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The history of Thousand Oaks
Thousand Oaks connects the Civic Arts Plaza, Newbury Park and Conejo Valley trails through a city built around its landscape.
Thousand Oaks at a glance
Thousand Oaks was incorporated on October 7, 1964.
When was Thousand Oaks founded?
Thousand Oaks was incorporated on October 7, 1964.
How old is Thousand Oaks?
About 62 years old, counting from 1964, when it was incorporated.
What county is Thousand Oaks in?
Thousand Oaks is in Ventura County, California.
What is the area code for Thousand Oaks?
Thousand Oaks uses area codes 805 and 820.
What is the elevation of Thousand Oaks?
About 886 feet (270 m) above sea level.
Dates, namesake and elevation from Wikipedia: Thousand Oaks, California and Wikidata (checked 2026-11-08); population and ZIP codes from the U.S. Census Bureau.
People who shaped Thousand Oaks
These milestones are an introduction, not a complete local history. Follow the linked city and museum sources to explore the people and places behind them.Read the local historical account.
Watch the city’s history
FROM THE ARCHIVES
The history of Thousand Oaks, California
A local history film shared by World History Official tv.
Watch on YouTube ↗Famous people born in Thousand Oaks
See all 48 famous people
- Before 1542
Chumash homeland
Chumash people inhabited the Conejo Valley long before European arrival.
City of Thousand Oaks ↗ - 1875
A post office and stage stop
The area's first post office was established as the settlement became a stagecoach stop.
City of Thousand Oaks ↗ - Early 1900s
A planned community begins
The Janss family purchased 10,000 acres and began planning a community in the Conejo Valley.
City of Thousand Oaks ↗ - 1927
Goebel's Lion Farm
Louis Goebel opened the attraction later known as Jungleland.
City of Thousand Oaks ↗ - 1964
Thousand Oaks becomes a city
Residents voted to incorporate and selected the Thousand Oaks name on September 29.
City of Thousand Oaks ↗
See the history for yourself.
Walk the Stagecoach Inn grounds in Newbury Park, past the Timber School and the Carriage House & Blacksmith Shop. Check current opening hours before visiting the Stagecoach Inn Museum.
For deeper research, the Thousand Oaks library resources is a starting point for archival material and research help. Historic photographs have their own permissions; we link to the collection instead of treating every old image as free to reuse.
Selected milestones researched September 13, 2026. This is an introduction, not a complete account of the city’s history.