Rancho Palos Verdes, California

Rancho Palos Verdes is a coastal city located in south Los Angeles County, California. Incorporated on September 7, 1973, the city has a population of 42,287 as reported in the 2020 United States Census.[7] Rancho Palos Verdes sits atop the bluffs of the Palos Verdes Peninsula, neighboring three other cities in the Palos Verdes Hills, namely Palos Verdes Estates, Rolling Hills, and Rolling Hills Estates.

Rancho Palos Verdes, California
City
Rancho Palos Verdes Coastline
Rancho Palos Verdes Coastline
Flag of Rancho Palos Verdes, California
Flag
Official seal of Rancho Palos Verdes, California
Seal
Nickname(s): 
RPV, PV
Location of the City of Rancho Palos Verdes in Los Angeles County, California
Location of the City of Rancho Palos Verdes in Los Angeles County, California
Rancho Palos Verdes, California is located in the United States
Rancho Palos Verdes, California
Rancho Palos Verdes, California
Location in the United States
Coordinates: 33°45′30″N 118°21′51″W
Country United States
State California
CountyLos Angeles
IncorporatedSeptember 7, 1973[1]
Founded byJuan Jose Sepulveda
Named for“Ranch Of Green Sticks”
Government
 • MayorBarbara Ferraro [2]
 • Mayor Pro TemJohn Cruikshank
 • City CouncilEric Alegria
David Bradley
Paul Seo
 • City ManagerKarina Bañales
 • Deputy City ManagerAra Mihranian
Area
[3]
 • Total13.47 sq mi (34.89 km2)
 • Land13.47 sq mi (34.89 km2)
 • Water0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)  0%
Elevation
[4]
220 ft (67 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total42,287
 • Density3,082.69/sq mi (1,190.27/km2)
Time zoneUTC-8 (Pacific)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-7 (PDT)
ZIP code
90275[5]
Area code(s)310/424[6]
FIPS code06-59514
GNIS feature IDs255967, 2411516
Websiterpvca.gov

History

Early history

By 1882, ownership of the land had passed from the Sepulveda family through various mortgage holders to Jotham Bixby of Rancho Los Cerritos, who leased the land to Japanese farmers.[8] Japanese families farmed the most southern slopes, growing fields of beans, peas, and tomatoes in the area. Barley, hay, and grain were grown on the dryer northern slopes.[9]

History (1900s)

Frank Vanderlip, known as the "Father of Palos Verdes", representing a group of wealthy east coast investors, purchased 25 square miles of land on the Palos Verdes Peninsula in 1913 for $1.5 million.[10] The Olmsted Brothers contracted Koebig & Koebig to perform engineering work, including surveying and road planning.[11]

By 1921, Vanderlip had lost interest in overseeing development of Palos Verdes and enticed Edward Gardner Lewis to take over the project with an option to buy the property for $5 million. Lewis was an experienced developer, but lacked the capital to purchase and develop Palos Verdes. Instead, he established a real estate trust, capitalizing the project through the sale of notes which were convertible to Palos Verdes property. Under the terms of the trust, Lewis sought to raise $30 million for infrastructure improvements, effectively borrowing from investors for both the land and the improvements. He succeeded in attracting $15 million in capital, but far short of the $35 million needed. The trust dissolved and ownership of Palos Verdes reverted to Vanderlip.[12]

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 13.5 square miles (35 km2), virtually all of which is land.

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
198036,577—
199041,65913.9%
200041,145−1.2%
201041,6431.2%
202042,2871.5%
U.S. Decennial Census[13]

2010

The 2010 United States Census[14] reported that Rancho Palos Verdes had a population of 41,643. The population density was 3,092.6 inhabitants per square mile (1,194.1/km2). The racial makeup of Rancho Palos Verdes was 25,698 (61.7%) White (56.0% Non-Hispanic White),[15] 1,015 (2.4%) African American, 80 (0.2%) Native American, 12,077 (29.0%) Asian, 41 (0.1%) Pacific Islander, 748 (1.8%) from other races, and 1,984 (4.8%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3,556 persons (8.5%).

The census reported that 41,303 people (99.2% of the population) lived in households, 313 (0.8%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 27 (0.1%) were institutionalized.

There were 15,561 households, of which 5,187 (33.3%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 10,465 (67.3%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 1,218 (7.8%) had a female householder with no husband present, and 460 (3.0%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 304 (2.0%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships and 85 (0.5%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 2,936 households (18.9%) were made up of individuals, and 1,810 (11.6%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.65. There were 12,143 families (78.0% of all households); the average family size was 3.03.

