Portola Valley, California
Town
Town of Portola Valley
Our Lady of the Wayside Church
Our Lady of the Wayside Church
Official seal of Portola Valley, California
Seal
Location in San Mateo County and the state of California
Location in San Mateo County and the state of California
Portola Valley, California is located in the United States
Portola Valley, California
Portola Valley, California
Location in the United States
Coordinates: 37°22′30″N 122°13′7″W / 37.37500°N 122.21861°W / 37.37500; -122.21861
CountryUnited States
StateCalifornia
CountySan Mateo
IncorporatedJuly 14, 1964[1]
Named forGaspar de Portolá
Government
 • MayorMaryann Derwin[2]
 • Vice MayorCraig Hughes[2]
Area
[3]
 • Total9.08 sq mi (23.53 km2)
 • Land9.08 sq mi (23.52 km2)
 • Water0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)  0.02%
Elevation
459 ft (140 m)
Population
 (2020)[4]
 • Total4,456
 • Density490/sq mi (190/km2)
Time zoneUTC-8 (PST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-7 (PDT)
ZIP code
94028
Area code650
FIPS code06-58380
GNIS feature ID1659786
Websitewww.portolavalley.net

Portola Valley is a town in San Mateo County, California, United States. Located on the San Francisco Peninsula in the Bay Area, Portola Valley is a small, wealthy community nestled on the eastern slopes of the Santa Cruz Mountains.[5]

History

Portola Valley is named after Gaspar de Portolá, first Governor of the Californias and leader of the Portolá expedition.

Portola Valley was named for Spanish explorer Gaspar de Portolá, who led the first party of Europeans to explore the San Francisco Peninsula in 1769.

The Native Americans already present were Ohlone and specifically the group (or groups) known as Olpen or Guemelento but these were later moved to Mission Dolores and Mission Santa Clara de Asís which claimed the land and peoples.[6][7] The area's written history dates back to 1833, when a square league of land was given to Domingo Peralta and Máximo Martínez by Governor José Figueroa to form the Rancho Cañada del Corte de Madera.[8] In those days it was used for lumbering and cattle grazing.

By the 1880s Andrew S. Hallidie, a wire rope manufacturer, had built his country home of Eagle Home Farm in what is now Portola Valley. He built a 7,341 foot long aerial tramway from his house to the top of Skyline in 1894 though it was removed after his death in 1900.[9][10]

In 1886 the name Portola-Crespi Valley was bestowed on the area from the then community of Crystal Springs (now under Crystal Springs Reservoir to the then community of Searsville (in the area of the present day Jasper Ridge Biological Preserve); Crespi is for Juan Crespí, a Franciscan friar with the Portolà expedition.

The town was incorporated in 1964.[11] Bill Lane was the first mayor.[8]

Geography

Portola Valley is located on the San Francisco Peninsula on the eastern slope of the Santa Cruz Mountains. The town is west of Interstate 280 and the southwest boundary is along Skyline Boulevard which more or less is the ridge of the mountains. The Windy Hill Open Space Preserve is a large part of the town's southwest side and the north side of the town borders Jasper Ridge Biological Preserve. Woodside borders it to the northwest and Palo Alto to the southeast The unincorporated subdivision of Ladera is adjacent to the northern boundary of the town. It is in a mostly wooded area, with some open fields. The San Andreas Fault bisects the town.[12][13]

Alpine Road and Portola Road are the two relatively main roads in the town and their intersection forms a small shopping nexus.

Portola Valley can generally be divided into 7 subdivisions: Central Portola Valley, The Ranch, Corte Madera, Los Trancos/Vista Verde, Woodside Highlands, Westridge, and Blue Oaks.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 9.099 square miles (23.57 km2), 99.98% of it land and 0.02% of it water.[14]

Attractions

The historic Mission Revival style Portola Valley School, built 1909.

