Los Olivos, California facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Los Olivos
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Downtown Los Olivos
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 Los Olivos, California
Location in California
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  California |
| County | Santa Barbara |
| Area | |
| • Total | 2.459 sq mi (6.369 km2) |
| • Land | 2.459 sq mi (6.368 km2) |
| • Water | 0.000 sq mi (0.001 km2) 0.02% |
| Elevation | 807 ft (246 m) |
| Population
(2010)
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| • Total | 1,138 |
| • Density | 462.79/sq mi (178.68/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-8 (Pacific (PST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−7 (PDT) |
| ZIP Code |
93441
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| Area code(s) | 805 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2583064 |
Los Olivos is a small, charming community in Santa Barbara County, California. Its name means "the olive trees" in Spanish. It's a popular spot for tourists, especially because of its many vineyards and olive groves. Los Olivos is considered an unincorporated community, which means it's not a self-governing city but part of a larger county area. In 2010, about 1,132 people lived here.
Contents
A Glimpse into Los Olivos' Past
Around 1880, a two-story house was built on a hill near a creek. This house and its land were bought by Alden March Boyd in 1885. He planted 5,000 olive trees and named his property Rancho De Los Olivos.
California was growing fast in the 1880s. In 1887, a railway line was extended to this area. The people who built the railway decided to name their new town after Boyd's olive ranch. They first called it El Olivar, then El Olivos, and finally, Los Olivos.
The narrow-gauge railroad connected Los Olivos to places as far north as San Luis Obispo. The train stopped running in 1934. The train station was in front of Mattei's Tavern, a famous old building where stagecoaches used to pick up passengers to travel to Santa Barbara.
Exploring Los Olivos' Location
Los Olivos is one of five communities in the beautiful Santa Ynez Valley. The other towns are Ballard, Buellton, Solvang, and Santa Ynez. The town is located near SR 154. This is a very scenic road that winds through the coastal Santa Ynez Mountains from Santa Barbara.
Los Olivos' Weather
Los Olivos has a "Mediterranean" climate, which means it has warm, dry summers and mild, wet winters. The average temperature for the whole year is about 61.6°F (16.4°C). In summer, the average high temperature is around 92°F (33.3°C). In winter, the average low temperature is about 39.5°F (4.2°C). Most of the rain falls between December and March.
Life in Los Olivos: People and Homes
In 2010, Los Olivos had 1,132 residents. Most people (about 92.7%) were White, and about 11% were Hispanic or Latino. All the residents lived in homes, not in group housing.
There were 460 households in Los Olivos. About 30% of these homes had children under 18 living there. Many homes (60%) were occupied by married couples. The average household had about 2.46 people.
The population included people of all ages. About 21.8% were under 18, and 15.4% were 65 or older. The average age in Los Olivos was 48 years old. Most homes (68.5%) were owned by the people living in them, while others were rented.
Economy and Fun Things to Do
Los Olivos is famous for its many wineries and tasting rooms. You can explore the Foxen Canyon Wine Trail, which starts here and goes north.
The area is also home to large ranches where thoroughbred horses are raised. Mattei's Tavern, which used to be a stagecoach stop, is now a popular restaurant.
Learning in Los Olivos
Los Olivos has its own public school, Los Olivos Elementary School, which is part of the Los Olivos School District.
There are also two private schools that prepare students for college:
- Dunn School has both day students and students who live at the school. It's located along SR 154.
- Midland School is only for boarding students (students who live at the school). It's located on Figueroa Mountain Road.
Los Olivos in Movies and TV
Los Olivos has been featured in several movies and TV shows:
- In 1986, the town was used as the setting for the fictional town of "Mayberry" in the TV movie Return to Mayberry. This movie was based on the popular 1960s TV show The Andy Griffith Show.
- The 2004 movie Sideways showed many locations in Los Olivos, highlighting the wine region of Santa Barbara County.
- The Los Olivos Grand Hotel, built in 1985, is now called Fess Parker's Wine Country Inn. It's owned by the family of Fess Parker, a famous actor known for playing Daniel Boone and Davy Crockett.
- Episodes of the TV show The Bachelor have also been filmed in Los Olivos.
Part of the music video for the song "Say Say Say" by Michael Jackson and Paul McCartney was filmed near Los Olivos in 1983. Michael Jackson later bought the property where the video was filmed in 1988 and renamed it Neverland Ranch.
Famous People Who Lived Here
Many well-known people have called the Los Olivos area home. These include actors like Cheryl Ladd, Noah Wyle, Bo Derek, Kelly Le Brock, Steven Seagal, John Forsythe, and David Hasselhoff. Musicians like David Crosby and Robert Cray have also lived here.
Former US President Ronald Reagan lived about 9 miles (14 km) south of Los Olivos at his ranch, Rancho del Cielo. Musician Michael Jackson's famous Neverland Ranch is located about 5 miles (8 km) north of the town.
See also
In Spanish: Los Olivos (California) para niños
