geographical location

aerial view of Newport Beach

Newport Beach is located about 40 miles (64 km) southeast of the big city of Los Angeles on the Pacific Ocean in western Southern California. The city is part of the Greater Los Angeles Area metropolitan area and belongs to a number of coastal towns connected by the California State Route 1 (Pacific Coast Highway). Newport Beach is located on the southern edge of the Los Angeles Basin, which is a part of the hills of San Joaquin Hills. Most of the city is located around Newport Bay, a bay that extends far inland. At the northern city border, the Santa Ana River flows into the sea. The sandy beaches and the cliff-lined coastline make the landscape one of the most varied spots in the area.

The city area covers a total area of 103.2 square kilometers. Of this, 38.3 square kilometers are land and 64.9 square kilometers of water. Newport Beach spreads from sea level to signal peak, which is the highest peak in the city at 354 meters.

geology

Hills of San Joaquin Hills with Newport Coast

Newport Beach is often hit by earthquakes due to its location on the Pacific Fire Ring. Geological instability causes many disturbances in the vicinity, which occur above or below the surface of the earth. On the eastern beach of the Greater Los Angeles Area, there is the San Andreas discord, which experts claim is the trigger for the next devastating earthquake. The Puente Hills fault is located directly below the metropolitan area, providing additional danger potential. The so-called Newport Inglewood fault runs from the northwest in the southeast direction and ends at Newport Beach in the sea. In the hinterland of the city, another fault was discovered in the late 1990s, which crosses the San Joaquin Hills. Due to its seaside location, the city is also vulnerable to tsunamis.

The area has been hit by a number of serious earthquakes in recent years. The Northridge earthquake in January 1994 hit 6.7 on the Richter scale, causing severe damage in the Greater Los Angeles Area. The Chino Hills earthquake in July 2008 measured a magnitude of 5.4. The epicenter was about 30 miles (48 km) north of Newport Beach.

neighboring communities

Newport Beach borders on Costa Mesa and Irvine in the north (including the University of California at Irvine), Huntington Beach in the west and Laguna Beach in the southeast (separated by the Crystal Cove State Park). The sea is spreading in the southwest of the city.

city

The Corona del Mar district is located on cliffs overlooking the sea

Newport Beach is divided into the following districts and districts: Balboa Island, Balboa Peninsula, Corona del Mar, Lido Isle, Newport Coast, San Joaquin Hills and West Santa Ana Heights. The city doesn't have a city center. Most of the shops and restaurants are located on the Pacific Coast Highway, at the harbor or along the promenades.

The special topography of the surroundings also affects the city structure. In the center, the Newport Bay stretches out on a natural bay, where the harbor is located. Built in 1916, the Balboa Island and the Lido Isle are small islands in the middle of the bay. In front of Newport Bay, the long Balboa Peninsula stretches out with the beach, protecting itself from the Pacific Ocean.

Located on the cliffs, the Corona del Mar has been connected to Newport Beach since 1923. More recently, the city's population of several previously independent places has increased considerably. Since 2002 Newport Coast and San Joaquin Hills are part of the city. Both settlements are located high above the sea, on the hills of San Joaquin Hills. In 2008, the last part of the city was West Santa Ana Heights.

climate

sunset on the beach

Newport Beach has a warm and dry climate all year round due to its subtropical climate. According to the effective climate classification, the classification Csa applies to the city. The average annual temperature is 16.6 degrees Celsius and the annual rainfall is 295.9 millimeters.

Long periods of dry climate characterize the summer. The warmest months are July, August and September with a mean monthly temperature of 20 degrees and more. Without the situation on the Pacific coast, it would be much warmer, as the wind from the sea will lower temperatures. The highest temperature was measured at 41.6 degrees in 1963. Between May and October, it is mostly dry.

In winter it is slightly colder, but temperatures rarely fall to single digits. The coldest months are January and December with an average of 13.5 degrees. The lowest temperature was measured at -2.2 degrees in 1966. Almost all of the annual rainfall falls during the period November to April.

The so-called Santa Ana winds that cross the Santa Ana Mountains from the Mojave desert north-east of the city can temporarily cause severe heat waves in the region. Extensive forest and bush fires continue to occur.

