Newport Beach is a coastal city in South Orange County, California. Newport Beach is known for

swimming Swimming is the self-propulsion of a person through water, or other liquid, usually for recreation, sport, exercise, or survival. Locomotion is achieved through coordinated movement of the limbs and the body to achieve hydrodynamic thrust that r ...

and sandy beaches. Newport Harbor once supported maritime industries however today, it is used mostly for recreation. Balboa Island draws visitors with a waterfront path and easy access from the ferry to the shops and restaurants.

History

The Upper Bay of Newport is a canyon carved by a stream in the

Pleistocene The Pleistocene ( , often referred to as the ''Ice age'') is the geological epoch that lasted from about 2,580,000 to 11,700 years ago, spanning the Earth's most recent period of repeated glaciations. Before a change was finally confirmed in ...

period. The Lower Bay of Newport was formed much later by sand brought along by ocean currents, which constructed the offshore beach now recognized as the Balboa Peninsula of Newport Beach. For thousands of years, the Tongva people lived on the land in an extensive, thriving community. The Tongva villages of Genga and Moyongna were located in Newport Beach. Throughout the 1800s, Europeans colonized the land and forcibly removed and assimilated the Tongva. Present-day Newport Beach exists upon the unceded homelands of the Tongva people, and they have a historical and continued presence as the traditional caretakers of the land. The State of California sold acre-plots of land for $1 a piece in the Newport area. Anglo-American inhabitation in the area grew substantially following 1870 when a 105-ton steamer named ''The Vaquero,'' captained by Captain Samuel S. Dunnells (against warnings posted by surveyors), safely steered through the lower and upper bay of Newport where it unloaded its cargo. James Irvine upon hearing the astonishing news, quickly traveled from his home in San Francisco to the San Joaquin Ranch. Meeting in Irvine's ranch house near current day

UC Irvine UC may refer to: Arts and entertainment * '' University Challenge'', a popular British quiz programme airing on BBC Two ** ''University Challenge (New Zealand)'', the New Zealand version of the British programme * Universal Century, one of the t ...

with his brother, Robert Irvine, and friend James McFadden, they agreed that the newly found port should be simply named "Newport" which is where Newport Beach gets its name. James McFadden built a long McFadden Wharf in 1888. In 1905, city development increased when Pacific Electric Railway established a southern terminus in Newport connecting the beach with downtown

Los Angeles Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the List of municipalities in California, largest city in the U.S. state, state of California and the List of United States cities by population, sec ...

. In 1906 (with a population of 206 citizens), the scattered settlements were incorporated as the City of Newport Beach. Settlements were filled in on the Peninsula, West Newport, Newport Island, Balboa Island, and Lido Isle. In 1923, Corona del Mar was annexed and in 2002, Newport Coast, East Santa Ana Heights, and

San Joaquin Hills The San Joaquin Hills are a low mountain range of the Peninsular Ranges System, located in coastal Orange County, California. They extend in a northwest–southeast direction, starting in the northwest in Newport Beach at the southern edge of t ...

were annexed. In 2008, after a long battle with the city of

Costa Mesa Costa may refer to: Biology * Rib (Latin: ''costa''), in vertebrate anatomy * Costa (botany), the central strand of a plant leaf or thallus * Costa (coral), a stony rib, part of the skeleton of a coral * Costa (entomology), the leading edge of th ...

, Newport Beach annexed West Santa Ana Heights. Newport Beach California photo D Ramey Logan

Geography

Dover and PCH 2013 NB Photo D Ramey Logan

Newport Beach extends in elevation from

sea level Mean sea level (MSL, often shortened to sea level) is an average surface level of one or more among Earth's coastal bodies of water from which heights such as elevation may be measured. The global MSL is a type of vertical datuma standardise ...

to the summit of Signal Peak in the

, but the official elevation is above sea level at a location of (33.616671, −117.897604). The city is bordered on the west by Huntington Beach at the Santa Ana River; on the north by

, John Wayne Airport, the City of Irvine and

; and on the east by Crystal Cove State Park. According to the

United States Census Bureau The United States Census Bureau (USCB), officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the U.S. Federal Statistical System, responsible for producing data about the American people and economy. The Census Bureau is part of t ...

