Santa Clarita Valley
Encyclopedia
The Santa Clarita Valley is the valley of the Santa Clara River
in Southern California
. It stretches through Los Angeles County
and Ventura County
. Its main population center is the city of Santa Clarita
. The valley was part of the 48612 acres (19,672.6 ha) Rancho San Francisco
Mexican land grant. Some of the communities within the SCV include the city of Santa Clarita, which is made up of Canyon Country, Newhall
, Saugus
, and Valencia
. Adjacent unincorporated communities include Castaic
, Stevenson Ranch
, Sunset Pointe, Tesoro, Val Verde
, Westridge and the new master planned community of Newhall Ranch.
Downstream of Santa Clarita, the valley is called Heritage Valley
, consisting of Piru
, Fillmore
, and Santa Paula
. The upstream portion is called Soledad Canyon
which contains the communities of Vincent, Acton
, Ravenna, and Agua Dulce
.
The internationally renowned California Institute of the Arts
, commonly referred to as CalArts, is located in Santa Clarita Valley in Valencia.
College of the Canyons is a public two-year community college that operates within the Santa Clarita Community College District. The college is located on 153.4 acres (62.1 ha) of rolling, tree-dotted hills in the incorporated city of Santa Clarita in northern Los Angeles County, California. The college’s address is: 26455 Rockwell Canyon Road, Santa Clarita, CA 91355. Dr. Dianne G. Van Hook is president of the college and chancellor of the Santa Clarita Community College District. She has headed the college and district since 1988.
The Santa Clarita Valley is bordered by the Lake Piru
area including the community of Val Verde
, Los Padres National Forest
, and Castaic Lake
to the northwest, Sierra Pelona Mountains
and Angeles National Forest
to the north and northeast, San Gabriel Mountains
to the east and southeast, and Santa Susana Mountains
to the south and southwest, and Ventura County and the Santa Clara River Valley to the west. Santa Clarita Valley is connected to the nearby San Fernando Valley
by the Newhall Pass in the southern section of Santa Clarita Valley. Santa Clarita Valley is also connected to other valleys such as the Antelope Valley
by Antelope Valley Freeway and Soledad Canyon
(going northeast), and the Santa Clara River Valley
by State Route 126
(going west). The Santa Clarita Valley is connected to the San Joaquin Valley
to the north by Interstate 5, after passing Pyramid Lake
and Frazier Park
.
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...
in Southern California
Southern California
Southern California is a megaregion, or megapolitan area, in the southern area of the U.S. state of California. Large urban areas include Greater Los Angeles and Greater San Diego. The urban area stretches along the coast from Ventura through the Southland and Inland Empire to San Diego...
. It stretches through Los Angeles County
Los Angeles County, California
Los Angeles County is a county in the U.S. state of California. As of 2010 U.S. Census, the county had a population of 9,818,605, making it the most populous county in the United States. Los Angeles County alone is more populous than 42 individual U.S. states...
and Ventura County
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...
. Its main population center is the city of Santa Clarita
Santa Clarita, California
Santa Clarita is the fourth largest city in Los Angeles County, California, United States and the twenty-fourth largest city in the state of California. The 2010 US Census reported the city's population grew 16.7% from the year 2000 to 176,320 residents. It is located about northwest of downtown...
. The valley was part of the 48612 acres (19,672.6 ha) Rancho San Francisco
Rancho San Francisco
Rancho San Francisco was a land grant in present day northwestern Los Angeles County and eastern Ventura County, California. It was of by Governor Juan B. Alvarado to Antonio del Valle, a Spanish army officer, in recognition for his service to the state of Alta California...
Mexican land grant. Some of the communities within the SCV include the city of Santa Clarita, which is made up of Canyon Country, Newhall
Newhall, California
Newhall is the southernmost and oldest district of Santa Clarita, California. Prior to the 1987 consolidation of Valencia, Canyon Country, Saugus, Newhall, and other geographically proximate settlements into the conglomerate city of Santa Clarita, it was an independent but unincorporated town...
, Saugus
Saugus, California
Saugus is a neighborhood in Santa Clarita, California. Saugus was one of the four communities that merged in 1987 to create the city of Santa Clarita. Saugus is named after Saugus, Massachusetts, the hometown of Henry Newhall, upon whose land the town was originally built...
, and Valencia
Valencia, California
Valencia is an affluent planned community located in the City of Santa Clarita, California and Los Angeles County, California, U.S. in the northwestern corner of the Santa Clarita Valley, adjacent to Interstate 5. In 1987, it was one of the four unincorporated communities that merged to create the...
. Adjacent unincorporated communities include Castaic
Castaic, California
Castaic, California, is an unincorporated community and census-designated place in Los Angeles County, California, north of Santa Clarita and a few miles from Six Flags Magic Mountain amusement park. It is approximately 39 miles from the downtown Los Angeles Civic Center. As of the 2010...
