A garage door's insulation is measured by its R-value, with a higher number meaning more resistance to heat transfer. In the Los Angeles climate, a higher R-value door slows the summer heat that builds in an attached garage, which can improve comfort in the rooms next to and above it.
Replacing the opener with the door brings current safety into the installation: the federal auto-reverse requirement under 16 CFR Part 1211 and California's battery-backup rule under SB 969. Pairing a new door with an older opener can leave those protections behind.
A garage door's weight sets the spring system that balances it, and a heavier or insulated door needs springs matched to that weight. Installing a new door means sizing the springs and opener to the door, which is part of why a correct installation matters for how long the system lasts.
Steel is the most common garage door material in Los Angeles, and for good reason. It is strong, holds up well, resists the kind of damage a busy driveway delivers, and offers the best balance of durability and value. Steel doors come in single-layer, double-layer, and insulated three-layer builds, which is where the real decision inside steel lies. A single-layer steel door is the lowest cost and the least insulating. An insulated steel door, with a core of foam between steel skins, adds strength, quiets the door, and slows heat transfer, which matters in the LA climate. For most homeowners, the question is less steel versus something else and more how much insulation the steel door should carry.
Other materials exist, from aluminum and glass for a modern look to composite options, each with trade-offs in cost, maintenance, and durability under the Los Angeles sun. HeroTec reviews the options against the home's style, the garage's use, and the budget, and because the pricing is flat-rate and quoted in writing, a homeowner can compare the real cost of each path before committing. The goal is a door that fits the house rather than the cheapest or the fanciest option by default.

Insulation is the choice that most affects how a garage feels in Los Angeles, and it is measured by R-value, the door's resistance to heat transfer. A higher R-value door slows the summer heat that builds inside an attached garage, which carries into the comfort and the energy use of the rooms next to and above it. For a garage used as a gym, a workshop, a home office, or a room off the house, an insulated door is usually worth the added cost, because the space is far more usable when it is not baking. For a detached, unconditioned garage used only for parking, the benefit is smaller and the choice comes down to budget and noise.
Insulation does more than manage heat. An insulated door is stiffer and stronger than a single-layer one, which helps it resist denting and warping, and it runs quieter, which matters for a garage under or beside living space. In the LA climate, where the main stress on a door is sun and heat rather than cold, the insulation's heat resistance is the headline benefit, and it is the kind of improvement a homeowner replacing a door anyway can fold into the project for lasting comfort.
Because the garage door is often the largest feature on the front of a Los Angeles home, its style carries real weight for the home's appearance and value. Doors come in traditional raised-panel, flush, carriage-house, and contemporary styles, with window options and finishes that can match or update the home's look. A door that suits the architecture lifts the whole front of the house, while a mismatched or dated door drags it down. For a homeowner replacing a door, this is a chance to improve curb appeal, not just restore function, and the style choice is worth as much thought as the material.
Style and performance are not separate choices. A carriage-house look can be had in an insulated steel door, and modern glass-and-aluminum doors trade some insulation for appearance. Matching the look the homeowner wants with the performance the garage needs is part of the selection, and seeing the options against the actual home, rather than a catalog, is how the right balance gets found. HeroTec walks through these choices on site so the door fits both the house and how it is used.


A new door is only as good as the opener that drives it, and replacing the opener with the door is often the right move. A new opener brings current safety into the installation: the federal auto-reverse requirement under 16 CFR Part 1211, which makes the door reverse when it contacts an object, and California's battery-backup requirement under Senate Bill 969, which keeps the door working in a power outage. Pairing a fresh door with a worn, older opener leaves those protections behind and risks the old opener failing soon after the new door goes up. Matching the two means the whole system is new, safe, and set to work together.
The opener also has to match the door's weight. An insulated door is heavier than a single-layer one, and the opener and the springs both have to be sized to that weight to balance and move the door correctly. This is a key reason installation quality matters: a door and opener correctly matched and balanced last longer and run better than a mismatched pair. HeroTec is factory-certified on LiftMaster and the other major opener brands, so the opener is sized, installed, and set to the new door as the manufacturer intends.
The best door chosen well still depends on the installation to perform. The springs have to be sized to the door's weight and tensioned correctly, because the springs, not the opener, carry most of the door's weight, and a mis-sized spring system wears the door and the opener fast. The tracks have to be aligned so the door travels square. The opener has to be set so its force and its auto-reverse work correctly. The safety sensors have to be mounted and aligned. Get any of these wrong and a quality door fails early or operates unsafely, which is why the installer matters as much as the door.
HeroTec brings its gate-trade discipline to garage door installation. The work is done to code, with the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety as the city's permit authority, the opener and springs matched to the door, the safety features set and tested, and the whole installation backed by a parts and labor warranty. The flat-rate quote sets the price before the work, and Get Now Pay Later financing can spread it over time. A door installed this way delivers the comfort, safety, and life the homeowner chose it for.

The details of a garage door do more than decorate it, and they are worth thinking through on a replacement. Windows across the top of a door bring daylight into a garage used as a workspace, but they also affect privacy, security, and how much heat enters, so their placement and glazing matter in the Los Angeles climate. The finish, the color and surface of the door, affects how it weathers under years of intense sun, with some finishes holding their look longer than others. Hardware and trim options, from carriage-house handles to clean modern lines, let a door match the home's style. These choices shape both how the door looks for the next couple of decades and how it performs, which is why they deserve more than a quick pick from a sample.
Color is a practical choice as much as a visual one in LA. A darker door absorbs more of the intense Southern California sun and passes more heat into the garage, while a lighter finish stays cooler, which ties the color decision back to the insulation and comfort question. A door chosen for its look alone can work against the garage's temperature, while one chosen with both appearance and heat in mind does double duty. Seeing the finishes against the actual home and its exposure, rather than in a catalog, is how a homeowner lands on a door that both suits the house and handles the climate.
A garage door is a long-term investment, and the budget decision rewards thinking past the first number. A lower-cost single-layer door saves money up front but offers less insulation, strength, and longevity, while a higher-grade insulated door costs more initially and returns that over years in comfort, quiet, durability, and the look it holds. For a door a homeowner will live with for fifteen to thirty years, the cost spread over that life is modest, and the difference between a door chosen well and one chosen on price alone shows every day. The right budget is the one that buys a door matched to the home and the climate, not simply the cheapest option that fits the opening.
HeroTec quotes flat-rate, upfront pricing in writing so a homeowner can compare the real cost of each option before deciding, and Get Now Pay Later financing can spread the cost of a quality door over time, with plans that make a better door reachable without paying it all at once. Because the pricing is set before the work with no hidden fees, the homeowner chooses the door knowing exactly what each path costs, which is the position that leads to a choice they are happy with rather than one they settle for.
