Palos Verdes Estates, California

Palos Verdes Estates is a coastal city in Los Angeles County, California, United States, situated on the Palos Verdes Peninsula and neighboring Rancho Palos Verdes and Rolling Hills Estates. The city was master-planned by the noted American landscape architect and planner Frederick Law Olmsted Jr. The city is located along the Southern California coastline of the Pacific Ocean.

Palos Verdes Estates, California
City
Clockwise: Malaga Cove Plaza; Plaza archway; Malaga Cove Library
Seal
Location of Palos Verdes Estates in Los Angeles County, California
Palos Verdes Estates, California Location in the United States
Coordinates: 33°47′13″N 118°23′48″W
Country	United States
State	California
County	Los Angeles
Incorporated	December 20, 1939[1]
Government
• Type	Council–manager[2]
• Mayor	Dawn Murdock
• Mayor Pro Tem	Victoria Lozzi
• City Council	Jim Roos David McGowan Michael Kemps
Area [3]
• Total	4.77 sq mi (12.36 km2)
• Land	4.77 sq mi (12.36 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)  0.01%
Elevation [4]	210 ft (64 m)
Population  (2020)[5]
• Total	13,347
• Density	2,800/sq mi (1,100/km2)
Time zone	UTC−08:00 (PST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−07:00 (PDT)
ZIP Code	90274[6]
Area codes	310/424
FIPS code	06-55380
GNIS feature IDs	1652770, 2411363
Website	www.pvestates.org

The population was 13,347 at the 2020 census, a slight decrease from its 2010 population of 13,438. Palos Verdes Estates is one of the wealthiest cities in the United States. The 90274 ZIP code (covering the cities of Palos Verdes Estates and Rolling Hills) is considered some of the most exclusive and expensive neighborhoods in the United States.^[7][8] The city is also known for its high-performing school district, hiking trails, and oceanfront properties.^[9][10][11]

History

Manuel Domínguez, a signer of the Californian Constitution and owner of Rancho San Pedro, which included all of Palos Verdes.

In 1846, Rancho de los Palos Verdes was separated from Rancho San Pedro and granted to José Loreto Sepúlveda (shown) and Juan Capistrano Sepúlveda.

Palos Verdes Estates was established as a planned community in 1923, with 3,200 acres (1,300 ha) carved out of the former Rancho Palos Verdes property of over 16,000 acres (6,500 ha). Frank Vanderlip established both a land syndicate holding the Palos Verdes Peninsula, and a real estate development trust for the Palos Verdes Estates subdivision.^[12] The Commonwealth Trust Company filed the Palos Verdes Protective Restrictions in Los Angeles County in 1923. These restrictions established rules for the developer and all land owners.^[13] The developer was required to set aside half of the land for common use, including roads and parks, but also to build bridle paths, a golf course, and retain several miles of coastline free of development.^[14][15] No less than ninety percent of the remaining land was required to be used for single-family homes.^[15]

The designers of Palos Verdes Estates, Frederick Law Olmsted Jr. and Charles Cheney, used deed restrictions as a method of controlling development of the subdivision, even after many of the lots would have already been sold.^[16] The deed restrictions prohibited nuisance businesses, such as polluting industries, but also bars and cemeteries. The deed restrictions also included an exclusionary racial covenant which forbid an owner from selling or renting a house to anyone who wasn't white. They were also not permitted to have African-Americans on their property with the exception of chauffeurs, gardeners, and domestic servants. The "sundown rule" was strictly in effect, and it wasn't until 1948 when such restrictions were declared unconstitutional. Yet, it took 20 more years until the Fair Housing Act was passed in 1968 for the reality of the civil rights protections to take hold.^[17] An art jury reviewed all building plans, regulating any structure in regard to style, material, and even small details like color and the pitch of the roof.^[18] The construction of fences and hedges were subject to evaluation by the art jury.^[19][20]

The city's oldest building is La Venta Inn built in 1923 as a sales office for Vanderlip and his business associates. Other buildings were erected mostly around the shopping area in Malaga Cove. Palos Verdes Estates was finally incorporated in 1939. The Malaga Cove Plaza building and the Palos Verdes Public Library, were designed by Pasadena architect Myron Hunt, and was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1995. The Neptune fountain situated in the center of Malaga Cove Plaza is faithful replica of the original bronze Fontana del Nettuno designed by Italian artist Tommaso Laureti and erected in Bologna, Italy in 1563.^[21]

Geography

Lower Malaga Cove and RAT Beach in PVE.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 4.8 square miles (12 km²), over 99% of it land. The city is bordered by Torrance to the north and east, Rancho Palos Verdes to the south, and Rolling Hills Estates to the southeast.