Before the arrival of European immigrants, Tongva Indians lived in the area around Newport Beach today. The first European in the region was the discoverer Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo, who claimed the land for Spain in 1542, but did not establish a settlement. It took another two centuries to settle the area with the mission of San Juan Capistrano, founded in 1776. The aim was to proselytize the native inhabitants of the area.

Old house on the seafront promenade

In 1821 the former Spanish province of Mexico gained independence. The young country subsequently sought to enforce its territorial claims in California. During the Mexican-American War between 1846 and 1848, the territory was occupied by US soldiers and annexed to the United States. During California's Gold Rush, many new settlers moved west, soon to spread across the entire new state.

Shortly afterwards the development of the city of Newport Beach began. In 1870, the vessel The Vaquero rode a bay on the coast to trade with the local farmers. Little creativity was shown when the anchorage should be given a name. The choice was made on Newport, which simply means "New Port". The McFadden brothers later extended the landing site with further construction. At the level of today's Newport Piers, they operated a cargo handling facility for goods delivered with the ship.

At the beginning of the 20th century, William S. Collins recognized the tourist potential of the landscape. In 1902, the businessman took over the McFadden's vast land ownership and had the artificial Balboa Island spilled into the bay. Newport Beach was officially founded in 1906. At the same time, the Pacific Electric Railway opened a railway line to Los Angeles. The trains ended in front of the recently completed Balboa Pavilion, the oldest building in the city to date. Soon after, countless summer vacationers poured into the beaches of Newport Beach. The rapid growth did not stop, Balboa Island was established in 1916 and Corona del Mar was incorporated in 1923. With the new Pacific Coast Highway, automobile traffic has now also entered the market.

In the following decades, the city became home to many prominent people. The proximity to Hollywood's film metropolis made it particularly noticeable that many actors such as Humphrey Bogart, Shirley Temple and John Wayne had magnificent villas or boats. In 1963, the entire Pacific Electric Railway network was abandoned in favor of private transport. In 1990 Newport Coast started the construction of an exclusive settlement. Since 2002, it has been affiliated with Newport Beach, like San Joaquin Hills, and six years later, West Santa Ana Heights has been incorporated.

development

Newport Beach had a total population of 86,252 in 2009. Since its foundation in 1906, the city’s population has been growing steadily. The main reason for the jump in recent years lies in the municipalities of Newport Coast (2002), San Joaquin Hills (2002) and West Santa Ana Heights (2008).

At the United States Census 2000, Newport Beach counted 70,032 inhabitants in 33,071 households and 16,965 families. The population density was 2,523.1 inhabitants per square kilometer. The number of housing units was 37,288, corresponding to a density of 974.1 dwellings per square kilometer. The population consisted 92.2% of whites, 0.5% African-Americans, 0.3% American Native Americans, 4.0% Asians, 0.1% Pacific Insulans and 1.1% of other origins. Hispanics or Latinos were 4.71% of the population. The largest ethnic groups in the city were: England 12,707 (18.1%), Germany 12,308 (17.6%) and Ireland 10,786 (15.4%).

entrance to Newport Coast, the richest municipality in Orange County

In 18.0% of the 33,071 households, children under the age of 18 lived, 42.5% were married couples, 6.1% had a female board without a present husband, and 48.7% were not families. 35.3% of households were single persons and 10.1% were single persons aged 65 or over. The average household size was 2.09, and the average family size was 2.71.

Of the population 15.7% were under 18 years of age, 6.5% were aged between 18 and 24, 33.0% between 25 and 44, 27.2% between 45 and 64 and 17.6% were aged 65 or over. The average age was 42 years. Each 100 women accounted for 97.9 men and 100 women each accounted for 96.6 men, of whom 18 and over.

