| 1790 |
Maximo Martinez born at San Francisco Presidio |
| 1830s |
Logging begins in foothills, Gervasio Soto and others set up sawpits |
| 1830s |
Arastradero Road built |
| 1832 |
4400 Acre El Corte de Madera rancho granted to Maximo Martinez and Domingo Peralta by Governor Jose Figueroa |
| 1838 |
Martinez builds 36’ by 18’ adobe; site today is 99 Iroquois |
| 1846 |
Mexican War begins; about 30 people in the valley; |
| 1846 |
In San Mateo County, about 30 loggers, 210 Indians, 150-175 Europeans |
| 1847 |
459 people in San Francisco |
| 1849 |
30,000 people in San Francisco |
| 1850s |
Felix Buelna operates Casa de Tableta (Alpine Inn) |
| 1852 |
800 men working in redwoods; Searsville begins to provide services; or 919 in San Mateo County, 39% Spanish speaking |
| 1852 |
Sand Hill is all weather logging road |
| 1853 |
Dennis Martin builds church on today’s SLAC site |
| 1854 |
Woodside Store opens |
| 1855 |
Small coal mine starts on Coal Mine Ridge |
| 1858 |
13,000 acre Rancho patented to Martinez by U. S. gov’t |
| 1858 |
Searsville Post Ofice opens |
| 1858 |
Spring Valley Water Company formed to create reservoirs in San Mateo County; had 20,000 A. by 1900 |
| 1859 |
Stagecoach route from Redwood City to Searsville and Woodside begins, David Garland driver |
| 1860 |
Around 400 in this area, half Spanish-speaking |
| 1860s |
Old La Honda Road built |
| 1861 |
Portola Valley School District begins as Searsville District |
| 1863 |
Maximo Martinez dies; rancho divided among 7 children |
| 1868 |
Simon Knight takes over stage route; stage left Redwood City after 9:20 A. M. train arrived |
| 1875 |
J. J. Felt builds a 25 foot tall dam made of earth and clay |
| 1868--1875 |
Silk Culture in today’s Arrowhead Meadows by Nicolas Larco |
| 1869 |
Searsville School opens |
| 1883 |
Andrew Hallidie buys 100 acre Eagle Home Farm for c $3000 |
| 1886 |
Name Portola-Crespi Wood proposed by Nathan C. Carnall |
| 1887 |
Stanford buys “Wedge’ |
| 1889 |
Census children in Searsville School district: 53 |
| 1890 |
Massive landslide on Siebeck Flat (today’s Vista Verde) area) |
| 1890 |
Petition to set up Trancos School District in Portola Valley fails |
| 1891 |
Filling of Searsville Lake begins |
| 1891 |
William O’Brien MacDonough buys Menlo Stock Farm (later called Ormondale Ranch) on site of Westridge and Arrowhead Meadows |
| 1892 |
Hallidie starts town of Portola with 4 ½ acre gift |
| 1893 |
Ormonde arrives at Menlo Stock Farm |
| 1893 |
Panic paralyzes most large businesses; creates fear everywhere (Mirrielees) |
| 1894 |
Hallidie builds tramway from near today’s Episcopal Church to the Skyline |
| 1894 |
Searsville School dismantled; site sold for $2850 to Spring Valley Water Works |
| 1894 |
New Portola School opens May 5; dedicated on July 29 |
| 1894 |
Portola Post Office opens on Nov. 1 |
| 1894-1895 |
Upper Alpine Road is built |
| 1895 |
Census children: 61; in school attendance: less than 40 |
| 1900 |
Portola Road is unofficially named; Portola has around 80 students |
| 1900 |
Population was about 150 (Nick Skrabo, 6/1959) |
| 1900 |
Population of San Mateo County is 12,000 |
| 1901 |
Portola Post Office closes on July 31 |
| 1902 |
Mrs. Hallidie repurchases town of Portola, demolishes or moves buildings |
| 1902 |
“Sunny Jim” Rolph ( Mayor of San Francisco and Governor) buys 1st of 3350 acres (today’s Pony Tracks) |
| 1902 |
Mission Church, St. Catherine’s, established, the forerunner to Our Lady of the Wayside |
| 1903 |
Martinez adobe razed |
| 1904 |
Ormondale is foaled at Menlo Stock Farm |
| 1904 |
Harry Hallett builds Portola Store (846 Portola Rd. today) on land purchased for $10 |
| 1905 |
Menlo Stock Farm renamed Ormondale Ranch |
| 1906 |
Earthquake offsets fault as much as 12 feet in some areas |
| 1907-1908 |
51 inches of rain |
| 1908 |
Harry Hallett builds blacksmithy and saloon |
| 1909 |
76 children of school age, 53 in school; second one room schoolhouse built (the one that survives today) ; Cost $3600; Searsville School District renamed Portola School District |
