Olivenhain Overview – 92024
Olivenhain (pronounced Oh-LEE-Ven-Hine) is a neighborhood within the city of Encinitas, California, located in the North County area of San Diego County. It is the eastern-most community of Encinitas, bordering the western portion of Rancho Santa Fe. Originally an unincorporated community it joined with five other communities in 1986. The five communities including Olde Encinitas, New Encinitas, Olivenhain, Leucadia and Cardiff-by-the-Sea incorporated into the City of Encinitas.
• Olde Encinitas: A small beachside area featuring a mix of businesses and housing styles. The Encinitas welcome arch, the famous surf break Swamis, and the early 20th century La Paloma Theater stand in this area. A low coastal ridge separates Historic Encinitas from New Encinitas.
• New Encinitas: A newer region with a golf course, many shopping centers, and larger tract homes.
• Olivenhain: A semi-rural region in eastern Encinitas, composed of mostly single family homes, an active 4-H Club, and several private equestrian facilities. Olivenhain connects to Rancho Santa Fe via Encinitas Blvd.
• Leucadia: A coastal community of the city. Leucadia features tree-lined streets and boulevards. The community features art galleries, unusual stores, and restaurants, along with single family homes and views of the ocean.
• Cardiff-by-the-Sea: Encinitas’ southernmost oceanfront community, this community was named after Cardiff Wales in 1914 and features streets named after British cities and classical composers.
Olivenhain History
Early History and Land Grants
In the early 1800s, California was a vast, sparsely inhabited territory under Mexico. In 1842, the Mexican government granted Andreas Antonio Ybarra 4,431 acres of land, which he named ‘Los Encinitas.
Formation of the Olivenhain Colony
Theodore Pinther and Conrad Stroebel joined a group called the Colony of Olivenhain in Denver, Colorado, and in 1884, they purchased a portion of the parcel, naming it Rancho Las Encinitas. The colony started with seven members—Theodore Pinther, Joseph Ullrich, Louis Denk, Otto Pinther, Lina Pinther, and Johann Bumann. Each member paid an initiation fee, a membership fee, and monthly dues. Members in good standing earned the right to a five-acre parcel of cultivated land, a moderately sized house on their property, and access to all colony-owned resources such as horse teams, wagons, and fruit processing machinery.
Growth and Challenges of the Colony
The membership increased by the end of the year with an additional 67 colonists arriving from Denver. Hundreds of acres were cleared and plowed to create the colony-owned farm and homes and roads were constructed. The colonists ran into a problem, the lack of sufficient water. As a result, olive and citrus groves were replaced with livestock farming.
Decline of Farming and Shift to Residential Development
The gradual decline of farming during the 1950s, combined with the importation of water to Southern California, slowly transformed the area into a residential community. In 1887, prospectors discovered a copper deposit, and the Encinitas Copper Company developed a copper mine, which sporadically produced low-grade copper ore until 1917.
Introduction of Modern Conveniences
Olivenhain adopted modern conveniences slowly. Rural mail delivery began in 1910, telephone services reached the area from Encinitas in 1938, and electricity arrived in 1946. In 1959, the community established the Olivenhain Municipal Water District, ending its reliance on wells and cisterns as the primary water sources. The community paved Lone Jack Road in the early 1970s.
Legacy of Olivenhain
The name Olivenhain is from the German name which means “Olive Grove”. The German Settlers built the meeting hall which still stands. It is used today for community functions such as the annual Oktoberfest, Haunted House, summer movie series,
craft fairs and a variety of civic group meetings.
Olivenhain Neighborhoods
Olivenhain is comprised of an eclectic mix of housing. There are approximately 1,940 homes in Olivenhain. Most of the homes are primarily single family custom homes with relatively large lots. 105 of these homes are condominiums.
Olivenhain is divided up into eleven different subdivisions:
Brookside
Copper Creek
Copper Crest Estates: Gated community with views on large lots. Some of the homes have detached guest homes. Many of the homes are zoned for five horses with plenty of riding trails in the area.
Country Rose: Popular among animal and nature lovers as it has a very rural feel.
Double LL Ranch: Gated, homes are in the 3500-8000 square feet range and situated on large lots from 1.5–10 acres. Many homes have a barn plus there are several equestrian facilities in the area.
Dove Hollow: Gated community with views of the Olivenhain Valley.
Knightsbridge: Gated with only a few dozen homes. Community is bordered by San Elijo Hills to the north (mostly open space), Elfin Forest to the east and La Costa to the west.
