Area: Somis

Somis, like Newbury Park, is another subdivision of Ventura County. Its borders are defined roughly by Highways 118 and 34, otherwise known as Los Angeles Avenue and Somis Road respectively. It is a small area and the roads are winding. Many transform abruptly and it is not difficult to get lost. However, they also connect as a network within the area. The population was 3,061 in 2005 and the density is only 66 people per square mile. The average gross income is $84,284. The average home value is $1,340,932, which only includes houses and condos, not land values. It is predominantly agricultural. Citrus and avocado orchards take up vast tracts of land and there are numerous fields of seasonal fruits and vegetables with connected produce stands. There are three elementary schools, Mesa Elementary, Somis Elementary, and Golden Valley Charter, and one public high school, Somis Academy Charter High.

Somis will initially seem isolated, I believe, especially because of the roads that wind into the hills. Though there is one major residential area, most of the land is divided into large lots. Anyone living there will certainly have space to themselves. However, Somis is actually quite close to both Moorpark and Camarillo. The Camarillo Outlet Mall in nearby, along with movie theatres, restaurants, and shopping areas. Somis does have the wonderful feeling of the country, or as close as one can get in California, with its quiet and space, but it still has the conveniences of the city. The majority travel time to work is only 20 to 24 minutes. It is situated to have all of Ventura County, from Oxnard and the beach to Thousand Oaks and the upper edge of L.A., at its disposal.

Area information provided by City-Data.com. More on Somis available here.