The population was diverse in age terms, with 9,248 people (22.2%) under the age of 18, 2,352 people (5.6%) aged 18 to 24, 7,045 people (16.9%) aged 25 to 44, 13,344 people (32.0%) aged 45 to 64, and 9,654 people (23.2%) aged 65 or older. The median age was 47.8 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.3 males. For every 100 females aged 18 and over, there were 90.1 males.

There were 16,179 housing units, at an average density of 1,201.5 per square mile (463.9/km2), of which 12,485 (80.2%) were owner occupied and 3,076 (19.8%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 0.6%; the rental vacancy rate was 6.4%. 33,015 people (79.3% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units, and 8,288 people (19.9%) lived in rental housing units.

According to the 2010 United States Census, Rancho Palos Verdes had a median household income of $118,893, with 4.5% of the population living below the federal poverty line.[15]

2020

Since 2020, population has decreased to 40,948. It is the 205th largest city in California and the 955th largest city in the United States. Rancho Palos Verdes is currently declining at a rate of -0.71% annually and its population has decreased by -1.67% since the most recent census in 2010. Rancho Palos Verdes reached its highest population of 42,401 in 2015.

Economy

Top employers

According to the City's 2020 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report,[16] the top employers in the city were:

# Employer Employees
1 Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District 1,071
2 Terranea Resort Hotel 534
3 Canterbury 169
4 Belmont Village 168
5 Marymount California University 139
6 Trump National Golf Club 138
7 City of Rancho Palos Verdes 122
8 Ralphs 117
9 Green Hills Memorial Park 72
10 Los Verdes Golf Course 56

Arts and culture

Library

The Palos Verdes Library District operates three libraries on the Palos Verdes Peninsula.

Point Vicente Lighthouse
Point Vicente Lighthouse

The Point Vicente Lighthouse, built in 1926, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It is 67 feet (20 m) tall and stands on a cliff with a height of 130 feet (40 m).[17] It is between Point Loma Lighthouse to the south and Point Conception Lighthouse to the north.

Wayfarers Chapel

Wayfarers Chapel, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, was designed by Lloyd Wright, and built between 1949 and 1951. It is noted for its organic architecture and location on cliffs above the Pacific Ocean. It is part of the Swedenborgian Church of North America and serves as a memorial to the 18th century scientist and theosopher, Emanuel Swedenborg.[18]

Portuguese Bend and Palos Verdes Nature Preserve
Portuguese Bend

The Portuguese Bend region is the largest area of natural vegetation remaining on the Palos Verdes Peninsula. The Portuguese Bend landslide, one of the largest continuously moving landslides in North America, is located along the southern coastal area. In 2009, the city of Rancho Palos Verdes, and the Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy, acquired 2 square miles (5.2 km2) of this region to create the Palos Verdes Nature Preserve, the largest preserve of coastal open space north of San Diego and south of Santa Barbara.

In 2023, the Rancho Palos Verdes City Council declared a local emergency due to increasing land movement following landslides.[19] This follows a more than $23 million grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), which the city received earlier in the year to help mitigate the effects of the land movement in the area.[20]

Terranea Resort

The site of the former Marineland of the Pacific (1954–87) was redeveloped in 1998 and is now occupied by the Terranea Resort.[21]

Trump National Golf Club
Trump National Golf Club

Trump National Golf Club Los Angeles is a public golf club located in Rancho Palos Verdes. The course was designed by Pete Dye and Donald J. Trump Signature Design.[22] It is owned by The Trump Organization. Originally owned by the Ocean Trails Golf Club, the area suffered a landslide where the 18th hole slid toward the Pacific Ocean. The Ocean Trails Golf Club subsequently went into bankruptcy, and on November 26, 2002, The Trump Organization bought the property for $27 million, with the intention of completely redesigning and rebuilding the course.[23]

On January 20, 2006, the 18-hole Trump National Golf Club opened in Los Angeles. That summer, the golf club erected a 70-foot flagpole for an American flag; critics claimed it was illegal, but the golf club was allowed to retain it after a City Council vote. [24]

Salvation Army College for Officer Training

The Salvation Army Territorial Headquarters as well as their department for officer training is a 2-year college located on the former Marymount College Hawthorne Campus built in 1960 in Rancho Palos Verdes. It is also the administrative unit of The Salvation Army that serves the thirteen Western United States, the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia and Guam.