Rancho Encinitas
Val Sereno: Val Sereno homes were built in the 1970’s and range in size from 1,605 – 3,019 square feet and situated in a rural and quiet location.
Wild Flower Estates: Gated, lots range from 1.5 to 5.5 acres. Located south of Double LL Ranch, Bridges at Rancho Santa Fe to the east and Rancho Santa Fe to the south.
Olivenhain Colony: Which is broken down into five distinct communities which are all walking distance to
Olivenhain Pioneer Elementary School, Diegueno Middle School and La Costa High School.
Morning Sun Ranch, Olive Crest, Ranch View Estates, Rosemont & Windsor Country Estates
Olivenhain Lifestyle
Olivenhain has a vast network of recreational trails, used by walkers and equestrians. It is a common sight to see hot air balloons in the late afternoon and dusk.
The Olivenhain Bike Trail offers a 37.59 mile trek and has a total ascent of 1663 feet and a maximum elevation of 824 feet. This route was created by Neil Schneider by parcel in 2006 and is accessible to the public. Other bike trails in the area include Elfin Forest Recreational Preserve, the La Costa Preserve, the Lake Calavera Preserve and the La Costa to Olivenhain “Way Up Trail”.
Olivenhain Environment
The environment of Olivenhain is charming and peaceful, known for its rural flavor, acreage, horse properties and strong sense of history. Olivenhain is proud of its extensive trail system and its “Dark Sky Policy” which restricts lights from street lights, tennis courts and other forms of light pollution.
The climate in Encinitas and Olivenhain is very mild, Mediterranean climate. Average daily high temperature is 72 °F (22 °C). Temperatures below 40 °F (4 °C) and above 85 °F (29 °C) are rare. Average rainfall is about 10 inches (250 mm) per year. The wet season lasts during the winter and spring, when temperatures are usually cool. Average daytime temperatures hit 65F in winter and spring, when rain and marine layer (fog) are common (May Gray/June Gloom). Nighttime lows range from 45-55F. The dry season lasts from summer through fall, with average daytime temperatures ranging from 75-85F, and nighttime lows being from the upper 50s–60sF. Ocean water temperatures average 60F in winter, 64F in spring, 70F in summer, and 66F in fall.
The construction of the Olivenhain dam and reservoir began in 2000 and the first water flowed into the reservoir in 2003. The Olivenhain Reservoir has a storage capacity of 24,000 acre-feet of water. This is enough water for a year for 50,000 families of four. Water stored in the reservoir is reserved for emergency use throughout the county.
Recreational Trails
Olivenhain is known for its vast network of horse trails and facilities. A series of horse trails wind throughout Olivenhain, providing horse owners with a quiet and peaceful place to ride. Equestrian facilities and horse arenas attract a large horse population to ride and show their horses. A few of the trails include the Olivenhain Trails, San Elijo Lagoon Trails, Manchester Preserve Trails and the Encinitas Ranch Trails.
Olivenhain Education
Olivenhain is located within the Encinitas Union School District and the San Dieguito Union School District. Elementary students attend Olivenhain Pioneer Elementary School or the Park Dale Elementary School, Dieguito Middle School and either La Costa Canyon High School or San Dieguito Academy. There are also several private schools nearby.
ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS
ENCINITAS UNION SCHOOL DISTRICT
101 S. Rancho Santa Fe Road
Encinitas, CA 92024
760-944-4300 | ww2.eusd.net
Olivenhain Pioneer Elementary
8000 Calle Acervo
Carlsbad, CA 92009
760-943-2000
Park Dale Lane Elementary
2050 Park Dale Lane
Encinitas, CA 92024
760-944-4344
OLIVENHAIN PIONEER ELEMENTARY
Attendance Boundary Map
PARK DALE LANE ELEMENTARY
Attendance Boundary Map
OLIVENHAIN
MIDDLE/HIGH SCHOOLS
SAN DIEGUITO UNION SCHOOL DISTRICT
2150 Village Park Way
Encinitas, CA 92024
760-944-1892 | dg.sduhsd.net
Diegueno Middle School
2150 Village Parkway
Encinitas, CA 92024
760-944-1892
La Costa Canyon High School
1 Maverick Way
Carlsbad, CA 92009
760-436-6136
San Dieguito High School Academy
800 Santa Fe Drive
Encinitas, CA 92024
760-753-1121
