Themes and Regions

Simi Valley's name is said to originate from the Chumash word Shimiyi. This word is used to describe the stringy, thread-like clouds that typify the region. Simi Valley was once inhabited by the Chumash Indians, who also settled much of the region from the Salinas Valley to the Santa Monica Mountains. The region later became known as Rancho Simi, a 113,009-acre  Spanish land grant given in 1795. In 1887 the company, Simi Land and Water Company acquired the land, and this was the beginning of the community today. The city incorporated as Simi Valley in 1969 and is now a suburban style living center.

This is an actual excerpt from the Simi Land and Water Company records. Simi Valley was the first Spanish colonial land grant in Ventura and Santa Barbara counties.

Today Simi Valley is 42.2 square miles,  and lies in the southeast corner of Ventura County, California, bordering the San Fernando Valley. According to the U.S. Census, the city had a population of 124,237 in 2010. The city is surrounded by the Santa Susana Mountain range and the Simi Hills,

A picture of Simi Valley in the early 1960's, mainly farms and fruit orchards

 

Credit:
http://geography.howstuffworks.com/united-states/geography-of-simi-valley.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simi_Valley,_California#Economy
Simi Valley A Journey Through Time, by Patricia Havens, 1997