The average household income in 2008 was $110,511, and median family income was $162,976. The city's per capita income was $63,015. In terms of average household income, Newport Beach is considered one of the richest cities in the United States. With an average household income of $475,757, Newport Coast was the richest municipality in Orange County in 2005. A total of 4.4% of the population lived below the poverty line in 2000.

religions

In the city is the 122 Newport Beach California temple, opened in 2005. Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The top of the tower has a height of 27 meters and is crowned by a statue of the Prophet Moroni.

municipal government

The city coat of arms on Newport Pier

The mayor (Mayor) is at the head of Newport Beach. Since November 2008 Edward D. Even hold office.

The City Council of Newport Beach consists of seven District Council members. It is divided into the districts (districts) of Newport Beach. The city council holds a meeting twice a month to decide on local policy issues.

In October 2008, there were a total of 63,554 registered voters in the urban area, of which 35,870 were Republicans and 13,650 were Democrats.

town twinning

Newport Beach has partnerships with the following cities:

• France Antibes, France
• Mexico Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
• Japan Okazaki, Japan

music and theater

The OCPAC in daylight

The architecturally sophisticated Orange County Performing Arts Center (OCPAC) in Costa Mesa, a neighbor of Newport Beach, is the region's cultural hub. It is home to the Pacific Symphony, the Philharmonic Society of Orange County, the Opera Pacific and the Pacific Chorale. Since its construction in the 1960s several extensions have been carried out. The hotel regularly offers performances by renowned artists and groups from all over the world. The program includes mainly concerts, ballet, cabaret, opera and broadcast shows.

The South Coast Repertory (SCR) has established a professional theater company in the neighborhood. Founded in 1964, it was based in Newport Beach and changed its location several times later. In 2002, the modern Folino Theater Center was opened at Town Center Drive in Costa Mesa. The ensemble has become known for its productions far beyond the region.

museums

The Orange County Museum of Art (OCMA) on San Clemente Drive is one of the city's many museums. Most of the exhibitions include works of contemporary and modern art. Art lovers can also visit the numerous galleries and exhibitions in the neighboring resort of Laguna Beach. The small town is widely acclaimed for its distinctive art scene and is also home to the Laguna Art Museum.

The Newport Harbor Nautical Museum at the Port is a shipping museum that opened in 1986. It houses a large collection of ship models and maritime artifacts. You can see marine animals in aquariums. There are historic ships anchored at the dock, including the Pride of Newport steamer.

structures

The Balboa Pavilion in the evening

The architecture of Newport Beach is striking. However, the following structures rise out of the masses.

The Balboa Pavilion on the Balboa Peninsula, with its distinctive turrets, is the oldest building in the city. Since its construction in 1906, the impressive wooden structure has been home to a restaurant and festive halls. In the immediate vicinity of the pavilion at the port, excursion boats and ferries leave for Santa Catalina Island.

The historic Newport Pier

The Newport Pier and the Balboa Pier are located on the side of the Balboa Peninsula facing the sea. The two buildings, built around 1900, were used as ship docks in the city's founding days. From the elaborate wooden structures you can see the city or the numerous surfers. It's a place where amateur fishermen can throw their fish.

Located at the foot of Newport Piers, the Dory Fishing Fleet is one of the last remaining fishing fleets in the area. In the rustic woodscrap on Oceanfront Boulevard, fishermen have been praising their catches since 1891.

There are some masterpieces of villas in the city area. This includes the Lovell beach house, which is considered to be an outstanding example of modern architecture. Built in 1926, the building is one of the most famous works by the Austrian-American architect Rudolph Michael Schindler.

Since the late 1920s, the historic Balboa Inn on Main Street has welcomed its guests. This listed hotel is housed in a beautiful Spanish colonial-style building.

park

The Crystal Cove State Park

The entire city area is relaxed by numerous parks and green spaces. Many of these plants are characterized by lush vegetation, which is favored by the mild climate. Long palm-tree alleys surround the streets of the city and create a relaxing atmosphere.

Newport Beach has a botanical garden with the Sherman Library and Gardens. A considerable collection of plants can be seen in greenhouses and on the outside. The choice ranges from desert plants to tropical plants. There are also seasonal flower beds and fountains. The attached library acquires, organizes and receives all kinds of objects that tell the history of the Pacific South West.

Upper Newport Bay is the part of Newport Bay, further inland. The bay is designated as a nature reserve and offers a retreat for many animal and plant species. In the winter months, tens of thousands of migratory birds are rushing on the site.