Our Lady of the Wayside Church was built in 1912 for the local Catholic community and is a California Historic Landmark and on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.[15][16]

Portola Valley School is a one-room former school house built in 1909 and is on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.[17] It is now used for town council meetings.[18]

The Alpine Inn, also known as Casa de Tableta, Rossotti's or Zott's, is one of the oldest existing drinking establishments in California; it started around 1852 when Felix Buelna built it as a gambling house.[19][20] The first two-network TCP/IP transmission was between a specialized SRI van and ARPANET on August 27, 1976; the van was parked next to the Alpine Inn and wires were run to one of the picnic tables.[21][22] In 2018, the inn was acquired by new owners, who closed it temporarily for remodeling.[23][24][25][26] It was re-opened in August, 2019.[27]

Villa Lauriston, an estate located at 5050 Alpine Road and encompassing almost 29 acres, was initially commissioned by James Graham Fair, the founder of Fairmont Hotels and Resorts.

Trails

Portola Valley is known for its expansive trail network both maintained by the town[28] and also in the Windy Hill Open Space Preserve maintained by the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District.[29][30] The trail network includes the 235 acre Coal Mine Ridge Nature Preserve which is private property, but, by agreement with the town is set aside as open space.[31][32]

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
19704,996—
19803,939−21.2%
19904,1946.5%
20004,4626.4%
20104,353−2.4%
20204,4562.4%
U.S. Decennial Census[33][34]

As of 2020 the median income per household in Portola Valley was estimated at $235,469 and the per capita income was $142,778.[5]

2010

The historic Casa de Tableta, built by Californio entrepreneur Félix Buelna in 1851, now named Rossotti's Alpine Inn.

The 2010 United States Census[35] reported that Portola Valley had a population of 4,353. The population density was 478.7 inhabitants per square mile (184.8/km2). The racial makeup of Portola Valley was 3,960 (91.0%) White, 12 (0.3%) African American, 5 (0.1%) Native American, 242 (5.6%) Asian, 1 (0.0%) Pacific Islander, 29 (0.7%) from other races, and 104 (2.4%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 175 persons (4.0%).

The Census reported that 4,309 people (99.0% of the population) lived in households, 9 (0.2%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 35 (0.8%) were institutionalized.

There were 1,746 households, out of which 518 (29.7%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 1,149 (65.8%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 70 (4.0%) had a female householder with no husband present, 35 (2.0%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 37 (2.1%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 21 (1.2%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 420 households (24.1%) were made up of individuals, and 290 (16.6%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47. There were 1,254 families (71.8% of all households); the average family size was 2.93.

The population was spread out, with 1,001 people (23.0%) under the age of 18, 145 people (3.3%) aged 18 to 24, 538 people (12.4%) aged 25 to 44, 1,496 people (34.4%) aged 45 to 64, and 1,173 people (26.9%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 51.3 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.2 males.

There were 1,895 housing units at an average density of 208.4 per square mile (80.5/km2), of which 1,392 (79.7%) were owner-occupied, and 354 (20.3%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.0%; the rental vacancy rate was 9.8%. 3,702 people (85.0% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 607 people (13.9%) lived in rental housing units.

2000

As of the census[36] of 2000, there were 4,392 people, 1,772 households, and 1,269 families residing in the town. The population density was 487.5 inhabitants per square mile (188.2/km2). There were 1,772 housing units at an average density of 193.6 per square mile (74.7/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 4,210 White, 29 African American, 22 Native American, 217 Asian, 5 Pacific Islander, 54 from other races, and 64 from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 149.

There were 1,772 households, out of which 532 had children under the age of 18 living with them, 1,176 were married couples living together, 68 had a woman householder with no man present, and 431 were non-families. 339 of all households were made up of individuals, and 226 had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.75 and the average family size was 2.93.

In the town the age distribution of the population shows 1021 persons under the age of 18, 90 from 20 to 24, 867 from 25 to 44, 1492 from 45 to 64, and 938 who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 47.5 years old. For every 100 women there were 96.8 men. For every 100 women age 18 and over, there were 91.7 men.

The median income for a household in Portola Valley, including earnings, is $244,771 and the median income for a family was $180,893. Men have a median income of over $200,000 versus $172,585 for women. The per capita income for Portola Valley is $152,128. About 18 families and 104 people were below the poverty line, including 38 of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.

Education

Woodside Priory School.

