Colonia, Oxnard, California

The Colonia is a neighborhood located in the central portion of the city of Oxnard, California, USA. The neighborhood was laid out by the Colonia Land Improvement Company in close proximity of the sugar factory and beet fields to house workers just east of the city's downtown business district. Long a Latino barrio, it is home to lower-income families, César Chávez memorials and the popular La Colonia Youth Boxing Club, which has produced notable fighters such as Fernando Vargas, Roberto Garcia, Miguel Angel Garcia, Victor Ortíz, Brandon Rios and Mia St. John.The north to south boundaries are Camino del Sol to 3rd Street and the west to east boundaries are Oxnard Boulevard to Rose Avenue. While much of the northern boundaries are kept relatively pristine to border the recent newer housing developments, the western borders match the grit of the railroad tracks. The neighborhood contains one private and two public elementary schools. There is a small branch of the Oxnard Public Library in the northeast corner, where Internet access is free and there is a rich collection of books.HistoryEarly historyThe area was part of the Chumash region, which extended from Point Conception to Santa Monica and back into the foothills as far as the Coast Range.