Santa Clarita

About Santa Clarita

Spreading over most of the Santa Clarita Valley, Santa Clarita is one of the largest cities in Los Angeles County. The area is known for its mild year-round weather, providing sun and fairly warm temperatures for much of the year. Santa Clarita has been steadily growing over the past few decades, attracting new residents with its excellent parks and recreation program, scenic natural setting and family-friendly amenities.

The History of Santa Clarita

The Tataviam Native Americans were the first occupants of the area that's now Santa Clarita, and they stayed until Spaniards arrived in the area in the late 18th century. Spaniards named the nearby river Santa Clara after a Catholic saint, and the valley adopted a similar moniker, Santa Clarita.

The city's early days were characterized by farming and agriculture, but the Gold Rush changed the landscape in the mid-1800s. According to local legend, Jose Francisco de Gracia Lopez discovered the first gold nugget when he pulled a wild onion and found the metal clinging to its roots. The discovery of gold increased Santa Clarita's population by a significant margin and drove the rise of other industries. Then, in 1867, an immigrant from France named Charles Alexander Mentry established the city as a source of oil, fueling the growth of California's oil industry. The oldest oil refinery in the United States, dating back to the 1870s, still exists in Santa Clarita.

Santa Clarita has served as a retail hub, a film-industry staple and a source of great wealth, and it finally was officially incorporated in 1987.

Living in Santa Clarita

Santa Clarita consistently earned high marks for its excellent livability, with publications citing its gorgeous weather and reliable housing market as chief draws to the area. The city has plenty of positive features, starting with its diverse economy. You'll find a number of businesses in the downtown district as well as scattered throughout the suburbs, providing both amenities and local jobs.

Public parks and fitness centers make it easy to enjoy the outdoors or stay in shape in Santa Clarita. Since the weather remains comfortable and mild all year, you can hike, bike and pursue other outdoor activities regardless of the season.

Thanks to its central location, Santa Clarita is home to many major attractions. With just a short drive, you can visit Six Flags Magic Mountain theme park, where you'll find some of the most thrilling roller coasters in the nation. If you're interested in exploring local history, Mentryville Pico Number Four offers a peek into its past as a pioneer oil town. On top of plenty of big-name attractions, there's shopping, dining and local entertainment throughout the city.

Santa Clarita Neighborhoods

Here are a few Santa Clarita neighborhoods you'll want to check out:

Valencia

Most of Valencia was created as a master-planned community in the 1960s, with homes separated into distinct villages. Valencia is a very pedestrian-friendly neighborhood, well-known for its beautifully landscaped streets and elevated pedestrian walkways.

Stevenson Ranch

Although Stevenson Ranch is technically located outside Santa Clarita's boundaries, it's often considered part of the city. Many homes in this community are in the seven-figure price range, and the neighborhood has won awards for its schools and excellent quality of life.

Newhall

Newhall is Santa Clarita's southernmost community and also its oldest. Here, you'll find the world's oldest oil refinery, and you might spot several notable locations from television's "The Magnificent Seven," which filmed in many areas of the neighborhood.

Saugus

Saugus was one of the original four communities involved in the merger that created Santa Clarita in the 1980s. In Saugus, you can grab a bite to eat at one of the oldest restaurants in the county, the Saugus Cafe, which opened in 1887.

Santa Clarita Schools

The Newhall School District and the Saugus Union School District manage the public schools, which range from preschool to high schools. If you'd prefer to enroll your child in a local private school, there are a handful of options.

There are a few post-secondary institutions in Santa Clarita, so you have options when it comes to pursuing your degree. The Master's College, California Institute for the Arts and the College of the Canyons are the main campuses within city limits.

Resources for Moving to Santa Clarita

Here's a quick resource guide to help you plan your move to Santa Clarita:

• Utilities: Southern California Edison is the city's electricity provider. The Santa Clarita Water Division manages water and sewer services.
• Garbage and Recycling: Trash and recyclables are collected curbside on a regular schedule, with your neighborhood location determining your pick-up days. You can also request bulky-item pick-up up to four times a year.
• Transportation: There are several public bus and passenger train routes in and around Santa Clarita. If you're planning to commute to Greater Los Angeles for work, there's a designated network of commuter buses that provides easy access to Los Angeles, Burbank and North Hollywood.

Santa Clarita Housing

As in most California cities, the cost of housing in Santa Clarita is significantly higher than the national average. You'll also find that the median home price here is slightly higher than the California average. However, there are plenty of options to choose from, ranging from compact apartments to large family homes.