The door a homeowner can confidently choose depends partly on the installer's range, because a complex door is only as good as the hands that hang it. A heavier insulated door, a custom-sized opening, a door with glass and specialty hardware, or an installation that pairs the door with a new opener all demand a skill level a general handyman may not bring. An installer who works to code, sizes the springs to the door's weight, aligns the tracks, and sets and tests the safety features lets a homeowner choose the door they actually want rather than the one that is simplest to install. HeroTec's gate-trade background, with welding, fabrication, and factory certification on the major opener brands, is the kind of range that supports a real choice of door.
Choosing a garage door well is a matter of matching the material, the insulation, the style, and the opener to the specific home, the LA climate, and how the garage is used, then installing the whole system correctly. A homeowner who weighs those pieces together, patiently and with the actual home in view, backed by honest flat-rate pricing and an installer whose range supports the door they want rather than only the easiest one to hang, ends up with a door they are glad to have for the next two or three decades rather than one they picked on price and regretted within a few summers. The right door is the one built for the house it serves, matched to its climate and its use, and installed by hands that make it last for the decades a homeowner will own it.
The right garage door for a Los Angeles home is the one matched to the house's look, the garage's use, the LA climate, and the opener that drives it, then installed correctly to last. Homeowners across Los Angeles can reach HeroTec Inc.to review the material, insulation, style, and opener options on site and get a flat-rate quote, with a code-correct installation and a parts and labor warranty. To weigh the choices or schedule an installation, call (747) 350-2192 or visit herotecinc.com/garage-door-replacement-la.
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Canoga Park, Los Angeles
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The Platt Building, also known as The Victorian — a c. 1970s office building at 19725 Sherman Way, Canoga Park−Winnetka, photo taken in 2008
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Coordinates: 34°12′04″N 118°35′50″W / 34.20111°N 118.59722°WOwensmouth1912Canoga Park1931Named forCanoga, New YorkArea
• Land4.4 sq mi (11.3 km2)Elevation
797 ft (243 m)Population
60,971Time zoneUTC−8 (PST) • Summer (DST)UTC−7 (PDT)ZIP Codes
Canoga Park is a neighborhood in the city of Los Angeles, California, located in the San Fernando Valley. Before the Mexican–American War, the neighborhood was part of a rancho, and after the American victory it was converted into wheat farms and then subdivided, with part of it named Owensmouth as a town founded in 1912. It was annexed by Los Angeles in 1917 and was renamed Canoga Park on March 1, 1931, after Canoga, New York.[2]
The area of present-day Canoga Park was the homeland of Native Americans in the Tongva-Fernandeño and Chumash-Venturaño tribes, that lived in the Simi Hills and along to the tributaries of the Los Angeles River. They traded with the north Valley Tataviam-Fernandeño people. Native American civilizations inhabited the Valley for an estimated 8,000 years.[3][4] Their culture left the Burro Flats Painted Cave nearby.[5]
From 1797 to 1846, the area was part of Mission San Fernando Rey de España (Mission San Fernando). After the Mexican War of Independence from Spain the 'future Canoga Park' land became part of Rancho Ex-Mission San Fernando. In 1845, a land grant for the separate and historically rich Rancho El Escorpión was issued by Governor Pío Pico to three Chumash people, Odón Eusebia, his brother-in-law Urbano, and Urbano's son Mañuel.[6][7][8] It was located in the area west of Fallbrook Avenue and later called Platt Ranch.[9][10]
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This section needs more citations. (July 2014)
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In 1863, the syndicate San Fernando Homestead Association led by Isaac Lankershim and Isaac Van Nuys purchased the southern half of the historic San Fernando Valley. They established seven wheat ranch operations and were the first to ship wheat to Europe from California. In 1869, Alfred Workman acquired the westernmost ranch, a 13,000 acres (50 km2) wheat farm in future Canoga Park (for more: See Landmarks section below).[11] Eucalyptus trees were introduced into the San Fernando Valley by Albert Workman, who imported seedlings from his native Australia and planted them on the Workman Ranch. In time, they spread through the Canoga Park area ranches, farms and beyond. It has been said that these trees are the parents of all eucalyptus trees in Southern California.[12][13]
The entire south San Fernando Valley, from Roscoe Boulevard south to the hills, with certain exceptions, were to be subdivided in anticipation of the Los Angeles aqueduct's completion in 1913. The purchasers of the land included Harry Chandler and Harrison Gray Otis of the Los Angeles Times, Moses Sherman (a Los Angeles Pacific Railroad streetcar line builder), and Hobart Johnstone Whitley, an all purpose real estate developer who, from a start in the Land Rush of 1889 in Oklahoma to platting out 140 towns, including Hollywood.
The area was originally named Owensmouth by Los Angeles Suburban Home Company by general manager Hobart Johnstone Whitley as a sales tactic in that the town would be the new mouth of the Owens River, after the Los Angeles Aqueduct would be completed the next year. The town was founded on March 30, 1912, and the Suburban Home Company contracted with the Janss Investment Company, to sell properties. A pre-development scheme brought Pacific Electric streetcars and an all purpose highway (Sherman Way) out all the way from Hollywood through Cahuenga Pass, through the previously subdivided Van Nuys (1911). Highlighting the "opening day barbecue" was the display of the "Owensmouth Baby", a racecar that could go up and down the paved Sherman Way at the incredible speed of 35 mph.
Owensmouth, as the junior San Fernando Valley city to Van Nuys, promoted itself with the "baby" motif—using storks in their advertisement. The "baby city" of the Valley remained a very small community.
The lack of an independent water supply made annexation to the City of Los Angeles inevitable, and on February 26, 1917, it joined with its larger neighbor. The name was changed to Canoga Park in 1931, thanks to the efforts of local civic leader Mary Logan Orcutt.[14] Eventually, the area's zoning was rural/agricultural and its industry was small farms involved in the production of fruits, vegetables, and melons, some livestock, horses, a movie/television studio, and a stunt location.[15]
The Canoga Park Airstrip occupied the area now known as "Warner Center" (as shown on the street map 1955 Thomas Guide).
Canoga Park has hosted a Memorial Day Parade for over three decades. The parade is organized by local representatives from the Canoga Park Community Center and local business leaders. It pays tribute to fallen servicemen and women from all branches of the U.S. Armed Forces. A flyover by the Condor Squadron serves as the kickoff of the parade. A special ceremony for fallen heroes from Canoga Park High School, including those dating back to World War II is part of the opening presentation.[16] The parade route goes along Sherman Way.