| 1909 |
Family Club purchases Family Farm, builds about 40 cabins |
| 1910 |
Stanley Morshead buys Hallidie property |
| 1910 |
PG&E put power lines from Woodside to site of Sequoias or Brookside area |
| 1911 |
Herbert Law buys Willowbrook Farm to raise herbs for his patent medicine Viavi |
| 1911 |
William Fitzhugh buys Catoctin (now Stonegate area) |
| 1912 |
Our Lady of the Wayside built |
| 1912 |
Portola Terrace (Nathhorst area) developed |
| 1913 |
William O’Brien Macdonough dies |
| 1914 |
Stone superintendent’s house built at Portola Road entrance to Willowbrook Farm |
| 1/1915 |
Bradstreet’s Book of Commercial Ratings Pop of Portola Valley: 19. A saloon (Oran Daves), a dry goods and variety store (Margaret Duke) a grocery and liquor store (Harry Hallett) |
| 1915 |
Cottages built in Brookside neighborhood |
| 1915 |
Portola Road paved |
| 1915 |
Portola has a saloon, a dry goods and variety store, a grocery and liquor store |
| 1916 |
Estimated population is 225 |
| 1916 |
Teacher’s cottage built in redwoods by schools |
| 1917 |
Fitzhugh windmill built |
| 1917 |
Fire burns much of Los Trancos Valley; stopped just short of Rolph swimming pool |
| 1917 |
Camp Fremont soldiers come through on maneuvers with artillery guns |
| 1917 |
Power lines up to Nathhorst; Skrabo home got power in 1920 |
| 1917 |
Jelich’s 14 acres cost $23 in taxes |
| 1921 |
Power line extends up to Alpine with a 2 mile branch into Lauriston |
| 1920 |
Skyline Blvd. construction begins |
| 1922 |
Law buys c 550 acres on Spring Ridge for Lauriston |
| 1923 |
First students bussed to Sequoia High |
| 1924 |
Joseph Macdonough buys Burke Ranch (Ladera) and adds it to Ormondale Ranch |
| 1924 |
Westridge Drive laid out |
| 1924 |
Pines on Fawn and Cervantes planted |
| 1925 |
Woodside Fire Protection District created |
| 1926 |
Brookside Park and Woodside Highlands subdivisions begin |
| 1927 |
Branch of Sequoia Union District opens in Portola Valley; meets 3 times per week, primarily for “Americanization” skills |
| 1928 |
Los Trancos Woods subdivision begins; L. T. Road becomes public thoroughfare |
| 1931 |
Portola Redwoods (Wyndham Dr.) subdivided |
| 1937 |
John Francis Neylan buys Lauriston from Law |
| 1937 |
Woodside Fire Protection District Sub-station created in old Brookside Subdivision sales office, 179 Portola Road |
| 1939 |
Mangini family builds stone bar at New Picnic Park |
| 1939 |
About 110 summer homes in Los Trancos Woods |
| 1939 |
$15,000 fire on Rolph Ranch destroys many buildings |
| 1940 |
M. Martinez home at Alpine and Los Trancos demolished |
| 1941 |
6 year-round residents in Los Trancos Woods |
| 1941 |
25 additional feet of property added to fire station lot so fire truck could fit into extended garage |
| 1944 |
School gets first oil burning stove |
| 1946-1947 |
Charles Strong erected the bridge across Corte Madera Creek for Macdonough |
| 1947 |
Westridge subdivision created |
| 1947 |
54 students |
| 1948 |
a few scattered houses |
| 1948 |
Stonegate subdivision begins |
| 1948 |
PTA organized |
| 1948 |
3 teachers and 65 students |
| 1948 |
Public buildings: Wayside Store, Portola Store and Club, County Library branch, church, |
| 1948 |
7 nice, new homes in Portola Redwoods (Wyndham) |
| 1950 |
8 graduates from Portola Valley School; 4 teachers, 86 students |
| 1950 |
1st one room schoolhouse for grades 5-8 razed |
| 1950 |
Alpine Road realigned |
| 1951 |
Construction of modern classrooms begun at Portola School, 765 Portola Road; 149 students; first kindergarten |
| 1952 |
Marco Morenco buys Manginis Picnic Park on Alpine Rd. for $80,000 and plans expansion |
| 1954 |
(Portola Corners (Alpine and Portola) buildings begun |
| 1954 |
Alpine Hills subdivided; average house c $50,000 |
| 1955 |
Portola Valley Association forms to study feasibility of incorporation to maintain rural atmosphere |
| 1955 |
For next four years, 4 new schoolrooms needed every year (Tony Rose) |
| 1956 |
Village Square constructed by Vance Brown for $120,000 |