The Portola Valley Elementary School District has two public primary schools: Ormondale School (with grades K–3) and Corte Madera School (grades 4–8). The public high school is Woodside High School part of the Sequoia Union High School District and in the neighboring community of Woodside.[37] Ormondale is named for the Ormondale ranch that had covered much of present-day Westridge, Oak Hills, and Ladera and was home to the famous English racehorse, Ormonde, in his later years.[38]

Portola Valley is also home to two private schools: Woodside Priory School, an independent college-preparatory Roman Catholic day and boarding school serving grades 6-12, and Woodland School, an independent pre-K-8 grade school.[37]

The city is served by the Portola Valley Public Library of the San Mateo County Libraries, a member of the Peninsula Library System.[39]

Government

Portola Valley Library.

In the California State Legislature, Portola Valley is in the 13th Senate District, represented by Democrat Josh Becker, and in the 23rd Assembly District, represented by Democrat Marc Berman.[40]

Federally, Portola Valley is in California's 16th congressional district, represented by Democrat Anna Eshoo.[41] Politically, Portola Valley leans slightly Democratic based on voting patterns for past presidential elections.[42]

Portola Valley is part of the Woodside Fire Protection District (which also covers Woodside, Ladera, Emerald Hills, Los Trancos, Skyline, and Viste Verde), which has one its three stations in the town.[43]

For law enforcement, Portola Valley contracts with the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office.

The Portola Valley Town Council made up of volunteers elected for four year terms governs the town. It appoints a town manager and other necessary officers and also elects a mayor.[44]

