Simi Valley is a city in the southeast corner of Ventura County, California, about 40 miles northwest of downtown Los Angeles. The city occupies a broad valley enclosed by the Santa Susana Mountains to the north and the Simi Hills to the south, and its name echoes the Chumash word for the region. Once a ranching and agricultural area, Simi Valley grew into one of Ventura County's largest suburban cities during the late twentieth century. Simi Valley is perhaps best known nationally as the home of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum, which sits on a hilltop overlooking the valley and serves as the burial site of President Reagan and First Lady Nancy Reagan. The library is the city's signature landmark and a major visitor destination for the region. The city has a population of roughly 126,000 and is organized around a mix of established neighborhoods, newer master-planned communities, and commercial corridors. State Route 118, the Ronald Reagan Freeway, runs through the city and carries commuters toward Los Angeles and the San Fernando Valley, while Metrolink's Ventura County Line provides rail service into the Los Angeles area from Simi Valley's station. Simi Valley offers a quieter, family-oriented alternative to Los Angeles, with a strong public school system, an extensive network of parks and open space, and the Arroyo Simi bike path threading through the valley. The Rancho Simi Recreation and Park District maintains parks, trails, and community centers that anchor local recreation. Residents balance suburban living with access to the employment centers of the San Fernando Valley, Los Angeles, and western Ventura County. The city's valley setting, hillside open space, and distance from the coast give it a distinct inland California character, appealing to commuters, families, and those seeking more space than the Los Angeles basin typically offers.