The Town of Portola Valley, California celebrated its 40th Birthday, June 12, 2004. Portola Valley (Pop. about 4700)is a small town about 30 miles south of San Francisco. The Town values education, the conservation of the native environment, limited business, and citizen participation in recreation, community activities and local government. A major trace of the San Andreas Fault runs through the valley and is the reason why the Town was an early adopter of stringent earthquake safety regulations.