History
In the County of Los Angeles, in the state of California, you will find Westlake Village, a progressive city conspicuously cradling a manmade lake. It is known as the city within the country for its progressive attitude and well-planned sprawling acres replete with huge tracts of open spaces verdant with vegetation. The population was approximately eight thousand three hundred and sixty-eight (8,368) when estimated at the 2000 census. It is often confused with the Los Angeles district of Westlake for the simple reason of their like-minded nomenclature. However, once you see Westlake Village you will immediately notice that it is a place like no other.

Westlake Village is a well-planned community built around a manmade lake spanning the Los Angeles-Ventura county line. The construction of Westlake Village began in 1966 by the American Hawaiian Steamship Company, and the city was formally accepted as one in its incorporation in 1981. Westlake Village became the 82nd City in the County of Los Angeles as a result of an overwhelming vote in favor of such on December 11, 1981.

Much of the original neighborhood is actually in the city of Thousand Oaks in Ventura County, and the population and land area figures quoted below apply only to the Los Angeles County portions of the city.

The city can at times be characterized as a rich old miser. This is largely because the city is known for its affluence and secluded character, and is one of the wealthiest communities in Greater Los Angeles. In addition to its role as a bedroom community (a place where there is little or no means of employment but lots of residential zones) for Los Angeles via the Ventura Freeway, it is also home to many large commercial offices and the headquarters, such as those of the Dole Food Company, Pleasant Holidays, J.D. Power and Associates, and Guitar Center.

Westlake Village is located at 34°8'31"N, 118°49'10"W (34.141973, -118.819514). According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 14.7 square kilometer (5.7 square mile). 13.5 square kilometer (5.2 square mile) of it is land and 1.2 square kilometer (0.4 square mile) of it (7.95%) is water. The village is located approximately 40 miles north of Los Angeles in the Conejo Valley. Other communities in the surrounding area include Thousand Oaks, Oak Park, Agoura Hills, Calabasas, and Newbury Park.

As mentioned above, quoting the 2000 census, it was estimated that there were 8,368 people, 3,270 households, and 2,491 families residing in the city of Westlake Village. The population density was 620.1/square kilometer (1,605.9/square mile). There were 3,347 housing units at an average density of 248.0/square kilometer (642.3/square mile). The racial makeup of the city was 89.70% White, 6.08% Asian, 0.82% African American, 0.13% Native American, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 1.02% from other races, and 2.17% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino peoples of any race were 4.61% of the population.

There were 3,270 households out of which 32.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.8% were married couples living together, 8.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.8% were non-families. 19.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 2.93.

In the city the population was spread out with 23.8% under the age of 18, 3.9% from 18 to 24, 23.1% from 25 to 44, 31.9% from 45 to 64, and 17.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45 years. For every 100 females there were 92.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.7 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $94,571, and the median income for a family was $109,310. Males had a median income of $88,179 versus $38,568 for females. The per-capita income for the city was $49,596. About 2.5% of families and 2.5% of the population were below the poverty line; including 1.6% of those under age 18 and 2.8% of those are age 65 or over. The city’s unemployment rate is a negligible 6% and the Violent Crime Index is a measly 2 (where the lowest possible crime index is 1).

Although these figures seem to make it so inviting to pack your bags and move into Westlake Village, consider that the cost of living there is a whopping 204% of the United States national average.

With a total land area of 5.62 square miles, the community supports a population of 8,905. Within the City limits are approximately 850 commercial and light industrial business firms. The City encompasses twenty individual neighborhoods, with active homeowners' associations to promote and maintain high quality architectural standards. Arrays of housing types match virtually every lifestyle, including: town homes, condominiums, mobile homes, single-family and lakefront residences, and view-oriented estates.

The City of Westlake Village is a general law municipality, operating on a contract basis in which many of the day-to-day services of local government are provided by public and private agencies. The city of Westlake Village is one of the few cities in the United States where residents do not directly elect a mayor. The residents of Westlake Village instead elect a five-member City Council to oversee the City operations and to guide the future development of the community. Council members are elected "at large" to serve a four-year term. Each year the Council selects one of its members to serve as Mayor and Mayor Pro Tem. The City Council appoints a City Manager to supervise all administrative, personnel and contract services.

