In the South Bay area of Los Angeles,
an address on "The Hill" is a home on the Palos Verdes Peninsula-a terraced
prow of land at the southwestern tip of Los Angeles County that is rural by
Southland standards, and affluent by any standard.
Palos Verdes is the Spanish name for the
Indian term "green tree." Keeping true to its name, the early planners of
the Peninsula showed great vision in establishing ground rules for development
that have protected Palos Verdes from the massive overdevelopment that marks
much of the Los Angeles basin. The Palos Verdes Peninsula is a 27+ square-mile
area with strict zoning codes that allow no billboards, no industry and no
unwanted construction to crowd its open spaces, pollute its air, or detract
from its panoramic views. The phenomenal popularity of the Palos Verdes Hills
as a place for relaxed living is classical community style has brought it
worldwide prominence. About 72,000 persons live here today.
The 27.3 square miles (about 16,700
acres) of Palos Verdes Peninsula contain some of the most spectacular
topography to be found anywhere in the world. Its beauty extends breath-taking
panorama of the Pacific Ocean on one side to its colorful mountain ranges on
the other, and includes a fascinating geology abounding in prehistoric fossil
remains.
Local
History
While first described in 1542 by Spanish
Explorer Juan Cabrillo, Palos Verdes Peninsula remained undisturbed and the
exclusive domain of the Gabrielino Indians, for almost three centuries. In
1827, Don Dolores Sepulveda received an original land grant to Rancho de los
Palos Verdes, which translates to "ranch of the green trees."
For the next 35 years, the 75,000
acres awarded by the Governor of Mexico California to Don Sepulveda supported
several thousand heads of cattle and a flourishing hacienda. However, through
misfortune and mishaps from 1862 to 1882, stewardship of much of this land
passed from the Sepulveda family through various mortgage holders to Jotham
Bixby of Rancho Los Cerritos.
When land values distated that his
Peninsula property could no longer be used for only cattle grazing, Bixby
leased the land to Japanese farmers for cultivating grains and vegetables. By
1913, a consortium of New York investors owned most of the Bixby
land.
Initially, these investors intended to
divide the land into large estates. The founding father of the Peninsula,
Frank Vanderlip, was one of these investors. Over the next decade, interest in
the Peninsula would wane until Vanderlip allied himself with real estate
promoter E. G. Lewis. The First Homes began to appear in 1924. During the next
fifty years the communities of Palos Verdes would begin to take
shape.
Palos Verdes
Estates
Situated on the western side of the
Peninsula with the Pacific Ocean at its doorstep, Palos Verdes Estates,
incorporated in 1939, is the oldest residential community. With 849 acres
dedicated as permanent parkland, it justifiably enjoys a reputation as a garden
suburb. The Palos Verdes Homes Association is responsible for interpreting and
enforcing the standards that apply to over 5,000 buildings sites. Only 200 of
these sites remain undeveloped. The quaint and elegant architecture of Malaga
Cove Plaza has been used by many a producer for a scenic setting.
Rancho Palos
Verdes
Rancho Palos Verdes, on the Peninsula's
southwest side, was incorporated in 1973 and is the newest and largest
municipality. Close to 41,000 residents live in single family and multiple
family dwellings in a little more than 13.6 square miles. The 7.5 square miles
of coastline feature striking topography-quiet coves and beaches, protected by
steep cliffs.
Rolling
Hills
Rolling Hills is the oldest city and the
smallest-roughly 2,000 residents. This exclusive community is located inland,
just west of Palos Verdes Drive North and access is controlled by security
guards at three entrance gates. Many experts believe that Rolling Hills has the
high income in the state-and the neighborhood reflects this stature.
Rolling Hills
Estates
Rolling Hills Estates is the larger, less
affluent sister of Rolling Hills. It is located east of Palos Verdes Drive
North and actually shares borders with all three cities. Both Rolling Hills and
Rolling Hills Estates are "horse country" and between them boast about 57 miles
of horse trails-most of them. Approximately 9,500 people call Rolling Hills
Estates home-as do the South Coast Botanic Garden and the privately owned
Rolling Hills Country Club. This city boasts a mile-long shopping complex, the
Peninsula Center area. Condominiums nearby Peninsula Center provide more
housing in this Peninsula city.
Academy Hill and
Westfield
Academy Hill and Westfield-two
unincorporated "islands"-are located off Palos Verdes Drive North on the
northern side of the Peninsula. Westfield, the more populated of the two, has
closed to 300 homes in a rural environment, which is protected for equestrian
interests. Academy Hill has few that 200 homes and is only about 21 years
old.
- NUMBER1EXPERTS™ 
