Written by: Russell Caterson
Palos Verdes Estates is divided into five residential districts: Valmonte, Malaga Cove, Monte Malaga, Margate, and Lunada Bay. Each name reflects a unique origin, with several drawing inspiration from coastal regions around the world. Malaga Cove takes its name from Málaga, a historic port city on Spain’s Costa del Sol. The neighboring district of Monte Malaga combines “Monte,” the Spanish word for hill or mountain, with “Malaga,” forming a name that evokes the elevated terrain and Mediterranean influence of the area. You might wonder if the other names also have ties to faraway seaside towns. In the case of Margate, the answer is yes. Margate is originally a seaside town in Thanet, Kent, in Southeast England. First recorded in 1264 as a small fishing village called “Meregate”—from the Old English words mere (pool) and gate (a gap or passage)—it evolved into “Margate” by 1299. By the mid-18th century, it had become one of England’s earliest seaside resorts, attracting Londoners seeking sea bathing, sandy beaches, and amusement along the coast.
Across the Atlantic, Margate City in New Jersey was founded in 1909 and named in honor of its English counterpart. Located just south of Atlantic City on Absecon Island, it quickly became a summer getaway for visitors to the Jersey Shore. Margate City remains a popular destination, known for its beaches, boardwalk culture, and unique attractions such as Lucy the Elephant.
In California, the name Margate was adopted for one of the districts in Frank A. Vanderlip Sr.’s vision for a planned residential community on the Palos Verdes Peninsula. Vanderlip purchased the land from the Bixby family in 1913, and the early master plan included an ambitious seaside resort at Bluff Cove, situated within what is now the Margate district. Early architectural renderings stored in local archives show an elegant resort complex stretching down the bluffs to the shoreline. However, the resort was never built—derailed in part by the stock market crash of 1929. In hindsight, the decision may have been fortuitous, as the unstable bluff conditions would likely have posed serious long-term structural challenges.
Though the resort was never realized, the name Margate remains deeply embedded in the district. It appears in place names such as Lower Margate, Upper Margate, Margate Canyon, Margate Road, and Margate Square. Open space near Apsley Road and Palos Verdes Drive West, known as Margate Parkway, leads to Paseo del Mar and the Palos Verdes Estates Shoreline Preserve. This coastal area—left undeveloped after the resort plan was abandoned—became a haven for recreation and natural beauty.
Although the name Margate is less commonly used today, many longtime residents still refer to the area by this name. Notably, many newcomers to Palos Verdes Estates often recognize only four of the five districts—Valmonte, Malaga Cove, Monte Malaga, and Lunada Bay—frequently overlooking Margate. This subtle shift in usage reflects changing local vernacular, but Margate remains an important part of the Peninsula’s history and identity.
Notably, Bluff Cove—also known as Paddleboard Cove—holds a unique place in surfing history. First surfed in 1929, its gentle, rolling waves were reminiscent of Waikiki Beach in Hawaii. The abandoned access road to the shoreline made it easy for early surfers to transport boards down to the water. In 1935, the Palos Verdes Surfing Club was founded by John “Doc” Ball and Adolph Bayer. Many credit this spot as one of the true birthplaces of California surfing.
