Orinda is an affluent city in Contra Costa County, California, set in the rolling, oak-studded hills of the East Bay, just east of Berkeley and Oakland. With a 2020 census population of about 19,500 spread across roughly 12.9 square miles, it is a low-density, largely residential community that pairs a semi-rural atmosphere with direct access to the urban Bay Area. The city is part of the "Lamorinda" area, the trio of communities — Lafayette, Moraga, and Orinda — that share a distinct East Bay hillside identity and a strong reputation for public education. Orinda's schools are a central part of its appeal: students attend the Orinda Union School District through eighth grade, then continue to the Acalanes Union High School District, which serves Orinda and its neighboring communities and is known for high-performing, college-preparatory high schools. Orinda's downtown is compact and split by Highway 24 into two districts — the Village District and the Theater District — the latter anchored by the historic Orinda Theatre. The Orinda BART station sits at the edge of downtown on the system's Yellow Line, offering direct rail service to downtown Oakland and San Francisco, a major reason the city is popular with commuters who value both hillside living and transit convenience. The surrounding landscape defines daily life. Homes range from cottages and renovated ranches near the center to large hillside residences with panoramic views, set among neighborhoods such as Sleepy Hollow, Glorietta, and the Orinda Country Club area. Recreation is plentiful: Briones Regional Park borders the city with miles of trails for hiking, biking, and horseback riding, while Lafayette Reservoir and the East Bay Municipal Utility District's San Pablo and Briones reservoir trails provide additional open space. Orinda offers a blend of scenic seclusion, top-tier schools, and Bay Area connectivity that few communities can match.