Rancho Palos Verdes (RPV) is a city located in Los Angeles County, California. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 41,145.
Rancho Palos Verdes is a quiet, affluent suburb of Los Angeles. Sitting atop the bluffs of the Palos Verdes Peninsula, it is well known for its spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean (although these are sometimes obscured by the South Bay region's fog, which envelopes much of the South Bay in the Spring). Its most notable geographic features are the hills and cliffs with grand vistas of the Pacific Ocean, with views of Santa Catlina 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 RPV and its neighboring communities.
There are several major landmarks of Rancho Palos Verdes. The first is the site of the former Marineland aquatic park, closed in 1987. It is now being developed for housing/hotel tracts. Numerous films have also been shot at the location since the park's closure. Second is the Trump National Golf Course at Ocean Trails, a somewhat ill-starred golf development at first (the course made national news when three holes slid into the ocean in 1999) but by 2004 the course had attracted the attention of Donald Trump, who bought the course and is planning to build a hotel/resort area adjacent. Third is the Point Vicente Lighthouse, built in 1926. The lighthouse, operated by the US Coast Guard is also famous for ghost stories told of a mysterious woman in white who supposedly committed suicide while waiting for her husband to return from an ocean voyage, and who still keeps her ghostly vigil to this day. On days when the fog is thick, the lighthouse's powerful steam-powered warning horn can be heard for miles along the sea side of the Peninsula. Fourth is the recently enlarged marine museum with its collection of indiginous tools and artifacts from earlier days when Portuguese Bend was used as a landing beach for smuggling. The major attractions of the Peninsula are the ocean vistas along the high cliffs that distinguish Rancho Palos Verdes and the other Peninsula cities from much of Los Angeles County. Numerous footpaths wind along the cliff tops. The City has been the site of a number of films and for the television series "The O.C.", which refers to Orange County, far south of Rancho Palos Verdes.
Palos Verdes Drive West (not to be confused with its counterparts North, South and East) is quite unique. It features an oversized median about twice the width of the pavement on either side. A trail is centered in the median, along with trees. Also, even though Palos Verdes Drive is one of Rancho Palos Verdes' largest streets, many single family homes exist on it, despite being a principal arterial road.
Rancho Palos Verdes is located at 33°45'30" North, 118°21'51" West (33.758216, -118.364256).
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 35.4 km2 (13.7 mi2). 35.4 km2 (13.7 mi2) of it is land and none of it is covered by water.
As of the census of 2000, there are 41,145 people, 15,256 households, and 12,220 families residing in the city. The population density is 1,163.0/km2 (3,011.2/mi2). There are 15,709 housing units at an average density of 444.0/km2 (1,149.7/mi2). The racial makeup of the city is 67.23% White, 1.98% African American, 0.15% Native American, 25.95% Asian, 0.10% Pacific Islander, 1.21% from other races, and 3.39% from two or more races. 5.68% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 15,256 households out of which 32.6% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 70.8% are married couples living together, 6.8% have a female householder with no husband present, and 19.9% are non-families. 16.8% of all households are made up of individuals and 7.6% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.66 and the average family size is 3.00.
In the city the population is 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 are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 45 years. For every 100 females there are 93.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 90.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city is $95,503, and the median income for a family is $105,586. Males have a median income of $80,617 versus $46,665 for females. The per capita income for the city is $46,250. 2.9% of the population and 2.0% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 3.0% of those under the age of 18 and 2.6% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
Source:
RanchoPalosVerdesCA.com
HOTELS • REAL ESTATE • JOBS