Ojai, California: Difference between revisions

{{Use mdy dates|date=JanuaryMay 20152024}}

| name = Ojai, California

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| image_flag = Flag of Ojai, California.svg

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| image_seal = Seal of the City of =Ojai, California.png

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| image_map = Ventura_County_California_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Ojai_Highlighted.svg

| mapsize = 250x200px

| map_caption = Location in [[Ventura County, California|Ventura County]] and the state of [[California]]

| pushpin_map = USA California Southern#California#USA

| pushpin_label = Ojai

<!-- Location ------------------>| coordinates = {{Coord|34|26|57|N|119|14|48|W|region:US-CA_type:city|display=it}}

|subdivision_name1 subdivision_type2 = {{Flag|[[List of counties in California}}|County]]

|subdivision_type2 subdivision_name2 = [[ListVentura of counties inCounty, California|CountyVentura]]

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| named_for = [[Chumashan languages|Chumash]]: '''Awha'y'' ("Moon")<ref>{{Cite book

| government_type = [[Council–manager government|City Council—City Manager]]<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://ojaicity.org/city-government/ |title=City Government |publisher=City of Ojai |access-date= February 5, 2016}}</ref>

| leader_title = [[Mayor]]

| leader_name = Betsy Stix<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://ojaicity.org/city-council/ |title=City Council |publisher=City of Ojai |access-date=January 4, 2021 |archive-date=February 16, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200216055000/http://ojaicity.org/city-council/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

| leader_title1 = [[California's 19th State Senate district|State senator]]

| leader_name1 = {{Representative|casd|19|fmt=sleader}}<ref name=swd>{{Cite web |url=http://statewidedatabase.org/gis/gis2011/index_2011.html |title=Statewide Database |publisher=UC Regents |access-date=November 23, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150201113744/http://statewidedatabase.org/gis/gis2011/index_2011.html |archive-date=February 1, 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

| leader_title2 = [[California's 37th State Assembly district|Assembly member]]

| leader_name2 = {{Representative|caad|37|fmt=sleader}}<ref name=swd/>

| leader_title3 = [[California's 26th congressional district|U. S. rep.]]

| leader_name3 = {{Representative|cacd|26|fmt=usleader}}<ref>{{Cite GovTrack|CA|26|access-date=October 5, 2014}}</ref>

<!-- Area------------------>| unit_pref = Imperial

|area_water_sq_mi area_water_km2 = 0.0104

|area_water_km2 area_water_percent = 0.0435

|timezone timezone_DST = [[Pacific TimeDaylight ZoneTime|PacificPDT]]

|utc_offset utc_offset_DST = &minus;87

Ojai is known for its boutique hotels, recreation opportunities, hiking, and farmers' market of local organic agriculture. It has small businesses specializing in local and ecologically friendly art, design, and home improvement. Chain stores are prohibited by city ordinance to encourage local small business development and retain the town's character. Ojai is also home to the famed "Pink Moment", a short period before sunset when the mountains surrounding the valley appear to be a reddish/pink color.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2017-10-20 |title=Witness the ‘pink moment’ and take a spiritual journey in the Ojai Valley |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/discover-america/ojai-valley-spiritual-journey/ |access-date=2024-01-09 |work=The Telegraph |language=en-GB |issn=0307-1235}}</ref>

The name Ojai is derived from the Mexican-era [[Rancho Ojai]], which in turn took its name from the Ventureño Chumash word '''Awha'y'', meaning "Moon".<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1">Tumamait-Stenslie, Julie. "Ojai Means Moon," ''Ojai Valley Visitors Guide'', Winter 2011, pp. 12–13.</ref><ref name=":3">Fry, Patricia, Elise DePuydt & Craig Walker, ''The Ojai Valley: An Illustrated History''. Ojai Valley Museum. 2017. pp. 13–14</ref> The city's self-styled nickname is "[[Shangri-La]]" referencing the natural environment of this health and spirituality-focused region as well as the mystical sanctuary of the [[Lost Horizon (1937 film)|1937 film adaptation]] of [[James Hilton (novelist)|James Hilton]]'s novel ''[[Lost Horizon]]''.<ref>[http://www.ci.ojai.ca.us/index.asp?Type=B_LOC&SEC={648B4DF8-2C7F-440C-827C-A6AE6C083A0D} "Visit Ojai"] ({{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150726211844/http://www.ci.ojai.ca.us/index.asp?Type=B_LOC&SEC=%7B648B4DF8-2C7F-440C-827C-A6AE6C083A0D%7D |date=July 26, 2015 }}). City of Ojai official website. Accessed February 28 February, 2014.{{dead link|date=May 2016|df=mdy-all}} {{cbignore}}</ref>

