City of Ojai
City
Downtown Ojai Downtown Ojai
Location in Ventura County and the state of California
Country	United States
State	California
County	Ventura
Government
• Mayor	Carol Smith
•  Senate	Tony Strickland ( R)
•  Assembly	Audra Strickland (R)
•  U. S. Congress	Elton Gallegly (R)
Area [1]
• Total	4.401 sq mi (11.398 km2)
• Land	4.386 sq mi (11.359 km2)
• Water	0.015 sq mi (0.040 km2)  0.35%
Elevation [2]	745 ft (227 m)
Population  (2010)
• Total	7,461
• Density	1,700/sq mi (650/km2)
Time zone	UTC-8 ( PST)
• Summer ( DST)	UTC-7 (PDT)
ZIP codes	93023-93024
Area code	805
FIPS code	06-53476
GNIS feature ID	1652763
Website	www.ci.ojai.ca.us

Ojai ( /[invalid input: 'icon']ˈoʊhaɪ/ OH-hy) is a city in Ventura County, California, USA. It is situated in the Ojai Valley (10 miles long by 3 miles (4.8 km) wide, approximately, or 16 kilometers by 5 kilometers), surrounded by hills and mountains. The population was 7,461 at the 2010 census, down from 7,862 at the 2000 census.

Chumash Indians were the early inhabitants of the valley. They called it Ojai, which derives from the Ventureño Chumash word ʼawhaý meaning "moon." ^[3] The area became part of the Rancho Ojai Mexican land grant made to Fernando Tico in 1837, and he established a cattle ranch. Tico sold it in 1853 to prospectors searching for oil, without much success. By 1864, the area was settled.

The town was laid out in 1874 by real estate developer R.G. Surdam and named Nordhoff, California, in honor of the writer Charles Nordhoff. Leading up to and during World War I, American sentiment became increasingly anti-German. Across the United States, German and German-sounding place names were changed. As part of this trend, Nordhoff was renamed Ojai in 1917. ^{[4] [5]}

The public high school in Ojai is still named Nordhoff High School. The public junior high school, named "Matilija," formerly served as Nordhoff Union High School and still features large tiles with the initials "NUHS" on the steps of the athletic field.

The main turning point in the development of the city was the coming of Edward Libbey, early owner of the Libbey Glass Company. He saw the valley and fell in love, thinking up many plans for expansion and beautification of the existing rustic town.

After fire destroyed much of the original western-style Nordhoff/Ojai in 1917, Libbey helped design, finance and build a new downtown more in line with the contemporary taste for Colonial-Revival architecture, including a Spanish-style arcade, a bell-tower reminiscent of the famous campanile in Havana, and a pergola opposite the arcade. These buildings still stand, and have come to serve as symbols of the city and the surrounding valley. To thank Libbey for his gifts to the town, the citizens proposed a celebration to take place on March 2 of each year. Libbey declined their offer to call it "Libbey Day," and instead suggested "Ojai Day." The celebration still takes place, each year in October.

Libbey's pergola was destroyed in 1971, after being damaged in an explosion. It was rebuilt in the early 2000s to complete the architectural continuity of the downtown area. The town completed a new park, Cluff Vista Park, in 2002, which contains several small themed regions of native California vegetation.

Ojai is located at 34°26′57″N 119°14′48″W / 34.44917°N 119.24667°W / 34.44917; -119.24667Invalid arguments have been passed to the {{#coordinates:}} function (34.449079, -119.246654) Template:GR. The city is generally at 745 feet (227 m) above sea level.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 4.4 square miles (11.4 km²), of which, 4.4 square miles (11.4 km²) of it is land and 0.35% is water.

Ojai is situated in a small east-west valley, north of Ventura and east of Santa Barbara. It is approximately 15 miles (24 km) inland from the Pacific coast.

