Copper Canyon
A master-planned community in Santa Clarita, California, founded in the 1960s.
Valencia is a neighborhood in Santa Clarita located within Los Angeles County, California. It was a master-planned community within the unincorporated area that, along with Saugus, Newhall, and Canyon Country, merged to create the city of Santa Clarita in 1987. It is situated in the western part of Santa Clarita, stretching from Lyons Avenue to the south (on the border with Newhall) to north of Copper Hill Drive, and from Interstate 5 east to Bouquet Canyon and Seco Canyon Roads. Valencia was founded as a master-planned community with the first development, Old Orchard I, built on Lyons Avenue behind Old Orchard Elementary School.
Lore & Background
In 1769, the Spanish Portola expedition, the first Europeans to see inland areas of California, came up and over the pass from the San Fernando Valley and camped near the river on August 8–9. They found a large native village there and witnessed a wedding celebration. Fray Juan Crespi, a Franciscan missionary travelling with the expedition, named the river 'Santa Clara' and noted in his diary that the place would be a good location for a mission. On the return trip, however, the party found a less strenuous trail through the Conejo Valley. Later travelers also preferred that route, and Mission San Fernando Rey de España was established down in the valley. The master-planned portion of Valencia was first planned in the 1960s by the Newhall Land and Farming Company. The first subdivision to be constructed in Valencia was Old Orchard I, which opened in 1967, occupying an area bounded by Lyons Avenue, Orchard Village Road, and the South Fork of the Santa Clara River. The next subdivisions to open were Old Orchard II and Valencia Hills. Development continues to the present day and is nearing completion. Valencia is notable for its landscaped boulevards connecting a mix of apartment buildings, single-family detached homes, shopping centers, office parks and industrial warehouses. On November 30, 2013, Paul Walker, best known for playing Brian O'Conner in the Fast & Furious films, died in a car crash in Hercules Street, Valencia.
Reader's Guide
As of the 2020 census, the population of Valencia was 63,670. 54.2% of residents were non-Hispanic white, 21.1% were Hispanic, 19.2% were Asian American, 4.8% were African American, and 2.3% were Native American. At the elementary school level, northern Valencia is served by the Saugus Union School District, southern Valencia is served by the Newhall School District, and a small portion of western Valencia is served by the Castaic Union School District. The boundary between the Saugus and Newhall School Districts follows Valencia Boulevard (from The Old Road to Magic Mountain Parkway) and Magic Mountain Parkway (from Valencia Boulevard to Bouquet Canyon Road/Railroad Avenue). Junior high and high school students in Valencia attend schools in the William S. Hart Union High School District. Valencia includes Rio Norte and Arroyo Seco Junior High Schools, and Valencia High School. Hart, Saugus, West Ranch, and Castaic High Schools; Placerita and Rancho Pico Junior High Schools; and Castaic Middle School also serve parts of Valencia. Castaic Middle School is part of the Castaic Union School District, not the Hart District. Valencia is home to College of the Canyons, a community college, and California Institute of the Arts, an arts university. Six Flags Magic Mountain is located in unincorporated Valencia. It includes 19 roller coasters, the most of any amusement park in the world. The Valencia Town Center shopping mall is the primary commercial center of Valencia. It occupies an area bounded by Valencia Boulevard to the south, McBean Parkway to the west, Magic Mountain Parkway to the north, and Citrus Street to the east. It includes over 1,000,000 square feet (93,000 m2) of retail space and contains 134 stores and 46 restaurants. Valencia is home to an ice rink known as The Cube — Ice and Entertainment Center (formerly Ice Station Valencia). It is used for ice skating and hockey. In 2020, Ice Station Valencia was on the brink of permanent closure due to COVID-19, until the Santa Clarita city council unanimously voted to acquire the building for $14.2 million. On February 23, 2021, the city council sold Ice Station to American Sports Entertainment Company and the Los Angeles Kings. The city is currently in the process of renovating The Cube to include two large ice rinks (one NHL-size rink and one Olympic-sized rink) and one small ice rink known as The Pond. The rinks, covered with insulated floors, would double as venues for conventions, business meetings, concerts, birthday parties, and filming. The Cube opened on April 12, 2021, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. The Cube is located on Smyth Drive, across the street from Valencia High School. Companies based in Valencia include Princess Cruises, Honda Performance Development, Precision Dynamics Corporation, condomman.com, Newhall Land and Farming Company, U.S. HealthWorks, and the American division of Advanced Bionics. Sunkist, Mechanix Wear, Remo, and WayForward are headquartered in unincorporated Valencia.
