Business View Civil and Municipal | April 2021

62 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL ARIL 2021 fornia I t could be said that the City of Fillmore, California is a community in waiting. Located 55 miles from bustling Los Angeles, Fillmore is home to 16,000 residents who enjoy the peaceful benefits of life in a primarily agricultural setting, surrounded by avocado and orange groves. With soaring views of the Topa Topa mountain range and a quaint historic feel, Fillmore has been dubbed “The last best small town in California.” That being said, the city is poised for significant growth, according to Fillmore Mayor Mark Austin. He reflects, “We are a small town with a strong sense of community, a very unique culture, and very proud people. I think we are going to see some accelerated growth in the next five to ten years.” Since the early 1990s, Fillmore has been making plans for expansion, and developments are now on the rise in the area. Housing projects have been popping up on either side of the city, in nearby Santa Clarita and Santa Paula, which AT A GLANCE FILLMORE, CALIFORNIA WHAT: A growing ‘small town’ city; population 16,000 WHERE: Located about 55 miles from Los Angeles, CA WEBSITE: www.fillmoreca.com | www.thefillmoreoncentral.com Small town living at its best