Since Ojai is lined up with an east-west mountain range, it is one of few towns in the world to have a "Pink Moment" occur as the sun is setting, when the fading sunlight creates a brilliant shade of pink for several minutes on the Topatopa Bluffs at the east end of the Ojai Valley, over 6,000 feet (1,800 m) above sea level. Nordhoff Ridge, the western extension of the Topatopa Mountains, towers over the north side of the town and valley at more than 5,000 feet (1,500 m). Sulphur Mountain creates the southern ranges bounding the Ojai Valley, a little under 3,000 feet (910 m) in elevation.

The Ventura River flows through the Ventura River Valley, draining the mountains surrounding Ojai to the north and east and emptying into the Pacific Ocean at the city of Ventura. The Ventura River was once known for its steelhead fishing before Matilija Dam and Lake Casitas were constructed, eliminating habitat for this trout species.

The climate of Ojai is Mediterranean, characterized by hot, dry summers (sometimes exceeding 100°F) and mild winters, with lows at night sometimes below freezing. As is typical for much of coastal southern California, most precipitation falls in the form of rain between the months of October and April, with intervening dry summers.

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Ojai is the home of the Ojai Film Festival, which showcases independent films from around the world, founded in 2000.

The Ojai Music Festival, founded in 1947, is an annual festival of performances by some of the world's top musicians and composers, and occurs on the first weekend after Memorial Day. Notable appearances include Igor Stravinsky, Aaron Copland, Esa-Pekka Salonen and Pierre Boulez, who was festival director in 2003.

The outdoor bookshop Bart's Books, subject of news programs and documentaries, has been in Ojai since 1964.

Ojai is home to the annual Ojai Playwrights Conference, a two week playwrights festival that brings professional writers and actors from across the country to Ojai.

The community is served by The Ojai and Ventura VIEW, Ojai Valley News and The Ojai Post.

On July 8, 1999 former Apollo astronaut Pete Conrad, one of only twelve men to ever walk on the surface of the moon, died of injuries suffered from a motorcycle accident in forming light rain in Ojai. ^[6]

Ojai is the setting for the 2010 comedy film Easy A and for part of Michael Scott's book The Alchemyst: The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel. Ojai is the location of the fruit orchards of the fictional Ojai Foods, central to the conflict and drama of the Walker family in the ABC series Brothers & Sisters.

The title characters of TV series The Bionic Woman and The Six Million Dollar Man are described in the series as having been childhood sweethearts in Ojai.