, the city has a total area of . of it is land and of it (55.07%) is water. Areas of Newport Beach include Corona del Mar, Balboa Island, Balboa Peninsula (also known as Balboa), Lido Peninsula, Newport Coast,

, Santa Ana Heights, and West Newport. Newportel5

Newport Harbor and Newport Bay

Newport Harbor is a semi-artificial harbor that was formed by dredging Newport Bay

estuary An estuary is a partially enclosed coastal body of brackish water with one or more rivers or streams flowing into it, and with a free connection to the open sea. Estuaries form a transition zone between river environments and maritime environm ...

during the early 1900s. Several artificial islands were built, which are now covered with private homes: Newport Island, Balboa Island, Little Balboa Island, Collins Island, Bay Island, Harbor Island, Lido Isle, and Linda Isle. The Lido Peninsula Photo D Ramey Logan

Newport Harbor once supported maritime industries such as

boatbuilding Boat building is the design and construction of boats and their systems. This includes at a minimum a hull, with propulsion, mechanical, navigation, safety and other systems as a craft requires. Construction materials and methods Wood Wo ...

, shipbuilding, and commercial fishing, but today it is used mostly for recreation. Its shores are occupied mostly by private homes and private docks. Newport Harbor has approximately 9,000 boats and is one of the largest recreational boat harbors on the U.S. west coast. It's a popular destination for all boating activities, including sailing,

fishing Fishing is the activity of trying to catch fish. Fish are often caught as wildlife from the natural environment, but may also be caught from stocked bodies of water such as ponds, canals, park wetlands and reservoirs. Fishing techniques inclu ...

rowing Rowing is the act of propelling a human-powered watercraft using the sweeping motions of oars to displace water and generate reactional propulsion. Rowing is functionally similar to paddling, but rowing requires oars to be mechanically ...

, canoeing, kayaking, and

paddleboarding Paddleboarding is a water sport in which participants are propelled by a swimming motion using their arms while lying or kneeling on a paddleboard or surfboard in the ocean or other body of water. This article refers to traditional prone or kneeli ...

. Commercial maritime operations today include the Catalina Flyer ferry to Catalina Island, harbor tours, sport fishing, whale watching day trips, and charters as well as a few small commercial fishing boats. Newport Bay is divided by the Pacific Coast Highway bridge, which is too low for most sailboats and very large boats to pass under. North of the bridge is referred to as

Upper Newport Bay The Upper Newport Bay (known locally as "The Back Bay") is a large coastal wetland (an estuary) in Newport Beach, Southern California and a major stopover for birds on the Pacific Flyway. Dozens of species, including endangered ones, can be ob ...

, or the Back Bay. South of the bridge is commonly called Lower Newport Bay, or Newport Harbor. However the Back Bay also has harbor facilities, especially the marina and launch ramp at Newport Dunes Marina. The north end of the Newport Harbor channels surrounding Lido Isle has several small business centers and was at one time used as a home by the fishing fleets. On the North East side of the channel, the Lido Marina Village now acts as the local port to many "Newport Party Boats" that can be rented for events, as well as small merchants and local restaurants. It also hosts the area boat show each year, and an organic "Farmers Market" on Sundays, in addition to being the port for the local Gondola Company. In 2014, the center was closed for a renovation. The Lido Village was reopened in 2017 after a complete renovation. In 1927, a home was built at the mouth of the entrance of Newport Harbor that came to be known as the China House of China Cove. The home was built using traditional Chinese architecture. It was a landmark in the Newport Beach Harbor until it was demolished in the 1980s. Some of the original roof can be seen on a home located in the China Cove.

is an

that was formed by a prehistoric flow of the Santa Ana River. Today it is fed by a small stream from San Diego Creek. Much of Upper Newport Bay is a protected natural area known as the Upper Newport Bay Ecological Reserve, established in 1975.

Climate

Newport Beach has a mid-latitude semi-arid climate (

Köppen climate classification The Köppen climate classification is one of the most widely used climate classification systems. It was first published by German-Russian climatologist Wladimir Köppen (1846–1940) in 1884, with several later modifications by Köppen, notabl ...

''BSk'') with characteristics of a

warm-summer Mediterranean climate A Mediterranean climate (also called a dry summer temperate climate ''Cs'') is a temperate climate sub-type, generally characterized by warm, dry summers and mild, fairly wet winters; these weather conditions are typically experienced in the ...

(

Köppen Köppen is a German surname. Notable people with the surname include: * Bernd Köppen (born 1951), German pianist and composer * Carl Köppen (1833-1907), German military advisor in Meiji era Japan * Edlef Köppen (1893–1939), German author and ...