Notable people

References

  1. ↑ "California Cities by Incorporation Date" (Word). California Association of Local Agency Formation Commissions. Retrieved August 25, 2014.
  2. 1 2 "Town Council". Portola Valley, CA. Retrieved December 19, 2014.
  3. ↑ "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
  4. ↑ "Census Data: Portola Valley (town)". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 14, 2021.
  5. 1 2 "94028 Income Statistics - Current Census Data for Zip Codes". www.incomebyzipcode.com. Retrieved April 26, 2022.
  6. ↑ Millikan, Randally; Shoup, Laurence H.; Ortiz, Beverley R. (June 2009). Ohlone/Costanoan Indians of the San Francisco Peninsula and their Neighbors, Yesterday and Today (PDF). National Park Service. pp. 293–294.
  7. ↑ Bocek, Barbara (1992). "Subsistence, Settlement and Tribelet Territories on the Eastern San Francisco Peninsula" (PDF). Proceedings of the Society for California Arhchaeology. 5: 269–297. Retrieved April 8, 2018.
  8. 1 2 Kyle, Douglas E.; Rensch, Hero Eugene; Rensch, Ethel Grace; Hoover, Mildred Brooke (2002). Historic Spots in California: Fifth Edition. Stanford University Press. ISBN 9780804778176. Retrieved March 24, 2018.
  9. ↑ Clifford, Jim (May 8, 2017). "Cable car inventor built tram in Portola Valley". San Mateo Daily Journal. Retrieved March 25, 2018.
  10. ↑ "Hallidie Tramway - Portola Valley, CA - Signs of History on Waymarking.com". www.waymarking.com. Retrieved March 25, 2018.
  11. ↑ "Portola Valley, CA : History of Portola Valley". www.portolavalley.net. Retrieved March 16, 2017.
  12. ↑ Aiden, Andrew (August 8, 2013). "Lost and Found: The 1906 Earthquake Rupture in Portola Valley". KQED. Retrieved March 25, 2018.
  13. ↑ "Geologic Map: Town of Portola Valley". Portola Valley. Cotton, Shires, and Associates. June 2017. Retrieved March 25, 2018.
  14. ↑ "2016 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 28, 2017.
  15. ↑ California, California State Parks, State of. "OUR LADY OF THE WAYSIDE". CA State Parks. Retrieved March 29, 2018.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  16. ↑ "National Register #77000338: Our Lady of the Wayside in Portola Valley, California". noehill.com. Retrieved March 29, 2018.
  17. ↑ "National Register #74000557: Portola Valley School, California". noehill.com. Retrieved March 29, 2018.
  18. ↑ "Town Center: Portola Valley, CA". www.portolavalley.net. Retrieved March 29, 2018.
  19. ↑ Staiger, Steve (January 24, 2001). "Echoes of Alpine Inn's early days". www.paloaltoonline.com. Retrieved March 29, 2018.
  20. ↑ "Buelna's Roadhouse, 3915 Alpine Road, Portola Valley, San Mateo County, CA". The Library of Congress. Retrieved March 29, 2018.
  21. ↑ Laws, David (April 13, 2012). "Alpine Inn & Beer Garden". Silicon Valley Roots & Shoots. Archived from the original on September 19, 2013. Retrieved March 31, 2013.
  22. ↑ SRI Mobile Van | X1590.99 | Computer History Museum. 1977. Retrieved May 30, 2018. {{cite book}}: |website= ignored (help)
  23. ↑ "Popular burger joint is closed until March for remodeling". www.almanacnews.com. Retrieved February 19, 2018.
  24. ↑ "Portola Valley: Alpine Inn has new owners".
  25. ↑ Daly, Kate. "Historic Alpine Inn reopening in Portola Valley on Friday". www.paloaltoonline.com. Retrieved December 31, 2019.
  26. ↑ Gulker, Linda Hubbard (December 30, 2019). "The saga of Alpine Inn aka Zott's over the years — InMenlo". InMenlo.com.
  27. ↑ Daly, Kate. "Historic Alpine Inn reopening in Portola Valley on Friday". www.paloaltoonline.com. Retrieved April 8, 2021.
  28. ↑ "Portola Valley Trails". Town of Portola Valley. Retrieved March 22, 2018.
  29. ↑ "Windy Hill Preserve". Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District. Retrieved April 26, 2022.
  30. ↑ "Town of Portola Valley, San Mateo County". Bay Area Hikers. Retrieved April 26, 2022.
  31. ↑ "Coal Mine Ridge Nature Preserve | Portola Valley CA". CMRNP. Retrieved April 26, 2022.
  32. ↑ "Coal Mine Ridge Nature Preserve, Portola Ranch Homeowner's Association, San Mateo County". Bay Area Hikers. Retrieved April 26, 2022.
  33. ↑ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  34. ↑ "2020 Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved April 23, 2022.
  35. ↑ "2010 Census Interactive Population Search: CA - Portola Valley town". U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on July 15, 2014. Retrieved July 12, 2014.
  36. ↑ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  37. 1 2 "Local Schools: Portola Valley, CA". www.portolavalley.net. Town of Portola Valley. Retrieved March 29, 2018.
  38. ↑ "The Incorporation of Portola Valley – Part 1". Portola Valley, Past and Present. January 14, 2014. Retrieved March 29, 2018.
  39. ↑ "Portola Valley Library". Retrieved March 29, 2018.
