Rolling Hills is a small, fully gated city on the Palos Verdes Peninsula in Los Angeles County's South Bay region, set on hills between the city of Torrance to the north and the Pacific coastline to the south and west. It is an unusual place by any standard: the city's roads are private, access is controlled through three entry gates, and it is often described as the only gated city in the United States. Incorporated in 1957, the community was planned in the 1930s around large rural estate parcels and an equestrian identity, and that pastoral vision still governs its character. With a population of about 1,700, Rolling Hills is among the smallest cities in Los Angeles County. Its zoning is almost entirely residential and open space — the only commercially designated land in the city holds City Hall, the community association, and a fire station. Homes are typically single-story California ranch or Spanish hacienda designs, a style exemplified by architect Wallace Neff, and sit on multi-acre parcels along winding, gated roads. Equestrian life is woven into the community: horse-keeping is common, and bridle trails thread through the hills, connecting to the larger trail network of the Palos Verdes Peninsula. Because there is no commercial district, residents shop, dine, and run errands in neighboring Rolling Hills Estates, Torrance, and the other peninsula cities. Public schools belong to the Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District, one of the region's higher-performing districts. Rolling Hills appeals to households seeking genuine privacy, large estate lots, and a rural, horse-oriented way of life within commuting distance of the greater Los Angeles basin.