Oxnard is located centrally along the coast of California and was originally inhabited primarily by the Chumash Indians.

In 1542, a Portuguese explorer named Juan Rodriquez Cabrillo sailed into Point Mugu lagoon. Cabrillo dubbed the landing site "the land of everlasting summers" and claimed the land for King Charles I of Spain.

The founder, Henry T. Oxnard, intended to name the city after a Greek word for "sugar". Frustrated in his attempt to pursued to state bureacrats, he gave up and named the city after his family.

Spanish explorer Jose de Galvez appointed Father Junipero Serra to head the missions in Alta California in the name of King Charles III. The Mission San Buenaventura was the half-way point between the San Diego and Monterey missions and was established in 1782.

Agriculture has been the primary industry for this area although military bases at Port Hueneme and Point Mugu have contributed to growth in technology and manufacturing sectors.