| 1956 |
Little League begins |
| 1956 |
Oak Hills subdivision begins |
| 1956 |
Portola School District becomes Portola Valley School District |
| 1956 |
Construction begins on Christ Church |
| 1956 |
Portola/Alpine center completed |
| 1957 |
Residents vote against incorporation in postcard poll by PVA |
| 1957 |
Woodside Priory founded; |
| 1957 |
Construction begins on Corte Madera School |
| 1957 |
Christ Episcopal Church opens |
| 1957 |
“Portola Valley” becomes an official mailing address, replacing Redwood City, Woodside addresses |
| 1958 |
50 graduates from PV School |
| 1958 |
Alpine Hills Tennis and Swim Club opens |
| 1958 |
Arrowhead Meadows subdivided |
| 1958 |
Corte Madera School opens for Grades 1-2 |
| 1959 |
Hallidie home demolished |
| 1959 |
Portola Valley School construction completed |
| 1959 |
Hillbrook Tract subdivided |
| 1959 |
Property purchased for Sequoias |
| 1959 |
Population is 3400 (?); 560 of 5635 acres developed (Frank Skillman) Is he counting Ladera and L. T. Woods? |
| 1959 |
Shallow lake from Ormondale at Cervantes/Shawnee Pass filled in |
| 1959 |
New high school considered for Sand Hill and Walsh Rd or Sand Hill and Whiskey Hill (Tony Rose in PAT 3/11/59) |
| 1960 |
Population is 2,163; median family income $12,259 |
| 1960 |
Attempt to incorporate defeated |
| 1960 |
1/4 of PV school children, 3rd through 8th grades require special attention; of 550 students 70 have severe learning or behavior prolems; 53 have IQ’a over 130 requiring enrichment (PAT 3/12/60) |
| 1961 |
Ormondale School construction begins |
| 1961 |
Sequoias Retirement Home built for $3,405,000 with accomodations eventually for 315 |
| 1962 |
Average home in Los Trancos Woods: $16,000; cluster of homes is surrounded by 10 large parcels |
| 1962 |
Action Group for Local Control formed to get annexed to Woodside or incorporated; recommends annexation |
| 1962 |
Site selected for Presbyterian church |
| 1962 |
Ten acres at Alpine and Portola zoned commercial by SM County |
| 1962 |
Four inches of snow on the valley floor (Jan.. 21) |
| 1962 |
Hare, Brewer Kelley drop plans for commercial development on 7 acres of Alpine Rd opposite Westridge Dr: planned restraurant, motel, drs offices, nursery, librry, fire station there |
| 1963 |
Woodside Town Council votes 5-2 against annexing Portola Valley |
| 1963 |
Hatfield Flax Mill demolished |
| 1963 |
Poopulation: 3080 |
| 1963 |
Corporation headed by Gwendolyn Raymond purchases Village Square; plans to use some of building for a private school |
| 1964 |
June 23 : Vote to incorporate carries 3 to 1 |
| 1964 |
July 14: Official incorporation and 1st town organizational meeting |
| 1964 |
First Council: Nevin Heister (Mayor); Bill Lane (Vice- Mayor), Eleanor Boushey, Robert V. Brown, Samuel Halstead |
| 1964 |
Planning Commission appointed |
| 1964 |
Architectural Site Control Commission appointed |
| 1964 |
Finance Committee appointed |
| 1964 |
Town Attorney James Morton appointed |
| 1964 |
Town Planner George Mader appointed |
| 1964 |
Portola Valley Presbyterian Church opens |
| 1964 |
First Country Almanac published |
| 1964 |
Friends of Library founded |
| 1964 |
Population: about 2800 |
| 1965 |
First Town Zoning Ordinance passed |
| 1965 |
Conservation, Open Space and Recreation Commission appointed |
| 1965 |
Traffic Committee appointed |
| 1965 |
Livestock Commission appointed |
| 1965 |
Roads Commission appointed |
| 1965 |
Palmer Estates subdivided |
| 1965 |
Services begin at Presbyterian Church |
| 1965 |
Sanctuary dedicated, June |
| 1965 |
First annual Parks and Rec. Christmas dinner at Alpine Hills, honoring early residents: Jeliches, Ida Nunes, Silveras, Rossottis, Mrs. Andrew Mangini, Mrs. John Duzanica |
| 1965 |
School population: 1037 in three schools; Budget: $629,778 |
| 1966 |
Ordinance passed requiring all new construction to have utilities undergrounded; efforts made to lower cost of undergrounding existing utilities |
| 1966 |
Ormondale School construction finished |