• David Allen, productivity trainer and consultant, best known for Getting Things Done
• June Allyson, actress in The Glenn Miller Story and Little Women
• Mark Andes, bassist in rock group Heart
• Michael Anderson, producer Extra Mile Productions
• Sergio Aragonés, cartoonist
• Perla Batalla, singer-songwriter
• Paul Bergmann, football player
• Max Bemis, lead singer of the band Say Anything
• Elmer Bernstein, film and television composer
• Ingrid Boulting, artist, actress
• Eileen Brennan, actress
• Jerry Bruckheimer, film and television producer
• Tim Burton, film producer and director
• Mario Calire, Grammy award winning drummer
• Johnny Cash, singer-songwriter
• Julie Christensen, singer
• Julie Christie, Oscar-winning actress
• Cory Coffey, BMX rider
• Glenn Corbett, actor
• Ted Danson, actor
• Anthony de Mello, Spiritual leader
• Johnny Depp, actor
• John Diehl, director, actor in Stargate and The Shield
• Vernon Dvorak, meteorologist, Dvorak Technique for tropical cyclone analysis
• Maynard Ferguson, jazz musician, composer
• Joe Flanigan, actor
• Robben Ford, blues/jazz guitarist and vocalist
• Jake Gyllenhaal, actor
• Larry Hagman, actor in I Dream of Jeannie and Dallas
• Neil Patrick Harris, actor, singer, and magician.
• Toby Hemingway, actor in The Covenant and Feast of Love moved to Ojai with his mother when he was 13, and resides there today
• Otto and Vivika Heino, ceramic artists, "The Pottery"
• Gay Hendricks, personal growth and relationships author
• Sir Anthony Hopkins, Oscar-winning actor
• Howard Hughes, industrialist, attended The Thacher School
• Richard Jefferson, Australia-based molecular biologist, open source science advocate, founder of CAMBIA
• Mikael Jorgensen, keyboardist for Wilco
• Cody Kasch, actor and SAG award winner for Desperate Housewives
• Linda Kelsey, actress in Lou Grant
• Roger Kellaway, jazz pianist and composer.
• Ed Kowalczyk, lead singer for Live
• Jiddu Krishnamurti, philosopher
• Diane Ladd, actress, writer, director nominated three times each for Emmys and Oscars "Rambling Rose"
• John Langley, creator of COPS
• Harry Lauter, character actor in film and television
• James Kyson Lee, Korean American film actor, was educated at Villanova Preparatory School
• Zachary Levi, actor in Chuck and Less Than Perfect
• Ted Levine, actor in The Silence of the Lambs and TV's Monk
• Larry Linville, actor in M*A*S*H
• Jackie Lomax, musician, first artist signed to Apple Records, a label started by The Beatles
• S.A. Martinez, singer/rapper of the group 311
• Seth MacFarlane, actor/producer and creator of the TV series Family Guy, American Dad!, and The Cleveland Show.
• Dave Mason, English musician, singer and songwriter
• Elisabeth Maurus (aka Lissie), folk-rock musician
• Malcolm McDowell, actor, A Clockwork Orange
• Devin Oatway, artist, actor in Camp Nowhere
• Bill Paxton, actor in Weird Science Twister and Aliens
• Charles Millard Pratt, oil industrialist and philanthropist
• Betsy Randle, actress, Boy Meets World
• Rick Rossovich, actor in Top Gun and Roxanne
• Arnold Schwarzenegger, actor and bodybuilder
• Peter Scolari, actor in Newhart and Honey, I Shrunk the Kids: The TV Show
• Jan Smithers, actress in WKRP in Cincinnati
• Mary Steenburgen, Oscar-winning actress, who lived and raised her children in Ojai
• Izzy Stradlin, guitarist, formerly in rock group " Guns N' Roses"
• Donna Steichen, Roman Catholic journalist and critic of feminism
• Peter Strauss, actor in The Jericho Mile and Rich Man, Poor Man
• Caroline Thompson, screenwriter and director, wrote the screenplays for three of Tim Burton's films
• Christopher Trumbo, screenwriter ^[7]
• Thornton Wilder, playwright, author of Our Town, attended Thacher School
• Reese Witherspoon, actress
• Beatrice Wood, artist, teacher at the Happy Valley School
• David Zucker, director of Airplane!, Top Secret!, and The Naked Gun
• Deanna Alexander, PACS Administrator and drama queen

The 2010 United States Census ^[8] reported that Ojai had a population of 7,461. The population density was 1,695.3 people per square mile (654.6/km²). The racial makeup of Ojai was 6,555 (87.9%) White, 42 (0.6%) African American, 47 (0.6%) Native American, 158 (2.1%) Asian, 1 (0.0%) Pacific Islander, 440 (5.9%) from other races, and 218 (2.9%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1,339 persons (17.9%).

The Census reported that 7,281 people (97.6% of the population) lived in households, 48 (0.6%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 132 (1.8%) were institutionalized.

There were 3,111 households, out of which 876 (28.2%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 1,396 (44.9%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 366 (11.8%) had a female householder with no husband present, 128 (4.1%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 151 (4.9%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 25 (0.8%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 992 households (31.9%) were made up of individuals and 496 (15.9%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.34. There were 1,890 families (60.8% of all households); the average family size was 2.95.

The population was spread out with 1,520 people (20.4%) under the age of 18, 515 people (6.9%) aged 18 to 24, 1,446 people (19.4%) aged 25 to 44, 2,547 people (34.1%) aged 45 to 64, and 1,433 people (19.2%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 47.1 years. For every 100 females there were 84.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 79.9 males.