: ''Csb''). Like many Los Angeles and Orange coastal cities, Newport Beach exhibits weak temperature variation, diurnally and seasonally, compared to inland cities even a few miles from the ocean. The

Pacific Ocean The Pacific Ocean is the largest and deepest of Earth's five oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic Ocean in the north to the Southern Ocean (or, depending on definition, to Antarctica) in the south, and is bounded by the contin ...

greatly moderates Newport Beach's climate by warming winter temperatures and cooling summer temperatures. Diurnal temperature variation is stronger during the winter than during the summer. Newport Beach does not receive enough precipitation to qualify as a true Mediterranean climate.

Demographics

2010

Balboa Island wide 2 Photo D Ramey Logan

The

2010 United States Census The United States census of 2010 was the twenty-third United States national census. National Census Day, the reference day used for the census, was April 1, 2010. The census was taken via mail-in citizen self-reporting, with enumerators servi ...

reported that Newport Beach had a population of 85,186. The population density was . The racial makeup of Newport Beach was 74,357 (87.3%) White (82.3% Non-Hispanic White), 616 (0.7%) African American, 223 (0.3%) Native American, 5,982 (7.0%) Asian, 114 (0.1%)

Pacific Islander Pacific Islanders, Pasifika, Pasefika, or rarely Pacificers are the peoples of the Pacific Islands. As an ethnic/racial term, it is used to describe the original peoples—inhabitants and diasporas—of any of the three major subregions of O ...

, 1,401 (1.6%) from

other races Other often refers to: * Other (philosophy), a concept in psychology and philosophy Other or The Other may also refer to: Film and television * ''The Other'' (1913 film), a German silent film directed by Max Mack * ''The Other'' (1930 film), a ...

, and 2,493 (2.9%) from two or more races.

Hispanic The term ''Hispanic'' ( es, hispano) refers to people, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or Hispanidad. The term commonly applies to countries with a cultural and historical link to Spain and to viceroyalties forme ...

or Latino of any race were 6,174 persons (7.2%). The Census reported that 84,784 people (99.5% of the population) lived in households, 151 (0.2%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 251 (0.3%) were institutionalized. There were 38,751 households, out of which 8,212 (21.2%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 17,273 (44.6%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 2,608 (6.7%) had a female householder with no husband present, 1,199 (3.1%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 1,846 (4.8%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 233 (0.6%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 12,838 households (33.1%) were individuals, and 4,412 (11.4%) had someone living alone who was 65 years or older. The average household size was 2.19. There were 21,080 families (54.4% of all households); the average family size was 2.81. The population was different ages with 14,744 people (17.3%) under the age of 18, 6,659 people (7.8%) aged 18 to 24, 22,299 people (26.2%) aged 25 to 44, 25,322 people (29.7%) aged 45 to 64, and 16,162 people (19.0%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44.0 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.1 males. For every 100 females aged 18 and over, there were 95.5 males. There were 44,193 housing units at an average density of , of which 21,224 (54.8%) were owner-occupied, and 17,527 (45.2%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.7%; the rental vacancy rate was 7.8%. 50,511 people (59.3% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units, and 34,273 people (40.2%) lived in rental housing units. In 2009–2013, Newport Beach had a median household income of $106,333, with 7.9% of the population living below the federal poverty line.

2000

As of the

census A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording and calculating information about the members of a given population. This term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common censuses in ...

of 2000, there were 70,032 people, 33,071 households, and 16,965 families residing in the city. The

population density Population density (in agriculture: Stock (disambiguation), standing stock or plant density) is a measurement of population per unit land area. It is mostly applied to humans, but sometimes to other living organisms too. It is a key geographical ...

was 4,738.8 inhabitants per square mile (1,829.5/km). There were 37,288 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 92.22% White, 0.53% African American, 0.26% Native American, 4.00% Asian, 0.12%

, 1.13% from

, and 1.74% from two or more races.

or Latino of any race were 4.71% of the population. There were 33,071 households, out of which 18.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.5% were married couples living together, 6.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 48.7% were non-families. 35.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.09, and the average family size was 2.71. In the city, the population was spread out, with 15.7% under the age of 18, 6.5% from 18 to 24, 33.0% from 25 to 44, 27.2% from 45 to 64, and 17.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 97.9 males. For every 100 females aged 18 and over, there were 96.6 males. According to a 2019 US Census estimate, the median income for a household in the city was $64,423, while the median family income was $126,976. Males had a median income of $73,425 versus $45,409 for females. The

per capita income Per capita income (PCI) or total income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year. It is calculated by dividing the area's total income by its total population. Per capita i ...

for the city was $63,015. About 2.1% of families and 4.4% of the population were below the

poverty line The poverty threshold, poverty limit, poverty line or breadline is the minimum level of income deemed adequate in a particular country. The poverty line is usually calculated by estimating the total cost of one year's worth of necessities for t ...

