Hawaii

Picture of a couple on the Ventura Pier.  http://www.pixelmap.com/images/Scenic/California/sl_ventura_42.jpg

The last section of the book that we dealt with was all about the State of Hawaii and its history. Camarillo does not really share too many similarities with Hawaii. One of the main things that we both share is tourism. Hawaii relies heavily on tourism and the money that it brings to their state. Camarillo also benefits from tourism and people coming to the area to see our city. One of the reasons they come to Camarillo is to see the Outlets. Another reason people come is to experience the outdoors and some fresh air near the smog filled city of Los Angeles. One of the similarities that the areas share is the influence of the Polynesians. There is a section of Camarillo where there is a large community of Polynesians that are rich in culture just like in Hawaii, though not nearly as large as Hawaii can boast. Another big influence that both of the areas share is the influence of the Asian populations that have moved in. Camarillo in the past 20 years has become a major area for Asians to relocate. Many of them are business owners in the community and play a large role in the workings of the city. Another aspect they share is the fact that agriculture has a large influence on the area.\

Above is a picture of the Camarillo Premium Outlets sign.  http://www.ci.camarillo.ca.us/main.aspx?q=6080&p=9337

The North Pacific Coast

The North Pacific Coast and Camarillo are not that similar even though they are pretty close in distance. The North Pacific Coast is a wet and rainy area while Camarillo is more close to the national average. One thing that Camarillo and the N.P.C. share is that people tend to reside here who like outdoor activities. I have already talked about the amazing hiking and scenery you will see when in Camarillo. You can also do activities on the ocean, and in some of the lakes that surround the city. The elevation on the N.P.C. changes even more dramatically then it does in Camarillo. On the North Coast you can go from a beach setting to up a few thousand feet within less than 1 mile inland. There is a change in elevation in the areas surrounding Camarillo but it is not nearly as dramatic as more north. The population growth rate for both of these areas are similar and are growing faster than the national average. This is because the landscape is so gorgeous and people want to live in the nice climate.

Above is a picture of the changing landscape and how dramatically it changes. http://www.pixelmap.com/sl_ventura_03.html

California

Above is a picture of part of the islands of the coast. These are popular destinations for outdoor and sea lovers. http://www.pixelmap.com/sl_ventura_74.html
 

This chapter in the book was all about California and basically how awesome it is! Camarillo is located in Camarillo so I am going to try to give you a little bit of background that I have not covered before. Camarillo is a town nearing 100,000 in population. Camarillo is a popular destination for people looking to shop because the Camarillo Premium Outlets are located here which are home to hundreds of stores and shops. Camarillo is also very popular for people who are into outdoor activities. You can be at the beach right outside of Camarillo in the morning and then you can be up at 5000 feet in some of the most beautiful hiking trails in the country.
The islands of Camarillo are also popular destinations for people looking to get away from the hustle of daily life because you can camp on them but there is no electricity or any other luxuries we are used to. Camarillo is susceptible to earthquakes because it lies right next to some major fault lines. Camarillo is also affected by wildfires every few years. The surrounding area usually catches fire every few years and Camarillo is put on alert to be careful of the impending danger. It is a popular city because of its location between Los Angeles and Santa Barbara and also the Mediterranean like climate that we have. Many people come to Camarillo to retire which gives the city a very large elderly population.

Above is a picture of the Piru river which flows into Lake Piru which is a popular spot in the area for camping, hiking, boating, and swimming.  http://www.pixelmap.com/sl_ventura_213.html

