The History of Agoura

History of Agoura

The first settlers of Agoura were the Chumash Indians settling about 10,000 years ago. They came over the mountains from the coast to hunt dear and gather acorns from the vast forest of oak trees the area is so well known for. There was plenty of fresh water for all. The friendly Chumash used Lady Face Mountain as a lookout point over the valley. The mountain was named Lady Face because the legends speak of a lady looking to the skies for the return of her lover. The mountain sores 2,036 feet high & has long been a traveler’s landmark in the Las Virgenes (Agoura) area.

King Phillip of Spain gave Rancho Las Virgenes (originally El Rancho de Nuestra nora La Reina de Las Virgenes) to Miguel Ortega. Rancho Las Virgenes was the smallest of all the California grants, only 17,760 acres. It included the area from Liberty Canyon on the east to the edge of Westlake on the west, north to the Simi grant and south to the homestead territory, the Malibu Topia grant.

The Rancho Las Virgenes grant passed to Dona Maria & Antonia Machado del Reyes in the early 1800s. They built Casa del Reyes (Reyes Adobe) restored by the City of Agoura Hills & Las Virgenes Historical Society.

About that same time John Christopher Vejar and his wife, Mary Grace, built the Vejar Station stage coach stop which was used by travelers journeying between Santa Paula Ventura & Los Angeles. Vejar Station was torn down in the early 1900’s.

North of the U.S. 101 the Colodney Brothers subdivided their land and called it Independence Acres in 1924. Later, Paramount Studios bought the ranch & started making movies. The area was then called Picture City. In 1928, the Picture City Chamber of Commerce petitioned for a permanent post office. The name Agoura was chosen after an early settler and prosperous cattle & sheep rancher by the name of Pierre Agoure.

Oak Park was built in 1966 with approximately 140 homes surrounding Kanan Rd. from Conifer to Tamarind Streets just over the Ventura County line. The Fountainwood Morrison Ranch, Annadale & Hillrise developments soon followed on the Los Angeles County side of Agoura.

The City of Agoura Hills was incorporated in the county of Los Angeles in 1892. The residents of Agoura Hills elect a five member City Council to oversee city operations and to guide the future development of the city. Each year the Council selects one of its members to serve as Mayor and appoints a city manager to provide coordinated management of local government services.

Oak Park is currently considering the possibility of becoming incorporated.

Agoura is known as the gateway to the Santa Monica Mountains. A visitor information center is located at 30401 Agoura Road in Agoura Hills.

Reyes Adobe Historical Site

Representing 150 years of history, Agoura Hills' first home was built in approximately 1850. Preserving the legacies, this site helps visitors to understand social, political & economic changes that has shaped today’s culture. The history is compiled of documented artifacts and stories from the families living in Agoura over the years.

Beginning in 1845, Maria Antonia Machado (a widow with 14 children), purchased the original Rancho Las Virgenes from her uncle Jose Maria Dominguez. She was married to Jose Jacinto Reyes, son of Juan Francisco Reyes who served on the famous Portola expedition.

Maria & her son Jose Pualino built the adobe at the foot of Ladyface Mountain during the state’s rancho period. The City of Agoura restored and created a museum and an interpretive center for visitors to come & hear the stories first hand.

Demographics

General

Incorporated: December 8, 1982
Longitude Location: 118 degrees, 46 minutes, 40 seconds West
Latitude Location: 34 degrees, 8 minutes, 42 seconds North
Altitude: 936 feet to 2,036 feet
Area: 7.86 square miles
Climate: On average, 65º F with an annual rainfall of 19.5"

Population Local Arts & Entertainment

Population: 21,005                                                   Mann Agoura 8 Theaters
Median Age: 38.5 years                                            29045 Agoura Road
Under 18 Years: 27.5%                                              Telephone 818 707-9966
Ages 18 - 54 Years: 52.0%                                          Mann.moviefone.com
54 Years and Older: 20.5%

Households                                                               The Canyon Club
Total Housing Units: 7,323                                         28912 Roadside Dr
Average Household Size: 2.98                                    Telephone 818 879-5016
Median Income: $97,572                                             www.canyonclub.net
Median Home Value: $647,413

Live Theater Productions

28311 Agoura Road

Agoura Hills Dial-A-Ride Telephone 818 889-5209

To request service: Call 818-707-2005

The City of Agoura Hills provides Dial-A-Ride (DAR) curb-to-curb transportation service to the general public in the City of Agoura Hills and in adjacent portions of Los Angeles and Ventura Counties. Service is provided Monday through Friday from 7:00 am to 7:00 pm and on Saturdays from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm.

For details regarding fees, conditions of service and the areas in which service is provided, please download the Dial-A-Ride brochure and/or contact Merideth Petit at (818) 597-7367.

Courtesy of Dawn Famiglietti

Realtor, SRES, ABR 805 490-2536

Information deemed reliable but not guaranteed.