, including 3.0% of those under age 18 and 3.5% of those age 65 or over.

Economy

Housing prices in Newport Beach ranked eighth highest in the United States in a 2009 survey. Newport Beach is home to one Fortune 500 company, insurer Pacific Life. Other companies based in Newport Beach include Acacia Research, Galardi Group ( Wienerschnitzel),

Chipotle Mexican Grill Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (, ), often known simply as Chipotle, is an American chain of fast casual restaurants specializing in bowls, tacos and Mission burritos made to order in front of the customer. Chipotle operates restaurants in the Uni ...

The Original Hamburger Stand ''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things already mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The'' is the m ...

, Tastee-Freez, the

Irvine Company The Irvine Company LLC is an American private company focused on real estate development. It is headquartered in Newport Beach, California, with a large portion of its operations centered in and around Irvine, California, a planned city of more ...

Jazz Semiconductor Jazz Semiconductor is a semiconductor wafer foundry that is a wholly-owned United States subsidiary of Israel-based Tower Semiconductor. Its customers include developers of wireless, optical networking, power management, storage, and aerospace/de ...

, PIMCO, and

Urban Decay Urban decay (also known as urban rot, urban death or urban blight) is the sociological process by which a previously functioning city, or part of a city, falls into disrepair and decrepitude. There is no single process that leads to urban deca ...

. Fletcher Jones Motor Cars in Newport Beach is the largest Mercedes-Benz dealership in the world. At one time Edwards Theatres had its headquarters in Newport Beach. Before its dissolution Air California was headquartered in Newport Beach. The city's largest law firm is Stradling Yocca Carlson & Rauth, with approximately 75 attorneys at its

Fashion Island Fashion Island is an outdoor regional shopping mall in Newport Beach, California. Opened in 1967 by The Irvine Company as the anchor to their master-planned Newport Center district, Fashion Island is anchored by Bloomingdale's, Macy's, Neiman M ...

location.

Toyota is a Japanese multinational automotive manufacturer headquartered in Toyota City, Aichi, Japan. It was founded by Kiichiro Toyoda and incorporated on . Toyota is one of the largest automobile manufacturers in the world, producing about 10 ...

has a design center,

Calty Design Research Calty Design Research Incorporated (also simply known as Calty) is a Toyota design studio established in 1973. They have two facilities: one in Newport Beach, California for concept designs, and another in Ann Arbor, Michigan for production design ...

which is in Newport Beach and responsible for the exterior design of the 2nd, 5th, and 7th generation Celica, as well as some

Lexus is the luxury vehicle division of the Japanese automaker Toyota. The Lexus brand is marketed in more than 90 countries and territories worldwide and is Japan's largest-selling make of premium cars. It has ranked among the 10 largest Japanese ...

and

Scion Scion may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Fictional entities *Scion, a playable class in the game '' Path of Exile'' (2013) *Atlantean Scion, a device in the ''Tomb Raider'' video game series *Scions, an alien race in the video game ''B ...

models.

Top employers

According to the city's 2021 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report here are the top employers in the city.

Arts and culture

Points of interest

* Newport Center and

Orange County Museum of Art The Orange County Museum of Art (OCMA) is a modern and contemporary art museum located on the campus of the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Costa Mesa, California. The museum's collection comprises more than 4,500 objects, with a concentration ...

* Hoag Hospital * Newport Back Bay or

* Newport Pier * Balboa Pier * Balboa Fun Zone * Balboa Island Ferry * Balboa Island * Lido Isle * Lido Marina Village * Inspiration Point * Crystal Cove Shake Shack * Sherman Library & Gardens * Newport Sports Museum * Pacific Coast Highway * Orange County Council BSA Sea Base * The Crab Cooker *

Corona del Mar State Beach Corona del Mar State Beach (Spanish for the Crown of the Sea) is a protected beach in the state park system of California, United States. It is located in Corona del Mar, Newport Beach, and operated by the city of Newport Beach. The park was e ...

