Colonia, Oxnard, California facts for kids

The Colonia (ⁱ/kəˈloʊniə/; or La Colonia) is a neighborhood in the city of Oxnard, California, USA. It was created by the Colonia Land Improvement Company. This company built homes for workers near a sugar factory and beet fields.

Colonia is a historic barrio (a Spanish-speaking neighborhood). Many lower-income families live here. Famous people like César Chávez once lived in Colonia. The neighborhood is also known as "Boxnard." This is because of the La Colonia Youth Boxing Club. This club has trained many famous boxers. Some of these include Fernando Vargas, Robert Garcia, Miguel Angel Garcia, Victor Ortíz, Brandon Rios and Mia St. John.

The neighborhood's northern border is Camino del Sol. Its southern border is 3rd Street. Oxnard Boulevard (which used to be California State Route 1) is its western border. Rose Avenue is its eastern border. Colonia has one private school and two public elementary schools. There is also a small branch of the Oxnard Public Library.

History of Colonia

Early Beginnings

The land where Colonia is located was once part of the Chumash people's territory. The Chumash lived in this area, which stretched from Point Conception to Santa Monica.

In 1837, a large piece of land was given to former soldiers. This land was called Rancho El Rio de Santa Clara o la Colonia. People often just called it "the Colonia." This rancho was very big. It went from the Santa Clara River south to where Point Mugu Naval Air Station is today. It also stretched from the Pacific Ocean east to the 101 Freeway.

California became a U.S. state in 1850. In the 1860s, much of the Colonia land was sold. Businessmen from the East Coast bought it. They were mainly looking for oil. In 1873, Ventura County was formed. It was made from part of Santa Barbara County.

In 1897, the Colonia Oil Company sold land to the Colonia Land Improvement Company. This company wanted to build a town around a new factory. The factory would make sugar from sugar beets. In 1898, the city of Oxnard was founded around this factory. The factory was first called the Colonia Beet-Sugar Factory.

Growing Years: 1898 to 1960s

La Colonia is one of Oxnard's oldest neighborhoods. It was planned by the Colonia Land Improvement Company. It was built just east of downtown Oxnard. It was also very close to the sugar factory and beet fields. This made it easy for workers to live there.

In the early 1900s, white farmers started selling land to Latino families. This area was once known as Colonia Gardens. By 1948, it had grown to 8,000 people. Many farm workers lived there. The community even had its own newspaper, La Voz del La Colonia. This newspaper helped organize local parties and parades.

In 2019, author Margo Porras wrote a book about the neighborhood. It is called "Growing Up in La Colonia: Boomer Memories from Oxnard's Barrio." The book shares many stories about Colonia's rich history in Oxnard.

The Betabeleros and Worker Rights

Robert F. Kennedy visiting Cristo Rey Church

In 1903, Mexican and Japanese immigrant workers faced unfair pay. The American Beet Sugar Company cut their wages in half. So, these workers formed the Japanese Mexican Labor Association (JMLA). They went on strike. This event is known as the Oxnard Strike of 1903.

During the strike, workers marched and protested. There were some clashes with police. On March 23, 1903, a fight broke out between strikers and strike-breakers. Five people were hurt. After a few years, the JMLA won some agreements from the sugar company. The group then ended.

In 1933, Latino beet pickers, called "betabeleros" (Spanish for beet workers), wanted better pay. They also wanted fair working conditions. They joined the Cannery and Agricultural Workers Industrial Union (CAWIU). When the American Beet Sugar Company refused their demands, the workers went on strike. The local Latino community supported them.

The ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) also helped the workers. The strike caused big problems for the sugar industry. Local police were used against the strikers. The Oxnard City Government tried to get workers to stop striking. They offered them status as "true Oxnard citizens."

In August 1933, the betabeleros led a large parade. It went from La Colonia through Oxnard to the police station. Strike leaders met with police leaders. They talked about how the police had acted against the workers. When this meeting did not bring peace, the leaders spoke publicly. They said the police were being used to help the landowners and politicians. After this, ten betabeleros leaders were held in jail without charges. The ACLU stepped in. The ten men were quickly tried and found not guilty. The strike helped workers get higher wages. This strike remains an important part of the community's history.

The Zoot Suit Culture

In the 1940s, a new fashion trend called the zoot suit became popular. Young men and women wore these stylish suits. However, police often stopped young people wearing zoot suits. They would sometimes remove or take their clothing. In 1942, a group of young people listening to music outdoors were arrested. This caused more tension between the community and the authorities.

Modern Improvements: 2000 to Present

Around the year 2000, La Colonia started a big project to improve the neighborhood. Many empty lots and older homes were renovated. New buildings were constructed, especially in the southern parts of Colonia. This growth brought new investments to the area.

For example, $59 million was spent to fix up 260 homes at The Courts and Cesar Chavez School. Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish built a new church in 2012. The Ramona School was also rebuilt. This elementary school was first built in 1940. It was very important for education in Colonia. The school had fallen into disrepair by the mid-1990s. In 2000, the school district cleared the old site and built a brand new school. Many former students came back for the school's rededication in August 2000.

Community Safety Efforts

In 2004, the Oxnard Police Department and the Ventura County Sheriff started a program to improve safety. This program aimed to reduce certain activities in a large area of the city. Some community members felt this program was unfair. They argued it affected Hispanic youth more. They also worried it might lead to changes that would push out long-time residents. These groups suggested that crime had already dropped a lot since 1992. They wanted the city to spend more money on programs that help young people instead. However, the city council did not consider these alternative plans.

On the other hand, many residents who had been worried about crime supported the safety program. They felt it was helpful in making their neighborhoods safer. The number of serious crimes in the area did decrease after the program started. The program was challenged in court but was upheld. It became permanent in 2005. Community groups continued to discuss the program's effects. In January 2021, the court ended these programs, and they are no longer in effect.