Due to violence and imported disease, Chumash people died at devastating rates under Spanish rule.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/18/opinion/californias-saint-and-a-churchs-sins.html|title=Opinion &#124; California's Saint, and a Church's Sins|first=Lawrence|last=Downes|date=August 18, 2015|work=The New York Times}}</ref> According to George Tinker, a Native Scholar, “The Native American population of coastal population was reduced by some 90 percent during seventy years under the sole proprietorship of Serra’s mission system.”<ref>{{Cite book|last=Tinker|first=George E.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8uL6knHvq_kC&q=california+native+genocide|title=Missionary Conquest: The Gospel and Native American Cultural Genocide|date=January 1, 1993-01-01|publisher=Fortress Press|isbn=978-1-4514-0840-9|language=en}}</ref> Whether due to Spanish rule or as part of the [[California Genocide]] under the land's eventual control by the [[United States]], by 1900, the Chumash population had declined to just 200, while current estimates of Chumash people today range from 2,000<ref name="sdsu">{{cite web |url=http://infodome.sdsu.edu/research/guides/calindians/calinddict.shtml#p |title=California Indians and Their Reservations: P. |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100110062812/http://infodome.sdsu.edu/research/guides/calindians/calinddict.shtml |archive-date=January 10, 2010 |publisher=SDSU Library and Information Access |access-date=July 17, 2010}}</ref> to 5,000.<ref name=nps>{{cite web |url=http://www.nps.gov/chis/historyculture/nativeinhabitants.htm |title=Native Inhabitants |publisher=National Park Service |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070522182201/http://www.nps.gov/chis/historyculture/nativeinhabitants.htm |archive-date=May 22, 2007}}</ref>

In 1837, Fernando Tico, a Santa Barbara businessman, received the 17,716-acre Rancho Ojai Mexican land grant, which included both the lower and upper Ojai valleys. Tico operated a cattle ranch on the land and moved his large family to an adobe in the lower valley. Tico sold the entire Rancho Ojai in 1853.<ref>Fry, Patricia, Elise DePuydt & Craig Walker, ''The Ojai Valley: An Illustrated History''. Ojai Valley Museum. 2017. pp. 16-18</ref> The rancho changed hands several more times before it was purchased in 1864 by [[Thomas A. Scott]], a Pennsylvania oil and railroad baron. The petroleum exploration of the Ojai Basin was the result of a report of [[petroleum seep|oil seeps]] (oil springs) along the Sulphur Mountain area. In 1866, Scott's nephew [[Thomas Bard]] used a steam-powered cable-tool [[drilling rig]] on the north side of Sulphur Mountain. On May 29, 1867, Ojai No. 6 produced an [[oil gusher]], at a depth of 550 feet, and the Ojai Field eventually produced 10-20 [[barrels of oil]] a day. Also in 1866, [[Leland Stanford]]'s brother Josiah dug oil tunnels on the south side of Sulphur Mountain, producing 20 barrels a day for the Stanford Brothers refinery in San Francisco. For economic reasons, falling oil prices at the end of the Civil War and cheaper imports from the east, Scott and Stanford ceased oil exploration in the valley area. Thomas Bard then began selling the surface rights to parcels of Rancho Ojai in late 1867. As the president of [[Unocal]], Bard would return in the 1890s to dig about 50 oil tunnels into Sulphur Mountain, which produced until 1998.<ref>Sheridan, Solomon Neill. ''History of Ventura County, California'', Vol. 1, 1926. p. 217</ref><ref>Westergaard, Waldemar and Thomas Bard. "Thomas R. Bard and the Beginnings of the Oil Industry in Southern California," ''Historical Society of Southern California'', Vol. 10, No. 3, 1917, pp. 61-69</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Nelson |first1=Mike |title=The Hunt for California Crude |journal=AAPG Explorer |date=2020 |volume=41 |issue=2 |page=18 |url=https://explorer.aapg.org/story/articleid/56103/the-hunt-for-california-oil |access-date=13 February 13, 2020}}</ref>

