Olompali, California facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Olompali Olómpali Õlõmpõ'llï
Former settlement
Olompali Location in California
Country	United States
State	California
County	Marin County

Olompali (pronounced Oh-LOM-pah-lee) was once a very old Native American village. It was located in Marin County, California, about 5 miles (8 kilometers) south of Petaluma. Today, the place where Olompali stood is part of the Olompali State Historic Park.

Where Was Olompali Located?

The village of Olompali was built right by the water. It was at the bottom of Burdell Mountain. This spot was great because it offered easy access to many natural resources.

The History of Olompali Village

What Does the Name Olompali Mean?

The name Olompali comes from the Coast Miwok language. It likely means "southern village" or "southern people." The Coast Miwok are a group of Native Americans who lived in the area.

How Old is Olompali?

The Coast Miwok people lived at the Olompali site for a very long time. They were there continuously from as early as 6000 BC. This makes Olompali one of the oldest known settlements in the region.

Unlike some other villages in the Bay Area, Olompali was lived in all year. This was because there were so many resources nearby. People did not need to move to find food or other supplies.

Olompali as a Major Center

By the year 1200, Olompali had become a main center for the Coast Miwok. It might have been the largest native village in Marin County. This shows how important and successful the community was.

The Máien Society

According to an expert named E. Breck Parkman, a special group existed among the native people. This group was called the Máien. It was a secret society made up of women.

Between 1816 and 1818, ten Máien women from Olompali were baptized. This happened at the Mission San Jose de Guadalupe. Records also show that between 1814 and 1822, 250 people from Olompali were baptized.

Olompali After California Became a State

After California became part of the United States, the village's last chief was named Ynitia. His birth name was Huemox. Chief Ynitia was able to keep ownership of the land where Olompali was located. This was a very important achievement.

What Remains of Olompali Today?

An article from 1911 mentioned that items and remains from the Olompali people were still found across the county. Large mounds of shell and soil from their settlement were leveled. This happened in 1874 and 1875. The soil was then used to fill land in Marin County.