Santa Paula
Henderson, Mary Alice Orcutt
Santa Paula was built on the foundations of citrus cultivation and oil production. Ventura County's first irrigated 100-acre orange and lemon orchard was planted at Santa Paula in 1874, and the original 1888 harvest was so plentiful and delicious that the Limoneira Ranch Company was incorporated in 1893 and continues to thrive. Oil seeps brought wildcatters, and California's first gusher came in at Santa Paula in 1888. The town's twin notoriet...