The town was laid out in 1874<ref>[http://gis.ventura.org/RecordMaps/mr/001/001mr225.pdf "MAP of the town of NORDHOFF"] 1 MR 225. ''Ventura County Recorder'' Retrieved December 3, 2013, from [http://gis.ventura.org/CountyView/ CountyView GIS] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140925120224/http://gis.ventura.org/countyview/ |date=September 25, 2014 }}.</ref> by San Buenaventura businessman [[R. G. Surdam|R.G. Surdam]] and named Nordhoff in honor of the writer [[Charles Nordhoff (journalist)|Charles Nordhoff]] who had written a book about California titled, ''[https://www.loc.gov/item/14022123/ California for Health, Pleasure and Residence: A Book for Travelers and Settlers]''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=California: for health, pleasure, and residence. A book for travellers and settlers. |url=https://www.loc.gov/item/14022123/ |access-date=January 9, 2024-01-09 |website=Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. 20540 USA}}</ref>. Most early settlers to the valley had one or more family members who were ill, particularly with respiratory illnesses, and the Ojai Valley developed a reputation for having healthy air quality. Many did get well after moving to the valley. Charles Nordhoff had not visited the Ojai Valley when his book came out in 1873, but made several visits to his namesake town in the early 1880s, and he mentioned the Ojai Valley in the revised 1882 version of his popular book.<ref>Fry, Patricia, Elise DePuydt & Craig Walker, ''The Ojai Valley: An Illustrated History''. Ojai Valley Museum. 2017. pp. 30-31</ref> The discovery of hot springs in Matilija Canyon and subsequent development of hot springs resorts in the late 1800s contributed to the valley's healing mystique.

The public junior high and high school in Ojai is [[Nordhoff Junior High and High School]]. The former public juniormiddle 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 [[Ventura and Ojai Valley Railroad]] connected Ojai to the [[Coast Line (UP)|national rail network]] near [[Ventura station]] in 1898.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://ojaihistory.com/the-iron-horse-came-to-the-valley-in-98/ |title=The "iron horse" came to the valley in '98 |last=Wenig |first=Ed |website=Ojai History |publisher=Ojai Valley Museam |access-date=25 January 25, 2019 |date=October 6, 2017-10-06 |df=mdy-all}}</ref> The Southern Pacific Railroad acquired all the capital stock in the Ventura and Ojai Valley Railroad in April 1898.<ref>Myrick, David F., "The Railroad Comes to Nordhoff in the Ojai Valley," Ventura County Railroads, A Centennial History, Vol. II, ''The Ventura County Historical Society Quarterly, Vol. 33, Nos. 2 & 3'', 1988, 19-20</ref> A nine-day [[Pineapple Express]] with rainfall intensity reaching {{convert|6.2|inch|cm}} per day caused floods destroying the rail line in January 1969.<ref>{{cite book |last=Pyle |first=Russ |title =The Great Flood: Ventura County |publisher =Dan Poush |date =1969 }}</ref> The former rail line was converted to the Ojai Valley Trail in 1989.<ref>{{cite book |last =Salcedo-Chourré |first =Tracy |title =Rails-to-Trails: California |publisher =The Globe Pequot Press |date =2001 |location =[[Guilford, Connecticut]] |page =[https://archive.org/details/railstotrailscal00trac/page/165 165] |isbn =978-0-7627-0448-4 |url =https://archive.org/details/railstotrailscal00trac/page/165 }}</ref>

In March 1917, just after completion of the renovation project, the name of the town was changed to Ojai. The valley had always been known as "The Ojai".<ref>Lewis, Mark. "Inventing Ojai," ''Ojai Quarterly'', Winter 2016-17, pp.120-126</ref> Leading up to and during World War I, American sentiment became increasingly [[Anti-German sentiment|anti-German]]. Across the United States, German and German-sounding place names were changed. Some Ojai writers in the past have speculated that anti-German sentiment contributed to the name change of Nordhoff to Ojai in 1917.<ref>{{cite news|title=Looking for Charles Nordhoff|last=Meltzer|first=Betty Kikumi|date=August 21, 2005-08-21|work=Redlands Daily Facts|location=Redlands, Calif.|df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Rediscovering the Lost Horizon: Shangri-la Does Exist - It's in California and It's Idyllic, says Angela Wigglesworth|last=Wigglesworth|first=Angela|date=1998-08-August 29, 1998|work=Financial Times|location=London (UK)|page=18}}</ref> There is no clear evidence that this was the case for the name change in Ojai.<ref name="VCS 2031-08-01">{{Cite news|last=Woods II|first=Wes|date=August 1, 2021|title=Ojai keeps its small town charm 100 years later|url=https://www.vcstar.com/story/news/2021/08/01/ojai-keeps-its-small-town-charm-100-years-later/8093123002/|access-date=August 8, 2021-08-08|newspaper=Ventura County Star|language=en-US}}</ref>