| 1966-67 |
Assessed valuation of commercial property: $293,000 |
| 1967 |
Landslide in Vista Verde area |
| 1967 |
Conservation, Open Space and Recreation Commission changed to Conservation Committee |
| 1967 |
Parks and Recreation Committee established |
| 1967 |
Geologic and Geologic hazards map preparation begun |
| 1967 |
Dorothy Telfer appointed Town Historian |
| 1967 |
Historical Committee appointed |
| 1967 |
Library opened in Village Square |
| 1967 |
Presbyterian Church construction completed |
| 1967 |
Zoning ordinance adopted (amended several times) |
| 1967 |
Town seal officially adopted |
| 1967 |
Portola Valley Pony Club is created |
| 1968 |
Population: 3600 |
| 1968 |
Assessed valuation: $14,100,000, Tax rate 26 cents per $!00 of AV |
| 1968 |
Budget: about $183,000 |
| 1968 |
Arvid Johnson appointed Town Geologist |
| 1968 |
AYSO soccer begins |
| 1968 |
Annual Town Picnics begin at Morshead Lake |
| 1968 |
Springdown Farm opens; H. Myrl Stearns, Prop. |
| 1968 |
Traffic Committee formed |
| 1968 |
First annual spring clean-up |
| 1968 |
PV Trust for Conservation formed with first monetary donations by Robert and Pauline Snedden Sears and land (along Corte Madera Creek) by Bovets |
| 1969 |
Population is 3,575; median family income is $21,073 |
| 1969 |
5th birthday party held for townspeople at Morsheads |
| 1969 |
Slope density zoning is adoted |
| 1969 |
Ten year lease signed for use of Rossotti Field |
| 1969 |
Alpine-Portola intersection changed from a curve to a T, thereby creating a 1/2acre triangular area for a park |
| 1969 |
Hunting banned within town borders, particularly over worry abou dove shooting near school grounds |
| 1970 |
Population is 3,961 (Geo. Mader corrects census information of 4,999); 1046 housing units |
| 1971 |
House at Lauriston burns |
| 1971 |
First town picnic at Town Center |
| 1971 |
Kelley field (7.67 A.) purchased for $90.000 from Hare, Brewer, Kelley and renamed Dorothy Ford Park |
| 1971 |
Disaster Preparedness/Emergency Committee appointed |
| 1971 |
Part of the Pony Tracks ranch split off into 5 parcels |
| 1972-73 |
Tax rate=.35 per $100 to finance budget of $72,869 |
| 1973 |
2 Tennis courts constructed at Portola Valley School |
| 1973 |
Girls AYSO and softball leagues (LaPortWood Bobbysox) formed |
| 1973 |
Chris Miller hired as Sport and Field Co-ordinator |
| 1973 |
First undergrounding of power lines, Alpine and Portola intersection, $25,000 |
| 1974 |
Population: 4000; 9 miles of riding/hiking trails; 60 volunteers, paid staff of 4 (plus part time consultants) |
| 1974 |
Geologic Map and policy statement approved, incorporating geologic information into Town decision making |
| 1974 |
Children’s Theater Association former |
| 1974 |
“Little People’s Park” built at Town Center |
| 1974 |
Country Offices, 10,000 sq. ft. constructed by Hare Brewer, Kelley at Alpine and Nathhorst; Larry Lincoln, architect |
| 1974 |
Portola Valley Ranch Development approved |
| 1975 |
Portola Valley Ranch subdivision begins |
| 1975 |
Livestock Commission changed to Animal Regulation Commission |
| 1975 |
Stable Commissioner appointed |
| 1975 |
Aug. 25: Town Hall opens at 765 Portola Road in former school administration building |
| 1975 |
Oct.3: 207 A. of Coal Mine Ridge dedicated to Town as Open Space Preserve by PVR Homeowners Association and Antoine and Suzanne Bovet |
| 1975 |
Portola Valley School deeded to town for Town Center for $120,00 |
| 1975 |
Country Offices approves, 1st office building and 2nd commercial building since incorporation |
| 1975 |
Library moves to Town Center site from Village Square rental space |
| 1976 |
Linda Craig replaces Mildred Whittaker as Town Clerk |
| 1976 |
Randy Chafin replaces Lore Radisch as Planning Sec’y |
| 1976 |
Dwight Crowder Memorial Trail dedicated, 2/21 |
| 1976 |
John Meany builds and opens Valley Foods |
| 1976 |
October 18: SamTrans begins bus service to Portola Valley |
| 1976 |
December: New Fire Station opens |
| 1976 |
Stearns sells Spring Down to Bialeks |