Crystal Cove State Park stretches south along the Pacific Coast Highway from the seaside to the hilly hinterland. Wide sandy beaches and wooded hiking trails await visitors. The varied natural landscape attracts plant and animal lovers alike.

leisure and relaxation

surfer on the beach

The main attractions of Newport Beach include the palm-lined sandy beaches on the Pacific Ocean, where you can swim and sunbathe. About eight miles (13 km) of coastline form the southwest border of the city.

luxury yacht in Newport Bay

The Corona del Mar State Beach is one of the most beautiful coastlines in the area and is crowded with holidaymakers. The mild climate ensures pleasant water temperatures all year round. The abundance of coves and cliffs adds to the surrounding landscape.

Water sports are among the most popular activities in Newport Beach. Many surfers are looking for the high surf surf spots, including the well-known The Wedge. The town is also home to ten yacht clubs. Nearly 9000 boats of all kinds are anchored in the bay.

The Balboa Fun Zone at the harbor is the first stop for people looking for fun. The hotel has been in place since the mid-1930s and offers plenty of variety for children and adults. One of the most popular attractions is an old giant wheel.

Among the leisure facilities in the vicinity, the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim is the most important. With an estimated 14.9 million visitors in 2007, the amusement park was one of the most visited leisure complexes in the world. The Disneyland Resort is joined by the Disney California Adventure Park opposite. Both parks attract families with children from all over the world.

gastronomy

The Crab Cooker

Newport Beach offers a varied selection of restaurants serving international cuisine. In addition to the fast-food chains, which are present on the main roads, there are also some high-level facilities. Mexican cuisine is widespread thanks to the large number of Latin American immigrants. The sea offers a wide range of seafood, which explains the high number of fish restaurants.

One institution is The Crab Cooker, located on Newport Boulevard, which serves mainly fish dishes. The fictional television series O.C., California playing in Newport Beach has made the small red building known as Crab Shack. The restaurant made headlines across the country when then-US President Richard Nixon asked whether he would be given an exception in waiting time. But the owner replied that the president, like all the other guests, had to queue.

events

Newport Beach offers numerous events all year round.

The annual Newport Beach Film Festival in April will feature numerous films. The event, which has been in operation since 1999, has become known for its first performances. Among other things, the US premiere of the film L.A. Crash took place here, which was awarded the Oscar Film Prize three times in 2006. The festival is regularly attended by about 40,000 people.

economy

overview

Access to the Newport Center

Several major companies were established in the city. These include the investment company Pimco and the record label Volcom Entertainment. Newport Beach is also the registered office of Pacific Life, a life insurance and financial services company, and Irvine Company, a developer. In addition, the software company Day Software has opened one of its two headquarters here.

Newport Center is the city's business center. Many of the companies mentioned above are located here. The center of the district is Fashion Island, where various department stores have settled. The Newport Center Drive covers the area in a circle. In the immediate vicinity you will find a variety of restaurants and other entertainment.

In December 2008, the city's unemployment rate, at an average of 2.6%, was significantly lower than that of the state of California at 5.6%.

trade

Newport Beach has a large number of expensive retail outlets due to the high purchasing power of its residents. Most of these shops are mainly located along the Pacific Coast Highway in the city center. Numerous well-known brands can be found here.

Fashion Island is a large shopping center where several department stores have established themselves. It is also home to representatives of the Macy’s and Bloomingdale’s chains. Another attraction is the South Coast Plaza in the neighboring Costa Mesa. With a sales area of about 270,000 square meters, the complex is second on the list of the largest shopping malls in the United States.

traffic

road

Pacific Coast Highway sign in Newport Beach

Newport Beach is connected to the surrounding area by three state routes. A distinction is made between freeways and other highways. For reasons of easier orientation, the links bear the name.

All Freeways and Highways at a glance:

California State Route 1

The California State Route 1 runs directly through the city center. The so-called Pacific Coast Highway runs north-south in sight of the sea and is therefore very popular with drivers. The coastal towns of Orange County, lined up like a beads cord, are connected by the road. It leads north, passing San Francisco, among others.

