Excavations, archaeological sites, and polychrome rock paintings in the area provide a glimpse into the social and economic complexity of the ancient Chumash world.

[12] On a return trip from Northern California in January 1770, a group of men led by Gaspar de Portolá are believed to be the first Europeans to encounter the Chumash Indians in the Conejo Valley.

According to Patricia Allen, historian and family descendant, Andrew Russell beat the competition in buying the land by racing across 6,000 acres (24 km2) on a fifteen-minute trip in a buckboard and sealed the deal with a $20 gold piece.

Many movies and television shows were filmed in the Conejo Valley, including Robin Hood, King Rat, Laredo, and various episodes of Tarzan, Buck Rogers, Gunsmoke and Bonanza.

[7] This new "city in the country" planned to have a firm economic base including commercial areas, residential neighborhoods, and ample green space with the lake as a focal point.

In 1968 and 1972, two portions of the Westlake development consisting of 8,544 acres (35 km2) on the Ventura County side were annexed into the city of Thousand Oaks.

[20] In addition to being a bedroom community for Los Angeles via the Ventura (101) Freeway, Westlake Village is also home to many large commercial offices and the headquarters of the Dole Food Company, K-Swiss and J.D.

Much of Westlake Village is surrounded by open space, including hiking and horse trails, as well as the vast Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area.

Over one half of the original "Westlake" development lies west across the county line, wholly within the city limits of Thousand Oaks.

The City of Westlake Village is located approximately 40 miles (64 km) west of downtown Los Angeles in the Conejo Valley.

Coastal breezes sweep through canyons to allow Westlake to sometimes be up to 10 degrees cooler and considerably less hazy than nearby San Fernando Valley during the summer months.

However, it generally remains 10 degrees hotter than the coastal plains below the Conejo Grade, in the communities of Santa Rosa Valley, Camarillo, and Ventura among others.

[37] The 2010 United States Census[43] reported that the self-incorporated portion of Westlake Village, on the Los Angeles County side, had a population of 8,270.

According to the 2010 United States Census, Westlake Village had a median household income of $112,083, with 3.9% of the population living below the federal poverty line.

In 1994, Dole announced that it would finalize its plans to build its world headquarters on a 30-acre (120,000 m2) site owned by the company, located north of the Ventura Freeway in Westlake Village.

Federally, Westlake Village is located in California's 26th congressional district, which has a Cook PVI of D +2 and is represented by Democrat Julia Brownley.

[54] The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department operates the Malibu/Lost Hills Station in Calabasas, serving Westlake Village.

[57] The majority of Westlake Village in Los Angeles County is in the Las Virgenes Unified School District (LVUSD).

[58] The Ventura County portion of Westlake Village, which is part of the City of Thousand Oaks,[60] is in the Conejo Valley Unified School District.

[62][63] The Las Virgenes Municipal Water District supplies potable, recycled and wastewater services to residents and businesses in Westlake Village.

[23][64][65] Westlake Village was home to Russell Ranch which was used to film Robin Hood (1922), Come On, Tarzan (1932), Buck Rogers (1939), King Rat (1965), Laredo (1965–67), Gunsmoke (1955–1975) and Bonanza (1959–1973).

[14] Baxter (GTE corporate headquarters at the time) was dubbed for a police station in the film Demolition Man (1993), while scenes from Gridiron Gang (2006) were shot at Westlake High School.

[108] Bonnie and Clyde (1967) features scenes from Skelton Canyon Road (Westlake Boulevard), [109] while the TV series The FBI (1965–1974) was partly filmed at The Landing.