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Agoura Hills, California

Coordinates: 34°9′12″N 118°45′42″W / 34.15333°N 118.76167°W / 34.15333; -118.76167
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For the unincorporated community, see Agoura, California.

Agoura Hills, California
City
City of Agoura Hills
View of Agoura Hills looking from southern edge of the Historic Quarter in December 2006
View of Agoura Hills looking from southern edge of the Historic Quarter in December 2006
Motto: 
"The Gateway to the Santa Monica Mountains"[1]
Location of Agoura Hills in Los Angeles County
Location of Agoura Hills in Los Angeles County
Agoura Hills is located in the Los Angeles metropolitan area
Agoura Hills
Agoura Hills
Location of Agoura Hills in the Los Angeles metropolitan area
Agoura Hills is located in California
Agoura Hills
Agoura Hills
Location of Agoura Hills in California
Agoura Hills is located in the United States
Agoura Hills
Agoura Hills
Location of Agoura Hills in the United States
Agoura Hills is located in North America
Agoura Hills
Agoura Hills
Agoura Hills (North America)
Coordinates: 34°9′12″N 118°45′42″W / 34.15333°N 118.76167°W / 34.15333; -118.76167
Country United States
State California
County Los Angeles
Settled (by the Spanish)1700s
IncorporatedDecember 8, 1982[2]
Government
 • TypeCity Council/City Manager[3]
 • MayorLinda Northrup[4]
 • Mayor pro temIllece Buckley Weber
Area
[5]
 • Total7.82 sq mi (20.26 km2)
 • Land7.80 sq mi (20.20 km2)
 • Water0.02 sq mi (0.06 km2)  0.37%
Elevation
[6]
922 ft (281 m)
Population
 (2010)[7]
 • Total20,330
 • Estimate 
(2019)[8]
20,222
 • Density2,652.48/sq mi (1,024.15/km2)
Time zoneUTC−8 (Pacific Time Zone)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−7 (PDT)
ZIP Codes
91301, 91376, 91377[9]
Area code747/818[10]
FIPS code06-00394[7]
GNIS feature IDs1667896, 2409666
Websitewww.ci.agoura-hills.ca.us

Agoura Hills (/əˈɡɒrə/ ⓘ) is a city in Los Angeles County, California. Its population was 20,330 at the 2010 census[7] and an estimated 20,222 in 2019.[8] It is in the eastern Conejo Valley between the Simi Hills and the Santa Monica Mountains. The city is in western Los Angeles County and is bordered to the north by Ventura County. It is 35 miles (56 km) northwest of Downtown Los Angeles and less than 10 miles (16 km) west of the Los Angeles city limits at Woodland Hills. Agoura Hills and unincorporated Agoura sit next to Calabasas, Oak Park, and Westlake Village.

History

The area was first settled by the Chumash Native Americans around 10,000 years ago.[11] The Alta California (Upper California) coast was settled by Spanish Franciscan missionaries in the late 18th century.

In about 1800, Miguel Ortega was granted a Spanish grazing concession called Rancho Las Virgenes or El Rancho de Nuestra Señora La Reina de Las Virgenes. The grant was abandoned after Ortega's death in 1810, and José Maria Dominguez was given Rancho Las Virgenes as a Mexican land grant in 1834. Maria Antonia Machado de Reyes purchased the rancho from Dominguez in 1845. (The "Reyes Adobe" ranch headquarters sits today in central Agoura Hills, where it is part of the Reyes Adobe Museum built around 2004 and owned by the Los Angeles County Parks and Recreation Department.[12])

By 1900, the area was being used as a popular stage stop for travelers because of its natural spring.

In the 1920s, the community was briefly known as Picture City, as Paramount Pictures owned a ranch known as Paramount Ranch used for filming Westerns.[13] To obtain a post office of their own, the residents were required to choose a one-word name, and in 1927 chose the shortest name proposed: a misspelling of the last name of Pierre Agoure, a local Basque man and French immigrant who had settled in the area in 1871 to live the lifestyle of the Mexican rancher. Styling himself Don Pierre Agoure, he was a successful sheep herder and had a reputation as a swashbuckler.[14]

An estate in Old Agoura

Agoura began to grow in the late 1960s after the Ventura Freeway section of U.S. Route 101 was built through the area, dividing the community into northern and southern sections. The first housing tracts in Agoura were Hillrise, Liberty Canyon and Lake Lindero. Rapid growth continued during the 1970s, when schools were built and much of downtown erected.

