Castaic is an unincorporated community and census-designated place in northwestern Los Angeles County, California, with a population of 18,937 as of 2020. Located along Interstate 5, it serves as a passage for thousands of motorists traveling to and from Los Angeles. The area features Castaic Lake, part of the California Water Project, which includes a hydro-electric power plant. Castaic is about 38 miles northwest of Los Angeles Union Station and near Santa Clarita.
The name “Castaic” comes from the Chumash word Kaštiq, meaning “the eye,” and was later adapted by Spanish settlers as Castéc. Modern Castaic began in 1887 with the establishment of a railroad siding called “Castaic Junction.”Castaic is also known for the Castaic Range War, the largest range war in U.S. history, which occurred between 1890 and 1916 over ranch boundaries and grazing rights. The conflict began with a property dispute between William Chormicle and William Jenkins, escalated due to personal and political rivalries, and resulted in dozens of deaths before it ended in 1916.