| 1977 |
Portola Valley School closes; Town buys buildings and site |
| 1977 |
Assessed valuation of commercial property: $1,115,630 |
| 1977 |
1100 residences; school enrollment is 703 |
| 1977 |
Town’s General Plan revised |
| 1977 |
Town Center Committee formed |
| 1977 |
Trails Committee appointed |
| 1977 |
Rossotti field becomes full-sized soccer field |
| 1977 |
Trails Committee appointed |
| 1977 |
Baseball field at Town Center converted to soccer field |
| 1977 |
Windmill Nursery School moves to old Town Hall on Portola Road |
| 1977 |
Six new classrooms at both Ormondale and Corte Madera; 7th and 8th graders leave PVS for Corte Madera |
| 1978 |
First “Zots to Tots” race (2.7 miles) at Town Picnic |
| 1978 |
Town Center baseball field and volleyball court constructed |
| 1978 |
4 PM 7/13: Fire of suspicious origin on Windy Hill; air tanker, 10 firetrucks, 36 fireflghters subdued I by 5 PM |
| 1978 |
First 8th grade graduating class at Corte Madera |
| 1979 |
1,254 homes |
| 1979 |
3 paddle tennis courts constructed at Town Center |
| 1979 |
Larry Lane Trail constructed |
| 1979 |
Corte Madera Associates donates 525 acres to Open Space District—Windy Hill |
| 1980 |
Major amendments to General Plan (Buildable sites reduced from 1950 to 1800) |
| 1980 |
Third tennis court built at Town Center |
| 1980 |
Library takes on present size and form |
| 1980 |
Minimum acreage on lower hillsides raised from 1 acre to 2 acres |
| 1981 |
Rossotti Soccer Field, 4.58 A., purchased by Town for $312,000; property to be used only for parking, rescreation or open space purposes |
| 1981 |
First Community Production |
| 1981 |
Archives Committee appointed |
| 1981 |
Valley Artists open gallery in Little Red Schoolhouse |
| 1981 |
Hazel Smith appointed Town Clerk |
| 1982 |
Senior League Baseball Diamond constructed at Corte Madera School |
| 1982 |
Construction of MUR completed at Corte Madera School |
| 1982 |
Town buys Rossotti Field 94.58 A.) for $313,421 from Rossotti/Beltramo sisters |
| 1983 |
Major renovation of Dorothy Ford Field, funded by Town and Alpine Little League |
| 1983 |
Position of Field Administrator created |
| 1983 |
Susan McGowan appointed Town Clerk |
| 1983 |
1284 housing units, 3613 residents |
| 1983 |
Median income $49,926 |
| 1984 |
Keys sold for Town tennis courts |
| 1984 |
Roads Committee renamed Public Works |
| 1985 |
PV School District Tax Initiative passed, $99 per year |
| 1985 |
School district sells Nathhorst 14.2 acres for $2.3 million to Chamberlain group |
| 1985 |
Utility Users Tax enacted |
| 1985 |
Soccer Field renamed “Russ Miller Field” |
| 1986 |
Construction of “bridge” on Grove Drive |
| 1986 |
Major renovation of LIttle People’s Park; 7 new structures added |
| 1986 |
Renovation of Ormondale Soccer Field |
| 1986 |
Ford Field outfield replanted; new snack shop built |
| 1986 |
New fence built at Rossotti field |
| 1987 |
Population: 4,371; 1,285 single family homes; estimated average cost of homes: $300,000 to $600,000 |
| 1987 |
Utility Users Tax approved by voters |
| 1987 |
Slobe additon of 429 A. to Windy Hill Preserve |
| 1987 |
Town Center Committee absorbed by Parks and Recreation |
| 1988 |
Population: 4,400; 1400 households |
| 1988 |
Recycling begins at Town Center |
| 1988 |
May ll: Town adopts flag design after student Lynn Gardner complains that there is no flag flying at Town Hall. Cathy Behr and Parks and Rec. offered a few choices. Cathy was the designer. |
| 1989 |
Geologic Safety Committee appointed |
| 1991 |
Affordable Housing Ordinance approved; guest houses legalized |
| 1991 |
“Canside” Recycling begun |
| 1991 |
Gary Nielsen appointed to Council in Bob Anderson’s seat |
| 1993 |
Mary Kohut, Ted Driscoll, Richard Merck elected to Council to replace Sue Crane, Jon Silver, John James |
| 1994 |
Nancy Vian appointed to Council to replace Mary Kohut |
| 1994 |
Historic Element Addition to General Plan adopted |
| 1995 |