In 1982, the residents of the proposed city voted in favor of cityhood by a 68% majority. Agoura Hills became the 83rd City in Los Angeles County. Elected to the first City Council were Mayor Fran Pavley, Mayor Pro Tem Carol Sahm, Councilmembers Ernest Dynda, John Hood, and Vicky Leary.[15] Incorporating a year after neighboring Westlake Village, the drive for cityhood in the region was largely based on public discontent with the county's failure to limit residential development of the area, motives that influenced Calabasas to follow suit in 1991.[16]

The 1980s was a period of growth, with large land areas being subdivided into housing tracts. In the 1990s, businesses set up shop in the downtown including shops and restaurants.

Map showing Agoura Hills Districts

In 1995, the murder of Jimmy Farris (the infamous Brandon Hein case) awakened the city to a rising drug problem and petty theft by its young. As a result, the city began sponsoring live music competitions and concerts in local parks.

In November 2018, the Woolsey Fire occurred during Santa Ana winds burning through the community.[17] One victim was found on Tuesday November 13 in the 32000 block of Lobo Canyon Road.[18][19]

Eruv controversy

In 2007, an eruv was constructed on public property in Agoura Hills, then removed amid concerns about permits and potential effects on wildlife.[20] The eruv was later reinstalled in 2018.[21] Some residents of Agoura Hills do not want to enter a private domain to go to their own homes.[22] The city does not allow any posting on poles,[23] but makes an exemption for the eruv.

Music

Agoura Hills is known regionally for its live music scene and originality in the nu metal scene, a fame that has given rise to such acts as Linkin Park, Dub Thompson, Skye Aspen, Incubus, Hoobastank, and Fort Minor.

Agoura Hills is home to The Canyon Club, a concert venue that hosts touring acts such as Peter Frampton, Smash Mouth, Pat Benatar, Cyndi Lauper, REO Speedwagon, X, Steel Pulse, The New Cars, Asia, Boyz II Men, Alan Parsons, Foreigner, Bret Michaels and The Smithereens.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 8.2 square miles (21 km2), of which 8.2 square miles (21 km2) of it is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1 km2) of it (0.37%) is water.

Agoura Hills has a mountain called Ballard Mountain named after pioneer settler and freed slave John Ballard. The name of the mountain was officially changed from Negrohead to Ballard in a ceremony on February 20, 2010.[24] Ladyface mountain is another prominent mountain on the west side of the Conejo Valley and stands at 2,031 feet high.[25]

Panorama of Agoura Hills and Westlake Village with Ballard Mountain prominent as the leftmost peak in the image.

Agoura Hills is called the "Gateway to the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area".[26] The city is unofficially divided into a number of varied districts centered on the modern Downtown area of the city. The most notable of these districts include Morrison Ranch, Downtown, Forest Cove, South End, Malibu Junction, East Agoura, and Old Agoura.

Environment

Further information: Santa Monica Mountains
Western Agoura Hills from the hills north of Morrison Ranch

Natural areas of Agoura Hills are part of the California chaparral and woodlands ecoregion and are covered by hundreds of local plant species, some of which are very rare, and others of which have become popular ornamentals. The range is host to an immense variety of wildlife, from mountain lions to the endangered Southern California Distinct Population Segment of steelhead.[27] The mountain lion population within the Santa Monica Mountains (which includes the Simi Hills & Santa Susana Pass) is severely depleted with only seven known living adult individuals. The primary cause of the decline is due to a combination of traffic related mortality (three from the area were killed within a matter of months,) anti-coagulants ingested from human poisoned prey (two individuals within the Simi Hills) and attacks by other, more dominant mountain lions (an elder male, known as P1, killed both his son and his mate, this is thought to be due to a lack of space available.) Snakes are common but only occasionally seen- the Southern Pacific Rattlesnake (the only venomous species), Mountain Kingsnake, California Kingsnake, Gopher snake, and Garter snake. The mountains are also home to the Western fence lizard.

