| City of Rancho Palos Verdes | |
|---|---|
| — City — | |
| Aerial view of Trump National Golf Club | |
| Nickname(s): "PV" , Palos Verdes | |
| Location of Rancho Palos Verdes in Los Angeles County, California | |
| Coordinates: | |
| Country | United States |
| State | California |
| County | Los Angeles |
| Incorporated (city) | 1973-09-07[1] |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Thomas D. Long[2] |
| Area[3] | |
| • Total | 13.465 sq mi (34.875 km2) |
| • Land | 13.465 sq mi (34.874 km2) |
| • Water | 0 sq mi (0.001 km2) 0% |
| Elevation | 220 ft (67 m) |
| Population (2010) | |
| • Total | 41,643 |
| • Density | 3,092.7/sq mi (1,194.1/km2) |
| Time zone | PST (UTC-8) |
| • Summer (DST) | PDT (UTC-7) |
| ZIP Code | 90275[4] |
| Area code(s) | 310/424[5] |
| FIPS code | 06-59514 |
| GNIS feature ID | 0255967 |
| Website | http://palosverdes.com/rpv/ |
Rancho Palos Verdes (sometimes abbreviated RPV) is a city in Los Angeles County, California that was incorporated on September 7, 1973. The population was 41,643 at the 2010 census. Rancho Palos Verdes translates from Spanish as Green Mast Farm or Green Pole Farm, referring to the North American tree species Parkinsonia florida (blue palo verde).
Rancho Palos Verdes is an affluent suburb of Los Angeles. Sitting atop the Palos Verdes Hills and bluffs of the Palos Verdes Peninsula, it is known for expansive views of the Pacific Ocean. The history of Rancho Palos Verdes dates back to the Spanish explorers and the establishment of the first Spanish rancho land grant in California. Its most notable geographic features are the Palos Verdes Hills and cliffs with grand vistas of the Pacific Ocean, with views of Santa Catalina Island. Its most notorious geographic feature is the continuous landslide at Portuguese Bend, which may have been caused in part by septic runoff from homes in Rancho Palos Verdes and its neighboring communities.
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Wayfarers Chapel designed by Lloyd Wright and built between 1949 - 1951 is on the National Register of Historic Places. Point Vicente Lighthouse was built in 1926 and is also on the National Register of Historic Places. Point Vicente Interpretive Center opened in 1984 with a mission to present and interpret the unique features and history of the Palos Verdes Peninsula. The almost 10,000-square-foot (930 m2) expanded Interpretive Center, re-opened on July 15, 2006, features exhibits on the natural and cultural history of the Peninsula, with a special emphasis on the Pacific gray whale. This premier whale watch site provides spectacular opportunities to view the annual migration of the Pacific gray whale, from December through April. The former Marineland of the Pacific (1954–1987) site was re-developed and is now occupied by the Terranea Resort, which opened in June, 2009. The city is also home to Trump National golf course, one of eleven in the Trump portfolio of courses. Portuguese Bend landslide, one of the largest continuously moving landslides in North America, is located along the southern coastal area. Together with the Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy, in 2009 the city completed the acquisition of a total of two square miles of open space land, the Palos Verdes Nature Preserve, the largest such preserve of coastal open space north of San Diego and south of Santa Barbara.
The Salvation Army's School for Officer Training is also located in Rancho Palos Verdes.
Rancho Palos Verdes is located at (33.758216, -118.364256).[6]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 13.5 square miles (35 km2), virtually all land.
| Historical populations | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1970 | 39,616 |
|
|
| 1980 | 36,577 | −7.7% | |
| 1990 | 41,659 | 13.9% | |
| 2000 | 41,145 | −1.2% | |
| 2010 | 41,643 | 1.2% | |
| source:[7][8] | |||
The 2010 United States Census[9] reported that Rancho Palos Verdes had a population of 41,643. The population density was 3,092.6 people per square mile (1,194.1/km²). The racial makeup of Rancho Palos Verdes was 25,698 (61.7%) White, 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, out 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, 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 spread out 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%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 47.8 years. For every 100 females there were 94.3 males. For every 100 females age 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.
As of the census[10] of 2000, there were 41,145 people, 15,256 households, and 12,220 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,011.2 inhabitants per square mile (1,163.0/km²). There were 15,709 housing units at an average density of 1,149.7 per square mile (444.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 67.23% White, 25.95% Asian, 1.98% African American, 0.15% Native American, 0.10% Pacific Islander, 1.21% from other races, and 3.39% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 10.68% of the population.
