Beverly Hills, CA

Beverly Hills is a city in Los Angeles County, California, located just southwest of the Hollywood Hills and about 12.2 miles northwest of downtown Los Angeles. Covering 5.71 square miles. Beverly Hills is completely surrounded by the city of Los Angeles, alongside the smaller city of West Hollywood to the east. The population, according to the 2020 census, is 32,701, reflecting a slight decrease from 34,109 in 2010.

Renowned for its affluence, Beverly Hills is a symbol of luxury within Greater Los Angeles. It boasts high property values and taxes and is famous for its Rodeo Drive shopping district, home to numerous designer brands. The city is a well-known destination for celebrities and has been featured in countless films, TV shows, music, and media worldwide. Iconic hotels like the Beverly Hilton and the Beverly Hills Hotel also contribute to its fame.

Originally settled in 1828, Beverly Hills began as an agricultural community known as Rancho Rodeo de las Aguas. In the early 20th century, after an unsuccessful search for oil, a group of investors turned the area into a residential development, naming it Beverly Hills after Beverly Farms in Massachusetts and the hilly terrain. The area grew in popularity, particularly after the completion of the Beverly Hills Hotel in 1912. Beverly Hills officially became a city in 1914.

Over the years, the city attracted many Hollywood stars, including Douglas Fairbanks and Mary Pickford, whose mansion “Pickfair” became a symbol of glamor. Despite racial restrictive covenants that limited property ownership for non-whites, these laws were eventually deemed unenforceable in the late 1940s, marking a significant shift in the city’s demographic landscape.

Throughout the 20th century, Beverly Hills saw substantial development, including the construction of the Beverly Wilshire Hotel in 1922 and the iconic Greystone Mansion in 1928. In the mid-1900s, new neighborhoods like the Trousdale Estates became home to high-profile figures such as Elvis Presley and Richard Nixon.
In recent decades, the city has remained a symbol of wealth and luxury, with Rodeo Drive solidifying its status as one of the world’s most expensive shopping streets. Beverly Hills has also been involved in various political and environmental issues, including opposition to public transportation projects, water conservation during the 2015 drought, and collaborations with Israel on water use and cybersecurity.

Today, Beverly Hills continues to be a hub for celebrity culture, luxury living, and upscale commerce, with a rich history that reflects its transformation from a modest agricultural area to a world-renowned city.