Invasive species

In 2010, the Los Angeles Times reported that the New Zealand mud snail had infested watersheds in the Santa Monica Mountains, posing serious threats to native species and complicating efforts to improve stream-water quality for the endangered steelhead trout. According to the article, the snails have expanded "from the first confirmed sample in Medea Creek in Agoura Hills to nearly 30 other stream sites in four years." Researchers at the Santa Monica Bay Restoration Commission believe that the snails' expansion may have been expedited after the mollusks traveled from stream to stream on the gear of contractors and volunteers.[28]

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
199020,390—
200020,5370.7%
201020,330−1.0%
2019 (est.)20,222[8]−0.5%
U.S. Decennial Census[29]
Strawberry Hill Apartments, in the Forest Grove neighborhood.

2010

At the 2010 census Agoura Hills had a population of 20,330. The population density was 2,599.0 people per square mile (1,003.5/km²). The racial makeup of Agoura Hills was 17,147 (84.3%) White, (78.6% Non-Hispanic White), 267 (1.3%) African American, 51 (0.3%) Native American, 1,521 (7.5%) Asian, 24 (0.1%) Pacific Islander, 590 (2.9%) from other races, and 730 (3.6%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1,936 persons (9.5%).[30]

The census reported that 20,242 people (99.6% of the population) lived in households, 15 (0.1%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 73 (0.4%) were institutionalized.

There were 7,327 households, 2,799 (38.2%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 4,565 (62.3%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 726 (9.9%) had a female householder with no husband present, 302 (4.1%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 263 (3.6%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 36 (0.5%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 1,346 households (18.4%) were one person and 438 (6.0%) had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.76. There were 5,593 families (76.3% of households); the average family size was 3.15.

The age distribution was 4,904 people (24.1%) under the age of 18, 1,582 people (7.8%) aged 18 to 24, 4,465 people (22.0%) aged 25 to 44, 7,089 people (34.9%) aged 45 to 64, and 2,290 people (11.3%) who were 65 or older. The median age was 42.4 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.6 males.

There were 7,585 housing units at an average density of 969.7 per square mile, of the occupied units 5,715 (78.0%) were owner-occupied and 1,612 (22.0%) were rented.The homeowner vacancy rate was 0.5%; the rental vacancy rate was 6.8%. 16,111 people (79.2% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 4,131 people (20.3%) lived in rental housing units. The median household income was $107,885, according to the 2010 United States Census, with 7.1% of the population living below the federal poverty line.

2000

At the 2000 census there were 20,537 people in 6,874 households, including 5,588 families, in the city. The population density was 2,511.8 inhabitants per square mile (969.4/km2). There were 6,993 housing units at an average density of 855.3 per square mile (330.1/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 86.96% White, 1.32% Black or African American, 0.25% Native American, 6.50% Asian, 0.10% Pacific Islander, 2.09% from other races, and 2.78% from two or more races. 6.85% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.[31]

A ranch in Old Agoura

Of the 6,874 households 47.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 67.7% were married couples living together, 9.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 18.7% were non-families. 13.8% of households were one person and 3.0% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.98 and the average family size was 3.30.

The age distribution was 30.5% under the age of 18, 6.3% from 18 to 24, 27.6% from 25 to 44, 29.4% from 45 to 64, and 6.2% 65 or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.0 males.

