Orinda

Orinda is in Contra Costa County, California, and has a population of approximately 18,000. The town is East of and just over the hill from Oakland and home to many affluent professionals who commute to downtown Oakland, San Francisco and Walnut Creek. The city is well known in the area as one of the most desirable addresses in the East Bay, due to its excellent public schools, high-priced real estate and naturally scenic landscape. While the city is in close proximity to nearby urban areas, it has maintained a very intimate, small town atmosphere.

Originally a rural area mainly known for ranching and summer cabins, the land which became the town was named by Alice Marsh Cameron in honor of the poet Katherine Philips. Orinda's popularity as a year-round place to live increased after the Caldecott Tunnel was completed in 1937, providing quicker access to points west including San Francisco. Bisected by Highway 24, and framed by its rolling, oak covered hills, the city of Orinda was incorporated on July 1, 1985. The Northern portion of the city, crowned by the Orinda Country Club, is very hilly and dotted with multi-million dollar custom homes.

Other nearby communities include Lafayette, Moraga, Alamo and Walnut Creek.