, Stevenson Ranch
Stevenson Ranch, California
Stevenson Ranch is an affluent census-designated place in Los Angeles County, California. The community is located in the Santa Clarita Valley. Often incorrectly referred to as part of the city of Santa Clarita, the community does not actually fall within the Santa Clarita city limits, and is...
, Sunset Pointe, Tesoro, Val Verde
Val Verde, California
Val Verde is a census-designated place in Los Angeles County, California, United States. The population was 2,468 at the 2010 census, up from 1,472 at the 2000 census. The predominant feature is the small rural valley in which this town sits, north of the San Fernando valley, isolated from...
, Westridge and the new master planned community of Newhall Ranch.
Downstream of Santa Clarita, the valley is called Heritage Valley
Heritage Valley
Heritage Valley is a large development of single family homes in Washington Township, Gloucester County, New Jersey.- Geography :Like its name, the development is actually a valley. You can tell by driving on Heritage Valley Drive or East Holly Avenue that you are going on a slope. On Heritage...
, consisting of Piru
Piru, California
Piru is a small unincorporated census-designated town located in eastern Ventura County, California, in the Santa Clara River Valley near the Santa Clara River and Highway 126, about seven miles east of Fillmore and about west of Interstate 5. The population was 2,063 at the 2010 census, up from...
, Fillmore
Fillmore, California
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.- History :...
, and Santa Paula
Santa Paula, California
Santa Paula is a city within Ventura County, California, United States. The population was 29,321 at the 2010 census, up from 28,598 at the 2000 census...
. The upstream portion is called Soledad Canyon
Soledad Canyon
Soledad Canyon is a long narrow canyon / valley located in Los Angeles County, California between the cities of Palmdale and Santa Clarita. Soledad Canyon contains the localities of Vincent, Acton, Ravenna, Russ, and Agua Dulce....
which contains the communities of Vincent, Acton
Acton, California
Acton was founded in 1887 by gold miners who were working in the Red Rover Mine. It was named after Acton, Massachusetts by one of the miners. Two of the best-known gold mines located in Acton were the Red Rover mine and the Governors mine. Mining of gold, copper, and titanium ore continued into...
, Ravenna, and Agua Dulce
Agua Dulce, California
Agua Dulce is a census-designated place located in Los Angeles County, California. It lies at an elevation of 2,526 feet . Agua Dulce is located just north of Santa Clarita. The town has a population of about 4,000. It is located at and covers a geographic area of about...
.
The internationally renowned California Institute of the Arts
California Institute of the Arts
The California Institute of the Arts, commonly referred to as CalArts, is located in Valencia, in Los Angeles County, California. It was incorporated in 1961 as the first degree-granting institution of higher learning in the United States created specifically for students of both the visual and the...
, commonly referred to as CalArts, is located in Santa Clarita Valley in Valencia.
College of the Canyons is a public two-year community college that operates within the Santa Clarita Community College District. The college is located on 153.4 acres (62.1 ha) of rolling, tree-dotted hills in the incorporated city of Santa Clarita in northern Los Angeles County, California. The college’s address is: 26455 Rockwell Canyon Road, Santa Clarita, CA 91355. Dr. Dianne G. Van Hook is president of the college and chancellor of the Santa Clarita Community College District. She has headed the college and district since 1988.
The Santa Clarita Valley is bordered by the Lake Piru
Lake Piru
Lake Piru is an artificial lake located in Los Padres National Forest of Ventura County, California, created by the construction in 1955 of the Santa Felicia Dam on Piru Creek which is a tributary of the Santa Clara River. It is situated downstream from Pyramid Lake and can be accessed from Piru...
area including the community of Val Verde
Val Verde, California
Val Verde is a census-designated place in Los Angeles County, California, United States. The population was 2,468 at the 2010 census, up from 1,472 at the 2000 census. The predominant feature is the small rural valley in which this town sits, north of the San Fernando valley, isolated from...
, Los Padres National Forest
Los 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...
, and Castaic Lake
Castaic Lake
Castaic Lake is an artificial lake on Castaic Creek formed by Castaic Dam, in northwestern Los Angeles County, California, near the town of Castaic. The lake with a surface elevation of approximately above sea level is the terminus of the West Branch of the California Aqueduct, though some comes...
to the northwest, Sierra Pelona Mountains
Sierra Pelona Mountains
The Sierra Pelona Mountains , or the Sierra Pelona Ridge, is a mountain range in the Transverse Ranges of Southern California.. They are located within Los Angeles and Kern Counties.-Geography:...
and Angeles National Forest
Angeles National Forest
The Angeles National Forest of the U.S. National Forest Service is located in the San Gabriel Mountains of Los Angeles County, southern California. It was established on July 1, 1908, incorporating the first San Bernardino National Forest and parts of the former Santa Barbara and San Gabriel...
to the north and northeast, San Gabriel Mountains
San Gabriel Mountains
The San Gabriel Mountains Range is located in northern Los Angeles County and western San Bernardino County, California, United States. The mountain range lies between the Los Angeles Basin and the Mojave Desert, with Interstate 5 to the west and Interstate 15 to the east...
