Portola Valley, California | |
|---|---|
| Town of Portola Valley | |
 | |
 Seal | |
 Location inSan Mateo County and the state ofCalifornia | |
  Portola Valley, California Location in the United States | |
| Coordinates:37°22′30″N122°13′7″W / 37.37500°N 122.21861°W /37.37500; -122.21861 | |
| Country | United States |
| State | California |
| County | San Mateo |
| Incorporated | July 14, 1964[1] |
| Named after | Gaspar de Portolá |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Judith Hasko[2] |
| • Vice Mayor | Craig Taylor[2] |
| Area | |
• Total | 9.08 sq mi (23.53 km2) |
| • Land | 9.08 sq mi (23.52 km2) |
| • Water | 0 sq mi (0.00 km2) 0.02% |
| Elevation | 460 ft (140 m) |
| Population | |
• Total | 4,456 |
| • Density | 490.7/sq mi (189.5/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-8 (PST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-7 (PDT) |
| ZIP code | 94028 |
| Area code | 650 |
| FIPS code | 06-58380 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1659786 |
| Website | www |
Portola Valley is a smalltown inSan Mateo County, California, United States. Located on theSan Francisco Peninsula in theBay Area, the community is nestled on the eastern slopes of theSanta Cruz Mountains.[5][6]
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Portola Valley was named for Spanish explorerGaspar de Portolá, who led the first party of Europeans to explore theSan Francisco Peninsula in 1769.
The Native Americans already present wereOhlone and specifically the group (or groups) known as Olpen or Guemelento but these were later moved toMission Dolores andMission Santa Clara de Asís which claimed the land and peoples.[7][8] The area's written history dates back to 1833, when a square league of land was given to Domingo Peralta and Máximo Martínez by GovernorJosé Figueroa to form theRancho Cañada del Corte de Madera.[9] In those days it was used for lumbering and cattle grazing.
By the 1880sAndrew S. Hallidie, awire rope manufacturer, had built his country home of Eagle Home Farm in what is now Portola Valley. He built a 7,341 foot longaerial tramway from his house to the top of Skyline in 1894 though it was removed after his death in 1900.[10][11]
In 1886 the name Portola-Crespi Valley was bestowed on the area from the then community of Crystal Springs (now underCrystal Springs Reservoir to the then community ofSearsville (in the area of the present dayJasper Ridge Biological Preserve); Crespi is forJuan Crespí, a Franciscan friar with the Portolà expedition.
The town wasincorporated in 1964.[12]Bill Lane, known as the publisher ofSunset magazine, was its first mayor.[9]
The conversion of Portola Valley from large ranches to residences began in earnest afterWorld War II, when housing pressures from the growing technology industry expanded out fromSanta Clara County to reach San Mateo County.[13]
For Portola Valley, this began with the sub-division of the Ormondale Ranch to form the Westridge neighborhood and Home Owners' Association in 1947.[14]
The process had some complications that needed to be resolved. Developing hillsides poses many unique challenges and restrictions that had to be addressed before areas like Portola Valley could be developed.[15]
When the town was incorporated in 1964 it institutedsingle-family zoning to replace a variety of other development options that were previously permitted.[16]
In recent years, due to theCalifornia housing shortage, the state government has increased its pressure on local governments to allow construction of more housing, using a process called theRegional Housing Needs Assessment.[17][18] In late 2021, this assessment declared that Portola Valley needed to allow for the construction of 253 new housing units over the next 8 years.[17][18][6] The state requires localities to submit plans to satisfy this requirement detailing how much housing and what types (low-income, luxury housing) the locality has planned for, and to make zoning changes to allow those types of housing to be built.[6] Previously, Portola Valley'sexclusionary zoning has not allowed any multifamily housing and required a large minimum lot size for new single-family housing (1 acre at the time of incorporation later raised to 3.5 acres), resulting in a town that is much whiter and wealthier than average for the area, (75% white vs. 35% in San Mateo county as a whole), with the median household income at $250,000 and the average home costing $3.8 million.[6][19]
In 2023, during the process of generating the town's housing plan (called a "housing element"),NIMBY homeowners lashed out at the town's workers and Councilmembers, resulting in over two thirds of the town's employees quitting and several of the Councilmembers being replaced.[17][18] Additionally, according to theLos Angeles Times, about a dozen residents threatened the mayor that if housing plans were not to their liking, they would sue the town in order to force the town to incur such large litigation costs that it would go bankrupt.[18]
In March 2024, theCalifornia Department of Housing and Community Development decertified Portola Valley's housing plan because the town had missed the deadline to re-zone to allow for the new housing.[6] It was later recertified in May, 2025.[20] However, by December 2024, fiscal issues arising from the higher costs of using consultants to do the jobs of employees who quit, the costs of lawsuits fighting residents who oppose new housing, and an expected 60% increase in costs for the policing contract with the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office, led some to consider dissolving Portola Valley and merging it with the county or another nearby city,Woodside.[17][18]
Portola Valley's housing plan was recertified in May, 2025, after the town identified four parcels of land that could be rezoned for multi-family housing.[21] The state accepted the town’s alternative housing plans.[22]
In December, 2024, the Town Council, after discussion of solutions to potential traffic problems on a main town artery, unanimously approved a once-controversial project, Stanford University's Portola Terrace. It is set to include 27 single family homes, 12 affordable housing units and 89 parking spaces on 10.8-acre of a 75.2-acre parcel; the rest will be preserved as open space.[23] When built, Stanford Terrace will join the 16-tenant, very-low-income, Willow Commons project for the developmentally disabled as the only multi-family zoned projects to have been approved since the town's incorporation.[24]