American Demographics magazine, Oct. issue, lists Portola Valley as 6th smartest town in U. S. with 74% of 3205 residents over 25 having bachelor’s degree or higher |
| 1996 |
Sausal Creek Associates’ Senior Housing project approved, 846 Portola Road |
| 1996 |
Artists leave “Little Red Schoolhouse”; rehabilitation begins |
| 1996 |
Blue Oaks Subdivision of Mariani Ranch approved |
| 1996 |
Jim Morton, Town Attorney retires after 32 years; Sandy Sloan appointed |
| 1996 |
Worth magazine July/August issue lists Portola Valley as 49th wealthiest town in U. S. using census information as analyzed by Scan/US, a Los Angeles firm that produces highly sophisticated software about income and population. It reports an average home value of $575,500. |
| 1997 |
Schoolhouse rehabilitation completed |
| 1997 |
Community Events committee created |
| 1997 |
First Blues and Barbecue Celebration draws 900 |
| 1997 |
5.5% utility tax for general fund approved by 87% of voters |
| 1997 |
2% utility tax approved by 80% of voters for dedicated open space acquisition fund |
| 1997 |
Alex McIntyre replaces Susan Whelan as CAO |
| 1997 |
Worth Mag.: Portola Valley is 18th richest town in country; average home price: $792,500 |
| 1998 |
Jan.-Feb. storms create major slides on upper Alpine Road. Over 20 inches of rain in Jan. alone; repairs = $9 million, funded largely by FEMA |
| 1998 |
Grading begins on Blue Oaks subdivision |
| 1998 |
Second Blues and Barbecue draws over 1000 |
| 1998 |
School bond issue of $17,000,000 passes |
| Sept. 1998 |
4th and 5th grades move from Ormondale to Corte Madera School |
| 1999 |
Cultural Arts Committee created |
| 1999 |
The Portola Valley Coed Soccer League begins |
| 3/1999 |
Richard Merk resigns from Council; Kirke Comstock appointed |
| June 1999 |
June 1999 Worth magazine: Portola Valley is 15th richest town in the U. S. with a median home price of $895,000 based on public records, multiple listing services and with the help of Prudential Real Estate agents and brokers |
| June 1999 |
Millennium Open Space Challenge to match $125,000 donation by Jean and Bill Lane, John and Nancy Thompson launched; $100,000 more added by Lanes |
| Nov. 1999 |
Ed Davis replaces Gary Nielsen on Town Council in an uncontested election |
| 1999 |
Realtor Celeste Henzel: Average home price: $1,445,298; Median: $1,237,500 |
| Jan. 2000 |
Millennium Challenge raises $833,704; $200,000 from the Lanes, $25,000 from Thompsons; Mary and Rodney Smith subsequently donate one million |
| April 2000 |
Town buys front quarter (3 acres) of Spring Down Farm for $1.625 million with option for 3 more acres. Funds come from Open Space Fund and Special Utility Tax |
| June 2000 |
Worth Magazine: Portola Valley is 15th richest town in US with median home price of $1,065,000. Statistics are based on public documents and multiple listing services and with the help of Prudential Real Estate agents and brokers throughout the country. |
| July 2000 |
Air-conditioning added to library and art gallery; paved entryway and courtyard completed |
| Sept. 2000 |
Alex McIntyre resigns as Town Administrator |
| Dec. 2000 |
Angela Howard named Town Administrator |
| Jan 1, 2000 |
State Department of Finance: Population: 4622; 1743 housing units (1483 detatched single, family with 2.697 persons per household; 23 new residences approved in 2000 (including 7 “teardowns” and 12 houses for Blue Oaks |
| 2000 |
Realtor Hugh Cornish: (Marketing Design stats) Pop: 4585; Elevation: 26 feet; Average household income: $205,700; No of Homes: 1733 [1473 single family, 18 single-family attached, 239 multiple units; Average home price 2000: $2,211,915 |
| 2000 |
Realtor Celeste Henzel: Average price: $2,266,006 (One home on Mapache, selling twice for $13,000,000 skewed the average) Median Price: $1,650,000 |
| 2000 |
Almanac 7/4/01 gives U. S. Census reports for 2000: population 4462 up 7.7 from 1990; 50.8% female, 49.2% male; median age 47.5; 22.9% under 18, 21% over 65; average household size 2.58; White: 90.8; Black 3.3; Hispanic .4; Asian 4.0; |
| 1999 |
