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SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA NEIGHBORHOOD PAGES
Click on the cities and neighborhoods below for descriptions of life in these Los Angeles areas.
Newport Beach is a lively collection of beach and boating villages 10 miles south of downtown Santa Ana and west of Irvine in Orange County. Many of the villages, such as Balboa Island, Corona del Mar, Balboa Island and Lido Island, were originally developed as shipping and vacation outposts, but the area has evolved into a sophisticated and highly desirable suburban complex.
Newport was first "discovered" in 1870 when Capt. Samuel S. Dunnells successfully navigated his 105-ton steamer through the upper portion of what is now called Newport Bay, which was previously thought to be too marshy for passage. After delivering a load of lumber, Dunnells, along with the principal property owners of the area, James and Robert McFadden and James Irvine, then named the area for this "new port."
In the early 1900s, the Hollywood crowd discovered Newport, and the area became the setting for many silent films and, later, epics including "Cleopatra," "Treasure Island," "The Sheik" and "All Quiet on the Western Front." In the ensuing years, stars such as Shirley Temple Black, John Wayne, Humphrey Bogart and James Cagney built homes here as did many Pasadena and Los Angeles residents.
The area continues to attract a zealous sailing, yachting and surfing crowd. The harbor, just inside Balboa peninsula, is said to be one of the world's largest for small yachts. It provides excellent sailing conditions much of the time and is the site of popular weekly regattas in the summer. Surfers can hit the waves along the 6.2 miles of beach or challenge themselves at a hot spot called "the Wedge."
Although each of the villages has its own identity and unique vibe, residents throughout the area say they enjoy cosmopolitan amenities with a more laid-back lifestyle than most cities. Some residents work from home or run small local businesses. Those who commute have easy access to Santa Ana, Irvine and Long Beach, but driving to Los Angeles can be time-consuming unless it's done during off-hours.
Its location, climate and atmosphere have made the Newport Beach communities some of the priciest in Orange County. The median price for a single-family home in Newport Beach was $1.4 million in March 2007, according to DataQuick Information Systems. During the same time period, the median price for a single-family home in Corona del Mar was reported to be $1.55 million and $1.48 in Newport Coast. As a comparison, the median price for a single-family home in Orange County was $630,000.
Homes in Newport Coast, a coastal area south of the bay developed during the last 15 years, currently command the highest prices. In the hills overlooking the water, homes in these mostly guard-gated communities are sprawling 5,000- to 10,000-square-foot mansions with spectacular views and sell in the range of $3 million to $20 million.
Homes on Newport Beach's seven islands, which include Balboa Island, Lido Island, Harbor Island, Little Balboa, Linda Isle, Collins Island and Bay Island, are also highly desirable. They attract a wealthy yachting crowd as most of the waterfront estates have their own docks and waterfront access. Five-thousand-square-foot estates in prime locations have recently sold for as much as $20 million.
Corona del Mar is a charming older community with some original fishing cottages that date back to the early 1900s. The area has a distinct Cape Cod neighborhood feel but homes are small, in the 1,800-square-foot range, and sell upward of $1.3 million.
Homes in Harbor View, an old buffalo ranch developed for housing in the 1960s, are within the boundaries of the sought-after Anderson Elementary School. The ranch-style homes range in size from 1,600 to 2,400 square feet and sell for around $1.7 million.
- City of Newport Beach website
- Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce
- Newport Beach Conference & Visitors Bureau
- Corona del Mar City Guide
- Balboa Island Activities Directory
- Corona del Mar Chamber of Commerce
- Newport Beach schools, GreatSchools.net
- Newport Beach schools, LocalSchoolDirectory.com
