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 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 lands...
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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 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. Much of the city is very hilly and dotted with multi-million dollar custom homes.
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 1800s, the land was named by Alice Marsh Cameron in honor of the poet...
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