Santa Paula

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Santa Paula, California, (population 29,539) is located northwest of Los Angeles, south of the Los Padres National Forest. The area was incorporated into a series of Spanish and Mexican land grants beginning in 1795, the last being Rancho Santa Paula y Saticoy. In 1862, the ownership of the rancho passed into the hands of George Briggs. Walking tour murals

The town was laid out by Nathan Blanchard and E.L. Bradley in 1873 and incorporated in 1902. Blanchard planted the first orange trees in 1874. The earliest oil production in California began in 1886 when oil pioneers moved to Santa Paula. In 1887, the Southern Pacific Railroad arrived in Santa Paula, boosting oil and agricultural production in the city. The early wealth created by these industries built many of the historic and cultural attractions of the city.