50 Years! HBD Rancho Palos Verdes!

September 2023 marks 50 years since Rancho Palos Verdes incorporated into the city is know as today. The city is celebrating with banners along Western Ave and other main streets as well a Gala event that is sold out! More information on the official site at: https://www.rpv50.com/history

History of RPV

At the close of the 19th century, the Palos Verdes Peninsula was a sparsely inhabited region, primarily used by cattle ranchers and sheepherders, with vast stretches of native vegetation covering the land. However, in the early 1900s, a brief period of prosperity dawned as the Peninsula transformed into a thriving farming area. Japanese families cultivated crops like beans, peas, and tomatoes on the southern slopes, while barley, hay, and grain flourished on the dryer northern slopes. In 1913, Frank A. Vanderlip, a prominent figure and president of the National Bank of New York, purchased the Peninsula with grand aspirations of creating an exclusive residential colony. Unfortunately, the Great Depression and World War II interrupted these plans. Despite these setbacks, the Peninsula’s natural beauty and potential as a coveted residential area remained intact.

In July 1953, the Great Lakes Carbon Corporation acquired a substantial portion of the undeveloped land from the Vanderlip family, envisioning development potential. After unsuccessful mining ventures, they engaged skilled architects and engineers to craft a master development plan. The Peninsula had already witnessed the incorporation of Palos Verdes Estates in 1939, and shortly before the substantial building boom in the late 1950s and early 1960s, Rolling Hills and Rolling Hills Estates also incorporated in 1957. As the South Bay area experienced post-World War II economic growth and Los Angeles County pursued a master plan, the unincorporated area of the Peninsula (now Rancho Palos Verdes) underwent rapid development, with little regard for its unique environment. In the 1960s, local leaders and citizens pushed for responsible development and zoning regulations but faced resistance from the County. In response, the Peninsula Advisory Council, comprised of homeowner associations from the unincorporated areas, formed to enhance their influence in negotiations. However, it was only in April 1970 that the Save Our Coastline (SOC) group emerged, aiming to incorporate the unincorporated areas to assert local control. SOC faced legal challenges related to the assessed value of land, but ultimately succeeded, leading to the incorporation of Rancho Palos Verdes in 1973. This marked the youngest city on the Peninsula, all of which had formed with the shared goal of preserving the region’s natural beauty, openness, and small community atmosphere, thanks to its stunning views, rolling terrain, mild climate, and clean air.

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