Port Hueneme: West County's Hidden Coastal Gem
Port Hueneme (wy-NEEM-ee) is a small beach city in Ventura County. Tucked between Oxnard and the Naval Seabee base, it stands geographically apart from the three other beach communities in Oxnard. At a size of 4.74 square miles and a population of about 22,000, Port Hueneme embodies a “small-town atmosphere.” We often describe it as the “forgotten” beach city in our area. And just as Channel Islands Harbor is the hub of the Oxnard beach communities, Hueneme Beach Park is the centerpiece of this one. This magnificent recreational area is the only City-owned and maintained beach park in Ventura County, and its 90 acres of parkland exceeds the state norm by more than one third. And with mild winter temperatures, cooling midsummer sea breezes and an average annual rainfall of 15 inches, an active, outdoor lifestyle is encouraged.
If safety is a priority, consider that the Port Hueneme police force with 24 sworn peace officers and eight support staff, to cover less than 5 square miles, means just that.
Locally, the Naval Base Ventura County and deep-water commercial Port of Hueneme dominate the economic landscape. The Port’s annual economic impact of over half a billion dollars in direct economic activity and more than 4,500 direct and indirect jobs, spotlights its position as one of Ventura County’s premier economic engines. If you are considering a move to one of our Ventura County beach areas, you may want to consider Port Hueneme. We find that this slower-paced, family-friendly, affordable beach city is often precisely what our clients are looking for, but thought no longer existed along the California Coast.
