Jump to content

Orinda, California: Difference between revisions

Coordinates: 37°52′38″N 122°10′47″W / 37.87722°N 122.17972°W / 37.87722; -122.17972
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
Fizbin (talk | contribs)
1,764 edits
m Undid revision 423638462 by 70.136.253.158 (talk)Funny. Please try again with a cite.
→‎Climate: adding # of rain days (same source as rest of weatherbox)
Line 172: Line 172:
|Nov precipitation inch = 3.24
|Nov precipitation inch = 3.24
|Dec precipitation inch = 6.24
|Dec precipitation inch = 6.24
|Jan rain days = 11
|Feb rain days = 9
|Mar rain days = 10
|Apr rain days = 5
|May rain days = 4
|Jun rain days = 1
|Jul rain days = 0
|Aug rain days = 1
|Sep rain days = 1
|Oct rain days = 4
|Nov rain days = 7
|Dec rain days = 11
|source 1 = Western Regional Climate Center <ref>[http://www.wrcc.dri.edu/cgi-bin/cliGCStT.pl?ca6502]</ref><ref>[http://www.wrcc.dri.edu/cgi-bin/cliGCStP.pl?ca6502]</ref>
|source 1 = Western Regional Climate Center <ref>[http://www.wrcc.dri.edu/cgi-bin/cliGCStT.pl?ca6502]</ref><ref>[http://www.wrcc.dri.edu/cgi-bin/cliGCStP.pl?ca6502]</ref>
|date=April 2011}}
|date=April 2011}}

Revision as of 04:55, 13 April 2011

"Orinda" redirects here. The term may also refer to the pseudonym used by poet Katherine Philips.

37°52′38″N 122°10′47″W / 37.87722°N 122.17972°W / 37.87722; -122.17972

City of Orinda
City
The hills of Orinda
The hills of Orinda
Location in Contra Costa County and the state of California
Location in Contra Costa County and the state of California
CountryUnited States
StateCalifornia
CountyContra Costa
Government
 • MayorVictoria Smith
 • SenateMark DeSaulnier (D)
 • AssemblyNancy Skinner (D)
 • U. S. CongressJohn Garamendi (D)
Area
 • Total12.6 sq mi (32.7 km2)
 • Land12.6 sq mi (32.6 km2)
 • Water0 sq mi (0.1 km2)
Elevation
495 ft (151 m)
Population
 (2008)
 • Total18,445
 • Density1,463.9/sq mi (564.1/km2)
Time zoneUTC-8 (PST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-7 (PDT)
ZIP code
94563
Area code925
FIPS code06-54232
GNIS feature ID1659313
Websitewww.cityoforinda.org

Orinda is a city in Contra Costa County, California, United States. The population was 17,599 at the 2000 census. The town is located just east of the city of Oakland and is home to many affluent suburban professionals who commute to downtown Oakland, San Francisco, and Walnut Creek. Its location provides for a more rustic landscape, and Orinda's many parks and trails make it a destination for many Bay Area hikers and naturalists.

History

Present-day Orinda was located within four Mexican land grants: Rancho Laguna de los Palos Colorados, Rancho Acalanes, Rancho El Sobrante and Rancho Boca de la Cañada del Pinole. The area was originally rural, mainly known for ranching and summer cabins. In the late 19th century, the land was named by Alice Marsh Cameron in honor of the poet Katherine Philips, who was also known as the "Matchless Orinda".[1]

In the 1880s, the United States Surveyor General for California, Theodore Wagner, built an estate which he named Orinda Park.[2] The Orinda Park post office opened in 1888.[2] The post office's name was changed to Orinda in 1895.[2] Orinda was also the site of Bryant Station, a stop on the failed California and Nevada Railroad around the turn of the 20th century. In later times, the area around Bryant Station was known as Orinda Crossroads.[2]

Orinda's popularity as a year-round residence grew after the 1937 completion of the Caldecott Tunnel, which provided easier access to the west. Bisected by California State Route 24 and framed by its rolling oak-covered hills, the city of Orinda was incorporated on July 1, 1985.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 12.6 square miles (32.7 km²), of which, 12.6 square miles (32.6 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square miles (0.1 km²) of it (0.32%) is water.

