Portola Valley, California

File:Retrat_Gaspar_de_Portolà_(Lleida).jpg, 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.{{cite book|last1=Millikan|first1=Randally|last2=Shoup|first2=Laurence H.|last3=Ortiz|first3=Beverley R.|title=Ohlone/Costanoan Indians of the San Francisco Peninsula and their Neighbors, Yesterday and Today|date=June 2009|publisher=National Park Service|pages=293–294|url=http://www.muwekma.org/images/Ohlone_Costanoan_Indians_of_SF_Peninsula_NPS_2009.pdf}}{{cite journal|last1=Bocek|first1=Barbara|title=Subsistence, Settlement and Tribelet Territories on the Eastern San Francisco Peninsula|journal=Proceedings of the Society for California Arhchaeology|date=1992|volume=5|pages=269–297|url=https://scahome.org/publications/proceedings/Proceedings.05Bocek.pdf|access-date=April 8, 2018}}

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.{{cite book|last1=Kyle|first1=Douglas E.|last2=Rensch|first2=Hero Eugene|last3=Rensch|first3=Ethel Grace|last4=Hoover|first4=Mildred Brooke|title=Historic Spots in California: Fifth Edition|date=2002|publisher=Stanford University Press|isbn=9780804778176|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0YMnDQAAQBAJ|access-date=March 24, 2018|language=en}} 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.{{cite news|last1=Clifford|first1=Jim|title=Cable car inventor built tram in Portola Valley|url=https://www.smdailyjournal.com/news/local/cable-car-inventor-built-tram-in-portola-valley/article_114307c1-89f9-5a46-8776-65f24bc82b37.html|access-date=March 25, 2018|work=San Mateo Daily Journal|date=May 8, 2017|language=en}}{{cite web|title=Hallidie Tramway - Portola Valley, CA - Signs of History on Waymarking.com|url=http://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WMGJP5_Hallidie_Tramway_Portola_Valley_CA|website=www.waymarking.com|access-date=March 25, 2018|language=en}}

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.{{Cite web|url=http://www.portolavalley.net/about-portola-valley/history-of-portola-valley|title=Portola Valley, CA : History of Portola Valley|website=www.portolavalley.net|language=en|access-date=March 16, 2017}} Bill Lane, known as the publisher of Sunset magazine, was the first mayor.

In recent years, due to the California housing shortage, the state government has increased its pressure on local governments to allow construction of more housing, using a process called the Regional Housing Needs Assessment.{{ r | SFS_2024-11-14 | LAT_2024-12-20 }} 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.{{ r | SFS_2024-11-14 | LAT_2024-12-20 | SJMN_2024-04-02 }} 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.{{ r | SJMN_2024-04-02 }} Previously, Portola Valley's exclusionary zoning has not allowed any multifamily housing, 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.{{ r | SJMN_2024-04-02 }}

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.{{ cite news | title=How Portola Valley nearly destroyed itself over 253 new homes | url=https://sfstandard.com/2024/11/14/portola-valley-and-the-perils-of-housing-mandates/ | last=Nguyen | first=Kevin V. | work=The San Francisco Standard | date=14 November 2024 | language=en | quote=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. }}{{ r | LAT_2024-12-20 }} Additionally, according to the Los 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.{{ r | LAT_2024-12-20 }}

In March 2024, the California Department of Housing and Community Development decertified Portola Valley's housing plan because the town had failed to re-zone to allow for the new housing.{{ cite news | url=https://www.mercurynews.com/2024/04/02/portola-valley-housing-element-decertified-california/ | title=A wealthy Peninsula town is dragging its feet on building housing, state says. Now, it faces consequences. | last=Talerico | first=Kate | newspaper=San Jose Mercury News | date=April 2, 2024 | quote=Historically, Portola Valley hasn’t 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.}} 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.{{ r | SFS_2024-11-14 }}{{ cite news | url=https://www.latimes.com/homeless-housing/story/2024-12-20/how-fighting-affordable-housing-nearly-bankrupted-one-of-the-wealthiest-towns-in-america | title=How fighting affordable housing nearly bankrupted one of America's richest towns | last=Dillon | first=Liam | newspaper=Los Angeles Times | date=2024-12-20 | quote=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.}}

