Simi Valley lies in Southeast Ventura County roughly 27 miles northwest of downtown Los Angeles. As of December 2005, the city had a total population of 126,329, making it the 3rd biggest city in Ventura County. It was incorporated in the year 1969 and has a total area of forty two square miles.
The name for the city of Simi Valley is thought to have originated from the Chumash Indian Village Himeji. At first, the city was separated into two distinct cities: Tapo and Simi. The Indians who settled within the city were really clever. They used the acorns from the Coast Live Oak (the official tree of the city) and the rosehips from the California Wild Rose (the official flower of the city) to be able to help supplement their diet.
Amongst the biggest land grants within history was made in 1795 to Simi Valley City. A total of 100,000 acres of land (referred to as El Rancho San Jose de Garcia de Simi) were granted to Santiago Pico and Luis Pena by Governor Diego de Borica of Spanish California.
Within Simi Valley, there are two main businesses situated on opposite sides of the city. Located within the east is the machinery and tools trade, that comprises a total of sixty nine firms. The metal business is in the west and has a total of fifty one companies. various industries that are littered throughout the cities industrial sectors are Food, Lumber/Wood, Apparel/Textile, Minerals and Plastic Materials.
The biggest division of the Bank of America, (Formally the Countrywide Home Loans) has been headquartered in the Simi Valley, since the mid 1990's. This Corporation has three main office buildings within the city. One is situated within a building just off Madera Road, which was once home to Bugle Boy, an apparel company. The second is located on Tapo Canyon, and the other is situated on First Street.
The Volkswagen of America Design centre moved from Simi Valley to Santa Monica during the year 2006. Nevertheless, during its time within the Simi Valley, the corporation hired some automotive designers went on to become internationally known for their abilities. Jay Mays (now VP Design for Ford and Freeman Thomas) and Thomas (who helped co design the very first Audi TT) used to call Simi Valley home. The space has since been developed into an industrial complex.