The Westlake Village City Council is committed to the ideal of a quality community and seeks the input of community residents to maintain this objective. The City Council meets on the second and fourth Wednesday of each month at 6:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall. All City Council meetings are broadcast live on WVTV Channel 10, accompanied by a replay schedule each week.

More on Westlake Village
Settled snugly in the northern foothills of the Santa Monica Mountains in western Los Angeles County, the City of Westlake Village is nine miles inland from the Pacific Ocean and 38 miles west of downtown Los Angeles. Occupying only 5.4 square miles, averaging 900 feet above sea level, the community is framed by the Simi Hills to the north and the Santa Monica Mountains to the south.

About 3,000 years ago, the peaceful Chumash Indians moved into the region and lived by hunting rabbits and other game, and by foraging for or gathering grains and acorns. On-going excavations, archaeological sites, and polychrome rock paintings in the area provide a glimpse into the social and economic complexity of the ancient Chumash world. In 1770, Captain Gaspar de Portola led a party of Spanish explorers and missionaries, traveling north on the route that became known as the El Camino Real. The party camped near a Chumash village, believed to be the site of present-day Westlake Village. Father Juan Crespi, chaplain and diarist of the expedition, wrote: “We are on a plain of considerable extent and much beauty, forested on all parts by live oaks and oak trees, with much pasturage and water.”

When the Spanish finally did settle the area, they were given huge land grants, the largest of which was Rancho Simi, given to the Pico family. When Mexico won independence from Spain in 1821, California became a territory of Mexico, and a few more land grants were given. When California was admitted to the union in 1850, most of the land that later became Ventura County was divided among only 19 families. The picturesque future Westlake Village site among rising knolls, arroyos, barrancas and ancient oaks was recognized as the central part of two Mexican land grants: Rancho El Conejo and Rancho Las Virgenes. In 1881, the Russell brothers purchased a large portion of the land for cattle ranching. According to Patricia Allen, historian and family descendant, Andrew Russell beat the competition in buying the land by racing across 6,000 acres on a fifteen-minute trip in a buckboard and sealed the deal with a $20 gold piece. The price per acre was $2.50! The area continued to be known as the Russell Ranch although it was sold in 1925 to William Randolph Hearst and again in 1943 to Fred Albertson. The Russell family leased back part of the land to continue its successful cattle ranch operation while the Albertson Company used the vast acreage as a movie ranch. Many movies and television shows were filmed here, including “Robin Hood,” “King Rat,” “Laredo,” and various episodes of “Tarzan,” “Buck Rogers,” “Gunsmoke,” and “Bonanza.”

In l963, the American- Hawaiian Steamship Company bought the 12,000 acre ranch for $32 million and, in partnership with Prudential Insurance Company, commissioned the preparation of a master plan for a “city in the country.” Prominent architects, engineers, and land planners participated in designing a unique, integrated community that has become a nationally acclaimed model for the planned community concept. “The city in the country” was named Westlake Village and soon became recognized as one of America’s most successful suburbs and finest areas to live, work and raise a family.

Today, a population of 8,905 resides within this beautiful, natural environment of award-winning neighborhoods, thriving businesses, and enviable lifestyles. The original master-planned community of Westlake Village is transected diagonally by the Los Angeles and Ventura County line. The Los Angeles County side, consisting of 3,456 acres, was incorporated as the City of Westlake Village in 1981 and became the 82nd municipality in Los Angeles County. The Ventura County side, comprised of the remaining 8,544 acres of the original Russell ranch, was annexed into the City of Thousand Oaks in two portions in 1968 and 1972. The wisdom of the master planners in preserving, protecting and enhancing the natural environment of the area is evident today in the consistent growth and vitality of Westlake Village. Although the city is almost built-out, residents and officials look forward to the completion of a new resort hotel and health spa in the next few years.

The City of Westlake Village is located in the heart of the Ventura Freeway (Highway 101) “Technology Corridor”. The Corridor stretches along the freeway from Calabasas westward through the Oxnard plain, and is recognized as one of Southern California’s major R&D and technology growth areas. Within a fifteen mile radius of Westlake Village are a host of high-tech manufactures, R&D firms, biotechnology companies and healthcare organizations. Westlake Village itself is home to a number of corporate headquarters, including Dole Food Company, K-Swiss and Homestore.com to name a few. Continued business growth and vitality in Weslake Village is supported through “fast-tracking” the development review and entitlement process, the City’s’ “no business tax” commitment, a highly educated pool of workers, and the business-friendly orientation of the City Council and staff. Companies seeking to relocate or expand will find a wide range of commercial business parks available within the City. Two outstanding examples include the Spectrum business center and the Westlake North office parks.

