy
Fillmore's economy is still largely driven by agriculture. Most agricultural industry in the Fillmore area is related to orange, lemon, avocado orchard farming and packing and, more recently, specimen tree farming. To a lesser extent, row crop farming and small industry and assembly are also present in and near Fillmore and in other parts of the Santa Clara ValleySanta Clara Valley
The Santa Clara Valley is a valley just south of the San Francisco Bay in Northern California in the United States. Much of Santa Clara County and its county seat, San José, are in the Santa Clara Valley. The valley was originally known as the Valley of Heart’s Delight for its high concentration...
. The single largest employer is the Fillmore Unified School District.http://www.fillmoreca.com/collage.jpg
Local
The City of Fillmore is an established municipality within Ventura County, founded in 1888 and incorporated on July 10, 1914. The city is governed by a five-person council with the position of mayor and mayor pro-tem elected by the council every two years. Council members serve four-year terms. As of January 2011, the current mayor is Gayle Washburn, and the council members are Jamey Brooks (Mayor pro-tem), Steve Conaway, Brian Sipes, and Patti Walker.2010
The 2010 United States Census reported that Fillmore had a population of 15,002. 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 4,458.5 people per square mile (1,721.4/km²). The racial makeup of Fillmore was 8,581 (57.2%) White, 75 (0.5%) African American, 180 (1.2%) Native American, 155 (1.0%) Asian, 12 (0.1%) Pacific Islander, 5,204 (34.7%) 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 795 (5.3%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 11,212 persons (74.7%).
The Census reported that 14,836 people (98.9% of the population) lived in households, 83 (0.6%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 83 (0.6%) were institutionalized.
There were 4,156 households, out of which 2,053 (49.4%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 2,483 (59.7%) 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, 569 (13.7%) had a female householder with no husband present, 312 (7.5%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 259 (6.2%) 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 34 (0.8%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 642 households (15.4%) were made up of individuals and 299 (7.2%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.57. There were 3,364 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...
(80.9% of all households); the average family size was 3.92.
The population was spread out with 4,534 people (30.2%) under the age of 18, 1,555 people (10.4%) aged 18 to 24, 4,141 people (27.6%) aged 25 to 44, 3,221 people (21.5%) aged 45 to 64, and 1,551 people (10.3%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31.9 years. For every 100 females there were 99.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.9 males.
There were 4,408 housing units at an average density of 1,310.0 per square mile (505.8/km²), of which 2,674 (64.3%) were owner-occupied, and 1,482 (35.7%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 3.0%; the rental vacancy rate was 4.5%. 9,324 people (62.2% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 5,512 people (36.7%) lived in rental housing units.
2000
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 13,643 people, 3,762 households, and 3,032 families residing in the city. The population density
Population 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 4,910.8 inhabitants per square mile (1,894.8/km²). There were 3,852 housing units at an average density of 1,386.5 per square mile (535.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 53.5% White, 0.3% African American, 1.4% Native American, 1% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander
Pacific Islander
Pacific Islander , is a geographic term to describe the indigenous inhabitants of any of the three major sub-regions of Oceania: Polynesia, Melanesia and Micronesia.According to the Encyclopædia Britannica, these three regions, together with their islands consist of:Polynesia:...
, and 39.5% 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...
. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 66.6% of the population.
There were 3,762 households out of which 45.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.3% 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, 12.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 19.4% were non-families. 16.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.56 and the average family size was 3.94.
In the city the population was spread out with 32.3% under the age of 18, 10.7% from 18 to 24, 29.0% from 25 to 44, 17.5% from 45 to 64, and 10.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females there were 101.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 102.4 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $45,510, and the median income for a family was $47,449. Males had a median income of $34,441 versus $24,660 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 city was $15,010. About 11.4% of families and 13.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.3% of those under age 18 and 7.4% of those age 65 or over.
Police and law enforcement
In 1987, the City of Fillmore contracted with the Ventura County Sheriff's Department to provide protection for Fillmore, Bardsdale and PiruPiru
A piru is a minor evil spirit or demon in Finnish mythology. In folklore, a piru is often featured as a nasty spirit of the forest with which a wise-aleck either wins or loses a battle of wits, giving or receiving a forfeit in return. In many cases, poltergeist and haunting phenomenons are...
, an area with over 450 square miles (1,165.5 km²). Fillmore's Police Department is headed by Capt. Tim Hagel, 5 Patrol Sergeants, 2 Detectives, 35 regular deputies, 1 cadet and 1 dispatcher, 2 Sheriff's Store Front. Fillmore is also served by three Sheriff's Store Front Locations, a Juvenile Liaison Program with the School District, Citizens Patrol Disaster Response Team, Fillmore Mountain Search and Rescue Team and Citizens Patrol.
The Fillmore Police Department has a Bike Patrol Unit, which consists of eight specially trained deputies. The Bike Patrol is utilized for proactive patrols, civic events, enforcement of public nuisance crimes, and other team operations. Each year the Santa Clara Valley Station offers a Bike Rodeo for the youth in the community.
Also, the Fillmore Station is home to a Special Enforcement Detail that provides a variety of specialized duties including gang enforcement, tagging/graffiti investigations, and alcohol beverage control. This unit is utilized for any specific crime concerns that are beyond the scope of normal patrol resources.
In August 2001, the City of Fillmore introduced its first traffic enforcement motorcycle, a BMW bike, which was purchased with technology grant funds from the State. The motor officer's primary duty is to enforce traffic laws within the city and to investigate traffic accidents that occur within the city limits. The officer is trained in accident reconstruction, skid marks analysis, and accident investigation.* http://www.vcsd.org/patrol_services/fillmore/index.html
Furthermore, during certain events, such as the 4th of July]] Festival, Fillmore May Festival extra law enforcement is required to patrol in order to maintain safety regulations.
Junior high
- Fillmore Middle School
Fillmore Middle School is the first school in California to offer skateboarding in its Physical Education Program.
Elementary school
- San Cayetano Elementary School
- Sespe Elementary School
- Fillmore Christian Academy
- Mountain Vista Elementary School
Major highways
California State Highway 126
California State Highway 23
External links
- Official City Website
- The Fillmore Gazette - Print and Online Newspaper of Record for the City of Fillmore
- Fillmore Chamber of Commerce
- Fillmore @ The Official Conejo Valley Website, a Web site with local history, events, and community information.
- Fillmore High School Website
- http://www.heritagevalley.net/
- The Sespe Sun - Online Newspaper of Record for the Santa Clara Valley