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.{{cite news|last1=Aiden|first1=Andrew|title=Lost and Found: The 1906 Earthquake Rupture in Portola Valley|url=https://www.kqed.org/science/6797|access-date=March 25, 2018|work=KQED|date=August 8, 2013|language=en-us}}{{cite web|title=Geologic Map: Town of Portola Valley|url=http://www.portolavalley.net/home/showdocument?id=3969|website=Portola Valley|publisher=Cotton, Shires, and Associates|access-date=March 25, 2018|date=June 2017}}

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 {{convert|9.099|sqmi|km2}}, 99.98% of it land and 0.02% of it water.{{cite web|title=2016 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2016_Gazetteer/2016_gaz_place_06.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=June 28, 2017}}

File:Portola Valley School.jpg 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.{{cite web|last1=California|first1=California State Parks, State of|title=OUR LADY OF THE WAYSIDE|url=http://ohp.parks.ca.gov/ListedResources/Detail/909|website=CA State Parks|access-date=March 29, 2018|language=en}}{{cite web|title=National Register #77000338: Our Lady of the Wayside in Portola Valley, California|url=https://noehill.com/sanmateo/nat1977000338.asp|website=noehill.com|access-date=March 29, 2018}}

Portola Valley School is a one-room former school house built in 1909 and is on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.{{cite web|title=National Register #74000557: Portola Valley School, California|url=https://noehill.com/sanmateo/nat1974000557.asp|website=noehill.com|access-date=March 29, 2018}} It is now used for town council meetings.{{cite web|title=Town Center: Portola Valley, CA|url=http://www.portolavalley.net/town-government/town-center|website=www.portolavalley.net|access-date=March 29, 2018|language=en}}

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.{{cite news|last1=Staiger|first1=Steve|title=Echoes of Alpine Inn's early days|url=https://www.paloaltoonline.com/weekly/morgue/spectrum/2001_Jan_24.HISTRY24.html|access-date=March 29, 2018|work=www.paloaltoonline.com|date=January 24, 2001}}{{cite web|title=Buelna's Roadhouse, 3915 Alpine Road, Portola Valley, San Mateo County, CA|url=https://www.loc.gov/resource/hhh.ca0844.photos?st=gallery|website=The Library of Congress|access-date=March 29, 2018|language=en}} 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.{{cite web|url=http://siliconvalley.sutromedia.com/alpine-inn-and-beer-garden.html|title=Alpine Inn & Beer Garden|last=Laws|first=David|date=April 13, 2012|publisher=Silicon Valley Roots & Shoots|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130919095902/http://siliconvalley.sutromedia.com/alpine-inn-and-beer-garden.html|archive-date=September 19, 2013|access-date=March 31, 2013}}{{cite book|title=SRI Mobile Van {{!}} X1590.99 {{!}} Computer History Museum|url=http://www.computerhistory.org/collections/catalog/X1590.99|website=www.computerhistory.org|year=1977|access-date=May 30, 2018|language=en}} In 2018, the inn was acquired by new owners, who closed it temporarily for remodeling.{{cite web|title=Popular burger joint is closed until March for remodeling |url=https://www.almanacnews.com/news/2019/02/18/popular-burger-joint-is-closed-until-march-for-remodeling|website=www.almanacnews.com|access-date=February 19, 2018|language=en}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.almanacnews.com/news/2019/02/08/portola-valley-alpine-inn-has-a-new-owner|title = Portola Valley: Alpine Inn has new owners}}{{cite news |last1=Daly |first1=Kate |title=Historic Alpine Inn reopening in Portola Valley on Friday |url=https://www.paloaltoonline.com/news/2019/08/07/historic-alpine-inn-reopening-in-portola-valley-on-friday |access-date=December 31, 2019 |work=www.paloaltoonline.com |language=en}}{{cite news|last1=Gulker|first1=Linda Hubbard|url=https://inmenlo.com/2019/12/30/the-saga-of-alpine-inn-aka-zotts-over-the-years/|title=The saga of Alpine Inn aka Zott's over the years — InMenlo|date=December 30, 2019|work=InMenlo.com}} It was re-opened in August 2019.{{Cite web|last=Daly|first=Kate|title=Historic Alpine Inn reopening in Portola Valley on Friday|url=https://www.paloaltoonline.com/news/2019/08/07/historic-alpine-inn-reopening-in-portola-valley-on-friday|access-date=April 8, 2021|website=www.paloaltoonline.com|language=en}}