California State Route 55

California State Route 55 starts at Newport Boulevard near the border to Costa Mesa. The so-called Costa Mesa Freeway serves primarily as a transfer service to Interstate 405 and Interstate 5, which is an hour's drive from Los Angeles and San Diego.

California State Route 73

In the hinterland, California State Route 73 winds through San Joaquin Hills. The so-called Corona del Mar Freeway is a circumvention of the I-405, which runs almost parallel. The southern part is also called San Joaquin Hills Transportation Corridor. However, a toll is payable on this section.

public transport

OCTA bus on Newport Boulevard

The Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) operates several bus lines in and around Newport Beach, which provide local public transport. The Newport Transportation Center is a central hub where most connections meet.

The regional line 1, which regularly operates on the Long Beach-San Clemente route, allows you to reach the surrounding seaside resorts.

rail

The Pacific Electric Railway completed the construction of a railway line from Los Angeles to Newport Beach in 1906. Many beach holiday-makers used the new means of transport, and the population of the young town grew rapidly. The path ended before the Balboa Pavilion. In 1963, the entire network was discontinued in favor of individual traffic and the railway line was dismantled.

Newport Beach no longer has a rail connection. The Surf Line, a railway line from Los Angeles to San Diego, runs north on the urban area of Irvine. Amtrak's Pacific Surfliners and Metrolink suburban trains provide local and long-distance connections from the station.

air

Newport Beach can be reached by air from the John Wayne Airport (SNA). The airport is directly adjacent to Interstate 405, which is flown by low-altitude landing machines. He is administered by the neighboring town of Santa Ana. John Wayne Airport is currently only serving domestic destinations. In 2008, the airport served about 8.9 million passengers. A special feature is a life-sized bronze statue by the name originator John Wayne, exhibited at Terminal B.

There are many other airports in the vicinity, including the huge Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), one of the largest in the world.

shipping

The Balboa Island Ferry crosses Newport Bay

Most of the city is located in the immediate vicinity of the waters. Much of the city is located on the Pacific coast and around Newport Bay. Some parts of the city are located on islands. Between the residential areas of the bay there are waterways, which, like in Venice, have a branch system of canals. Many properties therefore have their own berths.

The harbor area, including Newport Bay, covers an area of approximately 54 square kilometers, with approximately 9,000 boats of all types anchored. Newport Beach also has ten yacht clubs.

The Balboa Island Ferry connects the Balboa Peninsula to Balboa Island. The short distance through the bay is overcome in a dense clock traffic. The ferry line has existed since 1919.

From the harbor, the speedboat Catalina Flyer offers trips to Avalon on Santa Catalina Island. The island upstream of the coast is a popular tourist destination especially in summer months.

education

Local schools are managed by the Newport-Mesa Unified School District. Seven Elementary Schools, one Middle School and two Highschools are scattered across Newport Beach.

Newport Harbor High School was founded in 1930 and is known mainly from the media. Between 2007 and 2008, the school was one of the main filmmakers of the reality series Newport Harbor: The Real Orange County. Currently, about 2,400 students are studying at school.

In film and television

Newport Beach is a popular destination for filmmakers and has served as a scene and scene many times. Many television viewers around the world have become familiar with the city and Orange County. The most popular productions are listed.

• Jerry Maguire (1996), a scene of the film was shot on the site of the Newport Center.
• Romy and Michele (1997), in the film is the Newport Beach Public Library to be seen.
• The West Wing - In the center of power (1999-2006), in the television series around a fictitious US president, Newport Beach is portrayed several times as an election campaign. The shooting was always done at original sites.
• O.C., California (2003-07), the popular TV series is playing in Newport Beach, but was filmed in Manhattan Beach.
• Arrested Development (2003-06), the TV series is about a family living in the Corona del Mar district and running a Frozen Banana booth on Balboa Island. The series was shot in Culver City.
• Newport Harbor: The Real Orange County (2007-08), the reality series, accompanies the lives of local youth who attend Newport Harbor High School.
• The beginning of the action film Highway Heat (1994) was shot there.