  40. ↑ "Statewide Database". UC Regents. Archived from the original on February 1, 2015. Retrieved December 19, 2014.
  41. ↑ "California's 16th Congressional District - Representatives & District Map". Civic Impulse, LLC. Retrieved March 13, 2013.
  42. ↑ Schleuss, Jon; Fox, Joe; Krishnakumar, Priya. "California neighborhood election results: Did your precinct vote to elect Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump?". www.latimes.com. Retrieved March 22, 2018.
  43. ↑ "About - Woodside Fire Protection District". www.woodsidefire.org. Retrieved June 2, 2018.
  44. ↑ "Portola Valley Municipal Code". Municode Library. Retrieved June 2, 2018.
  45. ↑ Mangalindan, JP (July 7, 2014). "The secretive billionaire who built Silicon Valley". Fortune. Retrieved March 9, 2020.
  46. ↑ Meetings of the Architectural Site Control Commission (Report). Town of Portola Valley. July 23, 2018. p. 84. Retrieved March 9, 2020.
  47. ↑ Marion Softky (February 8, 2006). "Author Don Nielson chronicles SRI research achievements". The Almanac. Retrieved December 23, 2017.
  48. ↑ Terry, Mike (February 8, 2003). "It's Good Move for Craig". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved March 9, 2020.
  49. ↑ John Markoff (June 21, 2008). "Hewitt D. Crane, 81, Early Computer Engineer, Is Dead". The New York Times. Retrieved May 25, 2010.
  50. ↑ "Guide to the Richard and Mildred Crooks Collection". Online Archive of California. Retrieved March 9, 2020.
  51. ↑ Freeman, William M. (October 1, 1972). "Richard Crooks, Tenor at the Met, Dies". The New York Times. Retrieved March 9, 2020.
  52. ↑ Crum, Rex (March 31, 2017). "Former eBay CEO John Donahoe is in the clouds at ServiceNow". San Jose Mercury News. Retrieved March 9, 2020.
  53. ↑ "Portola Valley entrepreneur named to open space trust board". The Almanac. March 3, 2009. Retrieved March 9, 2020.
  54. ↑ "Piano phenom Taylor Eigsti returns to Priory for anniversary concert". The Almanac. March 15, 2018. Retrieved March 9, 2020.
  55. ↑ Berlin, Linda; Chronicle, Special to The (October 5, 2001). "Profile / Thomas Fogarty / Stanford doctor to be honored for inventions". SFGate. Retrieved February 1, 2019.
  56. ↑ Collins, Glenn (October 18, 1991). "Tennessee Ernie Ford Dies at 72; Folksy Singer Recorded '16 Tons'". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved February 16, 2018. He was 72 years old and lived in Portola Valley, near Palo Alto, Calif.
  57. ↑ "Billionaire Reid Hoffman gives candidate Josh Becker a $500,000 boost". The Daily Post. January 27, 2020. Retrieved March 9, 2020.
  58. ↑ Laurance Zuckerman (June 2, 1996). "Cuthbert Hurd, 85, Computer Pioneer at I.B.M". New York Times. Retrieved May 24, 2010.
  59. ↑ Saratoga Horticultural Research Foundation (2003). "Manzanita introductions of the Saratoga Horticultural Foundation" (PDF). Retrieved May 25, 2010.
  60. ↑ Mufson, Steven (November 28, 2014). "Billionaire Vinod Khosla's big dreams for biofuels fail to catch fire". The Washington Post. Retrieved March 9, 2020.
  61. ↑ Lisa Kwiatkowski (February 25, 2005). "Bill Lane makes a gift of $5 million to endow Stanford's Center for the Study of the North American West". Stanford University. Retrieved May 24, 2010.
  62. ↑ "Bucolic Portola Valley Home to Famous Figures". SFGate. Retrieved March 22, 2018.
  63. ↑ Whiting, Sam (June 8, 2003). "Heads Above the Rest / Bruce Wolfe on the method and madness of sculpture". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved March 4, 2020.
  64. ↑ Military Vehicle Technology Foundation
  65. ↑ "Ex-Marine, Republican, War Critic Paul Norton McCloskey Jr". The New York Times. April 12, 1971. Retrieved March 9, 2020.
  66. ↑ "Documentary salutes Pete McCloskey tonight". The Almanac. July 1, 2009. Retrieved March 9, 2020.
  67. ↑ Almond, Elliott (October 27, 2016). "Will Maverick McNealy live up to his name, eschew pro golf for loftier goals?". San Jose Mercury News. Bay Area News Group. Retrieved March 9, 2020.
  68. ↑ "Stanford grad McNealy makes the cut, earns PGA Tour Card". Palo Alto Online. August 12, 2019. Retrieved March 9, 2020.
  69. ↑ "Posh Home Of Silicon Valley Pioneer Site Of Trump Bay Area Fundraiser". CBS SF BayArea. September 17, 2019. Retrieved March 9, 2020.
  70. ↑ Graff, Amy (October 17, 2019). "$42 million price cut on tech billionaire's Silicon Valley monster mansion". SFGate. Retrieved March 9, 2020.
  71. ↑ "Woman found under bridge was daughter of former Portola Valley mayor; service Feb. 20". The Almanac. February 10, 2010. Retrieved March 9, 2020.
  72. ↑ Meetings of the Architectural Site Control Commission (Report). Town of Portola Valley. March 25, 2019. p. 1. Retrieved March 9, 2020.
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