History of the Island

San Nicolas is part of Ventura country.San Nicolas was originally the home of the Nicoleno people,who were probably related to the Tongva of the mainland and Santa Catalina Island.It was named for Saint Nicolas by Spanish explorer Sebastian Vizcaino after he sighted the island on the saint's feast day (December 6) in 1602.Within a few years of their removal from the island,the Nicoleno people and their unique language became extinct.