Pacific Palisades, Los Angeles

Pacific Palisades
Pacific Palisades and Will Rogers State Beach, California
Nickname(s): 
The Palisades, Pali, Palisades
Motto: 
"Where the mountains meet the sea."
Pacific Palisades
Location within Los Angeles County
Coordinates: 34°2′53″N 118°31′37″W / 34.04806°N 118.52694°W / 34.04806; -118.52694
CountryUnited States
StateCalifornia
CountyLos Angeles
CityLos Angeles
First settlement by Chumash people8,000 BC
Mexican settlement1838
Established1921
Government
  TypeNeighborhood of Los Angeles
  Honorary mayorEugene Levy
Area
  Total
24.31 sq mi (62.97 km2)
  Land22.84 sq mi (59.15 km2)
  Water1.47 sq mi (3.8 km2)
Elevation
328 ft (98.5 m)
Highest elevation
2,126 ft (648 m)
Lowest elevation
0 ft (0 m)
Population
 (2022)
  Total
23,121
  Density1,185/sq mi (457.5/km2)
Demonym(s)Palisadian, Palisadians
Time zoneUTC-8 (Pacific)
  Summer (DST)UTC-7 (PDT)
ZIP Code
90272
Area code(s)310 and 424
WebsiteCommunity Council
Chamber of Commerce

Pacific Palisades is a neighborhood in the Westside region of the city of Los Angeles, California, situated about 20 miles (32 km) west of downtown Los Angeles. Throughout January 2025, the majority of Pacific Palisades was severely affected and destroyed by the Palisades Fire, a part of the wider series of the Southern California wildfires.

Pacific Palisades was founded in 1921 by a Methodist organization. The Palisades would later be sought after by celebrities and other high-profile individuals seeking privacy. It is known for its seclusion, being a close-knit community with a small-town feel, Mediterranean climate, hilly topography, natural environment, abundance of parkland and hiking trails, a 3-mile (4.8 km) strip of coastline, and for being home to several architecturally significant homes. In 2022, the community's population was 23,121.

Pacific Palisades is a largely residential community and did not attract many tourists other than day visitors to Gladstones Malibu, the local beaches, the Getty Villa or the Self-Realization Fellowship Lake Shrine.

Nicknamed the Palisades and Pali by surfers and locals, the Palisades coast spans from after Sorrento Beach in Santa Monica to the south, and ends at Sunset Point Beach and Malibu to the north. Beaches along the Pacific Palisades coast include: Will Rogers State Beach, Sunset Point Beach, and Ginger Rogers Beach. The many parks within the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area lie along the ridges above the community, along with local parks that include Will Rogers State Historic Park.

The Palisades is bounded by Brentwood to the east, the unincorporated community of Topanga to the west, Santa Monica to the southeast, the Santa Monica Bay to the southwest, and the Santa Monica Mountains to the north.