to the east and southeast, and Santa Susana Mountains
Santa Susana Mountains
The Santa Susana Mountains are a transverse range of mountains in southern California, north of the city of Los Angeles, in the United States. The range runs east-west separating the San Fernando Valley and Simi Valley on its south, from Santa Clara River Valley to the north, and Santa Clarita...
to the south and southwest, and Ventura County and the Santa Clara River Valley to the west. Santa Clarita Valley is connected to the nearby San Fernando Valley
San Fernando Valley
The San Fernando Valley is an urbanized valley located in the Los Angeles metropolitan area of southern California, United States, defined by the dramatic mountains of the Transverse Ranges circling it...
by the Newhall Pass in the southern section of Santa Clarita Valley. Santa Clarita Valley is also connected to other valleys such as the Antelope Valley
Antelope Valley
The Antelope Valley in California, United States, is located in northern Los Angeles County and the southeastern portion of Kern County, California, and constitutes the western tip of the Mojave Desert...
by Antelope Valley Freeway and Soledad Canyon
Soledad Canyon
Soledad Canyon is a long narrow canyon / valley located in Los Angeles County, California between the cities of Palmdale and Santa Clarita. Soledad Canyon contains the localities of Vincent, Acton, Ravenna, Russ, and Agua Dulce....
(going northeast), and 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...
by State Route 126
California State Route 126
State Route 126 is a highway in Ventura and Los Angeles counties, California. The route runs from U.S. Route 101 in Ventura to Interstate 5 in Santa Clarita...
(going west). The Santa Clarita Valley is connected to the San Joaquin Valley
San Joaquin Valley
The San Joaquin Valley is the area of the Central Valley of California that lies south of the Sacramento – San Joaquin River Delta in Stockton...
to the north by Interstate 5, after passing Pyramid Lake
Pyramid Lake (California)
Pyramid Lake is an artificial lake formed by Pyramid Dam on Piru Creek, near Castaic, California. The reservoir lies on the border between the Angeles National Forest and the Los Padres National Forest in the northwestern portion of Los Angeles County....
and Frazier Park
Frazier Park, California
Frazier Park is an unincorporated community and census-designated place in Kern County, California. Frazier Park is west of Lebec, at an elevation of 4,639 feet . It is one of the Mountain Communities of the Tejon Pass...
.
See also
- Santa Clarita, CaliforniaSanta Clarita, CaliforniaSanta Clarita is the fourth largest city in Los Angeles County, California, United States and the twenty-fourth largest city in the state of California. The 2010 US Census reported the city's population grew 16.7% from the year 2000 to 176,320 residents. It is located about northwest of downtown...
- Placerita Canyon State ParkPlacerita Canyon State ParkPlacerita Canyon State Park is a California State Park in the San Gabriel Mountains, in an unincorporated rural area of Los Angeles County, north of Los Angeles near Santa Clarita, California.-Cultural History:...
- Newhall Pass (Beale's Cut)
- Rancho San FranciscoRancho San FranciscoRancho San Francisco was a land grant in present day northwestern Los Angeles County and eastern Ventura County, California. It was of by Governor Juan B. Alvarado to Antonio del Valle, a Spanish army officer, in recognition for his service to the state of Alta California...
- Disney—Golden Oak RanchGolden Oak RanchThe Walt Disney Company’s Golden Oak Ranch is a movie ranch that serves as an interior and exterior filming location. The ranch is off of Placerita Canyon Road in Canyon Country, California, less than an hour north of Los Angeles; its entrance is about from Placerita Canyon Road's intersection...
- Monogram Movie Ranch—Melody Ranch
- Santa Susana MountainsSanta Susana MountainsThe Santa Susana Mountains are a transverse range of mountains in southern California, north of the city of Los Angeles, in the United States. The range runs east-west separating the San Fernando Valley and Simi Valley on its south, from Santa Clara River Valley to the north, and Santa Clarita...
- Santa Clara RiverSanta 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...
External links
- Santa Clarita Valley Historical Society website
- "Why Santa Clarita?"—How Santa Clarita got its name.
- "The Signal"—Santa Clarita Valley's local newspaper
- SantaClaritaGuide—OFFICIAL Guide to Santa Clarita as endorsed by LA County
- SantaClarita.com—Santa Clarita Community Web Site & Forums
- scvhistory.com—Santa Clarita Valley History in Pictures
- Official Placerita Canyon State Park website.
- Placerita Canyon Nature Center website.
- California's REAL First Gold
- www.melodyranchstudio. Melody Ranch Studio Museum
- www.cowboyfestival. City of Santa Clarita Cowboy Poetry & MusicFestival
- Consumer Reviews Santa Clarita—Customer Reviews of Commerce In Santa Clarita
- SCV Errands: Santa Clarita Valley's errand service
- Santa Clarita Homes