Palos Verdes Estates is the oldest of the four distinct cities on the Palos Verdes Peninsula, incorporated in 1939. The city is one of the earliest planned communities, laid out by the Olmstead Brothers, the sons of Frederick Olmsted, Sr., the designer of Central Park in Manhattan. Almost one-third of the city is permanently designated open space including hills, pathways, and stands of mature pepper, eucalyptus, and coral trees. The city also includes Palos Verdes Golf Club which dates back to 1923. Malaga Cove shopping center includes the distinctive library, which has been placed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Palos Verdes Estates is highly ranked by Niche.com as the #7 best place to retire in the state. It also ranks high in safety and quality of life, not only in Los Angeles County but throughout the state. Located on the perimeter of “The Hill,” Palos Verdes Estates provides a gracious lifestyle for residents and unparalleled Pacific coastal views. Along with Malaga Cove, PVE includes several other popular surfing beaches. The historic Palos Verdes Beach and Athletic Club is located on the beach at Malaga Cove. The community also has its own stables and tennis club.
Palos Verdes Estates schools are part of Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District, an elite public school district which routinely ranks in the top ten districts in California. Palos Verdes Peninsula High has been ranked in the top ten California High Schools by U.S. News and World Report on several occasions.
PVE includes distinctive neighborhoods like Valmonte, which is located in the eastern part of the community. Valmonte includes the riding stables and is centered around the Palos Verdes Tennis Club. Malaga Cove includes the gemlike Malaga Cove Plaza, which hosts City offices and the Library. Most of the homes in the area are older Spanish-style residences with spectacular ocean views. An exclusive upper portion of Malaga Cove is called Montemar.
Monte Malaga and Upper and Lower Lunada Bay offer additional choices of home styles, ranging from California Ranch homes to Mediterranean villas and Craftsman cottages. Views from the homes in Monte Malaga, a number of which are newer construction than other areas of historic PVE, overlook the South Bay beaches and Santa Monica Bay, often referred to as “the queen’s necklace.”
Regarded by many as one of the most beautiful places to live along the California coast as well as a great place to raise a family, Palos Verdes Estates was planned from the beginning to be the gracious coastal city that it is.