There were 15,256 households out of which 32.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 70.8% were married couples living together, 6.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 19.9% were non-families. 16.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.66 and the average family size was 3.00.
In the city the population was spread out with 23.0% under the age of 18, 4.7% from 18 to 24, 23.0% from 25 to 44, 30.7% from 45 to 64, and 18.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45 years. For every 100 females there were 93.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.1 males.
According to a 2007 estimate, the median income for a household in the city was $111,421, and the median income for a family was $129,514.[11] Males had a median income of $100,000+ versus $62,633 for females. The per capita income for the city was $61,840. About 2.0% of families and 2.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.0% of those under age 18 and 2.6% of those age 65 or over.
As of 2008, the median price of Rancho Palos Verdes homes was $1,426,426.[12]
The city is served by Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District. PVPUSD schools have constantly ranked among the best in California and the nation. The Washington Post once ranked the district's largest high school, Palos Verdes Peninsula High School (PVPHS) in neighboring Rolling Hills Estates as the 8th best public or private high school in the nation. Rolling Hills Preparatory School (RHPS) is also one of the best schools in the city,famous for the Robotics. Also, Chadwick School is a well known K-12 private school that serves the area. Another private school is Christ Lutheran Church and School. It ranges from preschool to 8th grade. Rolling Hills Country Day School [2], adjacent to the South Coast Botanic Garden, offers a private K-8 education. Rancho Palos Verdes also includes Marymount College.
The latest survey conducted by U.S. News in 2007 reports that PVPHS still ranks among the top 100, at 89th place, and the reopened Palos Verdes High School (PVHS) in Palos Verdes Estates trails closely behind, at 93rd place.
The Palos Verdes Library District operates the Miraleste Library in Rancho Palos Verdes.[13]
Rancho Palos Verdes is a General Law city (it has no charter). Its five city councilmembers are elected at large to four year terms in staggered non-partisan elections on the first Tuesday in November of every odd numbered year. The city council chooses the Mayor (currently Anthony Misetich) and Mayor Pro Tem/Vice Mayor (currently Brian Campbell) at the first council meeting on the first Tuesday of each December for a one year term. Susan Brooks, Jerry Duhovic and Jim Knight are the other three current Councilmembers. Susan Brooks is a former teacher and current professional mediator, Jerry Duhovic is a senior executive in a financial services firm, Jim Knight is a retired real estate investor and well-known enviromentalist and open space advocate, Mayor Anthony Misetich owns an international petroleum industry company and the Mayor Pro Tem/Vice Mayor Brian Campbell owns a commercial real estate brokerage and advisory firm. The most recent November 2009 and 2011 elections of the current councilmembers resulted in more school-age children of new city councilmembers; 8 total, than at any time in city history. This is an electoral direction change towards more family-oriented councilmembers than in the past. Day to day management of the city is in the hands of a professional city manager (currently Carolyn Lehr) and staff. In the County of Los Angeles Rancho Palos Verdes is located in the 4th Supervisorial District, represented by Don Knabe. In the ([California State Legislature|state legislature]] Rancho Palos Verdes is located in the 25th Senate District, represented by Democrat Roderick Wright, and in the 66th Assembly District, represented by Democrat Bonnie Lowenthal. Federally, Rancho Palos Verdes is located in California's 46th congressional district, which has a Cook PVI of R +6[14] and is represented by Republican Dana Rohrabacher.
According to the City's 2009 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report,[15] the top employers in the city are:
| # | Employer | # of Employees |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District | 1,970 |
| 2 | Terranea Resort | 730 |
| 3 | Trump National Golf Club | 300 |
| 4 | Marymount College | 195 |
| 5 | Ralphs | 115 |
| 6 | Keller Williams Realty | 112 |
| 7 | Belmont Village | 94 |
| 8 | Green Hills Memorial Park | 85 |
| 9 | American Golf | 70 |
| 10 | St. John Fisher | 50 |
Fire protection in Rancho Palos Verdes is provided by the Los Angeles County Fire Department with ambulance transport by McCormick Ambulance Service.[16]
The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department (LASD) operates the Lomita Station in Lomita, serving Rancho Palos Verdes.[17]
The Los Angeles County Department of Health Services operates the Torrance Health Center in Harbor Gateway, Los Angeles, near Torrance and serving Rancho Palos Verdes.[18]
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