NEWS & INFO Get the latest scoop on Agoura Hills from VenturaCountyStar.com. GET INFO Western Pacific Housing's popular community of Emerald Pointe has saved the best for last in Simi Valley. Due to outstanding sales success, Emerald Pointe has released its final homes for sale. A close-knit collection of 48 executive homes in the Hidden Oaks community, Emerald Pointe offers executive-style residences spanning from about 3,500 to 4,127 square feet. FULL STORY

<Good schools, low crime, lots of open space:Those are the virtues residents of Agoura Hills brag about when asked about their city near Los Angeles. It's close enough to Los Angeles without having to live in it. Yet it retains a rural spirit.

To that end, it has mountains to hike or bike through and 80 acres in six parks ranging from small neighborhood parks to an equestrian center. City recreational services provide something for everyone from toddlers to seniors. If it gets too hot, the beach is a 15-minute drive away.

Located in the Santa Monica Mountains foothills just 30 minutes from urban centers, the city sits among oak-covered canyons and rolling hillsides.

The community, which bills itself as "The Gateway to the Santa Monica National Recreation Area," sits along the Highway 101 corridor at the western edge of Los Angeles County, giving its more than 21,000 residents easy access to urban entertainment and cultural activities and nearby beaches and open spaces.

Vital statistics

Location: 40 miles northwest of downtown Los Angeles

Origin of name: The community's name was chosen in 1928 to honor early settler Pierre Agoure, but through misspelling or for ease of pronunciation, the Postal Service changed it to Agoura. It became Agoura Hills with the city's incorporation.

<ZIP code: 91309

<Incorporation date: 1982

<Type of government: General law; five-member city council with a city manager

<Average annual high temperature: not available

<Average annual low temperature: not available

<Average annual rainfall: 19.5 inches

<Elevation: 936 to 2,036 feet.