The Southwest Border Area

This section of the Southwest Border Area and Camarillo actually have a lot in common. The area in the book is influenced by American Indians, Spanish Americans, and European Americans. Camarillo is very similar because these are the three cultures that have played the largest roles in the shaping of the community. The American Indians that were in Ventura County and modern day Camarillo were a large part of how the area was settled. They were basically taken over by the Spanish who built a mission in Ventura where they made the local Indians work in some terrible conditions. After the Spanish had settled they were very much influenced by European settlers that made their way over from the East Coast. Today the area is a melting pot for almost every race of people you can imagine. Camarillo is actually located in this area which is one of the reasons it is so closely linked. One of the ways in which you can see the influence of the different cultures is by the food. Camarillo is home to some of the best ethnic restaurants in the area. You can also see the influence of the Spanish because many of the street names in Camarillo are in Spanish. There is much cultural diversity when looking at the population of Camarillo. There is also a very large influence of Latinos because many work in the area. Another aspect that is seen in both the book and Camarillo is that there is a difference in socioeconomic aspects between the races. There are many wealthy parts of the city that are dominated usually by whites. The poorer communities in the city are the ones where Hispanics tend to be located more.

Above is a picture of the San Buena Ventura Mission. The Spanish built the missions but they forced the local Indians to do the work here. You can still see the influence of the Spanish and the Native Indians in the area through architecture and the place names.  http://www.pixelmap.com/sl_ventura_87.html

The Empty Interior

Above is a picture of the Mormon Temple in Los Angeles. This is the Temple that many of my friends woulf go to on Sundays. Mormonism is very prevalent in Camarillo.   https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqkUl1xT3mV9At6cn5BvDQMYMQrsxQrOVIXu5OZJFowKE9sKuL9mvUnhbx130mDhPNivpPG_Zkz1k_uJnEcSTJotwv8Bv1cJEVe0YTfxepDHfDOF5EQvG4MNpNaJnwPr1LVpCT_vBvVkQ/s1600/los-angeles-mormon-temple.jpg


This was an interesting part of the country that in all honesty does not have that much in common with Camarillo. One of the biggest similarities that I saw when reading this section was that this area is very important for the Mormon religion and a big area of where Mormons are located together. This peaked my interest  because growing up in Camarillo i was aware that there was a large population of Mormons living in Camarillo. In Camarillo there is a total of about 11 percent of the population, that go to church, belong to the Mormon church. This is a fairly large percent of the population that actually goes to church. They have a large influence on the local area. Another thing that Camarillo shares with the Empty Interior is that it is home to some amazing scenery. Camarillo is surrounded by the beautiful Santa Monica Mountains, the amazing Pacific Ocean, and some of the most beautiful wilderness areas in the country. It is a popular spot for hikers and mountain climbers because you can be sitting at home in the morning and within  a couple hours you could be already climbing up some of the most beautiful trails in the country. Camarillo is located near the Angeles National Forest and the Los Padres National Forrest which have some of the best scenery in the country.

Above is a picture of the mountains that surround Camarillo. You can find some of the most beautiful hiking in the area here that overlooks Camarillo and at points the Pacific Ocean. http://www.pixelmap.com/sl_ventura_69.html

The Great Plains

One of the main points that I got from reading this section was that much of the great plains is dominated by agriculture. This is something that Camarillo shares with the area because agriculture seems to dominate much of the Camarillo landscape. Before the land was cultivated for crops, it was dominated by local grasses that thrived in the rich soil and large amount of rainfall. Another point that both of these areas share is that they were first settled by American Indians before the arrival of the Spanish. The area of Camarillo and its surroundings were some of the best areas for the local Indians because of its vicinity to the sea, the good soil, and the protection from many of the elements because it is located in a valley. And just like parts of the great plains it is not entirely flat. There are portions of Camarillo that are located in the hills overlooking the city. There are also points in the great plains where it is easy to see the change in regional boundaries. Camarillo is similar to this because it is straddled up to the Santa Monica Mountains which is a very different zone then Camarillo.

