Oxnard's origin dates back as far as the 16th century, when Juan Cabrillo mentioned the Oxnard Plain in his records when he claimed the land for King Carlos I of Spain.

But the history of the area, including the Oxnard Plain, really begins with the founding of Mission San Buenaventura by Father Junipero Serra in the late 1700's. The mission brought many settlers to the area, and by the late 1800's two very important people in Oxnard's past were attracted to the area.

Thomas Bard arrived in the Oxnard area some 70 years after the founding of the mission, and promptly founded the Port of Hueneme, which became an important outlet for the shipping of grains, sugar, beets and lima beans.

Achille Levy, a Frenchman, was another important early businessman in Oxnard's past. He was one of the original local grain merchants and landbrokers, and was known as the ÒBean King.Ó He was very prosperous and by 1900 he was president of his own banking institution, The Bank of A. Levy.

In 1898 the Oxnard brothers arrived to investigate the opportunity of refining sugar from the local beet crop. They decided to stay and went on to found the American-Beet Sugar Factory.

The factory was successful, becoming the second largest in the world. The area quickly grew with new stores and businesses to accommodate the growing population.

The bustling community officially became known as Oxnard upon its incorporation in June of 1903.

Today, Oxnard is continuing to grow and prosper, while preserving its rich and interesting past.