US Census finds Portola Valley is 10th in nation in per capita income at $99,621; Atherton is 2nd at $112,408; Woodside 6th at $104,667 |
| 1999 |
Portola Valley buys the front 3 acres of Spring Down for $1.625 million. |
| 1/8/01 |
Upper Alpine reopened to Joaquin Rd., after $9.5 million repair of 30 landslides; 95% paid by federal govt |
| June 2001 |
Worth Magazine names Portola Valley 20th wealthiest town in US, based upon real estate statistics; Median home price: $1,349,000 |
| 8/ 2001 |
Valley Inn, formerly Manginis Bar, demolished |
| 11/01 |
Utility tax of 5% for general fund re-approved by 72% |
| 11/01 |
Utility tax of 2% for open space re-approved by 73% |
| 11/01 |
School bond of $6 million approved by 73% |
| 11/01 |
Richard Merk, George Comstock, Ted Driscoll elected to Council |
| May 2002 |
Worth Magazine ranks Portola Valley 14th wealthiest town in US with median home price of $1,675,000 |
| 2002 |
253 horses in town |
| 2002-2003 |
Community disagreement over development at 3.5 acre Nathhorst Triangle; first referendum qualifies for ballot; it succeeds; plans for lower cost homes abandoned |
| 2003 |
Renovation of Rossotti soccer field, $400,000 |
| 2003 |
Purchase of “Martinez archive” at auction, $24,222.62, paid for by Town, Lanes, Lunds, Gullards, Schrecks, Moseleys, Schmidts |
| 2004 |
PV Forum, a listserve, begins; Rebecca Flynn, moderator |
| 2/9/04 |
Council votes to abandon Town Center buildings and rebuild on tennis court site |
| 3/2/04 |
Voters pass $290 annual parcel tax for schools by 72.9%; should produce $675,645 annually; |
| 4/8/2004 |
Rebecca Flynn forms PV Forum |
| 6/04 |
Charrette process involves townspeople in plans for new Town Center |
| 7/04 |
Town staff abandons Town Hall for temporary building |
| 2004 |
Portola Road resurfaced from Hayfields to Willowbrook |
| 4/05 |
Little People’s Park closes for state safety issues; new equipment installed; it is reopened |
| 4/05 |
Stanley Lo of Hillsborough buys Village Square |
| 5/05 |
3,412 Registered voters |
| 6/2005 |
Library closes; unsafe, reopens in unused rooms at Corte Madera School 8/05 |
| 2005 |
Montgomery Karsten Property (c 12 acres, top of Hayfields) donated to town with $25,000 for trails and maintenance; named Herb Dengler Preserve |
| 2005 |
Los Trancos Woods forms sewer assessment district, $3.7 million |
| 2005 |
5.5% utility tax passes with 52%of the vote. |
| 2005 |
2% utility tax for open spaces passes with % |
| 2006 |
New Years Eve Weekend Storm brings 12-15 inches of rain, power outages as long as 4 days, downed live electric wires on at least Westridge, Fawn, Golden Oak, huge trees down all over town, wind gusts in the high 30s MPH, occasionally up to the 50s. |
| Sept 2006 |
Deconstruction of Town Center buildings begins |
| Sept 2006 |
Fund-raising for new structures underway |
| 4/28/07 |
Groundbreaking ceremony for new Town Center |
| 9/07 |
Forbes Magazine report: 94028 is 21st most expensive real estate market based on median home sales price of $1,560,000 between 7/06 and 6/07 as collected by First American Core Logic; 471 people per sq. mile |
| 9/07 |
PV is the 10th richest neighborhood in US, based on median income of $164,479, based on 2000 census American Community Survey. |
| 2007 |
Over 400 open building permits in town |
| 2007 |
Sewer construction begins on Los Trancos Road |
| June 2007 |
Summer Concert series begins, hosted by Cultural Arts Committee |
| Dec. 2007 |
Town buys Tevis 2 acre flag lot, near Golden Hills entrance to Shady Trail for about $1,400,000; $100,000 from Open Space Fund, remainder |
| April 2008 |
$17 million total contributions for $20,000,000 new Town Center. $3 million from Town funds |
| June 2008 |
Roberts Market opens at Alpine/Portola rds, former site of John’s Valley Foods |
| Sept 14, 2008 |
New Town Center open for community to inspect at Blues and Barbecue. |
| 2009 |
Green Speaker Series begins: Local Heroes on Local Issues |
| 2010 |
PV "Green" Speakers series receives Business Environmental Award in the category Environmental and Sustainability Education; Small Organization |
