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About Ventura

Welcome to the City of Ventura, one of America’s most livable communities. We’re located between Malibu and Santa Barbara on the blue Pacific Ocean, overlooking Anacapa and Santa Cruz islands.

People have lived along this stretch of the California coast for at least ten thousand years. San Buenaventura was founded in 1782 by Father Junipero Serra, the ninth of the California missions. He named it after the Italian St. Bonaventure, hence the nickname that Ventura is the “city of good fortune.”

View and print our City of Ventura Resources Directory for a list of helpful City phone numbers, departments, services and contacts.

Come visit us!  Directions on How To Get To Ventura City Hall, 501 Poli Street, Ventura, CA 93301 from north of Ventura (Santa Barbara) and south (Los Angeles).
City Council
Meet the seven members of the City Council, each elected to a four-year term
Accountable Government
Ventura's History
Ventura is one of America’s most livable communities. We’re located between Malibu and Santa Barbara on the blue Pacific Ocean, overlooking Anacapa and Santa Cruz islands.  People have lived along this stretch of the California coast for at least ten thousands years.
Fiscal Sustainability - A Balanced Budget
Like government at all levels, the national recession has deeply reduced revenues to our City. Ventura has rejected the approach taken by many local governments to “muddle through” by resorting to budgetary gimmickry, borrowing or using one-time money for ongoing expenses.
State of the City
 2012 State of the City Address Mayor Tracy presented his State of the City address titled -- Working Together-- on February 6, 2012.  The following is his speech in its entirety:
VENTURAmaps
View comprehensive maps and parcel-level non-confidential information and analysis through the new, easy-to-use web based Geographical Information Systems (GIS) VENTURAmaps.