Orinda

The City of Orinda is situated in southwest Contra Costa County and is just 30 minutes from San Francisco. A newer city, Orinda was just incorporated in 1985 after more than 100 years of slow growth. Some think Orinda is the most beautiful city in Contra Costa County.

The City of Orinda is a family-oriented community with 12.8 square miles of area with a population of just 17,600. This present-day Orinda was originally a part of four Mexican land grants and contained ranches and summer cabins. This community may be small in size and numbers, but quality of life is huge here.

Each year film buffs turn out for the Orinda Film Festival at the historic Orinda Theater, a beautifully refurbished art deco masterpiece. Orinda is now home to the California Independent Film Festival and often draws celebrities whose films are featured. The internationally recognized California Shakespeare Theater also calls Orinda home and performances are held at the Bruns Memorial Amphitheater. The theater’s conservatory operates throughout the year offering programs for children, teens, young actors, teachers, and adults. The Orinda Classic Car Show rolls into Orinda each September starting with Dancing with the Cars and continuing through the weekend with Speed on the Screen movie showings.

The community is surrounded by several large parks and regional preserves. Orinda is also at the crossroads of The American Discovery Trail, the deLaveaga Trail, and The East Bay Regional Park Trail System. Additionally, Orinda has summer league swim and water polo teams with over two thousand participants.

Students are served by two school districts. Four elementary schools and a middle school are governed by the Orinda Union School District. The high school is a part of the Acalanes Union High School District. These schools are noted for their academic excellence and are highly ranked in California.