Peafowls, Peacocks, and Butterflies
Palos Verdes Blue Butterfly

As with other cities on the Palos Verdes Peninsula, the city has had to find ways to control the population of wild peafowl. Frank A. Vanderlip spearheaded a group that bought 16,000 acres (6,500 ha) and began development of the peninsula. He is credited with introducing the birds here around 1910.[25] The city has an abundance of peafowl.[26]

At Hesse Park in 1982, the city of Rancho Palos Verdes began construction that destroyed one of the largest remaining population of endangered butterfly, the Palos Verdes blue (Glaucopsyche lygdamus palosverdesensis). This resulted in a lawsuit against the city that was ultimately dismissed for the reason that a city as a legal entity could not be held responsible.[27]

Government

Rancho Palos Verdes is a General Law city, meaning that it has no charter. The City elects five council members at large to four-year terms in staggered, non-partisan elections on the first Tuesday in November of every odd-numbered year. The mayor and mayor pro tempore are elected annually by the residing city council members.

As of June 16, 2023, the city council consists of:[2]

  • Mayor: Barbara Ferraro
  • Mayor Pro Tem: John Cruikshank
  • Councilmember: Eric Alegria
  • Councilmember: David L. Bradley
  • Councilmember: Paul Seo

Councilmember Alegria and Mayor Pro Tem Cruikshank have served on the Rancho Palos Verdes City Council since November 2017. Councilmembers Bradley and Mayor Ferraro, (Ferraro previously served as mayor over a decade ago then left the council upon finishing her term of office before running again in 2019), were recently re-elected in November 2022.

As outlined in the City's Municipal Code, the city council hires a city manager to manage the day-to-day operation of the City and its staff. The current city manager is Ara Mihranian.

County, state, and federal representation

In the County of Los Angeles, Rancho Palos Verdes is located in the 4th Supervisorial District, represented by Janice Hahn.

In the California State Legislature, Rancho Palos Verdes is in the 26th Senate District, represented by Democrat María Elena Durazo, and in the 66th Assembly District, represented by Democrat Al Muratsuchi.[28]

In the United States House of Representatives, Rancho Palos Verdes is in California's 36th congressional district, represented by Democrat Ted Lieu.[29][30][31]

Education

The city is served by the Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District (PVPUSD), which includes Palos Verdes Peninsula High School and Palos Verdes High School, and the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD, in the Eastview area of the city). Children living in the Eastview neighborhood have the option of attending public school in either the PVPUSD or the LAUSD.[32] In 1992 84.5% of relevant voters voted approved Proposition Z to move the LAUSD portion to PVPUSD but Stephen E. O'Neil, a judge of the Los Angeles Superior Court, blocked the transfer.[33]

The Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District has one of the highest rated API scores in California[34] and has one of the highest average SAT scores[35][36] and one of the highest percentage of students successfully completing the Advanced Placement exams[37] in the county. The school district is one of the top preforming districts in Los Angeles County as well as in the United States.[38][39][40] As of 2023, it consistently ranks in the top five districts located in Los Angeles County and top ten in California.[41][42][43][44]

Rolling Hills Country Day School (K-8) and Chadwick School (K-12) are private schools that serve the area.

Marymount California University, a private liberal arts institution, offered bachelor's and master's degrees until it closed in August 2022. Marymount has since been replaced by UCLA South Bay, which is part of the University of California system.[45] The University of California system purchased the campus for $80 million towards the end of 2022.[46]

Infrastructure

Emergency services

Fire protection in Rancho Palos Verdes is provided by the Los Angeles County Fire Department, and ambulance transport by McCormick Ambulance Service.[47]

Rancho Palos Verdes contracts with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department for law enforcement services through a joint regional law enforcement agreement with the cities of Rolling Hills and Rolling Hills Estates. The Lomita Sheriff’s Station serves the Peninsula Region Cities, as well as the City of Lomita and the unincorporated areas of Academy Hill and Westfield.[48][49]

The Los Angeles County Department of Health Services operates the Torrance Health Center in Harbor Gateway, Los Angeles, near Torrance and serves Rancho Palos Verdes as well.[50]

Notable people

Notable people of Rancho Palos Verdes include Merrill Moses, the Olympic water polo player, who lived there. Major League Baseball pitcher Eli Morgan was born and grew up there.[51] World number one tennis player Pete Sampras grew up here from 7 years old. Top-10 tennis player Eliot Teltscher also lived there, and top-10 tennis player Taylor Fritz lives there.[52][53] Professional basketball player Shawn Weinstein is from there.[54] Christen Press, a forward for the United States women's national soccer team and two-time World Cup champion, grew up there. Professional poker player Barry Greenstein and artist John Van Hamersveld have resided in Rancho Palos Verdes.[55]

