County’s Population Pushes Past 700,000 : Growth: Oxnard’s 1.5% gain is one of the biggest increases. The report puts Ventura 48th among state’s 58 counties.

Oxnard and Thousand Oaks reported the largest population gains in 1992 as Ventura County pushed over the 700,000 mark for the first time, according to statistics released Wednesday by the state Department of Finance.

Oxnard’s population increased from 147,400 to 149,600, a 1.5% gain, for the year ending Jan. 1. The Thousand Oaks population rose from 107,100 to 109,200, a 2% increase.

The local growth rate was 48th among California’s 58 counties. Among the six other counties in Southern California, only Los Angeles County’s pace of 0.9% and Santa Barbara’s 1.4% growth rate were slower than Ventura County.

Still, Steve Wood, Ventura County’s population analyst, said the increase was worth noting because the population now exceeds 700,000.

“I guess that’s a milestone,” he said.

Wood said the new statistics are consistent with the county’s average annual growth for the past three years--about 11,000 residents. This is in contrast with the average annual growth of about 20,000 during the boom of the 1980s.

Wood said the growth rate is expected to remain about the same for at least five years because of the recession, loss of jobs and the fact that nine of the county’s 10 cities have growth-control ordinances.

“It’s a self-fulfilling prophesy,” he said.

The Department of Finance bases its twice-a-year county and state population estimates on changes in such data as births, deaths, school enrollment, registered voters, driver’s licenses, address changes, registered autos and housing units, state analysts said.

While the state estimates do not involve an actual head count of residents, state officials say the numbers are generally accurate. They are used by the state in determining how it will apportion gas, cigarette and other tax revenues to cities and counties.

Thousand Oaks officials said they were surprised by their city’s estimated growth, which showed an increase of 2,100 residents.

“That’s amazing,” Councilman Frank Schillo said. “I question the accuracy of those numbers.”

City Planner Scott Wolfe said the city’s own population estimates show the city gaining only 564 new residents in 1992. He said, however, that the city’s estimates are based solely on the number of building permits issued each year, using the 1990 census as a benchmark.

“I don’t think it’s out of line,” Wolfe said of the new figures. “It’s in the ballpark.”

Although Oxnard also experienced a significant gain in population in 1992, the city’s 1.5% growth is slightly lower than it has been in recent years, largely due to a slowdown in development, City Planner Matthew Winegar said. Oxnard is the only city in the county without a growth-control ordinance.

“We usually average about 425 dwelling units a year,” Winegar said. “Last year, we averaged 325. We think it’s because of the economy. We expect next year’s numbers to be about the same.”

Meanwhile, the unincorporated area of the county had the third-largest increase in population, going from 89,800 to 91,500, a 1.9% gain. The city of Ventura was fourth, increasing from 94,800 to 96,100, a 1.4% gain.

Wood said the 1992 population estimates have not yet been broken down by the total number of births and deaths to get an accurate number of those residents who actually migrated to the area during the past year. He said those figures will be released this summer.

Wood, however, said that during the period between July, 1991, and July, 1992, the Department of Finance reported that the county’s population had increased by 11,900, with 8,780 attributed to births and the rest to new residents.

‘93 Population Estimates

1/1/92 1/1/93 Change Camarillo 55,600 56,100 0.9% Fillmore 12,500 12,800 2.4% Moorpark 26,300 26,700 1.5% Ojai 7,800 7,850 0.6% Oxnard 147,400 149,600 1.5% Port Hueneme 20,050 20,450 2.0% Ventura 94,800 96,100 1.4% Santa Paula 25,950 26,750 3.1% Simi Valley 102,300 103,000 0.7% Thousand Oaks 107,100 109,200 2.0% Unincorporated 89,800 91,500 1.9% Ventura County 689,600 700,100 1.5%

Source: California Department of Finance MAIN STORY: A1