Portola Valley is located on theSan Francisco Peninsula on the eastern slope of theSanta Cruz Mountains. The town is west ofInterstate 280 and the southwest boundary is alongSkyline Boulevard which more or less is the ridge of the mountains. TheWindy Hill Open Space Preserve is a large part of the town's southwest side and the north side of the town bordersJasper Ridge Biological Preserve.Woodside borders it to the northwest andPalo Alto to the southeast The unincorporated subdivision ofLadera is adjacent to the northern boundary of the town. It is in a mostly wooded area, with some open fields. TheSan Andreas Fault bisects the town.[25][26]
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 6 neighborhoods: Central Portola Valley, Portola Valley Ranch, Corte Madera, Woodside Highlands, Westridge, and Blue Oaks. Though Los Trancos Road starts in Portola Valley at Alpine Road, most houses along Los Trancos Road are on the west side, inPalo Alto, across Corte Madera Creek and in a different county (Santa Clara County) than Portola Valley (San Mateo County). Los Trancos/Vista Verde, at the end of Los Trancos Road, is in unincorporated San Mateo County.[27]
According to theUnited 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.[28]
Our Lady of the Wayside Church was built in 1912 for the local Catholic community and is aCalifornia Historic Landmark and on theU.S. National Register of Historic Places.[29][30]
Portola Valley School is a one-room former school house built in 1909 and is on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.[31] It is now used for town council meetings.[32]
TheAlpine Inn, also known asCasa de Tableta,Rossotti's orZott's, is one of the oldest existing drinking establishments in California; it started around 1852 when Felix Buelna built it as a gambling house.[33][34] The first two-networkTCP/IP transmission was between a specializedSRI van andARPANET on August 27, 1976; the van was parked next to the Alpine Inn and wires were run to one of the picnic tables.[35][36] In 2018, the inn was acquired by new owners, who closed it temporarily for remodeling.[37][38][39][40] It was re-opened in August 2019.[41]
Portola Valley is known for its expansive trail network both maintained by the town[42] and also in theWindy Hill Open Space Preserve maintained by theMidpeninsula Regional Open Space District.[43][44] 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.[45][46]
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 4,996 | — | |
| 1980 | 3,939 | −21.2% | |
| 1990 | 4,194 | 6.5% | |
| 2000 | 4,462 | 6.4% | |
| 2010 | 4,353 | −2.4% | |
| 2020 | 4,456 | 2.4% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[47][48] | |||
As of 2020, the town has a much higher percentage of white people than the rest of San Mateo county, with 75% being white as opposed to 35% in San Mateo county overall.[6] This is the in part the result of its single-family zoning ordinances, which prohibit multifamily dwellings anywhere in the town.[6]
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]
The2020 United States census[49] reported that Portola Valley had a population of 4,456. The racial makeup was 3,585 (80.45%)White, 11 (0.25%)African American, 4 (0.09%)Native American, 347 (7.79%)Asian, 57 (1.28%)other races, and 452 (10.14%) from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino of any race were 230 (5.16%).
There were 1,915 housing units.[49]
The2010 United States census[50] 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%) 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%) wereopposite-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 1,254families (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.
As of the census[51] 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 4,210White, 29African American, 22Native American, 217Asian, 5Pacific Islander, 54 fromother races, and 64 from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino 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 medianincome 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. Theper capita income for Portola Valley is $152,128. About 18 families and 104 people were below thepoverty line, including 38 of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.
ThePortola 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 isWoodside High School, part of theSequoia Union High School District and in the neighboring community ofWoodside.[52]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.[53]
Portola Valley is also home to two private schools:Woodside Priory School, an independent college-preparatoryRoman Catholic day and boarding school serving around 430 students in grades 6–12, and Woodland School, an independent pre-K-8 grade school with about 300 students.[52][54][55]
The city is served by the Portola Valley Public Library of theSan Mateo County Libraries, a member of thePeninsula Library System.[56]
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In theCalifornia State Legislature, Portola Valley is inthe 13th senatorial district, represented byDemocrat Josh Becker, and inthe 23rd Assembly district, represented byDemocrat Marc Berman.[57]
Federally, Portola Valley is inCalifornia's 16th congressional district, represented byDemocrat Sam Liccardo.[58] Politically, Portola Valley leans slightly Democratic based on voting patterns for past presidential elections.[59]
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.[60]
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 and vice-mayor from the council members.[61]
LocalSeismograph -- Portola Valley features a real-time online web page of seismographic events, operated and funded by volunteer town residents.[62]
Historically, Portola Valley has not allowed multifamily housing complexes to be built in town. As a result, the community is a homogenous enclave: 75% white (compared to 35% in San Mateo county overall), with a median household income of $250,000 and an average home value of $3.8 million. As of 2020, 81% of the town's housing stock was made up of single-family homes, many on lots of an acre or larger.
"Section 18.14.010… Adopted by Ordinance No. 1, § 1 (7-23-1964)."
The escalating costs are so dire that when Portola Valley's finance committee met last month, it considered the possibility of dissolving the town government altogether and folding it into that of the county.
On a Sunday afternoon a few years ago, about a dozen neighbors held a meeting with Craig Hughes, who was then the mayor of Portola Valley. The backyard gathering in the small, wealthy Silicon Valley enclave was civil, Hughes said, but his constituents left an unmistakable message. If Hughes and other town leaders produced a state-mandated affordable housing plan that wasn't to the residents' liking, they should expect a battery of litigation that could lead to Portola Valley's bankruptcy.
He was 72 years old and lived in Portola Valley, near Palo Alto, Calif.
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