CAMARILLO : Autlan, Mexico, Becomes Sister City

Camarillo now has an older sister--more than 420 years older.

The Camarillo City Council has voted to accept the city of Autlan, which was incorporated nearly 450 years ago near the west coast of Mexico, as its sister city.

Camarillo was incorporated in 1964.

Twenty-one members of the Camarillo-Autlan Sister City Committee became convinced that Autlan would be a good match for their California home during a recent six-day visit in February and March.

Autlan, 80 miles southwest of Guadalajara, has a population of about 60,000. Camarillo has about 55,000 residents.

“It’s pretty much like (Camarillo), weather-wise,” committee President Manuel Perez said last week. “It’s close to the coast.”

And, as in Camarillo, agriculture is near and dear to the hearts of Autlan residents. Farmers there grow tomatoes and sugar cane, Perez said.

Perez said the campaign to join the two cities started after Alfredo Diaz of Oxnard contacted Perez and suggested the union.

“It just happened to click,” Perez said.

Camarillo City Manager William Little said the benefits of the sister city program are primarily cultural.

“I think it’s just a program to try to enhance international good will and relationships,” Little said.