Historical Foundations and Urban Planning
The origins of Valencia trace back to the Spanish Portola expedition in 1769, when explorers first traversed the San Fernando Valley pass and camped near a native village along the Santa Clara River. Although missionary Fray Juan Crespi initially identified the location as ideal for a mission, subsequent travelers opted for an easier route through Conejo Valley, leading to the establishment of Mission San Fernando Rey de España elsewhere instead. Centuries later, in the 1960s, the Newhall Land and Farming Company initiated plans for Valencia as a master-planned community. Development officially commenced in 1967 with Old Orchard I, situated behind Old Orchard Elementary School. Over decades, the area expanded through subdivisions like Old Orchard II and Valencia Hills, evolving into a diverse landscape of single-family homes, apartments, office parks, and industrial warehouses connected by landscaped boulevards. Today, this carefully orchestrated growth continues to shape the western sector of Santa Clarita.
Geographic Layout and Infrastructure
Situated within Los Angeles County, Valencia functions as a vital hub defined by its strategic location along Interstate 5. The community is geographically segmented, with incorporated areas lying east of the freeway while unincorporated portions extend to the west. A defining feature of its infrastructure is McBean Parkway, the primary north-south thoroughfare connecting Copper Hill Drive in the north to Stevenson Ranch in the southwest. This major artery passes significant landmarks including Bridgeport Lake, the Hyatt Regency Valencia, and the California Institute of the Arts. Complementing these roads is an extensive network of paved pathways known as paseos, which allow residents to traverse nearly the entire community on foot or bicycle without crossing streets at grade level. These paths link directly to the Santa Clara River Trail, enhancing connectivity between neighborhoods and fostering a pedestrian-friendly environment throughout the city.
Economic Hubs and Cultural Attractions
Valencia serves as the commercial and administrative heart of Santa Clarita, housing most of the city's government buildings, corporate headquarters, and medical centers. The Valencia Town Center stands as the primary shopping destination, encompassing over one million square feet of retail space with more than 130 stores and dozens of restaurants. Notably, eleven of the city's twelve tallest structures are located here, including the Princess Cruises headquarters and the Hyatt Regency Valencia. Beyond commerce, the area is a global entertainment landmark due to Six Flags Magic Mountain, an amusement park featuring nineteen roller coasters—the highest number in the world. Additionally, the community supports cultural arts through institutions like the California Institute of the Arts and offers recreational facilities such as The Cube ice rink, solidifying its status as a diverse destination for both residents and visitors.
Demographics, Education, and Community Identity
As recorded by the 2020 census, Valencia is home to approximately 63,670 residents with a diverse demographic makeup comprising non-Hispanic whites, Hispanics, Asian Americans, African Americans, and Native Americans. The community is organized into distinct residential villages, many of which are governed by homeowner associations that maintain property standards and oversee neighborhood watch programs. Educationally, the area is served by multiple districts; elementary students attend schools within Saugus, Newhall, or Castaic Union School Districts depending on their specific location relative to Valencia Boulevard. Secondary education falls under the William S. Hart Union High School District, while higher learning options include College of the Canyons and the California Institute of the Arts. This structured approach to housing and schooling fosters a cohesive identity where amenities like parks and schools are readily accessible within each village.
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