El Rio is a small
unincorporated community in
Ventura County, California, United States, on the northeast side of the
101 Freeway and
Oxnard, and south of the
Santa Clara River. The town was founded in 1875 and named
New Jerusalem, California by the owner of general store who became the first postmaster in 1882. In 1885, a school and Santa Clara Catholic Church were built. Located near where the
coastal railroad line crosses the Santa Clara River, the town's name was changed to El Rio around 1900. The former wagon river crossing route became the
Ventura Freeway which separates the community from the commercial developments that grew up on the southwest side of the freeway. That portion of the historic community and sections closer to the river have been annexed to the city of Oxnard. Vineyard Avenue (
State Route 232) is the central business district for the largely residential community. The population was 7,198 at the 2010 census, up from 6,193 at the time the
2000 census was enumerated. For statistical purposes, the United States Census Bureau has defined an El Rio
census-designated place (CDP) which does not precisely correspond to the historical community as portions have been annexed to the city of Oxnard.