This is a picture of the agricultural plains that are a part of Camarillo. You can see the fields from on of the rolling hills that are a part of Camarillo as well.  http://www.camarillohomefinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/Oxnard-plain.jpg

The Agricultural Core

 Above is a great picture of a tractor in the fields with some beautiful clouds above.  http://image63.webshots.com/463/3/5/33/2980305330025506147ZKJXeg_ph.jpg


This section in the book was about the Agricultural Core and how they have good soil and good water waterways. This is something that Camarillo shares in common with the Agricultural Core. This area known as the Agricultural Core is a vast area that encompasses many major cities in the United States. Just as in this area, Camarillo also overlaps with other parts of the region. This was an important place for immigrants because this is where many from Mexico come to look for agricultural work. Camarillo is well known in the area for producing many different agricultural products and the many immigrants that have benefited from the work in the area. The climate is good for growing many crops and is similar to the Mediterranean area. One thing that we saw in the Agricultural Core was that much of the land was split up and divided among people so they had a more uniformed city. Much of the agricultural fields around Camarillo have been split up like this so that farmers can have the same amount of land as each  other so it is more fair. Most of the farms that are around here are family owned but are more large scale then most farms. These are very large businesses that employ a lot of people in the area.

Above is a picture of one of the many fields on the outside of the city. There are many different fruits and vegetables that are grown here.  http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:fFGtAcAT3oIJ:www.city-data.com/picfilesc/picc22448.php+agriculture+camarillo&cd=8&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us&client=firefox-a&source=www.google.com

The Southern Coastlands

This chapter was about the Southern Coast lands and how the play a major role in the everyday lives of the people that live there. There are some similarities with Camarillo because it is located right next to the coast and the coast lands still play a major role in the community. One of the problems that the Southern Coast-lands faces is that they have natural disasters that have a huge affect on the land and the people. In Camarillo we are lucky that we do not have to face these same problems. The biggest problem facing Camarillo and it's environment is the pollution and problems that have arisen because of over population. There are neighborhoods in Camarillo where they have built houses in the natural river overflows. There hasn't been too many problems as of yet but they have only been in existence for less then 10 years and haven't faced a major flood which the area is prone to. Another factor that both the Camarillo and the Southern Coast have in common is the fact that they both produce oil. It is not a major export but does employ a large amount of people from the area. The port at Hueneme which is only a few miles away, plays a major role in the local economy because they ship in anything from clothes and food to cars.

http://www.goodnite.com/images/img-prop-camarillo.jpg

Above is a picture of the islands that are right off the coast of Ventura County.These islands are very popular for tourism and for the local fisherman that fish in the waters off the islands.

The Changing South

This part of the book was about the South and how it has changed over the years. Surprisingly there are some similarities between the changes of the South and the changes in Camarillo. Much of the major changes that have taken place in Camarillo are due to agriculture. For much of Camarillo's history, there has been emphasis placed on the fertile agriculture lands that surround Camarillo. For many years these lands were not developed and were strictly used for farming. During the past 20 years much of the farm land that was within the city limits has vanished. It has made way for everything from shopping centers to new homes and apartments and even to make way for the Camarillo Premium Outlets that are such a big part of the community. This reminds me of the south because much of their economy was based around agriculture and their ability to produce agricultural products.  As Camarillo has changed so has the type of homes that were being built. In the early 1900's many of the homes were on sprawling ranches that incorporated agricultural fields into them. As the years passed and more people entered the area, houses began to be built closer together and not as many ranches. Now Camarillo is filled with track style homes so that they are able to fit as many people into the area as possible. This has also led to Camarillo becoming more well off than the national average according to city-data.com
The picture below shows some Camarillo track homes. http://i.ytimg.com/vi/1uYObraQZ0U/0.jpg

Appalachia and The Ozarks

This chapter focused on Appalachia and the Ozarks and how they are classified in the similar region because their topography is similar. The topography of Camarillo is much different then that of the Ozarks. The topography of Camariilo is pretty varied for being such a small city. We are bordered up against the Santa Monica Mountains that tower over the southern end of the city. There are mountains to the south that also border the edges of the county. Camarillo is known for the low lying agricultural fields that produce much of the local produce. One thing the book talks about is how the Ozarks were settled by different cultures that learned to live and work together. Camarillo is similar to this because the Spanish settlers tried to mix with some of the local Indians that weren't devastated by disease.  The book also highlights the Tennessee Valley Authority and how they helped protect the people living and working in the area. I searched for something like this that relates to this that would help protect the workers of the agricultural fields but was unable to find anything.
Below is a picture of the Agricultural fields and also in the same picture you can see how they go right up to the Santa Monica Mountains. http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2536/4189228327_0d2ed39587.jpg