The Spectrum is occupied by the Westlake Village City Hall, Community Center and Library, together with a collection of diverse business located in a campus-like setting. Other major businesses in and proximate to Westlake Village include the Farmers Insurance, Volkswagen of America, and Blue Cross regional headquarters, Jafra Cosmetics, the Amgen campus in Newbury Park, Baxter Pharmaceuticals, Autologic, Semtech Corporation and many more. Long planned developments along the Ventura Freeway corridor are now under construction, including the Four Seasons hotel, spa and wellness center, the Marriott Residence Inn and the Westlake Landmark office complex. Future restaurant, office and commercial uses are also planned along the corridor.

Westlake Village Chamber of Commerce
The Thousand Oaks-Westlake Village Regional Chamber of Commerce is a member-driven, professionally staffed non-profit organization dedicated to supporting the region's business community.

The Chamber has about 1,600 business and professional firms as members, making this chamber one of the largest in California. The strength of the Chamber lies in its membership -- working together to make the communities of Thousand Oaks and Westlake Village a better place to live, work and raise a family.

Members are the backbone of the organization and make up the pool of resources from which ideas, manpower and financial support are drawn. Its members are small businesses, major corporations and committed professional men and women working to ensure continued economic growth in the area.

The Chamber acts as the voice for the business community. In business, a single voice can often go unheard, while the collective, united voice of the Chamber has often proven effective and beneficial to business. There are problems and opportunities which individuals themselves cannot solve or reach. By working with others and pooling time and resources, however, important accomplishes are made.

Westlake Village Schools
The Westlake Village School District is serviced by the Las Virgenes Unified School District and the Conejo Valley Unified School District:

White Oak Elementary School
31761 West Village School Rd.
Westlake Village, CA 91361

Westlake Elementary School
1571 East Portero Rd.
Westlake Village, CA 91361

Westlake High School
100 North Lakeview Canyon Rd.
Westlake Village, CA 91362

Westlake Hills Elementary School
3333 Medicine Bow Ct.
Westlake Village, CA 91362

Aside from the aforementioned public schools, there are also a large number of private schools in the Westlake Village area. It is therefore easy to see that the city puts a prime not only on city plans but also on educating the youth of the Westlake Village area. Beyond schools the area also has libraries such as the Westlake Village Library.

The first Westlake Village Daniel K. Ludwig Library was dedicated on March 27, 1993. The library operates under a joint agreement between the City of Westlake Village and the County of Los Angeles Public Library. The library was named after Westlake Village developer and visionary, Daniel K. Ludwig. The library moved to a brand new and larger facility on February 5, 2002.

The current collection is comprised of approximately 60,681 books; 3,507 video recordings; 2,556 audio recordings; 125 magazine and newspaper subscriptions and other special materials such as local area telephone directories, local history information and a pamphlet file.

Services available to library users include seven public access Internet computers (five with word processor), eight online library catalogs, children's and adult programs, and a coin-operated photocopy machine. In addition, the Friends of the Library sponsor a "Best Seller Rental Collection" and also conduct an on-going book sale out of the "Book Nook".

The library, conveniently located within the Westlake Vilage City Hall complex, has a physical area of 11,500 square feet and features a uniquely designed children's area with a Story Tower; YA Room; Two Study Rooms; Copy Room; study carrels; comfortable lounge chairs; a circulation desk with four check-out terminals; seven public access Internet computers (five with word processor); eight online library catalogs; a separate Friends of the Library Book Store; and ample parking for City Hall and library users.

With the large and spacious open spaces, great education, little or no crime, enticing income, and a generally great neighborhood – what is there not to like about the city within the country? Come see Westlake Village for yourself!

DR. JOHN CHAVES
5312 Comercio Lane, Suite A
Woodland Hills, CA 91364
Phone 818-999-2707
Fax 818-703-1998
appointment@cosmeticdentalservices.com