Chester Bennington of rock band Linkin Park was a longtime resident of Palos Verdes. Christopher John Boyce, a former American defense industry employee who was convicted for selling United States spy satellite secrets to the Soviet Union in the 1970s, grew up there. The author Joan Didion, lived in the Portuguese Bend Club area of Rancho Palos Verdes for a brief period of time with her husband and daughter.[56] Chris Doughty, Massachusetts politician and businessman was born and raised in Palos Verdes, and was eliminated in the primary for the 2022 Gubernatorial race for the Republican Party.[57]

Because of its scenic location and proximity to the Pacific Ocean, Rancho Palos Verdes has been the site of many films and television shows.[58]

Movies

Inception, Pirates of the Caribbean, Dunkirk, 50 First Dates, Step Brothers, Horrible Bosses 2, Twins, Charlie's Angels and the Lethal Weapon movie franchise were filmed in Rancho Palos Verdes.[59][60][61][62]

Television

Many television shows, like The O.C., Lucifer, Lethal Weapon, and Beverly Hills 90210, have been filmed on location in Rancho Palos Verdes.[58][63]

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. "City Council". Rancho Palos Verdes. Retrieved January 7, 2021.
  3. "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
  4. "Rancho Palos Verdes". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved October 11, 2014.
  5. "USPS – ZIP Code Lookup – Find a ZIP+ 4 Code By City Results". Retrieved January 18, 2007.
  6. "Number Administration System – NPA and City/Town Search Results". Archived from the original on February 5, 2012. Retrieved January 18, 2007.
  7. "2020 Census Data". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 1, 2023.
  8. Gnerre, Sam (March 2, 2010). "Bixby Ranch". South Bay History. South Bay Daily Breeze. Retrieved 12 June 2015.
  9. https://www.rpvca.gov/1415/History-of-Rancho-Palos-Verdes
  10. Robert M. Fogelson (2005). Bourgeois Nightmares: suburbia, 1870–1930 New Haven: Yale University Press, p.5-6.
  11. Robert M. Fogelson (2005). Bourgeois Nightmares: Duburbia, 1870–1930. New Haven: Yale University Press, pp. 6–8.
  12. Robert M. Fogelson (2005). Bourgeois Nightmares: Duburbia, 1870–1930. New Haven: Yale University Press, pp. 8–10.
  13. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  14. "2010 Census Interactive Population Search: CA – Rancho Palos Verdes city". U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on July 15, 2014. Retrieved July 12, 2014.
  15. "Rancho Palos Verdes (city), California".
  16. "City of Rancho Palos Verdes 2020 CAFR".
  17. Sam Gnerre (16 October 2018). "South Bay History: The Point Vicente lighthouse has served as a beacon since 1926". Daily Breeze.
  18. "Chapel History · Wayfarers Chapel · Rancho Palos Verdes, CA". Wayfarers Chapel. Retrieved 2023-10-24.
  19. Garza • •, Veronica (2023-10-06). "Land movement forces Rancho Palos Verdes to declare local emergency". NBC Los Angeles. Retrieved 2023-10-24.
  20. "Rancho Palos Verdes declares local emergency due to land movement". Daily Breeze. 2023-10-05. Retrieved 2023-10-24.
  21. "Rancho Palos Verdes Resorts | Terranea Resort - History | Southern California Luxury Resorts". Terranea Resort. Retrieved 2023-10-24.
  22. "trumpnationallosangeles.com FAQ". trumpnationallosangeles.com. Retrieved September 20, 2011.
  23. David R. Holland, Senior Writer (April 29, 2010). "Brash, bold and built by a billionaire: Trump National Golf Club Los Angeles". travelgolf.com. Retrieved September 18, 2011.
  24. "Trump Gets OK for Illegal Flagpole". 2006-09-21. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2017-10-24.
  25. Bell, Alison (2010-05-07). "L.A. Then and Now: Peacocks are one of Arcadia founder's legacies". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2019-08-12.
  26. "Peacocks Are Everywhere in Rancho Palos Verdes, and Some Residents Want Them to Stay". NBC Los Angeles. Retrieved 2021-06-07.
  27. Mattoni, R (1995). "Rediscovery of the endangered Palos Verdes blue butterfly Glaucopsyche lygdamus palosverdesensis: Journal of Research on the Lepidoptera 31(3-4)180-194".
  28. "Statewide Database". UC Regents. Archived from the original on February 1, 2015. Retrieved November 23, 2014.
  29. "California's 36th Congressional District - Representatives & District Map". Civic Impulse, LLC.
  30. "Our District". Congressman Ted Lieu. 2012-12-04. Retrieved 2023-02-27.