The Taormina neighborhood was established as the first historic district in the city in 2016. The housing development was built in the style of French [[architecture of Normandy]] in the 1960s and 1970s by members of the [[Theosophical Society in America|Theosophy movement]] adjacent to the [[Krotona Institute of Theosophy]]. Taormina's founder, theosophist Ruth Wilson, envisioned the development as a [[retirement community]] for fellow theosophists but in the early 1980s a court ruling required the community to be open to residents of all faiths and backgrounds.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.vcstar.com/story/news/local/communities/ojai/2016/08/31/ojai-names-taormina-its-first-historic-district/89496504/ |title=Ojai names Taormina its first historic district |first=Claudia |last=Boyd-Barrett |date=31 August 31, 2016 |newspaper=[[Ventura County Star]] |access-date=2 September 2, 2016}}</ref> The majority of homes in the city were built between 1940 and 1980 with about a dozen mobile-home parks included in the housing stock. With rapid growth in the 1970s, a slow-growth ordinance was passed.{{r|NYT 2020/03/03}} From 2008 to 2018, there were no new multifamily developments with a single six residential unit apartment being built in 2019.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Rode |first=Erin |date=November 25, 2019 |title=Ojai gets its first new apartment complex in over 10 years |url=https://www.vcstar.com/story/news/2019/11/25/ojai-new-apartments-built-first-time-10-years/4191477002/ |access-date=2022-07-July 30, 2022 |newspaper=Ventura County Star |language=en-US}}</ref>

Ojai is situated in a small east–west eponymous valley, north of [[Ventura, California|Ventura]] and east of [[Santa Barbara, California|Santa Barbara]].<ref name="NYT 2020/03/03">{{Cite news|last=Kamin|first=Debra|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/03/realestate/ojai-calif-a-valley-of-wellness-but-no-chain-stores-in-ventura-county.html|title=Ojai, Calif.: A Valley of Wellness (but No Chain Stores) in Ventura County|date=March 3, 2020-03-03|work=The New York Times|access-date=March 3, 2020-03-03|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> The city is approximately {{convert|745|ft|m}} above sea level and borders the [[Los Padres National Forest]] to the north.<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=2011-04-April 23, 2011|date=2011-02-February 12, 2011|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990|df=mdy-all}}</ref> It is approximately {{convert|15|mi|km}} inland from the [[Pacific Ocean]].

The Ojai Valley lies within the [[Topatopa Mountains]] on the north and south and is actively shaped by a web of earthquake faults.{{r|NYT 2020/03/03}} The Sisar fault in the valley was the epicenter of a magnitude&nbsp;5.1 earthquake on August&nbsp;20,&nbsp;2023.<ref>{{Cite news|date=August 22, 2023|first1=Cameron|last1=Kiszla|first2=Jacqueline|last2=Sarkissian|title=Minor damage discovered after Ventura County earthquake|url=https://www.ktla.com/news/local-news/ventura-county-cleans-up-amid-aftershocks-of-magnitude-5-1-quake/|publisher=[[KTLA-TV]]|access-date=August 25, 2023}}</ref> The Santa Ynez Mountains lie to the north, while Sulphur Mountain and the lower Black Mountain lie to the south. Nordhoff Ridge, the western extension of the Topatopa Mountains, towers over the north side of the valley at more than {{convert|5000|ft|m}}. Sulphur Mountain creates the southern ranges bounding the Ojai Valley, a little under {{convert|3000|ft|m}} in elevation. The Sulphur and Topatopa mountains are part of the [[Transverse Ranges]] system. The Ojai Valley and the surrounding mountains are heavily wooded with oak trees.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://archive.vcstar.com/news/groups-join-to-buy-land-to-protect-east-ojai-valley-water-supply-ep-459611138-351333991.html/|title=Groups join to buy land to protect east Ojai Valley water supply|newspaper=[[Ventura County Star]]|first=Carol |last=Lawrence|date=June 6, 2014|access-date=15 January 15, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180115000819/http://archive.vcstar.com/news/groups-join-to-buy-land-to-protect-east-ojai-valley-water-supply-ep-459611138-351333991.html/|archive-date=2018-01-January 15, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

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. As with all of Southern California, rain falls on few days, but when it does rain it is often extremely heavy: the record being {{convert|9.05|in|mm|1}} on February 24, 1913, followed by {{convert|8.15|in|mm|1}} on January 26, 1914. During the wettest month on record of January 1969, {{convert|25.76|in|mm|1}} fell, with a whopping {{convert|23.46|in|mm|1}} in eight days from January 19 to January 26. In contrast, the median annual rainfall for all years in Ojai is only around {{convert|18.1|in|mm|0}} and in the driest "rain year" from July 20062020 to June 20072021, just {{convert|65.8746|in|mm|1}} fell in twelve months. The wettest "rain year" was from July 1997 to June 1998 with {{convert|48.29|in|mm|1}}.

