Olema, California facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Olema
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View northbound on SR 1 at Sir Francis Drake Blvd.
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 Olema
Location in California
Olema
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | California |
| County | Marin County |
| Elevation | 69 ft (21 m) |
| ZIP code |
94950
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| Area codes | 415/628 |
| FIPS code | 06-53630 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1659297 |
Olema (Miwok: Olemaloke) is an unincorporated community in Marin County, California. It is located on Olema Creek 2.25 miles (3.6 km) south-southeast of Point Reyes Station, at an elevation of 69 feet (21 m).
Olema is along State Route 1 at its intersection with Sir Francis Drake Boulevard, on the eastern edge of the Point Reyes Peninsula in the western part of Marin County. The name Olema comes from the Coast Miwok placename meaning "coyote valley".
Olema was once thought to be the epicenter of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake due the fact that the San Andreas Fault runs in very close proximity to the town, and due to the huge rifts surrounding the fault still visible via a nearby hiking path. There are historical references to this in and around the town, including at shops and restaurants. However, more recent evidence suggests that a location offshore of Daly City is more likely the epicenter.
Olema was also the title subject of the late-1960s country-rock song, "Hippie from Olema", The Youngbloods' rejoinder to Merle Haggard's "Okie from Muskogee".
The Olema post office opened in 1859, closed in 1860, and re-opened in 1864.
Attractions
Olema has a few shops, two restaurants (Sir and Star and Due West), a lodge, and several bed and breakfasts. Nearby is a large campground and also a large retreat for the Vedanta Society (a branch of Hinduism). Also, the Bear Valley Visitor Center, a quarter-mile from town on Bear Valley Road, provides a standard starting point for a visit to the Point Reyes National Seashore. Inside the center are exhibits and books for sale. Outside are picnic tables, a Morgan horse ranch, and Kule Loklo, a reconstructed Miwok village.