Economy

Top employers

According to the City's 2015 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report,[32] the top employers in the city are:

# Employer # of Employees
1 Bank of America 873
2 Las Virgenes Unified School District 543
3 Teradyne 220
4 TouchCommerce 210
5 IBM Corporation 206
6 Farmers Financial Solutions 151
7 Zebra Technologies 147
8 Nationwide Medical 110
9 Wood Ranch 100
10 Sheraton Agoura Hills 82

Government

Agoura Hills is governed by a City Council/City Manager form of government. A five-member City Council is elected by the residents to oversee city operations and guide the development of the community. Councilmembers are elected to four-year terms.[33] The terms are staggered so that a measure of continuity is maintained from one Council to the next. The role of Mayor rotates among the Councilmembers. The Mayor is chosen by the City Councilmembers to serve a one-year term.[33] The City Manager is appointed by the City Council to supervise the administrative personnel and contract services.[34]

As of December 2019 the Agoura Hills City Council consists of Linda Northrup (Mayor), Illece Buckley Weber (Mayor Pro Tem), Chris Anstead, Deborah Klein Lopez, and Denis Weber.[35] The City Manager is Greg Ramirez[36] and the city attorney is contracted through RWG Law.[37]

State and federal representation

In the California State Legislature, Agoura Hills is in the 27th Senate District, represented by Democrat Henry Stern, and in the 50th Assembly District, represented by Democrat Eloise Reyes.[38]

In the United States House of Representatives, Agoura Hills is in California's 33rd congressional district, represented by Democrat Pete Aguilar.[39]

Infrastructure

Las Virgenes Water District serves Agoura Hills along with Westlake Village and other parts of western Los Angeles County. State water provided by the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California is the sole source used by the district.[40]

The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department (LASD) operates the Malibu/Lost Hills Station in Calabasas, serving Agoura Hills.[41][42]

The United States Postal Service Agoura Hills Post Office is located at 5158 Clareton Drive.[43]

Education

Agoura High School

The Las Virgenes Unified School District serves Agoura Hills.

Sports

Agoura Hills was the corporate headquarters of the Los Angeles Rams from 2016 to the 2019 season.[44]

Events

Agoura Hills is home to the Great Race of Agoura Hills, an annual running event held at Chumash Park in Agoura Hills in March of every year. The Great Race was established in 1986 and features six races including Pacific Half (half-marathon), Chesebro Half (half-marathon), Old Agoura 10K, Deena Kastor (5 kilometers), Kids 1 Mile, and the Family Fun Run (1 mile). The Chesebro Half was voted best half-marathon in the U.S. in 2011.[45]

