Ojai ( OH-hy; Chumash: ’Awhaỳ) is a city in Ventura County, California. Located in the Ojai Valley, it is northwest of Los Angeles and east of Santa Barbara. The valley is part of the east–west trending Western Transverse Ranges and is about 10 miles (16 km) long by 3 miles (5 km) wide and divided into a lower and an upper valley, each of similar size, surrounded by hills and mountains. The population was 7,461 at the 2010 census, down from 7,862 at the 2000 census.
Ojai is a tourism destination known for its boutique hotels, recreation opportunities, hiking, and farmers' market of local organic agriculture. It has small businesses specializing in local and ecologically friendly art, design, and home improvement. Chain stores are prohibited by city ordinance to encourage local small business development and keep the town unique.
The name Ojai is derived from the Mexican-era Rancho Ojai, which in turn took its name from the Ventureño Chumash word 'Awha'y, meaning "Moon". The city's self-styled nickname is "Shangri-La" referencing the natural environment of this health and spirituality-focused region as well as the mystical sanctuary of the 1937 film adaptation of James Hilton's novel Lost Horizon.


The area was originally inhabited by the Chumash, Ventureño and Simi tribes, who had a number of settlements in the valley including "Ojai" (Chumash: 'Awhaỳ), "Piru" (Chumash: P'irú) and "Sikyatki". The site of Ojai's first permanent residence, Mission San Buenaventura, was founded in 1782. A fort building later that year marked the establishment of an agricultural community. In 1807 much of the valley fell under land grant to Colonel Manuel Jimeno; he established Rancho San Miguelito.

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