Occidental is unique for its high concentration of visionaries and famous artists throughout its recent history, and was the hub of community-centered social movements in the late 1960s and early 1970s, giving rise to nearby communes such as Morningstar, Wheeler Ranch, and Star Mountain. There was a point in the early 1990s when the town was also a center of the "neo-hippie" movement in Sonoma County, but high property prices and other economic pressures have since driven out the young families that fed this movement. For many years Occidental has been known for its Italian restaurants, which serve generous family-style dinners for a fixed price (following the European custom).
Learn more about this city.City of Occidental, CA official siteCounty of Occidental, CA official siteState of California official site