Situated in the Southeast section of Encinitas, this rural community offers the best of all worlds—close proximity to the city, beaches and freeways, with a country atmosphere and lifestyle. Bordered on the North by La Costa, East by Rancho Santa Fe, and South by the San Elijo Lagoon, Olivenhain is one of four communities that make up the city of Encinitas. The sprawling homes, many with ocean views and lush orchards, dot the foothills of this appealing, upscale family-oriented neighborhood. Olivenhain (prounounced Oh-LEE-ven-hine) was founded in 1884 and the name means “olive grove” in German, referring to its agricultural beginnings. The town still continues the tradition with flower and nursery growers, however, they are continually being replaced more and more by houses. Yet residents are doing what they can to keep development contained and to maintain the rural atmosphere where there are few sidewalks or streetlights. Winding two-lane roads, rail fences and horse trails invite walkers, bicyclists and four-legged creatures. The limited outdoor lighting affords a clear view of starlit skies.
History
Olivenhain was founded by a colony of German families from Denver, Colorado who settled on a parcel of land called Rancho Las Encinitas ("little oak trees"') in 1884. The original seven colony members each were allowed five acres, a house and use of community property such as agricultural machinery. Only upstanding, hard-working people were accepted as members, whose ranks continued to grow as immigrants flocked to the area. Home construction started slowly in 1885, and the size and quality of houses varied based on the member’s economic condition. Leadership of the colony changed hands over various matters and many members abandoned the area to find more harmonious surroundings. By January, 1887 most of the colony’s farms were deserted and Colony Olivenhain was gone forever, leaving a healthier community to evolve. As it revived, stores, blacksmith shops, schools and meeting halls sprung up. A copper deposit was discovered near the end of Lone Jack Road in 1887 and was developed into a mine by the Encinitas Copper Company. At least four open pit clay mines were profitably worked from the early 1920s to 1940, producing clay and shale, which was processed into firebrick, stoneware and pottery. Modern conveniences arrived slowly, with the first rural mail delivery in 1910, telephone services extended from Encinitas in 1938 and electricity in 1946. The Olivenhain Municipal Water District was established in 1959, indicating the end of dependence on wells and cisterns as the only source of water. As farming began to decline, former agricultural areas gave way to sizeable custom homes on half-acre lots. In 1986, Olivenhain united with New and Old Encinitas, Cardiff and Leucadia to incorporate as the City of Encinitas. Many of those who inhabited Olivenhain past 1887 stayed a lifetime, and their descendents populated and farmed the valley until current times.
Demographics
As of 2004, 5,000 residents called Olivenhain home. Many were former inhabitants of local communities who wanted to either “move up” to a higher quality home or “move out” to a more country-like atmosphere. The residents of Olivenhain manage their town through the Town Council, while their City Watch Task Force monitors planning and traffic department meetings at the City of Encinitas and represents Olivenhain during City Council meetings. Olivenhain students attend either schools in the Rancho Santa Fe School district, Encinitas Union Elementary School district or San Dieguito Union High School district, all top-rated in the state. Additionally, fine private schools are conveniently located in the Olivenhain area.
Points of Interest and Events
Olivenhain has three developed parks: Wiro Park, Little Oaks Park and Sun Vista Park. Wiro Park, a small community park on 11th Avenue, has picnic tables, barbeque grills and a small playground. Little Oaks Park on Lone Jack Road serves horses with parking for horse trailers, a riding ring and access to riding trails. Sun Vista Park, a small community park, lies at the Southwest corner of Rancho Santa Fe Road and Avenida La Posta. The various equestrian facilities and horse arenas attract hundreds to ride and show their horses. Although it is a community within the city of Encinitas, the Olivenhain Town Council serves as the local government with meetings held the first Wednesday each month. The mission of the Town Council is to protect and preserve the rural atmosphere inherited from the founders, and general meetings at the Meeting Hall are open to all residents. For a small annual fee, residents can become council members in order to vote at general meetings and receive the newsletter, which is published 10 times/year. The council maintains and preserves the Meeting Hall property and buildings, which host several annual activities such as the Spring Beer and Bratwurst Festival, a Halloween Party in October, a Craft Fair in November and a Holiday Party in December. Another landmark, the Germania Hotel, was moved to the Town Hall property in 1982. Formerly home to the Herman Baecht family in 1885, it was the largest and most expensive home constructed in the Colony. With two rooms on the first floor and seven bedrooms on the second, it became "The Hotel" when Mrs. Baecht took in boarders. In recent years it has been home to vagrants and bats.
Real Estate
Olivenhain real estate, Olivenhain homes consists primarily of single-family homes ranging in price from $900,000 to $5 million or more. The 100 or so Olivenhain condos and townhomes that are here rarely come up for sale and are quickly purchased when they do. Because of low-density zoning, there are about 1,500 homes existing, with 1,616 total called for in the Encinitas General Plan. Several will be custom homes built on the land that is still available. A small number of custom home sites still remain in Wildflower Estates, a gated community with lots ranging from 1.5 to 5.5 acres and with lot prices up to $1.4 million+. Many of the spacious, large estate homes that are most common have expansive hilltop views, some have horse facilities and several have citrus and avocado groves. Families looking for more space and a quieter lifestyle are drawn to Olivenhain, one of the last remaining options for country living within city distance.
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