Among other things, the city is mentioned in:

• Ocean’s Eleven (2001), when Profigess Rusty Ryan (Brad Pitt) took off the Bellagio Casino in Las Vegas, the fierce owner Terry Benedict (Andy García) threatens him with the words: "If you should take up buying a $ 100,000 sports car in Newport Beach, I'm going to be extremely disappointed." This sentence is only to be heard in the original English version of the film and is a reference to the kidnapping of the daughter of Steve Wynn, who actually owned the casino. One of the kidnappers was arrested shortly after the incident in Newport Beach in 1993 when he tried to pay a Ferrari with cash.
• Lost (since 2004), in which the final episode live together - alone die the second season had a boat named Elizabeth Newport Beach as home port, which was to be read on its stern.

In music

• In 2007, the rock band Cute Is What We Aim For released a song called Newport Living. The name is a reference to a fictitious magazine in the television series O.C., California.
• In 2006, the country music band Lost Dogs released a song called Only One Bump in Corona del Mar. Corona del Mar is a part of Newport Beach.

In literature

• Corona del Mar is in the novel voices of fear of Dean Koontz the residence of the two main figures Martine and Dustin Rhodes.

famous resident

The following list contains famous people living in Newport Beach. The list is not exhaustive. Whether some of the people have died or moved away is irrelevant.

• Lauren Bacall (1924-2014), actress
• Chester Bennington (1976-2017), singer of the rock band Linkin Park
• Joey Bishop (1918-2007), actor and showmaster
• Humphrey Bogart (1899-1957), actor
• Kobe Bryant (1978-2020), basketballer of Los Angeles Lakers
• George Burns (1896-1996), actor
• Nicolas Cage (* 1964), actor
• James Cagney (1899-1986), actor
• Robert Ctvrtlik (* 1963), volleyball player and Olympic champion
• Bette Davis (1908-1989), actress
• Buddy Ebsen (1908-2003), actor
• Jürgen Klinsmann (* 1964), German soccer coach
• Dean Koontz (* 1945), author
• Karl Malone (* 1963), former basketball player
• Mark McGrath (* 1968), singer of Sugar Ray
• Mike Ness (* 1962), singer of the band Social Distortion
• Henry Nicholas, Founder of Broadcom Corporation
• Michelle Pfeiffer (* 1958), actress
• Dennis Rodman (* 1961), former basketball player
• Michael Steele (* 1955), musician
• Shirley Temple (1928-2014), actress
• Lars Ulrich (* 1963), drummer of Metallica
• John Wayne (1907-1979), actor
• Paul Ripke (* 1981), photographer

Sons and daughters of the city

The following overview contains important people born in Newport Beach. The list is not exhaustive. Whether or not the persons had their subsequent scope of action is irrelevant.

• Steve Aoki (* 1977), musician and producer
• Lewis Baltz (1945-2014), photographer
• Amanda Beard (* 1981), swimmer
• Stephen Colletti (* 1986), actor
• Lauren Conrad (* 1986), designer
• Warren Fitzgerald, songwriter and guitarist from The Vandals
• Justin Hamilton (* 1990), basketball player
• Susanna Hoffs (* 1959), musician and daughter of director Tamar Simon-Hoffs
• Jeremy Jackson (* 1980), actor and singer
• Devinn Lane (* 1972), actress
• Jason Lewis (* 1971), actor and model
• Amber Lynn (* 1964), porn actress and stripperin
• Kelly Madison (* 1967), porn actress
• Kelly McGillis (* 1957), actress
• Ted McGinley (* 1958), actor
• Anton Newcombe, frontman The Brian Jonestown Massacre
• Spencer Papa (* 1995), tennis player
• Rodney Rowland (* 1964), actor
• Bradford Tatum (* 1965), actor and writer
• Alexis Thorpe (* 1980), actress
• Steve Timmons (* 1958), Olympic volleyball
• Kaes Van’t Hof (* 1986), tennis player
• Chris Wall (* 1953), country singer and songwriter
• Kevin Weeda (* 1960), driver
• Madeleine Westerhout (* 1990), personal assistant to President Donald Trump
• Jason Zucker(* 1992), ice hockey player