City Guide
Westlake Village
Lakeside Planned Community
A City in Two Counties: How a master-planned lakeside community became one of California's unique dual-county municipalities
Westlake Village is a small incorporated city spanning Los Angeles and Ventura counties at the western edge of the Conejo Valley. The Los Angeles County portion lies south of the 101 freeway, encompassing residential neighborhoods, the Westlake Lake community, and commercial areas along Thousand Oaks Boulevard and Lakeview Canyon Road. Bordered by Agoura Hills, Thousand Oaks, and unincorporated county land, Westlake Village offers a planned suburban environment with golf courses, open space, and proximity to the Santa Monica Mountains.
Indigenous and Early History
The Westlake Village area lies at the boundary of Tongva and Chumash ancestral territories, with indigenous communities utilizing the region's oak woodlands, grasslands, and seasonal streams. The landscape supported gathering, hunting, and trade along routes connecting the coast to inland valleys.
During the rancho era, the land formed portions of Rancho El Conejo and Rancho Las Virgenes. Cattle grazing and limited agriculture dominated until the mid-20th century, when the Russell Ranch was sold to the American Hawaiian Steamship Company and the Westlake Village master plan was conceived.
Founding and Early Development
The American Hawaiian Steamship Company commissions the Westlake Village master plan, a 9,000-acre planned community.
Residential development begins; the Westlake Lake and surrounding neighborhoods take shape.
Westlake Village incorporates on December 11 as a city spanning Los Angeles and Ventura counties.
Commercial development along Thousand Oaks Boulevard and the Westlake Village Civic Center establish municipal services.
The original Westlake Village development marketed lakeside living, golf courses, and controlled growth within a master-planned framework. Homeowner associations and design guidelines shaped the community's architectural and landscaping standards.
Twentieth-Century Growth
Westlake Village developed as an affluent suburban community distinct from the faster-growing cities of the San Fernando Valley to the east. The man-made Westlake Lake became a focal point for recreation and property values. Golf courses including the Westlake Golf Course and North Ranch Country Club integrated open space into the development pattern.
Residential tracts, the Four Seasons Hotel Westlake Village, and commercial centers expand the community.
Cityhood consolidates governance over the incorporated portions in both counties.
Additional residential development and commercial infill complete the build-out of available land.
The city's dual-county status creates unique administrative arrangements, with Los Angeles County and Ventura County providing certain services while the city manages local planning, parks, and municipal functions.
Economy and Employment
Westlake Village's economy centers on professional services, healthcare, hospitality, and local retail. Dole Food Company previously maintained headquarters in the area, and numerous corporate offices, medical practices, and financial services firms occupy commercial space along Thousand Oaks Boulevard and in office parks.
The Four Seasons Hotel and local restaurants support hospitality employment. Many residents commute to employment centers in the Conejo Valley, San Fernando Valley, and Ventura County in fields including healthcare, technology, entertainment, and business management.
Market and Housing Context
The 2020 U.S. Census counted 8,070 residents and approximately 3,500 housing units within Westlake Village's 5.19 square miles (combined county portions). The housing stock is predominantly single-family detached homes in master-planned neighborhoods, with condominiums and townhomes near the lake and commercial areas.
Census housing tenure data indicates a high rate of owner occupancy, consistent with the community's profile as an established suburban enclave. Homes span a range of sizes and architectural styles, many with Mediterranean and California contemporary influences. Homeowner associations govern landscaping, amenities, and community standards in many neighborhoods. The 2020 Census documented approximately 3,500 housing units within the city's 5.19 square miles, with single-family detached homes representing the predominant structure type across both county portions.
Living in Westlake Village
Westlake Village offers Westlake Lake for boating and recreation, numerous parks, and golf courses. The Westlake Village Civic Center hosts community events and municipal services. Trails in the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area are accessible from the city's periphery.
Educational institutions include Westlake High School (in adjacent Thousand Oaks, Ventura County) and Lang Ranch Elementary School. The city shares school district boundaries with Conejo Valley and Las Virgenes districts depending on location.
Westlake Village Today
8,070
Population (2020 Census)
5.19 sq mi
City Land Area (Both Counties)
1981
Year Incorporated
3,500
Housing Units (2020 Census)
Government and Civic Life
Westlake Village operates under a council-manager form of government with five council members. The city manages planning, parks, and local services while coordinating with Los Angeles and Ventura counties on law enforcement, elections, and certain administrative functions. The dual-county structure is rare among California municipalities.
Master-Planned Community
The original Westlake Village development established patterns of gated neighborhoods, golf course open space, and commercial villages that continue to define the community's character. Homeowner associations and city planning work in parallel to maintain landscaping and development standards.
Geography and Environment
Westlake Village occupies rolling terrain at the eastern edge of the Conejo Valley, with the Santa Monica Mountains rising to the south. Westlake Lake provides a central water feature within the development. Mediterranean climate conditions support landscaping and outdoor recreation.
Wildfire risk in the adjacent mountain interface and water management for the lake and landscaping are ongoing environmental considerations.
Transportation and Connectivity
U.S. Route 101 (Ventura Freeway) provides primary freeway access through Westlake Village, connecting the Conejo Valley to the San Fernando Valley and the Central Coast. Lakeview Canyon Road and Thousand Oaks Boulevard serve as major local arterials. Metro bus service is limited; most residents rely on personal vehicles for commuting.
The city's location offers access to Westside and San Fernando Valley employment centers within a 30- to 45-minute drive under typical conditions.
Looking Forward
Westlake Village addresses wildfire preparedness, water conservation, commercial vitality, and aging infrastructure through ongoing planning. The built-out nature of the community limits new development, with most changes occurring through redevelopment or infill. Regional coordination on open space preservation and emergency response spans both county jurisdictions.
The City's Character
Westlake Village represents a particular model of late-20th-century master-planned suburban development — lakeside living, golf courses, and controlled growth within a municipality that spans two counties. The community's scale and planning create a distinct identity within the larger Conejo Valley and Los Angeles County region.
"Westlake Village was drawn as a single vision — a lakeside community so deliberate in its planning that it later became a city, even if that city had to straddle a county line to do it."
Whether boating on Westlake Lake, golfing at a local course, or hiking in the nearby Santa Monicas, visitors and residents experience a community where master-planned suburban design and natural setting remain central to civic identity.