The City of Santa Clarita, also known as Santa Clarita, is the third largest city in Los Angeles County behind the City of Los Angeles and Long Beach, and is now larger than Glendale, California. The city occupies most of the Santa Clarita Valley and is located approximately 35 miles northwest of Downtown Los Angeles. The San Fernando Valley is to the south and southwest, Castaic Lake, Lake Piru, and the Los Padres National Forest are to the northwest, the Sierra Pelona Mountains and Angeles National Forest are to the north and northwest, the San Gabriel Mountains are to the east and southeast, the Santa Susana Mountains are to the south and southwest, and the Santa Clara River Valley and Ventura County are to the west. The Antelope Valley, which includes the cities of Palmdale and Lancaster, is to the northeast.

 

Santa Clarita was incorporated in 1987 by the merger of Canyon Country, Saugus, Newhall, and Valencia. The area was first occupied by the Tataviam People who lived in the area for thousands of years before being claimed by Spain and later by Mexico.

 

 Valencia

Valencia is an affluent, well designed, planned community in the City of Santa Clarita. Along with the neighborhoods of Newhall, Saugus, and Canyon County, the four communities were merged to form the incorporated City of Santa Clarita in 1987. The population now exceeds 35,000. Valencia’s residential areas are separated into villages, but are connected by an extensive system of walking and bicycle pathways called paseos, making it possible to easily travel throughout the community without ever crossing a street. The paseo system is connected to the Santa Clara River Trail which runs along the Santa Clara River east to Canyon Country. Valencia is one of the safest and most desirable communities in Southern California.

 

 

Newhall

Newhall is a region within the City of Santa Clarita. Prior to becoming part of the city, Newhall was an independent unincorporated town in northern Los Angeles County. The population is estimated at slightly over 54,000. The Lyons Station Stagecoach Stop, also called Hart’s Station and Wiley Station, is located in Newhall. It was a stagecoach stop and tavern during the 1850s. It is now a Historical Landmark.

 

 

Saugus

Saugus is a region within the City of Santa Clarita located in the northern area of Los Angeles County. Saugus along with Valencia, Canyon Country, and Newhall, merged in 1987 to form the City of Santa Clarita. The population of Saugus is approximately 49,000.

 

 

Canyon Country

Canyon Country is a region within the City of Santa Clarita located in the northern section of Los Angeles County. Canyon Country along with Valencia, Saugus, and Newhall, merged in 1987 to form the City of Santa Clarita. Canyon Country is in the upper watershed of the Santa Clara River which flows through Ventura County to the Pacific Ocean. The population is estimated at 63,000. It was home to the Tataviam People and Chumash People long before the area was claimed by Spain and later by Mexico.

 

 

Placerita Canyon State Park

Placerita Canyon Nature Center

Placerita Canyon State Park, in Los Angeles County, was created to preserve and protect the site of the first discovery of gold in California in 1842. Its location links the Angeles National Forest, the Santa Susana Mountains, the Simi Hills, and the Santa Monica Mountains. The 342 acre state-park features a nature center with gardens, extensive hiking trails, picnic areas, a waterfall, and various educational programs. The park contains the "Oak of the Golden Dream" site of the first discovery of gold in California and the historic Walker Cabin built in 1920. The Placerita Canyon Nafure Center is located at 19152 Placerita Canyon Road in Newhall. Placerita Canyon was home to the Tataviam People, also known as the Tataviam Indians for thousands of years before the area was claimed by Spain and later by Mexico. Wildlife includes coyotes, bobcats, black bears, mountain lions, deer, rabbits, fox, badgers, and skunks.

 

 

Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital

The Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital, founded in 1975, is a 238 bed non-profit community hospital and trauma center in the Valencia neighborhood of Santa Clarita. The hospital serves the greater Santa Clarita Valley.

 

 

Santa Clara River Trail

The Santa Clara River Trail is an eight mile paved walking and bicycle path in Santa Clarita that follows the Santa Clara River and Soledad Canyon Road through the communities of Valencia, Saugus, and Canyon Country.