Founded in 2000, the festival celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2025. It is one of the biggest Day of the Dead celebrations in the San Fernando Valley.The festival spans eight city blocks along Sherman Way between Topanga Canyon Blvd. and Canoga Ave and is attended by thousands of people. The festival happens on the first Sunday of November every year. The day long event includes live music, altars, art, food, children's activities, a catrina contest and a classic car show featuring lowriders, motorcycles and low rider bicycles.[17]
In 1955, Rocketdyne, then a division of North American Aviation (NAA), moved into the area and built its main manufacturing facility in Canoga Park. The facility became a major employer along with the Atomics International and Santa Susana Field Laboratory (SSFL) divisions of NAA.[18] Other aerospace companies followed: including Thompson Ramo Wooldridge-TRW, Hughes Aircraft, Rockwell International, Boeing, and Teledyne. Small machine shops and other ancillary businesses also sprang up to service the aerospace industry. The Rocketdyne facility was in the end operated by Aerojet Rocketdyne, who moved out of Canoga Park in 2014. Demolition and site clearing of the former Rocketdyne facility in Canoga Park commenced in August 2016.[19][20] The Santa Susana Field Lab property has also been closed[when?] and will be[when?] undergoing an extensive environmental cleanup, and become an open-space park.[21][22]
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This article needs to be updated. (August 2025)
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In 1987, much of the western district of Canoga Park was renamed West Hills. On June 25, 2005, Canoga Park was named an All-America City a first for the city of Los Angeles.[23]
The use of toxic chemicals like trichloroethylene and tetrachloroethene as cleaning solvents during production by aerospace and defense contractor companies in their Canoga Park industrial facilities led to groundwater pollution on their sites and across the neighborhood.[24][25][26]
Since 2003, environmental testing on a former Litton Industries, later Northrop Grumman, industrial site revealed unsafe levels of toxic chemicals on the site; 2007 tests further revealed that toxins had spread to an area beyond the site. In 2021, a petition for a class action against Northrop Grumman on behalf of affected residents was filed. The petition sought monetary compensation for losses in property value and called on Northrop Grumman to mitigate the contamination, alleging that the chemicals had leaked from the site and contaminated groundwater under 3,200 properties in an area about 2.4 miles long and 1.8 miles wide and that the corporation failed to properly contain or remediate the damage after it acquired the site in 2001. The corporation argued that they had complied with the California State Water Resources Control Board and that the Board had approved their actions.[24][25]
A June 2024 report on soil vapor and groundwater inspections conducted near the vacant Rocketdyne site, delivered to the California State Water Resources Control Board on behalf of RTX Corporation, reported levels of toxic cleaning solvents that were above levels that could pose a threat to the environment and human health. According to the LA Times in August, several residents of apartments which had been inspected reported that they were not notified of the testing nor of test results.[27] The Water Board confirmed that they were reviewing the report and responded about 7,000 individuals in residences and businesses within 500 feet of the site were notified. The Board also reported that they had notified some 4,000 Canoga Park residents about exposure to toxic chemicals from the former Litton Industries site.[26]
Canoga Park is bordered by Woodland Hills on the south, West Hills on the west, Chatsworth on the north, and Winnetka on the east.
Bell and Dayton Creeks flowing from the Simi Hills, and Arroyo Calabasas (Calabasas Creek) from the Santa Monica Mountains are several of the headwaters of the Los Angeles River that originate in the western San Fernando Valley that flow through Canoga Park. The Los Angeles River itself begins at the confluence of Calabasas Creek and Bell Creek behind Canoga Park High School. These and other small creeks supply storm water and suburban runoff water to the Los Angeles River, and several are considered year round creeks. Although the creeks are now channeled and run within concrete walls, they do form a significant urban wildlife landscape and contribute to the population of indigenous wildlife left within the San Fernando Valley.[28]
This area experiences hot and very dry summers. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Canoga Park has a hot-summer Mediterranean climate, abbreviated Csa on climate maps.[29] Precipitation is more common from December to March. Temperatures in the daily high range from 19 °C (66 °F) to 34 °C. Daily low temperatures range from 5 °C (41 °F) to 14 °C.
| Climate data for Canoga Park, Los Angeles | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 67 (19) |
69 (21) |
71 (22) |
77 (25) |
80 (27) |
87 (31) |
94 (34) |
95 (35) |
91 (33) |
84 (29) |
74 (23) |
68 (20) |
80 (27) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 41 (5) |
42 (6) |
43 (6) |
46 (8) |
50 (10) |
54 (12) |
57 (14) |
58 (14) |
56 (13) |
51 (11) |
43 (6) |
40 (4) |
48 (9) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 3.95 (100) |
4.11 (104) |
3.52 (89) |
0.83 (21) |
0.28 (7.1) |
0.06 (1.5) |
0.01 (0.25) |
0.16 (4.1) |
0.24 (6.1) |
0.57 (14) |
1.41 (36) |
2.17 (55) |
17.32 (440) |
| Source: [30] | |||||||||||||
The 2000 U.S. census counted 53,227 residents in the 4.35-square-mile (11.3 km2) Canoga Park neighborhood—or 12,240 people per square mile, about an average population density for the city. In 2008, the city estimated that the population had increased to 60,578. In 2000, the median age for residents was 30, also about average for city and county neighborhoods.[31]
The neighborhood was considered "highly diverse" ethnically within Los Angeles. The breakdown was 50.9% Latino; 30.7% White; 11.1% Asian; 4.3% Black; and 3.1% other. Mexico (45.8%) and El Salvador (11.6%) were the most common places of birth for the 42.8% of the residents who were born abroad—which was about an average percentage for Los Angeles as a whole.[31]
The median yearly household income in 2008 dollars was $51,601, considered average for the city. Renters occupied 63.6% of the housing stock, and house- or apartment-owners held 36.4%. The average household size of three people was average for Los Angeles. The 18.1% of families headed by single parents was also average for city neighborhoods.[31]
The percentage of residents aged 19 to 34 was among the county's highest, as was the percentage of never-married men (40.4%).[31]
Main Street Canoga Park is the historical designation for downtown Canoga Park along Sherman Way. The area was once known as "Antique Alley" and has a lot of vintage boutiques, coffee shops and art.[32]
The Madrid Theatre is scheduled to open in 2027.
Canoga Park is the headquarters of electronic provider Electro Rent.
