Orinda is a truly distinguished community of the San Francisco Bay Area. Located east of Oakland and within 30 minutes of downtown San Francisco, Orinda is situated in southwest Contra Costa County, California. Orinda incorporated as a city in 1985, after more than 100 years of gradual development. Arguably the most beautiful city in Contra Costa County, Orinda is the proud host of the California Shakespeare Theater. The City of Orinda celebrated its 22nd anniversary over the 2007 July 4th weekend. The City of Orinda is a family- oriented community which offers its 17,500 residents a serene setting in contrast to the more urban existence of the surrounding area.
	Orinda Library
The tree-studded hillsides of the 12.8 square-mile City contribute to Orinda's aesthetic beauty. Natural beauty, excellent schools, safety, history, culture, serenity and its proximity to major San Francisco Bay locations and activities make Orinda a delightful place in which to live, visit, and shop.

Orinda City Hall	Photos by David Wakely
Orinda City Hall	Orinda City Hall Interior
The new 13,900-square foot Orinda City Hall is at the forefront of eco-friendly government construction in the Bay Area. It’s one of the first city halls in California to be certified by the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)—a third-party green-verification system that is now mandatory for city government buildings in places like Berkeley, Pleasanton and San Jose, but not in smaller towns like Orinda. Designers Siegel and Strain expect to earn a LEED silver or gold certificate based on the building’s indoor air quality, low energy consumption and use of local materials and resources. Located on a hill within walking-distance to downtown, the building now houses the police, administrative, planning, public works and building departments and represents an end to 20 years of housing city functions in temporary settings.

Orinda Attractions

Shakespeare Theater - The internationally known California Shakespeare Theater (510 548-3422) has its regular season from June to October at the beautiful Bruns Memorial Amphitheater in Orinda. The Theater's conservatory operates throughout the year, featuring programs for children, teenagers, young actors, teachers and adults. Website: www.calshakes.org

Theatre Square. The historic Orinda Theatre (925/254-9060), a beautifully refurbished art deco masterwork, is the centerpiece of Orinda's Theatre Square (925/254-1978), a retail, restaurant and office complex with more than 30 unique and wonderful stores.

Independence Day celebration. The Orinda community throws a fantastic Independence Day celebration every year. Be sure not to miss the fun!

Parks and preserves. The Orinda community is surrounded by several large park and regional preserves, including Tilden Park, San Pablo Reservoir, Briones Open Space, and Lafayette Reservoir. Orinda is at the crossroads of many National and Regional Trail systems. These include The American Discovery Trail, The deLaveaga Trail, The East Bay Regional Park Trail System, as well as several local walking areas. The City has received the designation of "Trail Town U.S.A." by the American Hiking Association.

Orinda Links

Orinda Newcomers Club Hotline (925) 941-4967
 
 

Orinda Statistics


 

Age

• Under 5               5.4%

• 5-17                   20.5%

• 18-64                 55.8%

• 65 and over        18.3%

• The median age is 45.2 years of age.

• White                      86.6%
• African American      0.5%
• Asian                       9.2%
   

• There are 6,596 households in the City of Orinda.

• The average household size is 2.66 and the average family size is 2.98.

• The total population of Orinda is 17,599.
   
• 12,359 are aged 25 and over.

• 97.8% are high school graduates.

• 73.9% have Bachelor's degrees.

• 34.3% have Graduate or Professional degrees.

• The median household income is $117,637.
• The median family income is $132,531.
• The per capita income is $65,428.

• There are 6,596 homes in Orinda and the average sales price is $1 Million.

Source: 2000 United States Census, and the Contra Costa Association of Realtors.