|Feb record low F = 2221

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|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015|df=mdy}}</ref>

As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=2008-01-January 31, 2008 |title=U.S. Census website |df=mdy-all }}</ref> of 2000, there were 7,862 people, 3,088 households, and 1,985 families residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|1,773.0|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 3,229 housing units at an average density of {{convert|728.2|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the city was 88.01% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.60% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.50% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 1.58% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.17% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 6.26% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 2.90% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 15.84% of the population.

Ojai is a tourism destination known for its boutique hotels, recreation opportunities, hiking, and farmers' market of local organic agriculture.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.latimes.com/travel/deals/la-tr-522-escape-ojai-20160513-snap-story.html |title=Rustic Ojai transports the eyes and the taste buds to a spiritual plane |date= May 19, 2016|first=Rosemary |last=McClure |newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]] |access-date=June 10 June, 2016|df=mdy-all}}</ref> The 306-room [[Ojai Valley Inn]], which opened in 1923, is situated on 220 acres with a golf course and tennis courts. There are just 12 hotels within city limits but short-term vacation rentals (STVR) were banned in 2016. A few accommodations are available in the surrounding unincorporated area where the county has placed similar restrictions on STVR.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Reynolds |first=Christopher |date=2022-05-May 26, 2022 |title='Half of Los Angeles is coming' and Ojai hotels are scrambling |url=https://www.latimes.com/travel/story/2022-05-26/half-of-los-angeles-is-coming-up-here-ojai-hotels-scramble-to-lodge-city-escaping-angelenos |access-date=2022-05-May 27, 2022 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}</ref> It has small businesses specializing in local and ecologically friendly art, design, and home improvement.<ref>{{Cite magazine|last=Gibbons|first=Alan|date=2021-02-February 11, 2021|title=A Guide to Ojai: Relaxation in an Old-Fashioned Hamlet|url=https://www.orangecoast.com/article/ojai-travel-guide-relaxation-in-an-old-fashioned-hamlet/|access-date=2021-02-February 11, 2021|magazine=Orange Coast Magazine|language=en-US}}</ref> [[Chain store]]s are prohibited by city ordinance to encourage local small business development and keep the town unique.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.vcstar.com/news/ojai-adopts-ordinance-regulating-chain-stores-ep-374726935-352738891.html |title=Ojai adopts ordinance regulating chain stores |first=Kevin |last=Clerici |newspaper=[[Ventura County Star]] |date=November 16, 2007 |access-date=10 June 10, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.vcstar.com/news/ojai-council-declines-to-relax-ban-on-chain-stores-ep-292709323-351692291.html |title=Ojai council declines to relax ban on chain stores |first=Anne |last=Kallas |newspaper=[[Ventura County Star]] |date=May 30, 2013 |access-date=10 June 10, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Woods II|first=Wes|date=August 5, 2021|title=Ojai extends ban on chain businesses with five or more locations|url=https://www.vcstar.com/story/news/2021/08/05/ojai-extends-ban-chain-businesses-five-more-locations/5455568001/|access-date=August 8, 2021-08-08|newspaper=Ventura County Star|language=en-US}}</ref>

