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Wondering where the German name comes from? Or how it all began for this gorgeous valley community? The earliest dwellers of Olivenhain were the San Dieguito, La Jolla and Diegueno Indians, who remained here until the Spaniards colonized the area in the 17th century. The area however remained sparsely populated into the mid 19th century when California was passed from the Mexicans to the Americans. Before then however, a Mexican farmer named Andreas Ybarra had been granted the right to use the land today known as Olivenhain as a rancho. Ybarra built his home next to a natural spring, and lived there with his wife for 18 years. He sold his ranch to American developers in the 1860s. The walls of Ybarra’s home still stand today, in Stage Coach Park, as a proud reminder of how it all began for Olivenhain real estate. Following the transition from Mexico to America in the mid 18th century, a small group of German immigrants arrived in the area and created a colony of their own. It was this small group who decided to name this beautiful Encinitas valley “Olivenhain”, the German expression for “olive grove”. At that time, Olivenhain real estate transactions consisted of acre parcels of land, a house and an allowance to use communally owned farm equipment. The colony of Olivenhain also requested that all residents speak German, not be of “questionable character” and take responsibility for building their home and making use of the land. When looking back at the era of the German colony (which was dissolved later that century), the most prominent piece of Olivenhain real estate still standing today is the historic Olivenhain Meeting Hall. The hall is today host to meetings and events. While Olivenhain real estate has shifted from a solely rural to a mainly residential community, the area still upholds a clear countryside feel and atmosphere.
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