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Once a multitude of Spanish and Mexican "Ranchos" the populated lands of Ventura County now have been transformed into thriving communities. Ventura County has miles of gleaming beaches, thousands of acres of pristine forest, secluded lakes, rolling orchards and friendly towns offering everything from romantic bed-and-breakfasts to gourmet dining, sophisticated entertainment and funky antique stores. Just offshore lie a string of stunningly beautiful islands so unspoiled that they host animals and plants found nowhere else in the world. Nurtured by a warm and mild Mediterranean climate, Ventura County has an agricultural heritage visible today in the colorful arrays of fruits and vegetables available at roadside stands. Oil was discovered here in the 1800s, and many county companies still service the oil industry. The county has two major military bases, Point Mugu Naval Air Station and the Port Hueneme Naval Construction Battalion Center, which provide thousands of jobs. Other major employers include firms in tourism, retail trade, pharmaceuticals, software, multimedia and real estate. Ventura County covers 1,843 square miles and has 43 miles of coastline. The Pacific Ocean forms its southwestern boundary, with Los Angeles County to the southeast, Kern County to the north and Santa Barbara County to the west. The Los Padres National Forest accounts for the northern half of the county, with residential, agricultural and business uses in the southern portion. Agriculture remains a major business in Ventura County, which produces almost $1 billion worth of food crops annually. Farmers here grow 125 different crops and often harvest two to three crops from the same piece of land during the year. Lemons, strawberries and celery are the top crops. See the Ventura County Economic Profile for a complete breakdown. About 826,550 (2007) people live in Ventura County, which has 10 incorporated cities: Camarillo, Fillmore, Moorpark, Ojai, Oxnard, Port Hueneme, Simi Valley, Santa Paula, Thousand Oaks and Ventura, which is the county seat. Community ProfilesCity of Port Hueneme, California City of Santa Paula, California
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