Climate

The area is characterized by a warm-summer Mediterranean climate (Köppen climate classification Csb) with cool, rainy winters and hot, dry summers. It is located in the Chaparral biome.

Orinda, California
Climate chart (explanation)
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
 
 
6
 
 
54
34
 
 
4.9
 
 
59
37
 
 
4.3
 
 
61
38
 
 
2.2
 
 
68
42
 
 
1.2
 
 
71
46
 
 
0.2
 
 
77
49
 
 
0
 
 
82
52
 
 
0.1
 
 
81
51
 
 
0.4
 
 
83
50
 
 
1.9
 
 
75
44
 
 
3.2
 
 
65
38
 
 
6.2
 
 
56
36
█ Average max. and min. temperatures in °F
█ Precipitation totals in inches
Metric conversion
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
 
 
152
 
 
12
1
 
 
123
 
 
15
3
 
 
109
 
 
16
4
 
 
55
 
 
20
5
 
 
31
 
 
22
8
 
 
4.6
 
 
25
10
 
 
0.5
 
 
28
11
 
 
1.3
 
 
27
11
 
 
10
 
 
28
10
 
 
47
 
 
24
7
 
 
82
 
 
18
4
 
 
158
 
 
13
2
█ Average max. and min. temperatures in °C
█ Precipitation totals in mm
Climate data for ORINDA BOWMAN, CALIFORNIA (1944-1960)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 69
(21) 		76
(24) 		84
(29) 		88
(31) 		100
(38) 		103
(39) 		107
(42) 		109
(43) 		110
(43) 		101
(38) 		87
(31) 		77
(25) 		110
(43)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) 53.8
(12.1) 		58.6
(14.8) 		61.4
(16.3) 		67.5
(19.7) 		70.9
(21.6) 		77.2
(25.1) 		81.8
(27.7) 		81.2
(27.3) 		82.5
(28.1) 		74.6
(23.7) 		64.5
(18.1) 		56.2
(13.4) 		69.2
(20.7)
Daily mean °F (°C) 44.0
(6.7) 		47.5
(8.6) 		49.9
(9.9) 		54.5
(12.5) 		58.2
(14.6) 		63.3
(17.4) 		66.7
(19.3) 		66.3
(19.1) 		66.3
(19.1) 		59.6
(15.3) 		51.4
(10.8) 		46.0
(7.8) 		56.1
(13.4)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) 34.3
(1.3) 		36.5
(2.5) 		38.4
(3.6) 		41.6
(5.3) 		45.6
(7.6) 		49.4
(9.7) 		51.6
(10.9) 		51.3
(10.7) 		50.0
(10.0) 		44.3
(6.8) 		38.3
(3.5) 		35.8
(2.1) 		43.1
(6.2)
Record low °F (°C) 15
(−9) 		18
(−8) 		23
(−5) 		28
(−2) 		32
(0) 		35
(2) 		42
(6) 		40
(4) 		32
(0) 		26
(−3) 		22
(−6) 		19
(−7) 		15
(−9)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 5.99
(152) 		4.86
(123) 		4.31
(109) 		2.16
(55) 		1.22
(31) 		0.18
(4.6) 		0.02
(0.51) 		0.05
(1.3) 		0.41
(10) 		1.85
(47) 		3.24
(82) 		6.24
(158) 		30.53
(773.41)
Average rainy days 11 9 10 5 4 1 0 1 1 4 7 11 64
Source: Western Regional Climate Center [3][4]

Demographics

As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there were 17,599 people, 6,596 households, and 5,243 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,398.2 people per square mile (539.7/km²). There were 6,744 housing units at an average density of 535.8 per square mile (206.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 86.6% White, 0.5% Black, 0.15% Native American, 9.24% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.64% from other races, and 2.84% from two or more races. 3.2% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 6,596 households out of which 36.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 72.3% were married couples living together, 5.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 20.5% were non-families. 16.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.66 and the average family size was 2.98.