* Crystal Cove State Park * The Wedge (surfing) * Lovell Beach House * Wooden Boat Festival Image:Fashion_island_Newport_Beach_CA_Photo_D_Ramey_Logan.jpg, Newport Center Image:Beer Can Races Newport Beach California photo D Ramey Logan.jpg,

Beer Can Races Beer can races are casual boat races held in the summer at nautical and yacht clubs. Description Beer can races allow people to experience yacht racing in a more relaxed environment than that of a major offshore race. They typically offer races ...

in Newport Beach Image:Lovell Beach House photo D Ramey Logan.jpg, Lovell Beach House Image:Body Surfing The Wedge Newport Beach CA photo D Ramey Logan.jpg, The Wedge (surfing) Image:Balboa Bay Club 2013 Photo D Ramey Logan.jpg, Balboa Bay Resort File:Orange County Museum of Art exterior.jpg,

Past landmarks

* The China House of China Cove * The Reuben E. Lee * Rendezvous Ballroom * The Banana Stand * Balboa Inn * Hall House

Attractions

Newport Harbor morning Photo D Ramey Logan

Beaches and surfing

Beachgoers have flocked to Newport Beach since the Pacific Electric Railway began bringing them in 1905. Attractions include the city beaches from the Santa Ana River to the tip of the Balboa Peninsula,

, and the beaches at Crystal Cove State Park. Newport Beach is known for good surfing, especially between Newport Pier and the Santa Ana River. At the tip of the Balboa Peninsula, The Wedge offers world-class

bodyboarding Bodyboarding is a water sport in which the surfer rides a bodyboard on the crest, face, and curl of a wave which is carrying the surfer towards the shore. Bodyboarding is also referred to as ''Boogieboarding'' due to the invention of the "Boogie ...

and

bodysurfing Bodysurfing is the art and sport of riding a wave without the assistance of any buoyant device such as a surfboard or bodyboard. Bodysurfers often equip themselves with a pair of swimfins that aid propulsion and help the bodysurfer catch, ride an ...

. Newport Pier and Balboa Pier draw fishermen and sightseers. A boardwalk runs from 36th Street in West Newport, past Newport Pier and Balboa Pier, to between E and F Streets on the Balboa Peninsula for both pedestrians and bikers.

Harbor and boating

Newport Harbor is the largest recreational boat harbor on the U.S. west coast, and a popular destination for all boating activities, including sailing,

, kayaking, and

. The annual Christmas Boat Parade started in 1908. Competitive sailing, rowing, and paddling events are common. The annual

Newport to Ensenada International Yacht Race The Newport to Ensenada Yacht Race is an annual 125-nautical-mile international Yacht racing, yacht race. First run in 1948, sailors gather each spring in Newport Beach, California, to participate in one of the West Coast's premier regattas. The ...

is the largest

sailboat A sailboat or sailing boat is a boat propelled partly or entirely by sails and is smaller than a sailing ship. Distinctions in what constitutes a sailing boat and ship vary by region and maritime culture. Types Although sailboat terminolo ...

race in the world. Boating activities are organized by five private yacht clubs, along with Orange Coast College, UC Irvine, and the Sea Scouts, all of which have sailing, rowing, and water activity bases on the harbor. The Newport Aquatic Center allows public participation in competitive rowing, canoeing, kayaking, and outrigger canoe racing. The Orange Coast College School of Sailing and Seamanship offers recreational and professional sailing and mariners' courses and certifications, including

United States Coast Guard The United States Coast Guard (USCG) is the maritime security, search and rescue, and law enforcement service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the country's eight uniformed services. The service is a maritime, military, mu ...

licensing. Weekly races take place during the summer including the

=Nautical Clubs of Newport Beach

= *

Newport Harbor Yacht Club Newport Harbor Yacht Club is a yacht club located on the Balboa Peninsula, which is a neighborhood of the city of Newport Beach, Orange County, California. Facilities The Newport Harbor Yacht Club facility has a main dining room and outdoor ...

* Balboa Yacht Club *

Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club (BCYC) is a yacht club located in Newport Beach, Orange County, California. Description In 1958 ten yachtsmen founded the club as "Bahia Yacht Club" in space leased from the Balboa Bay Club. Initially, most of the m ...

* South Shore Yacht Club * Newport Beach Yacht Club * Lido Isle Yacht Club * American Legion Yacht Club * Newport Ocean Sailing Association * Newport Sea Base Yacht Club * Orange Coast College Sailing Center * U.C. Irvine Sailing Association * Pacific Yachting Club

Balboa

The historic Balboa Pavilion and Balboa Island Ferry are on the Balboa Peninsula and Balboa's most famous landmarks. The 500-passenger Catalina Flyer is adjacent to the Pavilion and provides daily transportation to and from

Avalon Avalon (; la, Insula Avallonis; cy, Ynys Afallon, Ynys Afallach; kw, Enys Avalow; literally meaning "the isle of fruit r appletrees"; also written ''Avallon'' or ''Avilion'' among various other spellings) is a mythical island featured in the ...