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1940	987		—
1950	1,963		98.9%
1960	9,564		387.2%
1970	13,631		42.5%
1980	14,376		5.5%
1990	13,512		−6.0%
2000	13,340		−1.3%
2010	13,438		0.7%
2020	13,347		−0.7%
U.S. Decennial Census[22]

2010

The Neighborhood Church.

The 2010 United States Census^[23] reported that Palos Verdes Estates had a population of 13,438. The population density was 2,814.8 inhabitants per square mile (1,086.8/km²). The racial makeup of Palos Verdes Estates was 10,346 (77.0%) White (73.4% Non-Hispanic White),^[24] 161 (1.2%) African American, 21 (0.2%) Native American, 2,322 (17.3%) Asian, 8 (0.1%) Pacific Islander, 94 (0.7%) from other races, and 486 (3.6%) from two or more races. There were 631 people (4.7%) of Hispanic or Latino origin, of any race.

The Census reported that 13,421 people (99.9% of the population) lived in households, 17 (0.1%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 0 (0%) were institutionalized.

There were 5,066 households, out of which 1,686 (33.3%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 3,649 (72.0%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 296 (5.8%) had a female householder with no husband present, 138 (2.7%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 91 (1.8%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 26 (0.5%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 848 households (16.7%) were made up of individuals, and 534 (10.5%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.65. There were 4,083 families (80.6% of all households); the average family size was 2.97.

The population was spread out, with 3,113 people (23.2%) under the age of 18, 588 people (4.4%) aged 18 to 24, 1,787 people (13.3%) aged 25 to 44, 4,702 people (35.0%) aged 45 to 64, and 3,248 people (24.2%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 49.9 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.0 males.

There were 5,283 housing units at an average density of 1,106.6 per square mile (427.3/km²), of which 4,496 (88.7%) were owner-occupied, and 570 (11.3%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 0.7%; the rental vacancy rate was 5.6%. 11,958 people (89.0% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 1,463 people (10.9%) lived in rental housing units.

According to the 2010-2014 U.S. Census, the median income for a household in Palos Verdes Estates was $171,328. The per capita income for the city was $87,408.

2000

As of the census^[25] of 2000, there were 13,340 people, 4,993 households, and 4,119 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,784.9 inhabitants per square mile (1,075.3/km²). There were 5,202 housing units at an average density of 1,086.0 per square mile (419.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 78.3% White, 17.1% Asian, 2.0% African American, 0.1% Native American, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 0.6% from other races, and 2.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.8% of the population.

There were 4,993 households, out of which 32.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 75.7% were married couples living together, 4.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 17.5% were non-families. 15.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.67 and the average family size was 2.96.

Malaga Cove Plaza was built in a Spanish Renaissance style in 1925.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 23.2% under the age of 18, 4.1% from 18 to 24, 19.8% from 25 to 44, 33.0% from 45 to 64, and 19.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 47 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.8 males.

Neptune Fountain, Malaga Cove Plaza

Government and infrastructure

Public safety

Palos Verdes Estates is the only city on the Palos Verdes Peninsula to have its own police department (the other three peninsula cities contract with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, using the station in nearby Lomita). The department currently has 25 officers. These officers are assigned to different divisions such as traffic, patrol and detectives. The city also has its own dispatch center and jail. Both are staffed 24 hours a day. The current Police Chief is Luke Hellinga. ^[26]

Fire prevention and paramedic response services are provided by the Los Angeles County Fire Department with engine company firehouse facilities located within the city limits.