Los Angeles Police Department Topanga Community Police Station serves residents in Canoga Park, parts of Winnetka, West Hills, and Woodland Hills. The Topanga Community Police Station opened in January 2009. The police department named the station after a village in the Tongva language of the historically local Tongva-Fernandeño Native Americans tribe. The department originally planned to name it the Northwest Station, but residents preferred a name linking to the town's history.[33] Prior to the opening of the Topanga station, the Devonshire Community Police Station served addresses north of Roscoe Boulevard while the West Valley Police Station served addresses south of Roscoe Boulevard.[34]
The United States Postal Service operates the Canoga Park Post Office at 8201 Canoga Avenue and the Challenger Post Office at 21801 Sherman Way. Challenger Station maintains a significant WPA mural by Western artist Maynard Dixon.[35][36]
The Los Angeles Public Library operates the Canoga Park Branch Library at 20939 Sherman Way.[37]
Canoga Park is located within California's 46th State Assembly district represented by Democrat Jesse Gabriel[40] and California's 27th State Senate district represented by Democrat Henry Stern.[41][42]
Canoga Park is located within Los Angeles City Council District 3 represented by Bob Blumenfield.[43]
Eighteen percent of Canoga Park residents age 25 and older had earned a four-year degree by 2000, an average figure for the city and the county.[31]
Schools within the Canoga Park borders are:[46]
Los Angeles Unified School District serves the community.
cite web: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
Coordinates: 34°16′16″N 118°44′22″W / 34.27111°N 118.73944°WCountryUnited StatesStateCaliforniaCountyVenturaIncorporatedOctober 10, 1969[1]Government
• TypeCouncil-Manager[2] • BodyCity council:[3]
Elaine P. Litster
Rocky Rhodes
Joseph Ayala • MayorDee Dee Cavanaugh • Mayor Pro TemMike Judge • City ManagerSamantha C. Argabrite[4]Area
42.25 sq mi (109.43 km2) • Land41.54 sq mi (107.60 km2) • Water0.71 sq mi (1.83 km2) 1.81%Elevation
768 ft (234 m)Population
126,356 • Rank3rd in Ventura County
48th in California
232nd in the US • Density3,041.5/sq mi (1,174.3/km2)Time zoneUTC−8 (Pacific) • Summer (DST)UTC−7 (PDT)ZIP Codes
Area code805/820FIPS code06-72016GNIS feature IDs1661450, 2411904Websitewww![]()
Simi Valley (/ˈsiːmiː/ ⓘ; Chumash: Shimiyi)[8][9][10] is a city in the valley of the same name in southeastern Ventura County, California, United States. It is 37 miles (60 km) northwest of Downtown Los Angeles, making it part of the Greater Los Angeles Area. Simi Valley borders Thousand Oaks, Moorpark, and the Chatsworth neighborhood of Los Angeles. As of the 2020 census, Simi Valley had a population of 126,356.[11] The city of Simi Valley is surrounded by the Santa Susana Mountains and the Simi Hills, west of the San Fernando Valley, and northeast of the Conejo Valley. It grew as a bedroom community for the cities in the Los Angeles area and the San Fernando Valley when a freeway was built over the Santa Susana Pass.
The Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, where the former president was buried in 2004, is in Simi Valley.[12]
Simi Valley's name is derived from the Chumash word Shimiyi, which refers to the stringy, thread-like clouds that typify the region.[13][14][15] The name could have originated from the strands of mist from coastal fog that move into the Oxnard Plain and wind their way up the Calleguas Creek and the Arroyo Las Posas into Simi Valley.[16] The origin of the name was preserved because of the work of the anthropologist John P. Harrington, whose brother, Robert E. Harrington lived in Simi Valley. Robert Harrington later explained the name: "The word Simiji in Indian meant the little white wind clouds so often seen when the wind blows up here and Indians living on the coast, would never venture up here when those wind clouds were in the sky. The word Simiji was constructed by whites to the word Simi. There are other explanations about the name Simi, but this one was given to me by my brother who worked over 40 years for the Smithsonian Institution and it seems most plausible to me".[17][18]
Three Chumash settlements existed in Simi Valley during the Mission period in the late 18th and early 19th century: Shimiyi, Ta'apu (present-day Tapo Canyon), and Kimishax or Quimicas (Happy Camp Canyon west of Moorpark College).[19][20][21] There are many Chumash cave paintings in the area containing pictographs, including the Burro Flats Painted Cave in the Burro Flats area of the Simi Hills, located between the Simi Valley, West Hills, and Bell Canyon. The cave is located on private land owned by NASA. Other areas containing Chumash Native American pictographs in the Simi Hills are by Lake Manor and Chatsworth.[22]
The first Europeans to visit Simi Valley were members of the Spanish Portolá expedition (1769–1770), the first European land entry and exploration of the present-day state of California. The expedition traversed the valley on January 13–14, 1770, traveling from Conejo Valley to San Fernando Valley. They camped near a native village in the valley on the 14th.[23]
Rancho Simí, also known as Rancho San José de Nuestra Señora de Altagracia y Simí,[24] was a 113,009-acre (457 km2) Spanish land grant in eastern Ventura and western Los Angeles counties granted in 1795 to Santiago Pico. After Santiago Pico's death in 1815, the Rancho was regranted to Santiago's sons Javier Pico and his two brothers, Patricio Pico and Miguel Pico, members of the prominent Pico family of California.[24] Rancho Simí was the earliest Spanish colonial land grant within Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties. The name derives from Shimiji, the name of the Chumash Native American village here before the Spanish.[25] It was the largest Spanish or Mexican land grant given in Ventura County, and one of the largest given in California. The Simi Adobe-Strathearn House, later the home of Robert P. Strathearn and family, served as the headquarters of the rancho.
José de la Guerra y Noriega, a Captain of the Santa Barbara Presidio, who had begun to acquire large amounts of land in California to raise cattle, purchased Rancho Simí from the Pico family in 1842. After Jose de la Guerra death in 1858, the sons of Jose de la Guerra continued to operate the ranchos. The end of their prosperity came when several years of drought in the 1860s caused heavy losses. In 1865, the De la Guerras lost the ownership of El Rancho Simí excluding the Rancho Tapo. El Rancho Tapo was part of the original 113,009-acre Rancho Simí grant, but sometime around 1820–1830, the Rancho Tapo came to be thought of as a separate place within Rancho Simí.[24] The last of the De la Guerras to live in Simí Valley retreated to a 14,400-acre portion of the original rancho that was known as the Tapo Rancho. As late as February 1877, Juan De la Guerra was reported in county newspapers to be preparing to plant walnuts in the Tapo, which appears to be the final mention of their farming in relation to the original Simí grant.
The De la Guerra heirs tried every legal means, but by the 1880s, the Rancho Tapo also slipped from their ownership, as had the rest of the Rancho.[24]
The Pioneer, or 'American,' period in Simi Valley began with the 96,000-acre purchase of El Rancho Simí by an eastern speculator named Thomas A. Scott (1814–1882), who had made his money as an investor in the Pennsylvania Railroad during the Civil War. He was president of the Pennsylvania Railroad, and a partner in Philadelphia and California Petroleum Company. Scouts came to California to purchase lands, and thus Scott acquired El Rancho Simí (1865). His goal was to locate sites for oil, since the first oil well had been developed in Titusville, Pennsylvania just a few years earlier (1859). Within a short time, a 27-year-old man named Thomas Bard was sent west by Scott to manage the California properties. In the late 1880s, Simí Land and Water Company was formed to see to the selling of the huge rancho in ranch-size properties. Some American farmers had begun to lease land in the greater Rancho Simí for farming.[24][26]
The earliest Anglo American ranchers showed up in Simí Valley in the late 1860s into the 1870s. Charles Emerson Hoar was given the title of "first American farmer" by early Simí historian Janet Scott Cameron. He had purchased the Hummingbird's Nest Ranch in the northeast corner of the Valley, and he leased land from the new owners of the Simí Rancho for raising sheep, already a proven way of making a living.
