Bardsdale, California facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Bardsdale, California
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 Bardsdale, California
Location in California
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| Country | United States |
| U.S. state | California |
| County | Ventura |
| Town established | 1887 |
| Elevation | 430 ft (131 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-8 (Pacific) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-7 (PDT) |
| ZIP code | |
| Area code | 805 |
| FIPS code | 06-03932 |
| GNIS feature ID | 269673 |
Bardsdale is a small, quiet community in Ventura County, California. It's nestled in the Santa Clara River Valley, known for its beautiful orange groves and farms. You'll find it south of the Santa Clara River and on the side of South Mountain.
The closest town is Fillmore, which is about 3 miles (5 km) away. Santa Paula is about 7 miles (11 km) to the west. Moorpark is about 6 miles (10 km) south, reached by a winding road called Grimes Canyon.
Bardsdale is famous for its citrus farms. Many green orange orchards dot the landscape, with homes mixed in. Oranges, especially Valencias, are the main crop. Farmers also grow lemons, avocados, and other vegetables. The citrus from Bardsdale is sold all over the country and the world by Sunkist.
The land in Bardsdale gently slopes from South Mountain down to the river. This gives it amazing views of the Santa Clara River Valley. You can see the tall peaks of the Sespe and San Cayetano Mountains. The community is home to the Bardsdale United Methodist Church, which is a special historic building.
The Bardsdale Cemetery serves both Bardsdale and Fillmore. The Elkins Ranch Golf Course is also located on the east side of Bardsdale. The Ventura County Sheriff's Department and the Ventura County Fire Department help keep the area safe.
Contents
History of Bardsdale
How Bardsdale Started
Bardsdale was founded in 1887 by a real estate developer named Royce G. Surdam. He bought a large piece of land, about 1,500 acres (6 km²), from his friend Thomas R. Bard. Surdam named the new town "Bardsdale" to honor Thomas Bard.
Surdam divided Bardsdale into smaller pieces of land. He planned the town with streets named after nearby places like San Cayetano, Ventura, and Ojai. One street, Chambersburg Street, was named after Thomas Bard's hometown in Pennsylvania.
Railroad and Early Life
Around the same time, the Southern Pacific Railroad built tracks through the valley. They put a station about 5 miles (8 km) from Bardsdale. This station was named Fillmore, after the company's general superintendent.
In March 1887, Surdam started offering train trips from Los Angeles to Fillmore Station. He wanted people to come see Bardsdale, which he called "the Eden of Southern California!"
The U.S. Post Office opened the Bardsdale Post Office on May 18, 1887. Surdam became the first postmaster. A small community grew around the Fillmore train station, but it didn't have its own post office yet. Surdam would ride his horse across the Santa Clara River to pick up mail at the station. Then he would sort it and deliver it to the few people living in Fillmore.
First Crops and Community Growth
The Bardsdale Cemetery was started soon after the town was founded. At first, there were no citrus groves in Bardsdale. Residents tried growing different crops like barley, cabbage, and potatoes. A group of German families moved to Bardsdale from the Midwest. Their small church was used as the first school.
Early Schools in Bardsdale
The first meeting of the Bardsdale School Board happened on May 8, 1888. They hired Miss Nettie Hamilton to teach for a few weeks. Later, Miss Jessie Fuller was hired to teach for four months.
Bardsdale didn't have a schoolhouse yet. A piece of land was given for a school, but there wasn't enough money to build it. In October 1888, people voted to build a schoolhouse for $1,722. The school was built by O.J. Goodenough for $1,397.
On June 8, 1889, the new schoolhouse was finished. The trustees decided that the school should not be used for dancing. They also said that smoking and chewing tobacco were not allowed inside the school or on the grounds.
Miss Minnie Taylor was the first teacher in the new schoolhouse. She started in August 1889. The school had one room, a large stove, and a cloak room. There were separate entrances for girls and boys. Desks were made for two students. The school taught nine grades, as the nearest high school was in Santa Paula.
Changes Over Time
By 1891, Bardsdale had many nice houses with trees and shrubs. It also had a good water system. Royce Surdam passed away in September 1891. Most of his land in Bardsdale was sold to Thomas Bard.
A new, tiny wooden post office was built in Bardsdale in 1892. It was said to be one of the smallest post offices in California. The Bardsdale Methodist Church was also founded that same year. In 1898, the Methodists built a new church and parsonage (a home for the minister).
The Bardsdale Post Office closed on May 15, 1906. In 1909, the first large bridge was built across the Santa Clara River, connecting Bardsdale and Fillmore. However, a flood in 1914 washed it away.
The Bardsdale Cemetery became a public district in 1914. Another bridge was built across the Santa Clara River.
In 1918, the schoolhouse was replaced with a new one. This new school had a hallway, an office, an auditorium with a stage, a kitchen, and three classrooms.
The St. Francis Dam Collapse
The second Bardsdale Bridge was washed away in the early morning of March 13, 1928. This happened when the St. Francis Dam in northern Los Angeles County collapsed. A huge wave of water rushed down the Santa Clara River Valley. Bardsdale received enough warning, so most people were able to move to safety. A new Bardsdale Bridge was built after this event.
Modern Bardsdale
The Elkins Ranch Golf Course opened in 1962. Bardsdale Elementary School closed at the end of the 1965-1966 school year. Students then went to schools in Fillmore. The old Bardsdale School building later became a private home.
The small 1892 post office building was moved to the Fillmore Historical Museum in 1982. In 1994, the old green bridge was replaced with a wider, modern concrete bridge. In 1997, the Bardsdale Post Office building was moved again to the Fillmore Historical Museum and Park on Main Street in Fillmore.
Major Highways
California State Route 23 (Chambersburg Road/Bellevue Avenue)
