Valencia, Residential neighborhood in Santa Clarita, United States.
Valencia is a planned residential community in Santa Clarita, California, that spans several square miles and includes shopping centers and educational institutions. Continuous pedestrian walkways called paseos connect the different residential villages and allow people to cross much of the area without using roads.
The Newhall Land and Farming Company started building this planned community in 1967 as part of the development of Santa Clarita. The first homes went up between Lyons Avenue and Orchard Village Road, and the area gradually expanded eastward and northward from there.
Named after the Spanish city, the area is organized into villages that each have their own parks and community facilities. This layout encourages residents to walk or bike for daily errands rather than driving everywhere.
The area sits roughly 50 minutes northwest of Los Angeles and can be reached by several main highways. The pathways are mostly flat and suitable for strollers and wheelchairs, making it easy to reach many destinations without a car.
The paths often run through their own tunnels or over bridges, so pedestrians and cyclists can cross intersections without traffic lights. Some residents make their entire daily commute to work or school using only these separated routes.
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