In the city the population was spread out with 25.9% under the age of 18, 3.2% from 18 to 24, 20.5% from 25 to 44, 32.1% from 45 to 64, and 18.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45 years. For every 100 females there were 93.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.8 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $187,637, and the median income for a family was $192,531. The per capita income for the city was $65,428. About 1.1% of families and 1.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.1% of those under age 18 and 1.5% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Primary and secondary schools

Orinda has four public elementary schools: Sleepy Hollow Elementary, Wagner Ranch Elementary, Glorietta Elementary and Del Rey Elementary. Orinda Intermediate School is the only middle school. Together, these five schools comprise the Orinda Union School District. The town's only high school, Miramonte High School, is a part of the Acalanes Union High School District.

Both districts are noted for their academic excellence. Each district is the highest ranked in California in its category according to the state Academic Performance Index (API).[5],[6] Miramonte High School also features strong athletic teams and has produced NFL players as Ken Dorsey, Drew Bennett and Bryan Barker, as well as several Olympians like women's waterpolo player Heather Petri.

Public libraries

The Orinda Library of the Contra Costa County Library is located in Orinda.[7]

Sports, recreation and the arts

The Orinda Theatre at night

Film Festivals

Starting in 2002, Orinda began hosting the Orinda Film Festival, an annual regional film festival taking place at the historic Orinda Theatre managed by Monica Lind. In 2005, actor William Hurt attended the festival to promote the film The Blue Butterfly in which he played a leading role. The festival was last held in 2005.

In August 2009, the California Independent Film Festival announced they will be making the Orinda Theatre their new home.[8] CIFF held its first event in Orinda on September 18, 2009, in which a screening of The Birds was attended by actress Tippi Hedren. The 12th Annual California Independent Film Festival will be the first time the festival is held in Orinda, opening on April 22, 2010.

The California Shakespeare Theater

The internationally known California Shakespeare Theater, (a.k.a. "Cal Shakes"), performs from June to October at the Bruns Memorial Amphitheater (located on land leased from EBMUD in the hills north of highway 24). The Theater's conservatory operates throughout the year, featuring programs for children, teenagers, young actors, teachers and adults. The current artistic director is Jonathan Moscone, son of the late San Francisco mayor.

Swimming and waterpolo

Several Orinda summer-league swim teams compete for a championship cup in mid-August every year. Over two thousand individual swimmers typically participate. Orinda is also home to the popular year-round swim team, Orinda Aquatics. Orinda has raised numerous competitive swimmers (and waterpolo players) from Orinda have gone on to compete for major colleges and in the Olympics. Notables include Kirk Everist '86 (US Olympic Team '92 and '96), Heather Petri '96 (Silver: 2000 Olympics, 2008 Olympics; Bronze: 2004 Olympics), andMichael Sharf (NCAA All-American, 2007 US National Team Member).

Famous current and former residents

Neighboring cities

The cities of Orinda, Lafayette, and Moraga are collectively known as "Lamorinda".

References

  1. ^ A Brief History of Orinda, Kay Norman, Orinda Historical Society
  2. ^ a b c d Durham, David L. (November 1998). "Part Five - San Francisco Bay Region". California's Geographic Names: A Gazetteer of Historic and Modern Names of the State. Word Dancer Press. p. 676. ISBN 978-1884995149. Retrieved 2009-07-22.
  3. ^ [1]
  4. ^ [2]
  5. ^ "Achievement - Test Scores". Orinda Union School District. Retrieved 2009-07-12.
  6. ^ "AHUSD Ranks First in California". Acalanes Union High School District. Retrieved 2009-07-12. [dead link]
  7. ^ "Orinda Library." Contra Costa County Library. Retrieved on April 1, 2010.
  8. ^ "CIFF Newsletter". 2009-08-19.
  9. ^ About Nicole Wallace
  10. ^ a b Richards, Sam (2010-07-08). "John Hampton, co-founder of Toys for Tots, dies at 103". Contra Costa Times. Retrieved 2010-07-26.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Orinda,_California&oldid=423806061"