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Real Estate & Homes in Ojai - Ojai Information
Ojai
Ojai History
The lush Ojai Valley, surrounded by the Topatopa Mountains, was Chumash territory until the Spanish arrived and claimed it as missionary lands. Until 1837, the Ojai lands were used only to ranch cattle. The property, along with much of land along the California coastline, was privatized and then settled via land grants in the early half of the 19th century. The recipient of the Ojai lands was a man named Fernando Tico. In 1853, Tico sold his interest to oil prospectors, but the land never produced enough oil to continue exploration. Ten years later, a small community of settlers was living in the beautiful valley. By 1874, locals founded the town of Nordhoff. Nordhoff was a typical Western town, with dusty, board sidewalks and unpaved roads. This rather ordinary town atmosphere likely would've remained had Edward Drummond Libbey never arrived in Nordhoff. Libbey immediately saw the potential to develop a rustic town, reminiscent of a Spanish country village. His vision included arbors with flowering vines, Spanish-style buildings and a prominent bell-tower; all of these are part of today's downtown Ojai.
In 1917, the residents voted to change the town's name from Nordhoff to Ojai, a Chumash word (a'hwai) meaning moon. The valley had long been referred to as Ojai Valley, and some sources say the name change was to avoid confusion between the names of the valley and the city. Others claim that the German name of Nordhoff was inappropriate given recent U.S. involvement in World War I. Regardless, the name change was approved and the town of Ojai officially came into being. Four years later, residents voted to incorporate Ojai as a city of Ventura County.
About Ojai
Today, Ojai remains within the vision of Edward Drummond Libbey. With its village charm and lush landscapes, it attracts artists, environmentalists and activists, all of whom have helped earn Ojai its reputation for being artsy and culturally aware. With a population of fewer than 10,000, Ojai is the smallest city in Ventura County. Its growth has been slow, despite having wide scale recognition as a hub of arts appreciation and activity. City officials and residents believe strongly in protecting the natural environment of the valley as well as the city's unique, village-style culture. Commercial and residential development, therefore, is restricted. As well, city management works to develop alternative forms of transportation to reduce reliance on motor vehicles. One example is the establishment of the Ojai Trolley in 1994. The trolley cars offer inexpensive service in Ojai and to the neighboring communities of Meiners Oaks and Mira Monte.
Ojai Valley's scenic beauty has long attracted film crews and celebrities, as both an idyllic setting and a quiet retreat destination. For the 1937 film entitled Lost Horizon, Ojai Valley was the chosen setting for the city of Shangri-La. Today, Ojai's high-end spa resorts cater to wealthy urbanites in need of a getaway. Ojai real estate options include detached, single-family homes and undeveloped residential land. Most properties have scenic views of the neighboring hillsides and mountain ranges, and all have the rural, village feel that characterizes the community. Home prices range from $600,000 up to about $4 million. The properties that command the highest prices have showcase homes and lots as large as 20 acres. Because Ojai's growth has been kept in check, the ages of homes on the market vary widely; some were built in the 1910s and others in the 1990s. There are no planned communities here, so the homes and landscaping have charming, individual characteristics.
Activities
Bordered by the Los Padres National Forest and Lake Casitas Recreational Area, Ojai has access to a wealth of recreation options. State Route 33, Ojai's main thoroughfare, links the community to some of the isolated, dense areas of the forest. In total, Los Padres extends over 1.75 million acres from Ojai to Monterey. Visitors use the site for exploring, hiking, camping, fishing, bicycling and horseback riding. The geography includes coastal lands, mountain ranges, forests and rivers. As well, several threatened or endangered species have their homes in Los Padres. Lake Casitas is located just southwest of Ojai. With more than 30 miles of shoreline and 6,200 acres of mountainous forests, the Lake Casitas Recreation Area is a popular destination for all of Ventura County. Facilities include boat launching ramps, fishing docks, campsites, a park store and a tackle shop. Trails are also maintained for hiking or biking through the wooded areas surrounding the lake. Other activities available include relaxing resort-style at one of the many day spas and spa hotels in the city. The best known is the Ojai Valley Inn and Spa and The Oaks at Ojai.
Ojai hosts three large, annual festivals that bring thousands of curious visitors to the city each year: Ojai Day, Ojai Film Festival and Ojai Music Festival. Ojai Day is an annual street fair that is strongly supported by the city's arts community. Ojai artists display their work and musicians provide the live entertainment, as locals and visitors celebrate Ojai's distinctive culture. The Ojai Film Festival honors the independent film industry by showing public screenings and holding awards ceremonies for some of the industry's renowned creative thinkers. Lastly, the Ojai Music Festival, first held in 1947, has gained international recognition for its presentation of classical and modern music. The event is held in Libbey Bowl, Ojai's main outdoor concert venue.
Schools
Ojai has its own public school district as well as several well-regarded private schools. Ojai Unified School District is comprised of nine campuses: five elementary schools, one junior high, two high schools and one charter school. District-wide enrollment is roughly 4,000 and the student-to-teacher ratio is about 21. An additional 1,000 students attend one of several established private schools in Ojai. The Ojai Valley School, Villanova Preparatory School, The Thacher School and Oak Grove School are the largest of these. All four institutions offer college preparatory, high school boarding programs; Ojai Valley School and Oak Grove School offer programs for the lower grades as well. Ojai does have its own private university. World University specializes in master's programs in the fields of psychology and religious studies. Other options for higher education include the community colleges in Ventura, Oxnard and Moorpark, plus the California State University, Channel Islands (CSUCI) in Camarillo. Of the community colleges, Moorpark College is the farthest, about 30 miles from Ojai. The CSUCI campus is roughly the same distance.
Fast Facts
Location: Ojai is located in northeastern Ventura County, at the intersection of State Routes 33 and 150, just south of the Los Padres National Forest. The city is about 15 miles north of Ventura and 15 miles northwest of Santa Paula. Communities near Ojai include Meiners Oaks, Mira Monte and Oak View.
Total area*: 4.4 square miles
Population*: 7,862
Housing units*: 3,229
Average annual rainfall: 21.6 inches
Average temperatures: summer, 72; winter, 54
*Information provided by 2000 Census
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