Portola Valley is known for its expansive trail network both maintained by the town{{cite web|title=Portola Valley Trails|url=https://www.portolavalley.net/about/open-space-in-portola-valley/portola-valley-trails|website=Town of Portola Valley|access-date=March 22, 2018|language=en}} and also in the Windy Hill Open Space Preserve maintained by the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District.{{cite web |title=Windy Hill Preserve |url=https://www.openspace.org/preserves/windy-hill |website=Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District |access-date=April 26, 2022 |language=en}}{{cite web |title=Town of Portola Valley, San Mateo County |url=https://bahiker.com/southbayhikes/larrylane.html |website=Bay Area Hikers |access-date=April 26, 2022}} 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.{{cite web |title=Coal Mine Ridge Nature Preserve {{!}} Portola Valley CA |url=https://www.cmrnp.org/ |website=CMRNP |access-date=April 26, 2022 |language=en}}{{cite web |title=Coal Mine Ridge Nature Preserve, Portola Ranch Homeowner's Association, San Mateo County |url=https://bahiker.com/southbayhikes/cmr.html |website=Bay Area Hikers |access-date=April 26, 2022}}

{{US Census population

|1970= 4996

|1980= 3939

|1990= 4194

|2000= 4462

|2010= 4353

|2020= 4456

|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015}}{{cite web |title=2020 Explore Census Data |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=1600000US0658380 |website=data.census.gov |access-date=April 23, 2022}}

}}

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. This is the result of its exclusionary zoning ordinances, which prohibit multifamily dwellings anywhere in the town.

As of 2020 the median income per household in Portola Valley was estimated at $235,469 and the per capita income was $142,778.{{cite web |title=94028 Income Statistics - Current Census Data for Zip Codes |url=https://www.incomebyzipcode.com/california/94028 |website=www.incomebyzipcode.com |access-date=April 26, 2022}}

File:Casa de Tableta, Portola Valley, California.jpg, built by Californio entrepreneur Félix Buelna in 1851, now named Rossotti's Alpine Inn.]]

The 2020 United States census{{cite web |title=Portola Valley town, California |url=https://data.census.gov/profile/Portola_Valley_town,_California?g=160XX00US0658380 |website=United States Census Bureau |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=5 February 2025}} 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 or Latino of any race were 230 (5.16%).

There were 1,915 housing units.

The 2010 United States Census{{cite web|url=http://www.census.gov/2010census/popmap/ipmtext.php?fl=06:0658380|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140715032604/http://www.census.gov/2010census/popmap/ipmtext.php?fl=06:0658380|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 15, 2014|title=2010 Census Interactive Population Search: CA - Portola Valley town|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|access-date=July 12, 2014}} reported that Portola Valley had a population of 4,353. The population density was {{convert|478.7|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. 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%) 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 {{convert|208.4|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}, 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{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=January 31, 2008|title=U.S. Census website}} of 2000, there were 4,392 people, 1,772 households, and 1,269 families residing in the town. The population density was {{convert|487.5|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 1,772 housing units at an average density of {{convert|193.6|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. 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.

File:Woodside Priory School graduation procession 2008.jpg.]]

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.{{cite web|title=Local Schools: Portola Valley, CA|url=http://www.portolavalley.net/for-residents/local-schools|website=www.portolavalley.net|publisher=Town of Portola Valley|access-date=March 29, 2018|language=en}} 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.{{cite web|title=The Incorporation of Portola Valley – Part 1|url=http://www.pv.beaucamera.com/the-incorporation-of-portola-valley-part-1/|website=Portola Valley, Past and Present|access-date=March 29, 2018|date=January 14, 2014}}

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.