, located on Santa Catalina Island. The Balboa Fun Zone is also home to the Newport Harbor Nautical Museum. Balboa Island village draws many visitors. A waterfront path around the island attracts walkers and joggers and provides easy access from the ferry to the shops and restaurants.

Media

* Newport Beach Independent (newspaper) * Newport Beach (magazine)

Culture and nightlife

Fashion Island NewportBeachCA photo D Ramey Logan

at Newport Center is a regional shopping and entertainment destination. Also at Newport Center, the

exhibits modern and contemporary art, with emphasis on the work of Californian artists. Dining in Newport Beach tends to focus on seafood restaurants.

Parks and recreation

, or the Back Bay, is ringed by Back Bay Drive and a network of trails and paths that attract

bicyclists Cycling, also, when on a two-wheeled bicycle, called bicycling or biking, is the use of cycles for transport, recreation, exercise or sport. People engaged in cycling are referred to as "cyclists", "bicyclists", or "bikers". Apart from two ...

, rollerbladers, joggers, and walkers. Bird watchers and nature lovers are drawn to the Upper Newport Bay Ecological Reserve and Peter and Mary Muth Interpretive Center; and Crystal Cove State Park features tide pools at its beach, with backcountry

hiking Hiking is a long, vigorous walk, usually on trails or footpaths in the countryside. Walking for pleasure developed in Europe during the eighteenth century.AMATO, JOSEPH A. "Mind over Foot: Romantic Walking and Rambling." In ''On Foot: A Histor ...

and mountain biking trails. Camping is available at Crystal Cove State Park and at the Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort and Marina. Whale watching is also popular in the area, with both scheduled and charter boats leaving directly from Newport Harbor. Whales and dolphins can often be seen from the Balboa and Newport Piers, as well as the shoreline during migration season.

Fishing Fishing is the activity of trying to catch fish. Fish are often caught as wildlife from the natural environment, but may also be caught from stocked bodies of water such as ponds, canals, park wetlands and reservoirs. Fishing techniques inclu ...

is also extremely popular in Newport Bay, off the coast of Newport, and along the Newport Bay Jetty. Within the bay, there are multiple locations to purchase bait for dockside or spearfishing convenience. There are about 80 fishable species located in Newport Bay. A few of the most commonly fished species include the Gray Smoothhound Shark, Leopard Shark, Round Stingray, Shovelnose Guitarfish, Pacific Staghorn Sculpin, Silvery Mullet, Top-smelt, California Halibut, Spotted Sand Bass, Yellowfin Croaker, Bat Ray, Thornback Ray, Diamond Turbot, Shiner Surfperch, Corbina, Opaleye, Pile Surfperch, and Red Shiner. Commercial fishing is also prominent in offshore Newport Beach and Newport Bay. Lobsters are commonly fished in the reefs. However, the bright orange Garibaldi fish found offshore is a protected species. On dark nights intense occurrences of bioluminescence can be observed when waves splash into the shore or when marine animals leave glowing traces in their wake. Newport Beach Boardwalk photo D Ramey Logan

Newport Beach Boardwalk photo D Ramey Logan

Golf

The Pelican Hill area has two golf courses that rank among Golf Digest America's 100 Greatest Public Golf Courses.

Government

Municipal

The City of Newport Beach was incorporated on September 1, 1906 and adopted its charter on January 7, 1955. The city implements a council–manager form of government, directed by a seven-member council who reside in specific geographic districts, but are elected at-large. Council elections take place in even-numbered years, and council members serve four-year terms. The mayor is chosen annually by the city council. Until 1927 the city's governing body was known as a board of trustees with a president as its head. An act of the Legislature in 1927 changed the board to City Council with a mayor as the head.

State and federal representation

In the California State Legislature, Newport Beach is in , and in . In the

United States House of Representatives The United States House of Representatives, often referred to as the House of Representatives, the U.S. House, or simply the House, is the lower chamber of the United States Congress, with the Senate being the upper chamber. Together they ...

, Newport Beach is in .

