Introduction

Oak View is in a rural canyon that links the large coastal City of San Buenaventura ( Ventura ) and the inland valley resort destination of Ojai. Oak View had for many years been relegated to serving as a high turn-over bedroom community for commuters to Ventura and the area oil fields, and has struggled to develop a self identity as a community. In recent years Oak View has seen new efforts to develop the area as a family-friendly residential community, and this is improving the overall character of Oak View as new homeowners purchase family homes, building a more stable, long term, committed resident base. The community has begun a two year project to upgrade its elementary school facilities to accommodate the increasing number of students that are now living in the community as a result of the family-friendly improvements and more affordable housing in the area.

Oak View is an unincorporated area of Ventura County, which provides a civic infrastructure of a small branch library, two small elementary schools, and a Community Center. There is one emergency clinic and several doctors. Oak View is a lower income community than its affluent neighbors Ojai and Ventura, has a higher per capita Spanish speaking population, and struggles to improve economic, health and education opportunities for its residents.