The Los Angeles County Department of Health Services operates the Torrance Health Center in Harbor Gateway, Los Angeles, near Torrance and serving Palos Verdes Estates.^[27]

Starting around 1990, the Palos Verdes Estates Police Department was criticized for not taking steps to stop harassment by the Lunada Bay Boys group of surfers.^[28][29] Palos Verdes Estates Police Chief Jeff Kepley has acknowledged that officers in his department "may have relationships with surfers accused of tormenting outsiders".^[30] In March 2016, lawsuits were filed by several non-local surfers against the city of Palos Verdes Estates, alleging that the city police ignored the harassment and never investigated or punished the perpetrators.^[31][32] In September 2024, the city settled the lawsuit and agreed to, among other things, have the police department begin investigating claims of harassment. The city also agreed to pay the plaintiff's attorney fees, estimated at between $1M and $4M.^[31][33]

County, state, and federal representation

In the state legislature Palos Verdes Estates is located in the 26th Senate District, represented by Democrat Ben Allen, and in the 66th Assembly District, represented by Democrat Al Muratsuchi.^[34]

In the United States House of Representatives, Palos Verdes Estates is in California's 36th congressional district, represented by Democrat Ted Lieu.^[35][36][37]

The United States Postal Service Palos Verdes Estates Post Office is located in Suite 102 at 2516 Via Tejon.^[38]

Politics

Palos Verdes Estates was a mostly Republican jurisdiction in the 20th century and early 21st century, but voted for Hillary Clinton and Joe Biden in the 2016 and 2020 presidential elections. ^[39][40]

Education

Primary and secondary schools

Public schools

The city is served by the Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District. A previous The Washington Post study ranked the nearby Palos Verdes Peninsula High School (the "Panthers"; enrollment 2,400) as the #8 best among public and private high schools in the United States.^[41] U.S. News & World Report recently academically ranks it # 89 among 18,500 U.S. high schools, and Newsweek ranks it # 146. In 2014, thedailybeast.com ranked the two area high schools as the 44th and 121st best high schools in the country.^[10]

Palos Verdes Peninsula High School also annually honors the largest collection of National Merit Scholar recipients (usually 50–60) enrolled in a U.S. high school in any year. In any given year there is routinely a dozen-way or more tie for the valedictorian (highest grade point average) honors in the graduating class.^[42] The smaller enrollment Palos Verdes High School (the "Sea Kings"; enrollment 1,900) achieved the same API score as Palos Verdes Peninsula High School (898). Both schools' students and faculties in science and computer science curricula are participants in national robotic engineering advancement, and have competed against universities (Caltech, Stanford, Princeton, Cornell) and defense contractor firms in government-sponsored robotic science application challenges (example: The Sea Kings competed in the 2005 DARPA Grand Challenge; the only U.S. high school to do so).^[43]

Private schools

Chadwick School is another well known school in the area. It is a K-12 independent, nonsectarian school which was established in 1935.

In 1992 the International Bilingual School, a Japanese preparatory school for grades K-9, moved to Palos Verdes Estates.^[44] By 2002 the PVUSD had filed suit to force the International Bilingual School to leave the property that the school was located in. The PVUSD owned the school building.^[45]

Public libraries

The Palos Verdes Library District operates the Malaga Cove Library in Palos Verdes Estates.^[46]

Notable people

• Matt Barnes (born 1980) – Forward for the Golden State Warriors (born in Santa Clara, California)
• Chester Bennington (1976–2017)  – Musician and lead singer of Linkin Park (Originally from Phoenix, Arizona)
• David Benoit (born 1953) – Musician (born in Bakersfield, California)
• Robert DeLeo (born 1966) – Bassist and co-founder of Stone Temple Pilots^[47] (Originally from Montclair, New Jersey)
• Bill Laimbeer (born 1957) – American basketball player (Detroit Pistons) - Originally from Boston, Massachusetts
• Daniel Levitin (born 1957) – Best-selling author, neuroscientist, musician (born in San Francisco, California)
• Matt Manfredi (born 1971) - American screenwriter (born and raised in Palos Verdes Estates)
• Randy Nauert (1945-2019) – Bassist and co-founder of The Challengers^[48] (born and raised in Palos Verdes Estates)
• Donald Peterman (1932–2011) – Academy Award-nominated cinematographer^[49] (born in Los Angeles, California)
• Christen Press (born 1988) – American soccer forward and World Cup champion^[50][51] (born in Los Angeles, California)
• Shahbudin Rahimtoola (1931–2018^[52]) – Cardiologist (Originally from Bombay, India)
• Anderson Silva (born 1975) – UFC Middleweight Champion^[53] (Originally from São Paulo, SP, Brazil)
• Gary Wright (1943-2023) – Musician (Originally from Cresskill, New Jersey)