  31. "California's 36th Congressional District - CA-36 Representatives & District Map". GovTrack.us. Retrieved 2023-02-27.
  32. "Find Your Neighborhood School". Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District. Retrieved 26 April 2022.
  33. Kowsky, Kim (1992-11-05). "School District Reorganizations Win Handily: The breakup of South Bay Union High School District is approved. But a proposition moving control of two schools from Los Angeles to Rancho Palos Verdes is blocked by a judge". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2020-10-28.
  34. "Palos Verdes Local Educational Agency Report". California Department of Education. Archived from the original on 2011-09-28. Retrieved 2006-10-03.
  35. "School Wise Press School Snapshot: Palos Verdes Peninsula High School". School Wise Press. Archived from the original on 2006-10-24. Retrieved 2006-10-03.
  36. "Palos Verdes Schools Ranked No. 5 Best In Los Angeles". Palos Verdes, CA Patch. 2022-01-12. Retrieved 2023-10-24.
  37. "SAT, ACT and AP Test Results in California". California Department of Education. Retrieved 2006-10-03.
  38. "2024 Best School Districts in the Los Angeles Area". Niche. Retrieved 2023-10-24.
  39. "Neighborhoods With The Best School Districts In The Los Angeles Area | Neighborhoods.com | neighborhoods.com". Neighborhoods With The Best School Districts In The Los Angeles Area | Neighborhoods.com | neighborhoods.com. Retrieved 2023-10-24.
  40. "Education in Rancho Palos Verdes | Rolling Hills Montessori". Retrieved 2023-10-24.
  41. "Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District - California". Niche. Retrieved 2023-10-24.
  42. "These are the best school districts in California". KTLA. 2022-06-28. Retrieved 2023-10-24.
  43. "What are the best school districts in LA County? - the City of Los Angeles, California Forums". Homely. Retrieved 2023-10-24.
  44. "WE RATE!". pvphs.pvpusd.net. Retrieved 2023-10-24.
  45. "Former MCU campus on Palos Verdes Peninsula is now UCLA South Bay". Daily Breeze. 2023-07-14. Retrieved 2023-10-24.
  46. "UCLA expands with new sites in South Bay". UCLA. Retrieved 2023-10-24.
  47. "McCormick Ambulance Service areas
  48. "Law Enforcement | Rancho Palos Verdes, CA - Official Website". www.rpvca.gov. Retrieved 2023-10-24.
  49. "Lomita Station Archived January 23, 2010, at the Wayback Machine." Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. Retrieved on January 21, 2010.
  50. "Torrance Health Center Archived February 1, 2015, at the Wayback Machine." Los Angeles County Department of Health Services. Retrieved on March 18, 2010.
  51. "Eli Morgan - Baseball". Gonzaga University Athletics.
  52. "The Sophomore: Taylor Fritz knows that the hard work has just begun". Tennis.com.
  53. "Eliot Teltscher – One of the Greatest Jewish Tennis Players Of All Time". March 10, 2017.
  54. "Shawn Weinstein Player Profile, Maccabi Hod Hasharon, News, Stats". Eurobasket.
  55. Garrigues, Alana (March 31, 2015). "Iconic artist John van Hamersveld salutes Hermosa Beach surf culture in next downtown mural". Daily Pilot. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  56. Proffitt, Steve (1994-01-30). "LOS ANGELES TIMES INTERVIEW: John Gregory Dunne: Dominick Dunne: Experiencing L.A. Through the Eyes of the Writer". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2021-02-25.
  57. Stephanie Ebbert. "Moderate Republican Chris Doughty to enter governor's race". The Boston Globe. Retrieved 2022-02-08.
  58. "Is Palos Verdes the Movie Capital of the World? By Consultant, Author, Journalist, Speaker, and Trainer Fred Fuld III". Palos Verdes Pulse. 2023-10-12. Retrieved 2023-10-24.
  59. "Filming Locations of The Wedding Singer". Seeing-stars.com. Archived from the original on 2018-07-02. Retrieved 2018-07-02.
  60. "Horrible Bosses 2 Filming Locations". Retrieved 2023-10-24.
  61. "Filming Locations for Christopher Nolan's Inception (2010), in the UK, Paris, Los Angeles, Morocco, Japan and Alberta". The Worldwide Guide to Movie Locations. Retrieved 2023-10-24.
  62. "Palos Verdes Location Used For Hollywood Movies | Palos Verdes Source". 2016-11-09. Retrieved 2023-10-24.
  63. "The Wayfarers Chapel - A History of Film and TV". Palos Verdes Pulse. 2023-10-23. Retrieved 2023-10-24.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Rancho Palos Verdes, California.
Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Palos_Verdes.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.