Notable people

References

  1. ^ "City of Agoura Hills, California". City of Agoura Hills, California. Retrieved August 11, 2012.
  2. ^ "California Cities by Incorporation Date". California Association of Local Agency Formation Commissions. Archived from the original (Word) on November 3, 2014. Retrieved August 25, 2014.
  3. ^ "Council Members". City of Agoura Hills, CA. Archived from the original on September 23, 2015. Retrieved December 16, 2014.
  4. ^ "City Council – City of Agoura Hills, CA". www.ci.agoura-hills.ca.us.
  5. ^ "2017 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 27, 2018.
  6. ^ "Agoura". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved October 16, 2014.
  7. ^ a b c "Agoura Hills (city) QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on March 29, 2015. Retrieved March 26, 2015.
  8. ^ a b c "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved May 21, 2020.
  9. ^ "USPS – ZIP Code Lookup – Find a ZIP+ 4 Code By City Results". Retrieved January 17, 2007.
  10. ^ "Number Administration System – NPA and City/Town Search Results". Archived from the original on September 26, 2007. Retrieved January 18, 2007.
  11. ^ C. M. Hogan, 2008
  12. ^ "Reyes Adobe". February 15, 2012. Archived from the original on February 19, 2006. Retrieved March 20, 2006.
  13. ^ "CITY OF AGOURA HILLS GENERAL PLAN 2035 Environmental Impact Report". CITY OF AGOURA HILLS. February 2010. Archived from the original on January 17, 2018. Retrieved January 16, 2018.
  14. ^ [1]
  15. ^ http://www.ci.agoura-hills.ca.us/history.html Archived December 13, 2006, at the Wayback Machine ci.agoura-hills.ca.us
  16. ^ http://desperado.scvnet.com/~philh/scope/articles/inthenews/lat-smm-1.html Archived August 30, 2006, at the Wayback Machine desperado.scvnet.com
  17. ^ "Cheseboro Bridge – Destroyed By Woolsey Fire – Reopens And Gets Renamed". CBS LA. May 3, 2019. Retrieved May 4, 2019.
  18. ^ Gonzales, Ruby; Cain, Josh (November 14, 2018). "Woolsey fire death toll increases to 3, body found in charred Agoura Hills home". San Gabriel Valley Newspapers. Retrieved November 14, 2018 – via The Mercury News.
  19. ^ Li, David K. (November 14, 2018). "Sierra Fire erupts near Los Angeles as death toll rises in Woolsey Fire: The latest death brings the statewide total to 51, which is mostly attributed to the 48 who have been confirmed killed in the Camp Fire 500 miles north in Butte County". NBC News. Retrieved November 14, 2018.
  20. ^ Fischer, Sofia (February 8, 2007). "Entire eruv comes down". The Acorn.
  21. ^ Bradley, Ian (July 5, 2018). "Jewish eruv comes in peace, but some object". The Acorn.
  22. ^ 5:45 seconds into http://agourahills.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=2&clip_id=1512
  23. ^ https://library.municode.com/ca/agoura_hills/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=ARTIXZO_CH6REPR_PT2SPRE_DIV5SIRE_9655.3PRSI
  24. ^ "Calif.'s Negrohead Mountain renamed for pioneer". Newsvine. Associated Press. February 20, 2010. Archived from the original on March 24, 2012. Retrieved February 21, 2010.
  25. ^ "Ladyface". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  26. ^ "City of Agoura Hills, California". City of Agoura Hills, California. Retrieved August 12, 2016.
  27. ^ "South-Central/Southern California Coast Steelhead Recovery Planning Domain 5-Year Review: Summary and Evaluation of Southern California Coast Steelhead Distinct Population Segment" (PDF). National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. 2011. Retrieved December 3, 2013.
  28. ^ Leovy, Jill (March 30, 2010). "Hard-to-kill snails infest Santa Monica Mountain watersheds". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved July 20, 2018.
  29. ^ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  30. ^ "The United States Census – QuickFacts – Agoura Hills city, California". Retrieved August 1, 2016.
  31. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  32. ^ "City of Agoura Hills CAFR".
  33. ^ a b City of Agoura Hills Website: Local Election Information. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on August 13, 2011. Retrieved August 20, 2010.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  34. ^ City of Agoura Hills Website. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on June 8, 2011. Retrieved August 20, 2010.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  35. ^ "City Council – City of Agoura Hills, CA". www.ci.agoura-hills.ca.us.
  36. ^ "City Manager". Archived from the original on November 15, 2016. Retrieved August 1, 2016.
  37. ^ "Home Page". www.rwglaw.com. Retrieved February 18, 2019.
  38. ^ "Statewide Database". UC Regents. Archived from the original on February 1, 2015. Retrieved December 8, 2014.
  39. ^ "California's 33rd Congressional District - Representatives & District Map". Civic Impulse, LLC.
  40. ^ Barlow, Zeke (February 3, 2009) "With drought expected to worsen, water officials drawing up rationing rules" Ventura County Star
  41. ^ "Malibu/Lost Hills Station Archived September 7, 2015, at the Wayback Machine." Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. Retrieved on January 21, 2010.
  42. ^ "Calabasas city, California Archived June 6, 2011, at the Wayback Machine." U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved on January 21, 2010.
  43. ^ "Post Office Location – AGOURA HILLS Archived February 10, 2009, at the Wayback Machine." United States Postal Service. Retrieved on December 6, 2008.
  44. ^ Klein, Gary (April 4, 2016). "Rams' temporary offices in Agoura Hills are open for (non-football) business". latimes.com. LA Times. Retrieved April 27, 2016.
  45. ^ "Find & Register for Races, Local Events & Things to Do – ACTIVE". ACTIVE.com.
  46. ^ "Kirk Cameron's House". Virtual Globetrotting.
  47. ^ "MTV". MTV Viacom International. Retrieved June 29, 2015.
  48. ^ "Top-40 Charts". Top-40 Charts. Retrieved November 3, 2013.
  49. ^ "Berlin's Terri Nunn: An Agoura Girl at Heart". Agoura Hills, California Patch.
Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Agoura Hills.
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