Under the legalization of the sale and distribution of cannabis in California, Ojai is one of two cities in the county that initially allowed retail sales.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Orozco|first=Lance|date=November 4, 2020|title=Marijuana-Related Tax Proposals Approved By South Coast Voters|url=https://www.kclu.org/post/marijuana-related-tax-proposals-approved-south-coast-voters|access-date=November 5, 2020-11-05|work=KCLU News|language=en}}</ref> Voters approved a 3% tax on retail marijuana sales on 2020, which could eventually grow to a 10% tax.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Schroyer|first=John|date=November 6, 2020-11-06|title=California cities, counties approve pro-cannabis measures|url=https://mjbizdaily.com/california-cities-counties-approve-pro-cannabis-measures/|access-date=2020-11-November 22, 2020|work=Marijuana Business Daily|language=en-US}}</ref> State law says local governments may not prohibit adults from growing, using or transporting marijuana for personal use but they can prohibit companies from growing, testing, and selling cannabis within their jurisdiction by licensing none or only some of these activities. The state requires cities to allow deliveries. By the end of 2018, three recreational marijuana storefronts were open in close proximity to each other.<ref name="VCS 2019/01/02">{{Cite news|url=https://www.vcstar.com/story/news/2019/01/02/so-far-so-good-legal-marijuana-pot-cannabis-ventura-county/2406687002/|title=So far, so good for legal marijuana sales in Ventura County|last=Martinez|first=Christian|date=January 2, 2019|newspaper=[[Ventura County Star]]|language=en|access-date=2019-06-June 17, 2019}}</ref> In 2020, there were two manufacturing businesses that were going through the permitting processes and the city was considering allowing on-site cannabis consumption.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Woods II|first=Wes|date=November 10, 2021|title=Marijuana lounges in Ojai? City extends hours of cannabis businesses, ponders further expansion|url=https://www.vcstar.com/story/news/2021/11/10/ojai-extends-hours-cannabis-businesses-ponders-further-expansion-cbd-marijuana-weed-lounges-edibles/6339203001/|access-date=2021-11-November 14, 2021|newspaper=Ventura County Star|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Woods II |first=Wes |date=April 27, 2023 |title=Ojai seems ready to support cannabis lounges |url=https://www.vcstar.com/story/news/2023/04/27/ojai-seems-ready-to-support-cannabis-lounges/70152906007/ |access-date=2023-04-April 29, 2023 |website=Ventura County Star |language=en-US}}</ref>

Ojai's culture is heavily focused on [[ecology]], [[health]] and [[organic agriculture]], [[NIMBYism]],<ref>{{cite web |last1=Weissman |first1=Jules |title=Worth Saving |url=https://www.theojaivortex.com/home/issue-7-letter |website=The Ojai Vortex |date=July 5, 2022 |access-date=October 16, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=O'Donnell |first1=Santiago |title=Welcome Mat Not Out for Many Projects |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-10-20-me-302-story.html |website=Los Angeles Times |access-date=October 17, 2022 |date=October 20, 1991}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Turf Protection |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-03-01-me-28490-story.html |website=[[Los Angeles Times]] |access-date=October 16, 2022 |date=March 1, 1994}}</ref> [[walking]]/[[hiking]], [[spirituality]], [[music]] and local [[art]].<ref name="vogue">{{Cite news|url=https://www.vogue.com/article/why-ojais-pixie-season-is-the-california-nature-event-to-know|title=Forget Poppies, Ojai's Pixie Season Is the California Nature Event to Know|work=Vogue|first=Alex |last=Schechter|language=en|date=May 10, 2019|access-date=May 4, 2019-05-04}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=httphttps://articleswww.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1994-02-13/local/-me-22486_1_ojai22486-valleystory.html|title=The Color of Ojai : Relations: Few minorities live in the rustic valley. Many residents say there is no overt racism there, but others disagree.|newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]]|first=JEFF |last=McDONALD |date= February 13, 1994|access-date=December 30 December, 2017|df=mdy-all}}</ref> Weekends may include exhibiting [[classic car]]s or [[motorcycle]] clubs touring the area.{{r|vogue}} On July 8, 1999, former Apollo astronaut [[Pete Conrad]], one of the twelve men who walked on the Moon, died of injuries suffered from a motorcycle accident in Ojai.<ref>[http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/planetary/news/conrad_pr_19990709.html Third Man to Walk on Moon Dies in Motorcycle Accident] NASA Press Release, July 9, 1999-07-09.</ref>

In April, the [[Ojai Tennis Tournament]] is held. It is the oldest tennis tournament west of the [[Mississippi River]] (founded in 1896) and has been an early competition for many players who went on to earn one or more [[Grand Slam (tennis)|Grand Slam]] titles. The Wall of Fame in Libbey Park honors players who competed and went on to win at least one Grand Slam.<ref>[http://www.ojaitourney.org/history/ "History"] ''The Ojai Tennis Tournament'' official Website Accessed 28 February 28, 2014</ref> William Thacher (brother of Sherman Thacher) founded the Ojai Valley Tennis Club in 1895<ref>{{Cite web |title=History – The Ojai |url=https://theojai.net/history/ |access-date=2024-01-09 |language=en-US}}</ref>. There were five years when the tournament was not held: 1924 because of a [[Foot-and-mouth disease|hoof-and-mouth]] epidemic and from 1943 to 1946 during and just after World War II.<ref>Thacher, Tony. ''Tennis, Tea & Tradition: One Hundred Years of "The Ojai.''" The Ventura County Historical Society Quarterly, Vol. 44, Nos. 1 & 2. 2000</ref>

