Malibu
Malibu neighborhoods include Big Rock, Broadbeach, Carbon Beach, El Nido, Latigo Canyon, Malibu Bowl, Malibu Cove Colony, Malibu Colony, Malibu Lake, Malibu Park, Monte Nido, Paradise Cove, Point Dume, Sea Colony, The Colony, Tuna Canyon, and Zuma Beach.
The coastline of Malibu is 27 miles long and 1 to 8 miles in width at various points. Approximately, 45,000 acres encompass Malibu's incorporated and unincorporated areas. Malibu's appeal rests in its location; it provides residents with views of the ocean as well as a mountainous environment. Many people in the entertainment industry reside in Malibu; the population has grown rapidly now reaching close to 27,800.
The original inhabitants of Malibu were the Chumash tribe who called this area home for over 4,000 years. In 1802, Jose Tapia, took ownership of the land and created the Rancho Topanga Malibu Simi Seguit. Eighty-nine years later, the Rancho Malibu was purchased by Union Oil and Frederick Rindge who was the Southern California Edison founder. The New England man and his wife made the entire 27 miles of coastline and the rest of Malibu their very own private estate. Mrs. Rindge was struggling to stay afloat after the death of her husband in the late 1920s; she was forced to allow celebrities to build vacation homes on her beach. In time, the area became known as the city of Malibu.
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Map Of Malibu's School District Boundaries (462k PDF) |
Luxury homes in the area are quite pricey. Twenty-five beach front homes were listed for more than $4 million. A "tear down" was listed for $8 million and another home was for almost $30 million. In 2003, the lowest priced beachside luxury home had a sold price of $1,995,000. Landside homes are popular as well. A 14,000 square foot, 6-bedroom, 8-bathroom home on 16 acres with a private golf course was listed for $35 million. If that's a little pricey there are also mobile homes for sale in the area.
The area is served by the Santa Monica/Malibu Unified School District. Students in K-5th grade attend Webster Elementary, Point Dume Elementary, or Juan Cabrillo Elementary, the three scored 873, 866, and 841, respectively, on the 2002 Academic Performance Index. For students in 6-12th grade, Malibu High is the school they attend; which scored 802 out of the possible 1,000.
| Historical values Single-family residences | |
| Year | Median Price |
| 1990 | $820,000 |
| 1995 | $555,000 |
| 2001 | $985,000 |
| 2002 | $1,000,000 |
| 2003 | $1,305,000 |
Broadbeach
This area of Malibu is a private beach with two public entrances. It is located just north of Zuma Beach and is a great beach for catching waves and diving.
Point Dume
If you like to hike, this is the perfect spot to get away from it all and take-in breathtaking views of the ocean. In March one can see the migration of whales from this high point.
Zuma Beach
For the quintessential Southern California experience, spend a day tanning, surfing, and swimming at Zuma Beach. It is 2.8 miles of coast where it has hosted many lifeguard competitions since the 1940's. It also sponsors some of the world's biggest volleyball tournaments. Parking can be found along the Pacific Coast Highway or within the parking lot for $5. Fires and overnight camping are prohibited so one must plan their day accordingly.
Resources & Links:
- City of Malibu Web Site
- Malibu Chamber of Commerce
- Pepperdine University
- Malibu Public Library
Via the County of Los Angeles Public Library system. - Local School Links
- Crime Statistics
- Southern California Home Sale Activity
Los Angeles home sales data, organized by ZIP code. Updated monthly. - Southern California Home Sale Data
Comparative Los Angeles home sales data, organized by city. - LA County Online
- The Los Angeles Times
Online version of the local periodical. - KCRW
National Public Radio station, based at Santa Monica College. - MovieLink/777-FILM
Local movie listings and show times. - ArtScene
Guide to California's museums.
- National Park Search
Great National Parks link. - California State Parks
Highly recommended.
- Yahoo! Neighborhood Profiles
For neighborhood demographics, cost of living and quality of life.