See also

• Greater Los Angeles portal

• List of sundown towns in the United States

References

1. "California Cities by Incorporation Date". California Association of Local Agency Formation Commissions. Archived from the original (Word) on November 3, 2014. Retrieved August 25, 2014.
2. "Roadmap to City Services". Palos Verdes Estates. Archived from the original on May 12, 2015. Retrieved January 30, 2015.
3. "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on August 26, 2022. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
4. "Palos Verdes Estates". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved October 13, 2014.
5. "Palos Verdes Estates (city) QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 28, 2022.
6. "USPS - ZIP Code Lookup - Find a ZIP+ 4 Code By City Results". Archived from the original on September 29, 2007. Retrieved January 18, 2007.
7. Woolsey, Matt. "In Pictures: Most Expensive ZIP Codes". Forbes. Archived from the original on August 12, 2017. Retrieved September 7, 2017.
8. "Richest Cities in California". PropertyClub. Archived from the original on December 8, 2023. Retrieved October 24, 2023.
9. "Untitled1". February 6, 2004. Archived from the original on February 6, 2004. Retrieved July 20, 2017.
10. Beast, The Daily (August 27, 2014). "America's Top High Schools 2014". The Daily Beast. Retrieved July 20, 2017.
11. Fry, Hannah; Shalby, Colleen; Cosgrove, Jaclyn (May 15, 2019). "Racist 'promposal' shows disconnect between affluent Palos Verdes Estates and the rest of L.A." Los Angeles Times. Retrieved May 16, 2019.
12. Robert M. Fogelson (2005). Bourgeois Nightmares: suburbia, 1870-1930. New Haven: Yale University Press, p.5,10.
13. Robert M. Fogelson (2005). Bourgeois Nightmares: suburbia, 1870-1930. New Haven: Yale University Press, p.14.
14. Robert M. Fogelson (2005). Bourgeois Nightmares: suburbia, 1870-1930. New Haven: Yale University Press, p.11-12.
15. Kenneth T. Jackson (1985). Crabgrass Frontier: the suburbanization of the United States, New York: Columbia University Press, p.179-180.
16. Marc A. Weiss (1987). The Rise of the Community Builders: the American real estate industry and urban planning, p.70.
17. Creason, Glen (August 27, 2019). "An Old Brochure Reveals How the Palos Verdes Peninsula Became a Massive Planned Community". Los Angeles Magazine. Archived from the original on August 24, 2020. Retrieved September 1, 2020.
18. Lemos, Pedro J. (May 1929). "Palos Verdes Estates, California". The American Magazine of Art. 20 (5): 296–298. JSTOR 23930126.
19. Robert M. Fogelson (2005). Bourgeois Nightmares: suburbia, 1870-1930. New Haven: Yale University Press, p.14-18.
20. "PV Homes Association, Art Jury Roles: Common Miraleste Restriction Violations Pointed Out". Palos Verdes Peninsula News. October 21, 1965. Archived from the original on March 29, 2023. Retrieved March 29, 2023.
21. Gnerre, Sam (August 20, 2019). "South Bay History: Fig leaf or not, the Neptune Fountain has been a Malaga Cove icon since 1930". The Daily Breeze. Archived from the original on July 31, 2024. Retrieved July 31, 2024.
22. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Archived from the original on April 26, 2015. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
23. "2010 Census Interactive Population Search: CA - Palos Verdes Estates city". U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on April 12, 2015. Retrieved July 12, 2014.
24. "Palos Verdes Estates (city), California". Archived from the original on July 2, 2012.
25. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on December 27, 1996. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
26. unknown, unkown (July 31, 2024). "Police Department". www.pvestates.org. Archived from the original on July 31, 2024. Retrieved July 31, 2024.
27. "Torrance Health Center Archived February 1, 2015, at the Wayback Machine." Los Angeles County Department of Health Services. Retrieved on March 18, 2010.
28. Milena, Diana (Defendant); Ponce, Frank (Palos Verdes Resident) (October 4, 2016). Both Sides of Lunada Bay Localism Lawsuit Speak Out (Short video). Palos Verdes Estates: The Inertia.
29. Therolf, Garrett (September 15, 2017). "Surfer gang harassment allegations dismissed by Palos Verdes officials, records show". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 15, 2017.
