Moorpark Historical Society Information

Nov. 12, 1957: Moorpark makes history as the first town to be lit by nuclear power, although it is only briefly. The power was generated at a plant above Simi Valley and sent via a direct line. 1961: Poindexter (Elementary) School, now Chaparral Middle School, opens. 1967: Moorpark Junior College (now Moorpark Community College) opens. 1972: Moorpark telephone users can finally make a long-distance call without an operator. 1982: The Highway 118 freeway is completed through the San Fernando Valley, which starts a surge in Moorpark's growth. 1983: Moorpark incorporates, becoming the 10th city in Ventura County. 1985: Peach Hill School is completed, and work starts on Mountain Meadow and Campus Canyon schools; both open in 1987. Arroyo West School opens in 1991, Mesa Verde Middle School in 1994. Community High School, which was established in 1982, moves to a new building in 1993. 1988: Moorpark High School moves to the new campus on Tierra Rejada Road. 1996: Moorpark Little League goes to Williamsport, Pa., for the world championship. The team, which played in San Bernardino to win the West, flew to Pennsylvania overnight and played a few hours later. They lost, but the boys were welcomed home with a parade down High Street. 1999 and 2003: Moorpark High School wins the national Academic Decathlon title. High Street was the commercial center and the hotel the social center of Moorpark before 1910.