Annually, in early April, the town hosts a bicycle race that draws 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 {{convert|1|mi|km|adj=on|spell=in}} circuit that circumnavigates Libbey Bowl in the heart of downtown Ojai.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.vcstar.com/news/garrett-lemire-foundation-donates-books-to-ventura-schools-ep-374046278-352613541.html|title=Garrett Lemire Foundation Donates Books to Ventura Schools|last=Damiani|first=Sheryl|date=March 28, 2008|website=[[Ventura County Star]]|language=en|access-date=2019-08-August 23, 2019}}</ref>

The [[Ventura County Sheriff's Office]] provides law enforcement services for the city.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Woods II |first=Wes |date=February 23, 2022 |title=Citing high costs, Ojai wants to revisit Ventura County Sheriff's Office contract immediately |url=https://www.vcstar.com/story/news/2022/02/23/ojai-ventura-county-sheriff-contract/6905887001/ |access-date=2022-02-February 26, 2022 |website=Ventura County Star |language=en-US}}</ref> No homicides were recorded in 2015–2018.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.vcstar.com/story/news/local/communities/ojai/2019/05/09/ojai-violent-crime-report-2018-ventura-county-sheriff-police/1126146001/|title=Ojai's crimes so few that a beer run skewed the annual count|newspaper=[[Ventura County Star]]|first=Gretchen |last=Wenner|language=en|date=May 9, 2019|access-date=May 9, 2019-05-09|df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.vcstar.com/story/news/local/communities/ojai/2018/03/24/low-crime-ojai-mystery-why-crime-rate-plummeted/426296002/|title=In low-crime Ojai, the mystery is why the crime rate plummeted|newspaper=[[Ventura County Star]]|first=Gretchen |last=Wenner|language=en|date=March 24, 2019|access-date=May 9, 2019-05-09|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

**[[Nordhoff Junior High and High School]]

**** MatilijaMeiners JuniorOaks HighEarly Education School

**** San AntonioSummit School

The Ojai Valley is home to several private boarding schools as well as other private and alternative school programs:

The ''[[Ojai Valley News]]'' is a weekly, community-oriented newspaper that has been published since Oct.October 27, 1891. The newspaper was called ''The Ojai'' until 1958. A newspaper called ''The Ojai Valley News'' was founded in competition to ''The Ojai'' in 1949. In 1958, J. Frank Knebel bought ''The Ojai'', ''The Ojai Valley News'' and another small paper called ''The Oaks Gazette''. He called this combined paper the ''Ojai Valley News and Oaks Gazette.'' A competition newspaper called ''The Ojai Press'' was founded in 1959 and another called ''The Oaks Sentinel'' came out the following year. When both of these papers floundered a group of over 100 people called "Voice of the Valley" pitched in to take over these papers and began publishing the ''Press Sentinel''. Members of the Voice of the Valley group felt strongly that there needed to be an alternative viewpoint in the valley from the views expressed in Knebel's paper. The ''Press Sentinel'' was published for two years. When Fred Volz purchased ''The Ojai Valley News and Oaks Gazette'' in 1962, changing the name to ''Ojai Valley News,'' the ''Press Sentinel'' ceased publication.<ref>Fry, Patricia, Elise DePuydt & Craig Walker, ''The Ojai Valley: An Illustrated History''. Ojai Valley Museum. 2017. pp.138-142</ref>

A collaborative blog covering local news, [[The Ojai Post]], also once existed.{{cn|date=May 2024}}

In 2013, a plan to take over the private water system was approved by voters. Up to $60 million in bonds would be issued and a special tax district would be formed. This was approved by almost 90 percent of voters but it was tied up in court by the private water purveyor, [[Golden State Water Company]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.vcstar.com/news/local/ojai/casitas-moves-to-take-over-ojai-water-system-32a968fe-ef05-0906-e053-0100007fe982-379280901.html |title=Casitas moves to take over Ojai water system |first=Claudia |last=Boyd-Barrett|newspaper=[[Ventura County Star]] |date= May 13, 2016 |access-date=13 May 13, 2016}}</ref> [[Lake Casitas|Casitas Municipal Water District]] took over management of the Ojai water system by purchase of the franchise from Golden State Water Company in April 2017. The [[Ojai Valley Sanitary District]] treats the sewage from the city and surrounding areas.<ref>{{cite web |title=History |url=https://www.ojaisan.org/history.php |access-date=6 May 6, 2023 |publisher=Ojai Valley Sanitary District |df=mdy-all}}</ref> In 2020, the city banned new hook-ups to natural gas except for restaurants and pools.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Feraday|first=Caroline|date=November 3, 2020|title=Ojai Bans Gas In New Buildings|url=https://www.kclu.org/post/ojai-bans-gas-new-buildings|access-date=November 3, 2020-11-03|work=KCLU News|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Woods II |first=Wes |date=February 15, 2023 |title=Ojai going all electric with code change |url=https://www.vcstar.com/story/news/2023/02/15/ojai-going-all-electric-with-code-change/69906865007/ |access-date=2023-02-February 17, 2023 |website=Ventura County Star |language=en-US}}</ref>