The city is served by the Portola Valley Public Library of the San Mateo County Libraries, a member of the Peninsula Library System.{{cite web|title=Portola Valley Library|url=https://smcl.org/locations/1V/|access-date=March 29, 2018}}

File:Library in the Landscape -- The Portola Valley Library (12422097064).jpgIn the California State Legislature, Portola Valley is in {{Representative|casd|13|fmt=sdistrict}}, and in {{Representative|caad|23|fmt=adistrict}}.{{Cite web

| url = http://statewidedatabase.org/gis/gis2011/index_2011.html

| title = Statewide Database

| publisher = UC Regents

| access-date = December 19, 2014

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150201113744/http://statewidedatabase.org/gis/gis2011/index_2011.html

| archive-date = February 1, 2015

| url-status = dead

}}

Federally, Portola Valley is in {{Representative|cacd|16|fmt=district}}.{{Cite GovTrack|CA|16|access-date=March 13, 2013}} Politically, Portola Valley leans slightly Democratic based on voting patterns for past presidential elections.{{Cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/projects/la-pol-ca-california-neighborhood-election-results/|title=California neighborhood election results: Did your precinct vote to elect Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump?|last1=Schleuss|first1=Jon|last2=Fox|first2=Joe|website=www.latimes.com|language=en|access-date=March 22, 2018|last3=Krishnakumar|first3=Priya}}

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.{{cite web |title=About - Woodside Fire Protection District |url=https://www.woodsidefire.org/about |website=www.woodsidefire.org |access-date=June 2, 2018 |language=en-gb}}

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.{{cite web |title=Portola Valley Municipal Code |url=https://library.municode.com/ca/portola_valley/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=POVAMUCO1983 |website=Municode Library |access-date=June 2, 2018 |language=en}}