The Bypassed West

So I know the chapter in the book was about the Bypassed East but since my area is in the West I figured I would write my take on how this area may be bypassed by outsiders. Camarillo is a small city that is just outside of Los Angeles County. Even though it is in close proximity to the city, most people from the city would not be able to tell you where the heck it is located. When i explain to people where it is located most people often respond with "oh so it is in Northern California then?". This assumption could not be any further from the truth. Ventura County is very much in Southern California and has some of the most scenic landscapes you will find in Southern California. One of the reasons people do not know of Camarillo because it sits at the bottom of the Conejo grade. This natural mountain ridge acts as a somewhat natural boundary that many people just have not gone by.
Below is a picture of the Conejo grade traveling North on the US 101. http://image28.webshots.com/28/8/91/93/262489193WyeWGR_ph.jpg

The North American Manufacturing Core

Manufacturing plays a major role in the local economy of Camarillo. In fact Manufacturing jobs are the highest employers of men in Camarillo employing roughly 16% of the population and for women they employ about 7%. These manufacturing jobs are plentiful in Camarillo because it is a small town that is ideal for good working environments. The manufacturing jobs include everything from machine work to graphic designers to bio-technologies. Below is a picture of solarworld-manufacturing plant that is in Camarillo. http://www.solardaily.com/images/solarworld-manufacturing-plant-pv-cells-bg.jpg

 There are a few mining companies that are based in Camarillo but they mostly mine rocks and minerals from the local hills and mountains. There is oil in Ventura County but it is mostly in the northern part of the county.  One major part of Camarillo is the railroad system that carries many manufactured items that are made in Camarillo along as other cities all over the region. Camarillo was partly founded because it was a railroad depot for the Southern Pacific Railroad. Since then it has been an important part of Camarillo's history. Camarillo is also near the Point Mugu Harbor which is a major entering point for all sorts of manufactured goods from clothes to cars.

 Above is a picture of the old Camarillo Railroad Station. http://www.solardaily.com/images/solarworld-manufacturing-plant-pv-cells-bg.jpg
The city is now a very popular stop on the Amtrack and the Metrolink railway systems which is a very popular transportation method for local people that work out of the area. Below shows a picture of the metrolink train. http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3294/3332540844_0635480d20.jpg

Megalopolis

 Above is a picture of Camarillo facing the Santa Monica Mountains at sunset. http://imganuncios.mitula.net/311_w_highland_drive_camarillo_california_92862444896745900.jpg


Camarillo is a relatively small town that is just outside the megalopolis that is Los Angeles. Being only 50 miles from Los Angeles, Camarillo still has the amenities of the big city but still has the feeling of a small town.  Many people live in the city and commute to work in L.A. County. Another reason people have settled in Camarillo is the new California State University at Channel Islands. This was the old Camarillo State Mental Hospital that was turned into the University.


Below is a picture of some of the apartments that have been built right next to the CSUCI campus. http://imganuncios.mitula.net/311_w_highland_drive_camarillo_california_92862444896745900.jpg

The population in Camarillo has been steadily growing over the years. This can be attributed to many reasons but one of the main ones is because the megalopolis to the South, Los Angeles, has become so populated that people are moving further and further away from their work and are commuting more.  This has led to a rise in the average income in Camarillo which according to City-data.com is around $79,000 while the average income for California is $59,000. This has led to many positive things for the city. Camarillo has its own public transportation that is used by many of the older residents. This is important for the city because Camarillo has a very high density of elderly people. Camarillo also has a large hospital that not only serves the local community but is also a very large employer of people in Camarillo. Another large employer of people from Camarillo are all of the agricultural jobs that are available in the area. Another large employer of the local community are the Camarillo Premium Outlets. They have been constantly expanding in both size and popularity since it was built. Below is a picture of the popular destination the Outlets. http://www.insidesocal.com/bargain/CamarilloOutlets.jpg

Foundations of Human Activity

This chapter of the book deals with the history of different areas and how they came to be. This chapter peaked my interest because to be honest I did not know much of the history of the city. According to City-data.com Camarillo started from a land grant that was eventually bought by Juan Camarillo. His sons Juan and Adolfo are credited with starting the town that bears their last name. The high school in the city is named after Adolfo. The city was able to grow because the Southern Pacific Railroad decided to put a depot in Camarillo which opened it up to more people. The city also grew in size because of the agricultural opportunities that are available in the area.