The title characters of the TV series ''[[The Bionic Woman]]'' and ''[[The Six Million Dollar Man]]'' ([[Jaime Sommers (The Bionic Woman)|Jaime Sommers]] and [[Steve Austin (character)|Col. Steve Austin]]) are described in the series as having been childhood sweethearts in Ojai. In these series, a sign on the highway entering Ojai reads "Welcome to Ojai, home of American astronaut Steven Austin."<ref>[[The Six Million Dollar Man]], season two, episode 19.</ref>

The [[Ojai wasValley also mentioned in the [[Taylor SheridanInn]] film ''[[Wind River (film)|Winda River]]'', while Thehistoric Ojai Valley Inn & Spainstitution) was featured in the 1990 movie ''[[The Two Jakes]]'' (starring [[Jack Nicholson]] and [[Harvey Keitel]]). Ojai served as the main location setting for the 2010 film ''[[Easy A]]'', starring Emma Stone.<ref>{{Cite web |last=MooreWoodard |first=RogerJosef |date=SeptemberJanuary 1714, 20102020 |title='EasyIn Athe Pink,' setBy inthe Ojai,Green takesat athe wittyOjai lookValley at teen insecuritiesInn |url=httphttps://www.vcstarindependent.com/entertainment2020/01/13/easy-a-set-in-ojaithe-takespink-aby-wittythe-lookgreen-at-teenthe-insecuritiesojai-epvalley-367558530-347969741.htmlinn/ |access-date=2022-12-17April 1, 2024 |website=VenturaThe CountySanta StarBarbara Independent |language=en-US}}</ref>

* [[Alan Ball (screenwriter)|Alan Ball]], film and television writer and producer<ref>David, Mark (Aug.August 23, 2016) [https://variety.com/2016/dirt/real-estalker/alan-ball-true-blood-selling-ojai-house-1201842217/ "'True Blood' Creator Alan Ball Lists Hilltop Hideaway in Ojai"]</ref>

* [[Eric Burdon]], singer-songwriter and actor<ref>{{Cite news|last=Dager|first=Wendy|title=Eric Burdon, The Animals performing in Ojai|url=https://www.vcstar.com/story/entertainment/music/2017/05/03/eric-burdon-animals-performing-ojai/101206596/|date=May 3, 2017|access-date=August 8, 2020-08-08|newspaper=Ventura County Star|language=en-US|quote=I love Ojai. I moved here from the beautiful desert of Joshua Tree, one vibrant artistic community to another, at the other end of desert. Ojai has a similar climate, but with plenty of shade trees and places to walk in town. The people are friendly, but leave you alone. This is greatly appreciated.}}</ref>

* [[Tim Burton]], film director<ref>Ryon, Ruth (June 28, 1998) [httphttps://articleswww.latimes.com/1998archives/la-xpm-1998-jun/-28/realestate/-re-64291-story.html "Director Cuts His Ties to Ojai"] ''[[Los Angeles Times]]''</ref>

* [[Anthony de Mello (Jesuit priest)|Anthony de Mello]], spiritual leader

* [[John Diehl (actor)|John Diehl]], director, actor in ''[[Stargate (film)|Stargate]]'' and ''[[The Shield (TV series)|The Shield]]''

* [[Mark Frost]], screenwriter and television writer<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ojaihub.com/the-storyteller-from-twin-peaks-to-ojai/|title=The Storyteller — From 'Twin Peaks' To Ojai|last=Bradigan|first=Bret|date=March 16, 2018-03-16|website=Ojai Hub|language=en-US|access-date=April 4, 2019-04-04|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

* [[Christopher Trumbo]], screenwriter<ref name=venturabreeze>{{cite news|title=Local Screenwriter Dies|url=http://ventura.edhat.com/site/tidbit.cfm?nid=47312|work=[[Ventura Breeze]]|date=2011-01-January 20, 2011|access-date=2011-01-January 26, 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110206123138/http://ventura.edhat.com/site/tidbit.cfm?nid=47312|archive-date=February 6, 2011|df=mdy-all}}</ref>