Much of the Simí Rancho land continued, as in Spanish days, to be used for raising sheep, cattle and grain. Wheat was more likely to prosper here than in the rest of the county, being free of wheat leaf rust, a fungal disease. Barley soon became the predominant grain crop.
Agriculture and ranching dominated the landscape through the 1950s. Citrus, walnuts and apricots were all grown in Simi Valley. In the early 1960s modern residential development began to take place.
Prior to modern residential development, Simí was an agricultural community, with ranch houses dotting the valley. 1957 and 1958 brought the first 'tract' housing developments when the Dennis and Ayhens, Wright Ranch and Valley Vista tracts were built, a rapid increase in residential development took place beginning in 1960. The population which was 4,073 in 1950[27] doubled to 8,110 in 1960.[28] By 1970 the population in Simi is reported by the census as 59,832.
The pioneers arrived in the late 1860s – 1870s and ever since, this has been 'The Valley of Simi.' But, not all the communities in the valley were known as 'Simi.' There was the township of Simi (known as 'Simiopolis' for about a six-month period in 1888). In the valley there were also the communities of Santa Susana, Community Center and the Susana Knolls (known first as Mortimer Park) at different points in time.
Simi – In late 1887–1888, the incorporation of Simi Land and Water Company came about. El Rancho Simí was divided into ranches and farms by that corporation, and advertised for sale to midwestern and New England states. An investor group, the California Mutual Benefit Colony of Chicago, purchased land and laid out a townsite (located between First and Fifth Streets and from Los Angeles south to Ventura Ave), named it 'Simiopolis' and shipped twelve pre-cut, partially assembled houses from a lumberyard in Chicago via rail to Saticoy, then brought by wagon to Simi. These are known as 'colony houses.' This was the first 'neighborhood' in Simi. Stores sprung up on Los Angeles Ave, and the first Simi School was built in 1890 on Third and California Streets, and was used until Simi Elementary was built in the mid-1920s.
Santa Susana – In 1903 the Santa Susana Train Depot was built, and the railroad was complete through Simi Valley, except for the tunnel, which was completed in 1904. A small business community grew up near the Santa Susana Train Depot, which was located on the north side of Los Angeles Ave, just east of Tapo Street. Over time residential developments followed and the town of Santa Susana was born. The Depot was moved in 1975 by Rancho Simi Recreation and Park District to its current location off of Kuehner.
Community Center – In 1922 L.F. Roussey laid out the small development which became known as Community Center. The driving force behind this development was the need for a High School in Simi Valley, as well as an elementary school in a more central location in the valley. The first graduating class from Simi High School was 1924, Simi Elementary was completed in 1926, The Methodist Church (which is now the Cultural Arts Center) was built in 1924. Numerous houses were built in Community Center in the 1920s and 1930s. The Simi Valley Woman's Club was located there as well (the building which served as the clubhouse for the Woman's Club was moved from the town of Simi). The Woman's Club club house was used by many individuals and organizations as a community meeting place.
Mortimer Park (the Susana knolls) – The area that is now the Knolls was a nearly 1,800-acre parcel of land (730 ha) that was purchased by Mr. and Mrs. Lewis T. Mortimer in the early 1920s. They planned on selling the lots for cabins, or vacation homes. The lots were very small (30 x 50 feet), and the Mortimers did not take the mountainous nature of the land into account, so quite often the lots were not buildable. Oftentimes several lots were needed to build structures. In 1944 the Garden Club, an active community organization in the area petitioned the county supervisors to change the name of Mortimer Park to the Susana Knolls.
The first attempt to incorporate the towns of Simi, the area known as Community Center (93065) and Santa Susana (93063) in 1966 was unsuccessful. The second attempt in 1969 was successful, with residents voting 6,454 to 3,685 in favor of incorporation. 59% of eligible voters turned out for this vote. Susana Knolls is an unincorporated area of the Valley. Voters also voted whether to call this newly incorporated city 'Santa Susana' or 'Simi Valley.' The name Simi Valley garnered 2,000 more votes than Santa Susana.[29]
The 2,848 acres (1,153 ha) Santa Susana Field Laboratory located in the Simi Hills, was used for the development of pioneering nuclear reactors and rocket engines beginning in 1948. The site was operated by Atomics International and Rocketdyne (originally both divisions of the North American Aviation company). The Rocketdyne division developed a variety of liquid rocket engines. Rocket engine tests were frequently heard in Simi Valley. The Atomics International division of North American Aviation designed, built and operated the Sodium Reactor Experiment, which in 1957 became the first United States commercial nuclear reactor to supply electricity to a public power system,[30] when it powered the city of Moorpark (the government owned BORAX-III reactor had previously powered Arco, Idaho for around an hour in 1955). The last nuclear reactor operated at SSFL in 1980 and the last rocket engine was produced in 2006. The SSFL has been closed to development and testing. The site is undergoing investigation and removal of the nuclear facilities and cleanup of the soil and groundwater. The Boeing Company, the US DOE, and NASA are responsible for the cleanup.[31][32]
In July 1959, the Sodium Reactor Experiment suffered a serious incident when 13 of the reactor's 43 fuel elements partially melted resulting in the controlled release of radioactive gas to the atmosphere. The reactor was repaired and returned to operation in September 1960. The incident at the Sodium Reactor Experiment has been a source of controversy in the community. Technical analysis of the incident intended to support a lawsuit against the current landowner (The Boeing Company) asserts the incident caused the much greater release of radioactivity than the accident at Three Mile Island.[33] Boeing's technical response concludes the monitoring conducted at the time of the incident, shows only the allowable amount of radioactive gasses were released, and a Three Mile Island-scale release was not possible.[34] The case was settled, it is reported, with a large payment by Boeing. In September 2009, The U.S. Department of Energy sponsored a public workshop where three nuclear reactor experts shared their independent analysis of the July 1959 incident.[35]
The Santa Susana Field Laboratory also hosted the Energy Technology Engineering Center. The center performed the design, development and testing of liquid metal reactor components for the United States Department of Energy from 1965 until 1998.[36]
The Santa Susana Field Laboratory includes sites identified as historic by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics and by the American Nuclear Society. The National Register of Historic Places listed Burro Flats Painted Cave is located within the Santa Susana Field Laboratory, on a portion of the site owned by the U.S. Government. The drawings within the cave have been termed "the best preserved Indian pictograph in Southern California"[citation needed].