| May 2011 |
5-acre "Springdown" open space opens to the public |
| Oct. 2, 2011 |
Portola Valley School District celebrates its 150th birthday with an event at Town Center for approximately 700 people |
| 2011 |
1700 members on PV Forum |
| 2011 |
79 A. Woods property accepted by MROSD, with $2 million for maintenance; largest private gift in history of district |
| 2011 |
Forbes Website of most expensive ZIP codes lists Portola Valley as #39 (October) |
| 2011 |
Gadberry Group for U. S. Businessweek.com ranks PV 5th richest zip code in the country, based on average income and net worth of households (December) |
| 2011 |
Cultural Arts Committee begins Summer Concert Series |
| 2011 |
Science and Nature Committee begins Flight Night |
| 2012 |
Four electric charging stations for autos installed at Town Center |
| 2013 |
Farmers’ Market begins at Town Cener |
| 2013 |
Emergency radio station AM 1680 begins |
| 2013 |
School District Measure O adds $123 to property tax |
| July 18, 2016 |
West Nile Virus detected in Portola Valley |
| 2016 |
Two home invasion burglaries, others onGolden Oak and Brookside galvanize efforts to improve home safety |
| Dec. 19, 2016 |
Lorrie Duvall appointed Town’s Neighborhood Watch Coordinator |
| April 2017 |
PV enters into contract with Peninsula Clean Energy so that PG&E delivers electricity to residents from renewable sources. |
| Jan. 2018 |
Automatic Licence Plate Readers installed at entrances to town on Portola and Arastradero roads; (county to install one on Alpine soon) |
| Feb. 2018 |
Windmill School and LaureL Education Center open in their own buildings at 900 Portola Road after a big, successful fundraising drive |
| July 2018 |
Heirs of Molly Alexander sell Alpine Inn to a group of PV investors led by Deke and Lori Hunter, Jim Kohlberg, and Stephanie and Fred Harman with Greg St. Claire as operating partner |
| Nov. 2018 |
PVSD gets $ 49.9 million Measure Z passed for school construction |
| Spring 2019 |
Town Council eases restrictions on ADUs to allow for more to be built\ |
| July 4, 2019 |
Alpine Inn reopens to rave reviews and huge crowds |
| Dec. 2019 |
Council names Frog Pond Open Space Preserve |
| Mar. 15, 2020 |
Covid-19 puts entire town on shelter-in-place |
| Spring 2020 |
Schools, businesses close because of Covid 19 |
| August 2020 |
Portola Valley Neighbors United (PVNU) is created |
| Fall 2020 |
Schools slowly open with distance learning and some in-school classes |
| May 2021 |
Council forms Race and Equity Committee and ad hoc Housing Element Committee |
| May 2021 |
School District Measure S to establish $471 parcel tax to expire in 2029 passes |
| May 2021 |
“Road remnant” in Frog Pond area declared protected open space |
| June 23, 2021-2022 |
Fiscal year budget passes: Revenues: $6.1 million; expenses $6.1 million; Reserves: $5.9 million |
| November 2021 |
Melvin Gaines is hired as Assistant Town Manager; Leaves Jan. 2023 |
| November 2021 |
Superintendent Roberta Zarea is honored as San Mateo County Superintendent of the Year |
| November 2021 |
Rebecca Flynn,founder and moderator of the PV Forum is Volunteer of the Year |
| June 2022 |
First PV Palooza: 11 bands, 11AM-8 PM |
| July 2022 |
Library begins 7 day service |
| Dec, 26-Jan 23 |
Nine Atmospheric Rivers deposit c18-15 inches of rain in PV |
| 2022-2024 |
Housing Element in basic compliance with state law after 3 years of planning; Certified Jan 30, 3034; Decertified Mar. 26. 2024 |
| 2023 |
First PV Palooza takes place |
| 2024 |
Volunteer Committees change organizational structure, some coming under the Town Manager rather than the council |
| 2024 |
Patty Dewes is named Volunteer of the Year |
| 2025 |
Flashing beacons and improved crosswalks placed at Alpine/Golden Oak and Portola/Brookside |
| 2025 |
AED defibrillators placed at Town Tennis Courts, Community Hall, Town Hall, Library |
| 2025 |
Housing Element Recertified May 30 |
| 2025 |
Portola Valley Fund created to accept donations |