{{div col}}

• John Arrillaga, billionaire businessman and real estate mogul.{{cite news |url=https://fortune.com/2014/07/07/arrillaga-silicon-valley/ |title=The secretive billionaire who built Silicon Valley |author=Mangalindan, JP |date=July 7, 2014 |work=Fortune |url-access=subscription |access-date=March 9, 2020}}
• Pat Burrell, retired baseball player.{{cite report |url=http://www.portolavalley.net/Home/ShowDocument?id=11149 |title=Meetings of the Architectural Site Control Commission |date=July 23, 2018 |page=84 |publisher=Town of Portola Valley |access-date=March 9, 2020}}
• Curtis Carlson, former CEO of SRI International{{cite news |author= Marion Softky |title = Author Don Nielson chronicles SRI research achievements |newspaper = The Almanac |date= February 8, 2006 | url=https://www.almanacnews.com/morgue/2006/2006_02_08.sri.shtml |access-date= December 23, 2017}}
• Roger Craig, retired pro football player.{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2003-feb-08-sp-uscucla8-story.html |title=It's Good Move for Craig |author=Terry, Mike |date=February 8, 2003 |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |access-date=March 9, 2020 |url-access=limited}}
• Hewitt D. Crane (1927–2008), engineer and inventor who worked at SRI International{{cite news |author= John Markoff |title = Hewitt D. Crane, 81, Early Computer Engineer, Is Dead |newspaper = The New York Times |date= June 21, 2008 | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/21/us/21crane.html |access-date= May 25, 2010 }}
• Richard Crooks (1900–1972), operatic tenor, longtime host of The Voice of Firestone on network radio who, in later years, sang with the choir at the local Presbyterian church, lived in Portola Valley for many years until his death.{{cite web |url=https://oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/kt3z09q52j/ |title=Guide to the Richard and Mildred Crooks Collection |publisher=Online Archive of California |access-date=March 9, 2020}}{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1972/10/01/archives/richard-croohs-tenor-at-the-met-dies.html |title=Richard Crooks, Tenor at the Met, Dies |author=Freeman, William M. |date=October 1, 1972 |newspaper=The New York Times |url-access=subscription |access-date=March 9, 2020}}
• John Donahoe, an American businessman who is the CEO of Nike; He has been the CEO of tech companies like eBay, PayPal and ServiceNow{{cite news |url=https://www.mercurynews.com/2017/03/31/former-ebay-ceo-john-donahoe-is-in-the-clouds-at-servicenow/ |title=Former eBay CEO John Donahoe is in the clouds at ServiceNow |author=Crum, Rex |date=March 31, 2017 |newspaper=San Jose Mercury News |access-date=March 9, 2020}}
• Donna Dubinsky, CEO of Palm, Inc.{{cite news |url=https://www.almanacnews.com/news/2009/03/03/portola-valley-entrepreneur-named-to-open-space-trust-board- |title=Portola Valley entrepreneur named to open space trust board |date=March 3, 2009 |newspaper=The Almanac |access-date=March 9, 2020}}
• Taylor Eigsti, jazz pianist. From Menlo Park, California, but graduated salutatorian of his high school class at Woodside Priory School.{{cite news |url=https://www.almanacnews.com/news/2018/03/15/piano-phenom-taylor-eigsti-returnsto-priory-for-anniversary-concert |title=Piano phenom Taylor Eigsti returns to Priory for anniversary concert |date=March 15, 2018 |newspaper=The Almanac |access-date=March 9, 2020}}
• Stanley Falkow (1934–2018) microbiologist, died in Portola Valley.{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/10/obituaries/stanley-falkow-who-saw-how-bacteria-cause-disease-dies-at-84.html |title=Stanley Falkow, Who Saw How Bacteria Cause Disease, Dies at 84 |first=Gina |last=Kolata |date=May 10, 2018 |work=The New York Times |access-date=May 11, 2018 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20180511154728/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/10/obituaries/stanley-falkow-who-saw-how-bacteria-cause-disease-dies-at-84.html |archive-date=May 11, 2018 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}
• Dr. Thomas J. Fogarty, surgeon and inventor of the embolectomy catheter.{{Cite web|url=https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Profile-Thomas-Fogarty-Stanford-doctor-to-be-2872345.php|title=Profile / Thomas Fogarty / Stanford doctor to be honored for inventions|last1=Berlin|first1=Linda|last2=Chronicle|first2=Special to The|date=October 5, 2001|website=SFGate|access-date=February 1, 2019}}
• Tennessee Ernie Ford (1919–1991), singer best known for "Sixteen Tons".{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1991/10/18/arts/tennessee-ernie-ford-dies-at-72-folksy-singer-recorded-16-tons.html|title=Tennessee Ernie Ford Dies at 72; Folksy Singer Recorded '16 Tons'|last=Collins|first=Glenn|date=October 18, 1991|work=The New York Times|access-date=February 16, 2018|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331|quote=He was 72 years old and lived in Portola Valley, near Palo Alto, Calif.}}
• Reid Hoffman, co-founder of LinkedIn.{{cite news |url=https://padailypost.com/2020/01/27/billionaire-reid-hoffman-gives-candidate-josh-becker-a-500000-boost/ |title=Billionaire Reid Hoffman gives candidate Josh Becker a $500,000 boost |date=January 27, 2020 |newspaper=The Daily Post |access-date=March 9, 2020}}