Simi Valley is a city located in the very southeast corner of Ventura County, bordering the San Fernando Valley in Los Angeles County, and is a part of the Greater Los Angeles Area. The city of Simi Valley primarily consists of the eponymous valley itself.[37] The city of Simi Valley borders the Santa Susana Mountains to the north, the Simi Hills to the east and south, and is adjacent to Thousand Oaks to the southwest and Moorpark to the west. Simi Valley is connected to the nearby San Fernando Valley by the Santa Susana Pass in the extreme east of Simi Valley. The syncline[38] Simi Valley is located in the western part of the region called the Transverse Ranges.[39] While the Santa Susana Mountains separate the valley from the Los Padres National Forest in the north, the Simi Hills separate it from Conejo Valley in the south. In the extreme east is Rocky Peak, one of Santa Susana Mountains' highest peaks, which is a dividing line between Ventura County to the west and Los Angeles County to the east. On the other side of the valley, in the extreme west side of Simi Valley is Mount McCoy, which may be most known for its 12 ft. concrete cross that sits at its peak. The physiographical valley is a structural as well as a topographic depression.[40] The Simi Valley, just as neighboring San Fernando Valley, owes its existence and shape to the faulting and folding of the rocks. It is essentially a structural valley and not wholly the work of erosion.[41] It is drained by the Calleguas Creek and also its principal tributary, Conejo Creek. Both of these originate in the Santa Susana Mountains.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 42.2 sq mi (109.4 km2), comprising 41.5 sq mi (107.4 km2) of land and 0.77 sq mi (2.0 km2), or 1.81%, of it is water. Simi Valley is located northwest of the Los Angeles neighborhood of Chatsworth and approximately 30 mi (50 km) from Downtown Los Angeles, 380 mi (610 km) south of San Francisco, 160 mi (260 km) north of San Diego, and 350 mi (560 km) south of Sacramento. Commutes to Los Angeles are usually via the State Route 118 (Ronald Reagan Freeway) or the Southern California Metrolink commuter train, which makes several daily trips from Simi Valley. Simi Valley has a mediterranean climate. Temperate variations between day and night tend to be relatively big. The mean annual temperature is 64.1 degrees (17.8 °C), while the annual precipitation is 18.39 inches (467 mm). The precipitation remains less than one inch for seven months – April until October, – while the precipitation exceeds four inches in the two wettest months – January and February. While the mean temperature is at its lowest at 53.6 degrees (12.0 °C) in December, the mean temperature in July and August exceeds 76 degrees (24 °C).[42]
Simi Valley has been the victim of several natural disasters, including the flood of 1967, the storm of 1983, the 1988 lightning strike, as well as the 1994 Northridge earthquake and numerous wildfires.[29]
Simi Valley has a warm and dry climate during summer when mean temperatures tend to be in the 70s °F (low 20s °C). The city's climate cools during winter when mean temperatures tend to be in the 50s °F (low 10s °C). Because of its relatively low elevation, the Simi Hills typically experience rainy, mild winters. Snow is rare in the Simi Hills, even in the highest areas. The warmest month of the year is August with an average maximum temperature of 96 °F (36 °C), while the coldest month of the year is December with an average minimum temperature of 38 °F (3 °C). Temperature variations between night and day tend to be relatively large during summer, with a difference that can reach 38 °F (21 °C), and moderate during winter with an average difference of 29 °F (16 °C).
The annual average precipitation in Simi Valley is 17.9 inches (450 mm). Winter months tend to be wetter than summer months. The wettest month of the year is February with an average rainfall of 4.8 inches (120 mm). Simi Valley gets 18 inches (460 mm) of rain per year, while the United States average is 37. Snowfall is 0 inches (0 mm), while the U.S. average is 25 inches (640 mm) of snow per year. The number of days with measurable precipitation is 25. On average, there are 277 sunny days in Simi Valley per year. The July high is approximately 96 °F (36 °C). The January low is 39 °F (4 °C).[43] The record low is 18 degrees Fahrenheit (−8 °C) (recorded in February 1989)[44] and the record high is 116 degrees Fahrenheit (47 °C) (recorded in August 1985).[44]
| Climate data for Simi Valley, California | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 93 (34) |
94 (34) |
101 (38) |
105 (41) |
113 (45) |
113 (45) |
115 (46) |
116 (47) |
115 (46) |
110 (43) |
99 (37) |
96 (36) |
116 (47) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 69 (21) |
70 (21) |
73 (23) |
78 (26) |
83 (28) |
88 (31) |
95 (35) |
97 (36) |
93 (34) |
84 (29) |
75 (24) |
68 (20) |
81 (27) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 39 (4) |
41 (5) |
42 (6) |
45 (7) |
49 (9) |
53 (12) |
57 (14) |
57 (14) |
55 (13) |
49 (9) |
43 (6) |
38 (3) |
47 (9) |
| Record low °F (°C) | 19 (−7) |
18 (−8) |
26 (−3) |
30 (−1) |
33 (1) |
36 (2) |
42 (6) |
42 (6) |
38 (3) |
27 (−3) |
23 (−5) |
20 (−7) |
18 (−8) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 3.62 (92) |
4.81 (122) |
2.86 (73) |
1.02 (26) |
0.31 (7.9) |
0.07 (1.8) |
0.02 (0.51) |
0.05 (1.3) |
0.14 (3.6) |
0.93 (24) |
1.34 (34) |
2.76 (70) |
17.93 (456.11) |
| Source: The Weather Channel.[45] | |||||||||||||
An aspect of Simi Valley's location, situated beside the Simi Hills, is that it lies in a high-risk area for the wildfires that sweep through Southern California's mountain ranges every few years. Simi Valley is also at risk for earthquakes. The valley is surrounded by faults; the closest ones being the Santa Rosa Fault to the Northwest, the Northridge Hills Fault to the Northeast, and the Chatsworth Fault to the South. In 1994, portions of Simi Valley received significant damage from the Northridge earthquake.[46]
In autumn 2003, the Simi Fire burned about 108,000 acres (440 km2). A 2005 fire started on September 28 and burned an estimated 7,000 acres (30 km2). On September 29, the fire was estimated to be 17,000 acres (70 km2). More than 1,000 firefighters worked against the tricky combination of dry brush, low humidity and temperatures in the high 90s °F (high 30s °C) along the line that divides Los Angeles and Ventura counties. The fire was later brought under control and extinguished, without serious injury. Three homes were lost in outlying areas, but none within the city limits.