There were 3,382 housing units at an average density of 768.5 per square mile (296.7/km²), of which 1,717 (55.2%) were owner-occupied, and 1,394 (44.8%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.7%; the rental vacancy rate was 5.4%. 4,243 people (56.9% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 3,038 people (40.7%) lived in rental housing units.

As of the census Template:GR of 2000, there were 7,862 people, 3,088 households, and 1,985 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,773.0 people per square mile (685.2/km²). There were 3,229 housing units at an average density of 728.2 per square mile (281.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 88.01% White, 0.60% African American, 0.50% Native American, 1.58% Asian, 0.17% Pacific Islander, 6.26% from other races, and 2.90% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 15.84% of the population.

There were 3,088 households out of which 31.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.0% were married couples living together, 11.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.7% were non-families. 29.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 3.06.

In the city the population was spread out with 24.9% under the age of 18, 6.5% from 18 to 24, 23.9% from 25 to 44, 26.8% from 45 to 64, and 17.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 88.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.2 males.

The median income for households in the city was $44,593, and the median income for a family was $52,917. Males had a median income of $40,919 versus $30,821 for females. The per capita income for the city was $25,670. About 7.9% of families and 10.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.9% of those under age 18 and 9.3% of those age 65 or over.

The town of Ojai and its surrounding area is home to many unique recreational activities. Los Padres National Forest borders the town on the north, and many backcountry areas within the forest are accessible from Highway 33, which is the major highway through town south to north. Matilija Creek is a favorite spot to enjoy splashing under waterfalls, backpacking, and soaking in a hot spring. To the west, the Lake Casitas Recreation Area offers camping, picnicking, and hiking as well.

The valley has several public courts in the downtown Libbey Park. There are also two major golf courses: the Soule Park Golf Course, and the noted Ojai Valley Inn Golf Course.

Annually, in early April, the town hosts a bicycle race that draws the top professional and amateur teams from around the country. The "Garrett Lemire Memorial Grand Prix" began in 2004 as a tribute to a 22-year-old cyclist from Ojai who died racing his bicycle in Arizona the previous year. The race is held on a one-mile (1.6 km) circuit that circumnavigates Libbey Bowl in the heart of downtown Ojai. Proceeds from event promote cycling safety as well as education in local schools.

In early June, often coinciding with the Music Festival, the Ojai Wine Festival is held at Lake Casitas. Over three thousand wine lovers come to sample the products of over 30 wineries. Proceeds go to charity.

• Ojai Unified School District
• Chaparral High School
• Matilija Junior High School
• Meiners Oaks Elementary School
• Mira Monte Elementary School
• Nordhoff High School
• San Antonio School
• Summit Elementary School
• Topa Topa Elementary School

Public Libraries: Ventura County Library - 14 locations with three branches in the Ojai Valley: Ojai Library, Oak View Library, and Meiners Oaks Library.

In addition to its public school system, the Ojai Valley is home to several private boarding schools:

• Besant Hill School (formerly Happy Valley School)
• The Thacher School
• Ojai Valley School
• Villanova Preparatory School
• The Oak Grove School
• Monica Ros School (preschool through 3rd grade)
• The Brooks Institute of Photography's Ventura Campus is about 10 miles (16 km) south of Ojai on State Route 33

The Ojai Valley is also home to the Montessori School of Ojai, a private day school, Laurel Springs School, which specializes in distance education and home-schooling, and Global Village School, a progressive K-12 homeschooling program.

The Summer Science Program was formerly hosted at the Besant Hill School (2000–2009) and at The Thacher School (1959–1999).

Camp Ramah in California is in the hills of Ojai.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ojai, California.

• The City of Ojai
• Ojai Wikimapia
• New York Times: "Spas and Stars, but Ojai Tries to Stay Grounded"