One thing i learned was that he Chumash Indians were some of the first settlers of the area. They occupied much of the land because of its incredibly fertile soil (some of the best in the country). Their presence was felt in the area until the European settlers began to move in. They were now being exposed to diseases that they had no defense for. Their population was nearly wiped out in the area and the Spanish settlers took over.



The top picture is of a statue of Adolfo Camarillo. http://www.venturaweekly.com/images/camarillo/don02.jpg
The third picture is of a photo of the same man Adolfo Camarillo who helped found the city.  http://www.ci.camarillo.ca.us/images%5Cadolfo.gif
The middle picture is of the Camarillo Ranch House which is still apart of the city. https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAMfpPqAMx_Atea1WTZqvy_SQvcbTW2aAE4qgnWEXYOVlws5RbBx2DJ3KPVycU5sYAWHPSMDp4pTbLo5uy2N9aUvH4Ar_Ne8zKInD55OkqCJRaNyYKCfZXLYXRSzcCpAYeryGXfGHvBiJ4/s1600/images_93149.gif

Geographic Patterns of the Physical Environment

Above is a picture of Camarillo. You can see the flatness of the Oxnard Basin that goes right up to the mountains. http://www.kevinharvey.com/xSites/Agents/HarveyRealty/Content/UploadedFiles/Camarillo%20024.jpg



Camarillo is located in the Eastern Oxnard plain and is bordered by the Santa Monica Mountains and the ocean. On the route to the ocean you will see many agricultural fields that are very much apart of the local economy and life. The flatness of the plains gradually moves to the Camarillo Hills where homes have been built that are lucky enough to have some of the best views you could imagine of the Pacific Ocean and the Channel Islands. Most of the population of Camarillo is located within the plains. Camarillo has some of the most amazing weather in the country. The Mediterranean style weather attracts many people who want the mild weather and the distant ocean breezes. According to weather.com Camarillo has an"average August high-low temperatures of 75-59° and average December temps of 67-44°".

 Above is a picture of Mugu Rock traveling on Highway 1 North http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2205/1799882751_45fb55d154.jpg



Another landmark that Camarillo is known for is Point Mugu rock along Pacific Coast Highway. This little stretch of road has been in many commercials over the years and has been seen in many shows. There are beaches along this stretch of highway that are also seen in many shows and movies. They are also some of the most amazing little beaches that you will find.

Regions and Themes

 http://www.camarillochamber.org/images/3_0b.jpg



Camarillo is a growing community in Southern California that is 50 miles from Los Angeles. The City of Camarillo is approximately 19 square miles and has a population of 63,948 as of 2009. Camarillo is bordered by Oxnard to the North and the Conejo Valley to the South. It is in the middle of Ventura County which is bordered by Los Angeles County. According to Citydata.com the most common industries for males is manufacturing and retail trade while for women the most common industries are health care and social assistance and retail trade. One of the things that Camarillo is known for is the Camarillo Premium Outlet Stores. People come from all over, there are even tour buses of people from other countries, to shop at the many shops you can find. Camarillo is also situated right next to the Point Mugu Navel Base and the Port Hueneme Navel Base. This means that Camarillo is home to many service men and women. Camarillo is also very integrated with agriculture and produces a lot of fruits and vegetables.

Camarillo

I grew up just a few miles from CSUN in Camarillo, Ca.  This is my attempt to show the geography of Camarillo. If you have been to Camarillo you know there are many things that make the small city interesting. Camarillo is 50 miles from Los Angeles and about 30 miles from Santa Barbara. The city is most known for the Premium Outlets that are always growing.