Neighborhoods include:
The Simi Hills are a wildlife corridor linkage from the Santa Monica Mountains to the Topatopa Mountains, San Gabriel Mountains, and other Transverse Ranges further east.[50] Simi Hills' undeveloped native habitat provides routes that protect larger land wildlife of the Santa Monica Mountains from genetic isolation. Large sections of the Simi Hills are protected by parks and open space preserves.[citation needed]
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 59,832 | — | |
| 1980 | 77,500 | 29.5% | |
| 1990 | 100,217 | 29.3% | |
| 2000 | 111,351 | 11.1% | |
| 2010 | 124,237 | 11.6% | |
| 2020 | 126,356 | 1.7% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[51] | |||
| Historical racial profile | 2020[52] | 2010[53] | 2000[54] | 1990[55] | 1980[56][57] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White | 60.0% | 75.3% | 81.3% | 88.2% | 92.5% |
| —Non-Hispanic (NH) | 54.0% | 62.8% | 72.7% | 79.9% | 86.2% |
| Black or African American (NH) | 1.5% | 1.3% | 1.2% | 1.5% | 1.1% |
| Hispanic or Latino (of any race) | 28.4% | 23.3% | 16.8% | 12.7% | 9.3% |
| Asian (NH) | 10.5% | 9.1% | 6.2% | 5.3% | - |
| American Indian (NH) | 0.2% | 0.3% | 0.4% | 0.5% | - |
| Other (NH) | 5.4% | 3.2% | 2.7% | 0.1% | 3.4% |
| Race / ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop. 2000[58] | Pop. 2010[59] | Pop. 2020[60] | % 2000 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 80,908 | 78,009 | 68,251 | 72.66% | 62.79% | 54.01% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 1,348 | 1,602 | 1,861 | 1.21% | 1.29% | 1.47% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 457 | 356 | 302 | 0.41% | 0.29% | 0.24% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 6,932 | 11,328 | 13,264 | 6.23% | 9.12% | 10.50% |
| Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 143 | 148 | 177 | 0.13% | 0.12% | 0.14% |
| Some other race alone (NH) | 191 | 278 | 708 | 0.17% | 0.22% | 0.56% |
| Mixed race or multi-racial (NH) | 2,643 | 3,578 | 5,872 | 2.37% | 2.88% | 4.65% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 18,729 | 28,938 | 35,921 | 16.82% | 23.29% | 28.43% |
| Total | 111,351 | 124,237 | 126,356 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
Before the 1960s, Simi Valley once boasted a strong community of Latino families, many of whom worked for white ranchers. However, the housing boom in the 1960s and 1970s attracted many white Americans leaving urban areas in Los Angeles and the San Fernando Valley.[61] This turned Simi Valley into a predominately white city, but the percentage of those who identified as non-Hispanic white began to decrease from 86.2% in 1980 to 54% in 2020.
The 2010 United States census[62] reported that Simi Valley had a population of 124,237. The population density was 2,940.8 inhabitants per square mile (1,135.4/km2). The racial makeup of Simi Valley was 93,597 (75.3%) White, 1,739 (1.4%) African American, 761 (0.6%) Native American, 11,555 (9.3%) Asian, 178 (0.1%) Pacific Islander, 10,685 (8.6%) from other races, and 5,722 (4.6%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 10,938 persons (23.3%); 16.2% of Simi Valley's population were Mexican-American, 1.2% Salvadoran, 0.9% Guatemalan, 0.6% Puerto Rican, 0.6% Peruvian, 0.3% Cuban, 0.3% Argentine, 0.2% Honduran, 0.2% Nicaraguan, and 0.2% Ecuadorian. Among Asian-Americans, 2.7% of Simi Valley's population were Indian-Americans, 2.2% Filipino, 1.2% Chinese, 1.0% Vietnamese, 0.7% Korean, 0.5% Japanese, 0.2% Thai, 0.1% Pakistani. The majority of Simi Valley's population was made up of Caucasian-Americans; the largest groups of whites were 16.7% German-American, 11.3% English, 8.5% Italian, 3.4% French, 3.1% Polish, 2.3% Norwegian, 2.3% Swedish, 2.1% Scottish and 2% Dutch.[63]
The Census reported that 123,577 people (99.5% of the population) lived in households, 482 (0.4%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 178 (0.1%) were institutionalized. There were 41,237 households, out of which 16,765 (40.7%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 24,824 (60.2%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 4,659 (11.3%) had a female householder with no husband present, 2,214 (5.4%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 1,975 (4.8%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 291 (0.7%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. A total of 7,087 households (17.2%) were made up of individuals, and 3,013 (7.3%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.00. There were 31,697 families (76.9% of all households); the average family size was 3.33.
The population was spread out, with 31,036 people (25.0%) under the age of 18, 11,088 people (8.9%) aged 18 to 24, 33,890 people (27.3%) aged 25 to 44, 35,046 people (28.2%) aged 45 to 64, and 13,177 people (10.6%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37.8 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.4 males. There were 42,506 housing units at an average density of 1,006.1 per square mile (388.5/km2), of which 30,560 (74.1%) were owner-occupied, and 10,677 (25.9%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.2%; the rental vacancy rate was 4.6%. 93,181 people (75.0% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 30,396 people (24.5%) lived in rental housing units.
As of the 2000 United States census,[64] there were 111,351 people, 36,421 households, and 28,954 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,097.3/km² (2,841.9/mi²). There were 37,272 housing units at an average density of 367.3/km² (951.3/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 81.33% White, 1.26% Black or African American, 0.70% Native American, 6.33% Asian, 0.14% Pacific Islander, 6.50% from other races, and 3.74% from two or more races. 16.82% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 36,421 households, out of which 42.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.9% were married couples living together, 10.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 20.5% were non-families. 14.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 4.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.04 and the average family size was 3.33.
In the city, the population was spread out, with 28.4% under the age of 18, 7.9% from 18 to 24, 32.9% from 25 to 44, 23.1% from 45 to 64, and 7.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.6 males.
