California note
Moorpark's apricot name still leads back to High Street
Moorpark took its name from an apricot, and old High Street still carries pieces of the farm town that grew beside the railroad.
Moorpark’s name does not come from the park down the road. The city’s history ties it to the Moorpark apricot, a crop once grown across this part of Ventura County.
High Street is where that farm-town story is easiest to see. The city’s downtown plan calls it the core of Old Town. It still has older storefronts, the arts center, the old railroad setting, and pepper trees left from a much larger planting made in 1904.
That mix explains why downtown feels different from the newer neighborhoods around it. Moorpark grew beside farms and the Southern Pacific line before later housing spread across former fields.
Walk a few blocks instead of looking for one perfect landmark. The street, trees, rail line, and small buildings work together. They make the apricot name feel less like trivia and more like a short map of how the town began.
Where to see it
High Street in Old Town Moorpark, between Moorpark Avenue and Spring Road. The oldest details are easiest to notice on foot.
Sources
Sources for this story
Reviewed July 15, 2026
Public sources for the places, events, and details above.
Connected places
Open the local directory
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