Located in the heart of Ventura County, Camarillo, named after Adolfo Camarillo, sits on the northern edge of the Oxnard Plain. Adolfo Camarillo inherited and operated the 10,000-acre Rancho Calleguas, one of the last Mexican land grants, helping Ventura County become the world’s top lima bean producer. Camarillo’s excellent climate and rich topsoil brought farmers to the area, but as time passed, farmland was sold to land developers and patchwork housing tracks sprang up in addition to light industry and small businesses.
David Reel has lived in Camarillo for 38 years. As a literary writer, historian, photographer, and podcaster, Reel presents Camarillo as his first book—but not his last.
Camarillo: Past & Present
By David Reel
Past & Present Series
ISBN: 978-1-4671-0428-9
$23.99 | 96 pp. | paperback
Available: December 9, 2019
A sample of the photos in the book:
As the nation’s leading publisher of books of local history and local interest, Arcadia’s mission is to connect people with their past, with their communities and with one another. Arcadia has an extraordinary catalog of more than 15,000 local titles and publishes 500 new books of local interest and local history each year. www.arcadiapublishing.com www.historypress.net
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At age eleven in 1945, this writer, along with his parents and sister moved onto Fulton Street in Camarillo.
Pleasant Valley School was within walking distance as both my sister and I enrolled in grade six and eight.
Adolpho Camarillo’s grandson was a classmate of mine and one of his grandaughters was a teacher for my sister.
I left Camarillo at age 19 to attend college in Los Angeless.
We watched Camarillo grow from a population of about two thousand and marvel at its growth since.
My association with Camarillo ended in 1986 when my mother passed away, but I always get off the freeway when in the area to look around the old neighborhood and Ventura Blvd.
Congratulations, David. Looking forward to it.
Came to Camarillo in 1952. I remember the library, fire stration, St Mary Magdalene’s Churcy. The Richfield Station, Railroad Tracks, The Buckhorn, Smitty’s Barbershop and more in that end of town. Seem like yesterday. I attended PV Baptist Church. What I don’t see is Western Auto, and Camarillo Plumbing. had they come to town yet?
I would like to order a copy of your book. My husband is related to Adolfo Camarillo and we are interested in family history.