According to a 2022 estimate, the median income for a household in the city was $112,144.[65] 7.02% of the population and 7.4% of families were below the poverty line. In 2022, the median income for a household in Simi Valley has increased to $112,114 according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The median per capita income for the past 12 months (2021) was $51,324.[66] Sales tax was at 7.25% and income taxes were at 8.00%. The current unemployment rate was at 4.10% with a 0..46% recent job growth compared to the National Unemployment Rate of 5.20% and a 1.59% job growth.[67] The median cost of homes in Simi Valley was $704,200 with mortgages at a median of $3,047.[66]
Commuting to Los Angeles for work is done by 27% of Simi Valley residents, with 20% working within Simi Valley.[68]
The primary industry is machinery and tools with 69 firms, and the secondary is the metal industry with 51 firms. Other industries include lumber/wood products, food, plastic products, apparel/textiles and minerals.[69]
A division of Countrywide Financial had been partially headquartered in the city from the mid-1990s into 2008.[70][71] In 2008 Countrywide Financial was bought out by Bank of America.[72]
According to the city's 2023-2024 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report,[73] the top employers in the city are:
| # | Employer | # of employees |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Simi Valley Unified School District | 2,051 |
| 2 | Adventist Health, Simi Valley | 971 |
| 3 | Aerovironment, Inc. | 870 |
| 4 | Meggitt Safety Systems, Inc. | 683 |
| 5 | City of Simi Valley | 509 |
| 6 | Milgard Windows & Doors | 456 |
| 7 | Rancho Simi Parks & Recreation District | 426 |
| 8 | Entertainment Earth | 164 |
| 9 | Polytainer, Inc. | 156 |
| 10 | Coast to Coast Computer Products | 151 |
The Simi Valley Cultural Arts Center opened in November, 1995 residing in a former neoclassical-style Methodist Church building that was built in 1924.[74]
The Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, located in Simi Valley, was visited by almost 400,000 people in 2014.[75] After the death and state funeral of Ronald Reagan, the former US president was buried at the library in June 2004. The library adjoins a hangar in which the Boeing 707 SAM 27000 (Air Force One), which served presidents Nixon through G.W. Bush, is housed and available for tours. In the pavilion are various automobiles used to transport the president, as well as Marine One, the presidential helicopter.
The Simi Valley Public Library opened in 1916, and moved to its current building on February 24, 1980.[76][77]
Simi Valley has 5,600 acres (2,300 ha) of public owned land,[79][80] including hundreds of acres of land in the Simi Hills.[81] Simi Valley has forty-two community parks and one community pool that are open to the public and maintained by the Rancho Simi Recreation and Parks District.[82][83]
Iceoplex is an ice skating facility and home location of the Cal State Northridge Matadors hockey program.[84]
Notable publicly-owned parks and recreational fascilites in Simi Valley include:[85][86][87]
Simi Valley's government uses the "council-manager" form of government.[88] This means that the city council is composed of one mayor, elected every two years, and four council members elected for four-year terms. The city council appoints both the city attorney and city manager, who heads the executive branch of the city government. The city manager appoints the various department heads for the city, and acts as the city clerk and city treasurer.
According to the 2008–2009 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report Fund Financial Statements, the city's various funds had $89.3 million in Revenues, $86.3 million in expenditures, $139.9 million in total assets, $26.1 million in total liabilities, and $158.5 million in investments.[89]
| Year | Democratic | Republican | Third parties |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024[91] | 46.53% 30,687 | 50.68% 33,425 | 2.79% 1,844 |
| 2020[92] | 49.34% 35,225 | 48.45% 34,590 | 2.22% 1,584 |
| 2016[93] | 43.86% 25,670 | 47.88% 28,022 | 8.26% 4,834 |
| 2012[94] | 42.78% 23,122 | 54.90% 29,673 | 2.31% 1,250 |
| 2008[95] | 46.64% 26,332 | 51.55% 29,102 | 1.81% 1,020 |
| 2004[96] | 38.09% 19,407 | 60.73% 30,942 | 1.18% 602 |
| 2000[97] | 40.59% 18,207 | 55.57% 24,925 | 3.85% 1,725 |
| 1996[98] | 38.32% 14,871 | 47.11% 18,279 | 14.57% 5,654 |
| 1992[99] | 32.21% 13,538 | 36.95% 15,531 | 30.85% 12,967 |
| 1988[100] | 29.97% 10,998 | 68.62% 25,177 | 1.41% 517 |
| 1984[101] | 22.38% 6,998 | 76.62% 23,957 | 0.99% 311 |
| 1980[102] | 22.25% 5,923 | 68.27% 18,173 | 9.48% 2,524 |
| 1976[103] | 42.53% 9,003 | 55.39% 11,725 | 2.08% 440 |
| 1972[104] | 28.08% 6,137 | 67.15% 14,674 | 4.76% 1,041 |
Simi Valley was at one time considered a conservative stronghold politically, along with the neighboring city of Thousand Oaks.[105][106][107] However, in recent elections, both cities have become left-leaning.[108]
In the state legislature, Simi Valley is in the 27th senatorial district, represented by Democrat Henry Stern, and in the 42nd Assembly district, represented by Democrat Jacqui Irwin.
In the United States House of Representatives, Simi Valley is in California's 26th congressional district, represented by Democrat Julia Brownley. In the United States Senate, California is represented by Alex Padilla[109] and Adam Schiff.[110]
As of the 2024 General Election results, all of Simi Valley's elected representatives are from the Democratic Party.[111][112][113]
In November 2018, Katie Hill unseated Republican Steve Knight and became the first Democratic woman to represent the district in the House of Representatives. Additionally, in 2022, Alex Padilla became the first Latino elected to the Senate from California.[114]
Simi Valley is served by the Simi Valley Unified School District.
There are five high schools located in Simi Valley: Royal High School, Grace Brethren High School, Santa Susana High School, Simi Valley High School, and Apollo High School (a continuation school).
There are three middle schools located in Simi Valley: Hillside Middle School, Valley View Middle School, and Sinaloa Middle School.
Schools of higher education in Simi Valley include Eternity Bible College and American Jewish University.
The Montalvo Cutoff, a railroad line opened by the Southern Pacific Railroad on March 20, 1904, to improve the alignment of its Coast Line, runs east–west through the valley.[115] In 1905, the longest train tunnel in the United States at that time was completed at the east end of Simi Valley. Tunnel #26 is still being used linking Simi Valley and the San Fernando Valley through the Santa Susana Mountains.[116][117][118] The area was originally served by the Santa Susana Depot which was also opened in 1904 as a combination passenger and freight depot built by the Southern Pacific and located on Los Angeles Avenue near Tapo Street. The station remained in use for the 60 years.[citation needed]
Simi Valley station is used by Amtrak and Metrolink on the railroad's Ventura County Line, and by Simi Valley Transit.
Law enforcement is provided by the Simi Valley Police Department, and the Ventura County Fire Department provides fire protection. American Medical Response, in conjunction with Ventura County Fire Department, provide emergency medical services at the Advanced Life Support level.[citation needed]
Due to lying within the 30-mile zone, Simi Valley has long been a popular entertainment industry location.[120]
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More often than a home gate, often quarterly for the busiest multi-tenant gates versus a longer interval for lighter use. Frequent maintenance clears the track, adjusts the chain and rack, inspects rollers, and services the operator before constant wear causes a breakdown. HeroTec sets the schedule to a gate's real cycle load.
A higher cycle-rated operator built for constant use, since a residential-grade motor fails fast under commercial cycling. Matching the operator to the real workload is one of the most important parts of keeping a busy gate running. HeroTec sizes operators to the actual cycle load on commercial and multi-tenant gates in Los Angeles.