Voting History

Newport Beach has supported

Republican Republican can refer to: Political ideology * An advocate of a republic, a type of government that is not a monarchy or dictatorship, and is usually associated with the rule of law. ** Republicanism, the ideology in support of republics or agains ...

candidates for president and governor consistently since at least 1962. As of February 2020, the California Secretary of State reported that Newport Beach had 57,408 registered voters; of those, 14,097 (24.56% vs. 35.63% in Orange County) are registered Democrats, 27,472 (47.85% vs. 34.16% in Orange County) are registered Republicans, 12,996 (22.64% vs. 25.29% in Orange County) have stated no political party preference, and 2,843 (4.95% vs. 4.92% in Orange County) are registered with a third party. According to a March 2018 report by the ''

Sacramento Bee ''The Sacramento Bee'' is a daily newspaper published in Sacramento, California, in the United States. Since its foundation in 1857, ''The Bee'' has become the largest newspaper in Sacramento, the fifth largest newspaper in California, and the 2 ...

'', Newport Beach has the second highest percentage of conservative voters among large cities in California. The Republican candidate exceeded 70% of the vote in Newport Beach in all seven presidential elections from 1964 to 1988 and seven of the nine gubernatorial elections from 1962 to 1994. Although the politics of California have trended in favor of the Democratic Party, Newport Beach has remained Republican but has become less Republican over time. In 2016, as

Donald Trump Donald John Trump (born June 14, 1946) is an American politician, media personality, and businessman who served as the 45th president of the United States from 2017 to 2021. Trump graduated from the Wharton School of the University of P ...

became the first GOP presidential candidate to lose Orange County since

Alf Landon Alfred Mossman Landon (September 9, 1887October 12, 1987) was an American oilman and politician who served as the 26th governor of Kansas from 1933 to 1937. A member of the Republican Party, he was the party's nominee in the 1936 presidential el ...

in 1936, Trump won Newport Beach by a margin of 14 points. Trump also won Newport Beach by a margin of nearly ten points in his 2020 re-election bid.

Education

* Newport Elementary School *

Corona del Mar High School Corona del Mar High School (CdM) is a public school located in the Eastbluff neighborhood of Newport Beach, California, and belongs to the Newport-Mesa Unified School District. It is a combination of a middle school (7th and 8th grades) and a ...

Newport Harbor High School Newport Harbor High School is a public high school in Newport Beach, in Orange County, California, in the United States. It is part of the Newport-Mesa Unified School District. The school primarily serves students in western Newport Beach and sou ...

* Sage Hill School *

Pacifica Christian High School Pacifica may refer to: Art * ''Pacifica'' (statue), a 1938 statue by Ralph Stackpole for the Golden Gate International Exposition Places * Pacifica, California, a city in the United States ** Pacifica Pier, a fishing pier * Pacifica, a conceiv ...

* Carden Hall * Eastbluff Elementary School * Ensign Intermediate School * Harbor Day School * Harbor View Elementary School * Lincoln Elementary School * Mariners Elementary School * Newport Heights Elementary School * Newport Coast Elementary School * Our Lady Queen of Angels School * Roy O. Andersen Elementary School

Infrastructure

Fire department

The Newport Beach Fire Department is the agency that provides fire protection, lifeguard coverage, and emergency medical services. Newport Beach has 8

fire station __NOTOC__ A fire station (also called a fire house, fire hall, firemen's hall, or engine house) is a structure or other area for storing firefighting apparatuses such as fire engines and related vehicles, personal protective equipment, fire ...

s spread across the city, as well as a Lifeguard Headquarters at the base of the Newport Pier.

Marine operations

The marine division of the NBFD is responsible for lifeguarding the nearly 10 million annual visitors to Newport Beach's of ocean and of bay beaches. In 2013 alone the marine division performed 3,811 water rescues. Newport Beach lifeguards are recognized as the top agency in the nation, considering their relatively small size. They are also recognized as an advanced agency by the United States Lifesaving Association. Newport Beach lifeguards also hold an annual summer Junior Lifeguard program which is one of the nation's largest and oldest. The Junior Lifeguard program works closely with the John Wayne Cancer Foundation to spread skin cancer awareness. Included in their area is The Wedge, a spot located at the extreme east end of the Balboa Peninsula that is known for its large wedge-shaped waves, which make it a popular spot for

skimboarding Skimboarding or skimming is a boardsport in which a skimboard (much like a surfboard but smaller and without fins) is used to glide across the water's surface to meet an incoming breaking wave, and ride it back to shore. Wave-riding skimboarders p ...

