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.