30. "Probe finds 'hundreds' could have known about foiled Bay Boys sting operation". Daily Breeze. August 5, 2017. Retrieved September 15, 2017.
31. "Bay Boys surf gang allegedly blocked access to Lunada Bay. Now, Palos Verdes Estates promises big changes" Clara Harter 21 September 2024 Los Angeles Times https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2024-09-21/bay-boys-lawsuit-settled-access-to-lunada-bay
32. "Notorious Palos Verdes Surfer Gang Gets Sued, Accused Of Sexual Harassment " Matt Tinoco March 29, 2016 LAist https://laist.com/news/surfers-sued
33. Abcarian, Robin (April 23, 2023). "Column: Is the reign of the surf thugs at Lunada Bay finally coming to an end? Looks like it". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved May 2, 2023.
34. "Statewide Database". UC Regents. Archived from the original on February 1, 2015. Retrieved November 2, 2014.
35. "California's 36th Congressional District - Representatives & District Map". Civic Impulse, LLC.
36. "Our District". Congressman Ted Lieu. December 4, 2012. Archived from the original on February 27, 2023. Retrieved February 27, 2023.
37. "California's 36th Congressional District - CA-36 Representatives & District Map". GovTrack.us. Archived from the original on February 27, 2023. Retrieved February 27, 2023.
38. "Post Office Location - PALOS VERDES ESTATES." United States Postal Service. Retrieved on December 6, 2008.
39. https://elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov/sov/2016-general/ssov/pres-by-political-districts.pdf
40. https://elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov/sov/2020-general/ssov/complete-ssov.pdf
41. "Untitled1". Archived from the original on February 6, 2004. Retrieved July 20, 2017.
42. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on September 2, 2009. Retrieved March 28, 2010.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
43. Malik, Tarig. "Robot Road Warriors : Unmanned Vehicles to Race for $1 Million in Darpa Contest". Space.com. Archived from the original on February 23, 2010. Retrieved September 25, 2010.
44. Hillinger, Charles. "Students Get a Japanese Education at 2 Palos Verdes Schools Archived June 3, 2024, at the Wayback Machine ." Los Angeles Times. September 29, 1994. Retrieved on March 6, 2014.
45. Chan, Erin. "Museum Files Suit to Block Its Ouster by School District Archived May 1, 2023, at the Wayback Machine ." Los Angeles Times. July 18, 2002. Retrieved on March 6, 2014. "The museum building is on the site of a closed intermediate school. The property also is home to two private schools: the International Bilingual School and Rolling Hills Preparatory. The school board has filed suit to evict the International Bilingual School. Rolling Hills Preparatory also will have to leave eventually, Smith said."
46. "Hours & Locations Archived April 11, 2010, at the Wayback Machine." Palos Verdes Library District. Retrieved on March 28, 2010.
47. "Stone Temple Pilots bassist Robert DeLeo finds peace and passion on the California coast. - TerraneaLife". TerraneaLife. December 1, 2015. Archived from the original on June 9, 2016. Retrieved April 24, 2017.
48. Ritz, Danny (August 10, 2017). "'Surfbeat' with Randy Nauert: Musical Guest to Speak at Final SOPF Lecture Series". San Clemente Times. Archived from the original on January 25, 2021. Retrieved April 21, 2020.
49. "Perry Moore, 'Narnia' series executive producer, dies at 39; Don Peterman, Oscar-nominated cinematographer, dies at 79; Nancy Carr, network TV publicist, dies at 50". Los Angeles Times. February 22, 2011. Archived from the original on February 24, 2011. Retrieved February 23, 2011.
50. Mikula, Jeremy (May 1, 2015). "Chicago Red Stars' Christen Press embraces soccer, World Cup challenge". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on July 1, 2016. Retrieved June 1, 2016.
51. "Christen Press". U.S. Soccer. Archived from the original on April 18, 2016. Retrieved June 1, 2016.
52. "Dr Shahbudin Rahimtoola: In Memoriam of a Distinguished Cardiologist". January 7, 2019. Archived from the original on July 2, 2020. Retrieved January 12, 2021.
53. Beale, Lauren (July 1, 2011). "Anderson da Silva buys Palos Verdes Estate home". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on July 5, 2011. Retrieved July 17, 2011.

External links

• Media related to Palos Verdes Estates, California at Wikimedia Commons
• Official website
• Palos Verdes travel guide from Wikivoyage