, surfing,

, and

. During south or south/southwest swells of the right size and aligned in the swell window, the Wedge can produce huge waves up to high. Newport Beach has one of the most diverse coastlines in the world, spanning over 6 miles. For this reason the NBFD Marine Operations Division requires its ocean lifeguards to be in top shape and to have years of local ocean experience.

Notable people

In popular culture

The city has figured into several television shows and movies: * The music video for Childish Gambino's "3005" was filmed on the Ferris Wheel at the Balboa Fun Zone. * The TV show ''

The O.C. ''The O.C. '' is an American teen drama television series created by Josh Schwartz that originally aired on the Fox network in the United States from August 5, 2003, to February 22, 2007, running a total of four seasons. "O.C." is an initiali ...

'' was based on the fictional lives of people living in Newport Beach. * MTV replaced its hit teen-reality series '' Laguna Beach: The Real Orange County'' with a new show, '' Newport Harbor: The Real Orange County'', on August 15, 2007. Only the cast and location changed in the new series which was based on the lives of high school students living in Newport Beach. * The TV series ''

Arrested Development The term "arrested development" has had multiple meanings for over 200 years. In the field of medicine, the term "arrested development" was first used, ''circa'' 1835–1836, to mean a stoppage of physical development; the term continues to be use ...

'' is set in Orange County and often features scenes at Newport Beach. * Several scenes from the Disney Channel movie '' The Thirteenth Year'' were filmed at the Balboa Pavilion in 1999. * The pop rock band ''

Cute Is What We Aim For Cute Is What We Aim For is an American rock band from Buffalo, New York. The band formed in 2005 and has since released two albums: '' The Same Old Blood Rush with a New Touch'' and ''Rotation''. The band was previously signed with record label ...

'' has a song titled " Newport Living." * The TV series '' The Real Housewives of Orange County'' featured scenes of Newport Harbor. * A guest on ''

You Bet Your Life ''You Bet Your Life'' is an American comedy quiz series that has aired on both radio and television. The original and best-known version was hosted by Groucho Marx of the Marx Brothers, with announcer and assistant George Fenneman. The show deb ...

'' in 1954 was the mayor of Newport Beach noting that Balboa was a congregating point for

southern California Southern California (commonly shortened to SoCal) is a geographic and cultural region that generally comprises the southern portion of the U.S. state of California. It includes the Los Angeles metropolitan area, the second most populous urban a ...

n young people over Easter break, with 35,000 visiting the town of 18,000. * The exterior of the Newport Beach Central Library appeared as the reunion venue in the 1997 film '' Romy and Michele's High School Reunion''. * The '' Devil Inside'' video by the Australian band INXS was filmed around the Balboa Fun Zone. * The 1917 film '' Cleopatra'' by

J. Gordon Edwards James Gordon Edwards (June 24, 1867 – December 31, 1925) was a Canadian-born film director, producer, and writer who began his career as a stage (theatre), stage actor and stage director. Biography James Gordon Edwards was born in Montreal ...

was filmed in Newport Beach. * The clothing brand Hollister Co. has featured many brands including clothing that says Newport Beach. * The movie ''All Quiet on the Western Front'' (1930) was filmed at Fashion Island in Newport Beach before its construction. * The movie ''The Boatniks'' (1970) was filmed in Newport Harbor. *The TV series '' Speechless'' is set in Newport Beach, Orange County * ''

The Reckless Moment ''The Reckless Moment'' is a 1949 American film noir melodrama directed by Max Ophüls, produced by Walter Wanger, and released by Columbia Pictures with Burnett Guffey as cinematographer. It starred James Mason and Joan Bennett. The film is based ...

'', a 1949 film noir starring James Mason and Joan Bennett, filmed and set in Newport

Sister cities

* Antibes, France * Ensenada, Mexico * Okazaki, Japan

References

External links

* Archival collections
Guide to the Collection on the Development of Newport Beach, California.
Special Collections and Archives, The UC Irvine Libraries, Irvine, California.
Guide to the Lars Labagnino Collection on Newport Beach Real Estate.
Special Collections and Archives, The UC Irvine Libraries, Irvine, California.
Guide to the Hugh R. McMillan Photographs.
Special Collections and Archives, The UC Irvine Libraries, Irvine, California. {{authority control 1906 establishments in California Cities in Orange County, California Incorporated cities and towns in California Populated coastal places in California Populated places established in 1906 Populated places on the Santa Ana River Surfing locations in California Places with bioluminescence