• Cuthbert Hurd (1911–1996), computer pioneer.{{cite news |author=Laurance Zuckerman |url= https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F0DE4DE1F39F931A35755C0A960958260 |title= Cuthbert Hurd, 85, Computer Pioneer at I.B.M |date= June 2, 1996 |newspaper= New York Times |access-date= May 24, 2010 }} who discovered a popular variety manzanita in his garden.{{cite web |author= Saratoga Horticultural Research Foundation |year= 2003 |title= Manzanita introductions of the Saratoga Horticultural Foundation |url= http://www.stanford.edu/~rawlings/PDF/003.pdf |access-date= May 25, 2010 }}
• Vinod Khosla, a co-founder of Sun Microsystems and current owner of Khosla Ventures.{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/billionaire-vinod-khoslas-big-dreams-for-biofuels-fail-to-catch-fire/2014/11/27/04899d12-69d7-11e4-9fb4-a622dae742a2_story.html |title=Billionaire Vinod Khosla's big dreams for biofuels fail to catch fire |author=Mufson, Steven |date=November 28, 2014 |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=March 9, 2020 |url-access=subscription}}
• Laurence W. "Bill" Lane Jr. (1919–2010), the first mayor and one of the founders of Portola Valley, also served as Ambassador to Japan and Australia for the US, and the publisher of Sunset Magazine.{{cite web |title= Bill Lane makes a gift of $5 million to endow Stanford's Center for the Study of the North American West |publisher= Stanford University |date= February 25, 2005 |author= Lisa Kwiatkowski |url= http://news-service.stanford.edu/pr/2005/pr-center-030205.html |access-date= May 24, 2010 }}{{Cite news|url=https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Bucolic-Portola-Valley-Home-to-Famous-Figures-3238489.php|title=Bucolic Portola Valley Home to Famous Figures|work=SFGate|access-date=March 22, 2018}}
• Chong Moon Lee, founder of Diamond Multimedia.{{cite news |url=https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Heads-Above-the-Rest-Bruce-Wolfe-on-the-method-2611301.php |title=Heads Above the Rest / Bruce Wolfe on the method and madness of sculpture |author=Whiting, Sam |date=June 8, 2003 |newspaper=San Francisco Chronicle |access-date=March 4, 2020}}
• Jacques Littlefield (1949–2009), president and founder of the Military Vehicle Technology Foundation, one of the largest collections of historical military vehicles in the world.[http://www.milvehtechfound.com/history.html Military Vehicle Technology Foundation]
• Pete McCloskey, former member of Congress and co-chair of Earth Day. He was also the Town of Portola Valley's first city attorney.{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1971/04/12/archives/exmarine-republican-war-critic-paul-norton-mccloskey-jr.html |title=Ex-Marine, Republican, War Critic Paul Norton McCloskey Jr. |date=April 12, 1971 |newspaper=The New York Times |access-date=March 9, 2020 |url-access=subscription}}{{cite news |url=https://www.almanacnews.com/news/2009/07/01/documentary-salutes-pete-mccloskey-tonight |title=Documentary salutes Pete McCloskey tonight |date=July 1, 2009 |newspaper=The Almanac |access-date=March 9, 2020}}
• Maverick McNealy, professional golfer, former World No. 1 ranked amateur golfer{{cite news |url=https://www.mercurynews.com/2016/10/27/will-maverick-mcnealy-live-up-to-his-name-eschew-pro-golf-for-loftier-goals/ |title=Will Maverick McNealy live up to his name, eschew pro golf for loftier goals? |author=Almond, Elliott |date=October 27, 2016 |agency=Bay Area News Group |newspaper=San Jose Mercury News |access-date=March 9, 2020}}{{cite news |url=https://paloaltoonline.com/news/2019/08/12/stanford-grad-mcnealy-makes-the-cut-earns-pga-tour-card |title=Stanford grad McNealy makes the cut, earns PGA Tour Card |date=August 12, 2019 |work=Palo Alto Online |access-date=March 9, 2020}}
• Scott McNealy, co-founder of Sun Microsystems{{cite news |url=https://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2019/09/17/posh-home-of-silicon-valley-pioneer-site-of-trump-bay-area-fundraiser/ |title=Posh Home Of Silicon Valley Pioneer Site Of Trump Bay Area Fundraiser |date=September 17, 2019 |work=CBS SF BayArea |access-date=March 9, 2020}}{{cite news |url=https://www.sfgate.com/realestate/article/Scott-McNealy-house-610-Los-Trancos-Portola-Valley-14541843.php |title=$42 million price cut on tech billionaire's Silicon Valley monster mansion |author=Graff, Amy |date=October 17, 2019 |work=SFGate |access-date=March 9, 2020}}
• Kent Mitchell, Olympic rowing champion, former mayor of Portola Valley{{cite news |url=https://www.almanacnews.com/news/2010/02/10/woman-found-under-bridge-was-daughter-of-former-portola-valley-mayor-service-feb-20 |title=Woman found under bridge was daughter of former Portola Valley mayor; service Feb. 20 |date=February 10, 2010 |newspaper=The Almanac |access-date=March 9, 2020}}
• Ed Oates, a co-founder of Oracle Corporation; currently on the board of the San Francisco Zoological Society, and the San Jose State University Tower Foundation.{{cite report |url=https://www.portolavalley.net/Home/ShowDocument?id=12585 |title=Meetings of the Architectural Site Control Commission |date=March 25, 2019 |page=1 |publisher=Town of Portola Valley |access-date=March 9, 2020}}

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• [http://www.portolavalley.net/ Official website]

{{San Mateo County, California}}

{{SF Bay Area}}

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Category:Populated places in San Mateo County, California

Category:Incorporated cities and towns in California

Category:Cities in the San Francisco Bay Area