Newport Beach     

Map of Subdivisions  

City size: 13.9 square miles
ZIP codes: 92657-63

About Our City:

Newport Beach was discovered in 1870 by Captain S.S. Dunnells, who gave the city its name.

Thirty-six years later it was incorporated, and quickly became known as a "Second Hollywood," with attractions that drew legends such as the late Humphrey Bogart and John Wayne.

Among the favorite locales are the harbor; the 752-acre bay, which is the largest open water estuary in Southern California; world-class yacht clubs; shopping at Fashion Island and  Mariners Mile, lined with world-famous seafood restaurants.

Newport is home to award-winning schools and celebrities such as Dennis Rodman and super agent Leigh Steinberg. Because of its water channels and marsh, it is believed that Native Americans settled in the Newport area long ago. Archaeologists have exhumed Indian artifacts that date back 9,000 years

History:

It started with a guy and a boat.

In 1870, Captain S.S. Dunnells steered the Vaquero into the sandpit-clogged harbor he soon dubbed "New Port."

In 1879, James and Robert McFadden created McFadden's Landing inside the harbor, near the Pacific Coast Highway bridge, and in 1888, McFadden Wharf was built on the oceanfront, where Newport Pier is today.

West Newport, East Newport, Bay Island, Balboa, Corona del Mar, Balboa Island and Port Orange (at old Newport Landing) were soon subdivided, and in 1905 the Balboa Pavilion was built.

But Newport Beach didn't truly become a tourist attraction until the arrival of the Pacific Electric Railway in 1906, the same year it became a city - in large part because the county was "dry" and businessmen wanted to sell liquor, and have a saloon to drink in.

In 1908, Italian gondolier John Scarpa staged the first illuminated night boat parade through the harbor, starting a tradition that lasts to this day.

In the later part of the century, Newport Beach became known as the home of movie star John Wayne, but the Duke was only the most famous of the celebrities to flock to the city. An early silent version of "Cleopatra" was filmed in the bay, the first of many visits by filmmakers. Some of the notable movies filmed here included "Treasure Island," "Captain Blood," "The Sheik" and "All Quiet on the Western Front."

Many other celebrities besides Wayne flocked to the coastline, making Newport Beach a kind of second Hollywood. James Cagney, Shirley Temple, Humphrey Bogart and Errol Flynn either had homes here or kept their boats in the harbor.

In 1924, the city annexed Corona Del Mar. Two years later, Pacific Coast Highway was built through the city, along with a bridge over the Upper Bay.

Preserving the Upper Bay - home to least terns, the light footed clapper rail and hundreds of other wildlife - has long been a priority of local environmentalists bent on protecting the estuary from developers and runoff from a watershed that ranges from Costa Mesa to Tustin.

In the 1960s, the Bluffs, Eastbluff and Fashion Island mall were built.

In 1990, construction began on Newport Coast. The city still hopes to annex the area, dotted with multimillion dollar homes, including one owned by author Dean Koontz.

Schools:  

Newport-Mesa Unified School District oversees schools in the Newport Beach and Costa Mesa area, including two high schools, one intermediate school and six elementary schools. Newport Harbor High School, Mariners Elementary School and Horace Ensign Intermediate School have Costa Mesa students included in their attendance jurisdiction.

Although overall district academic scores are in the 70th and 80th percentile, Newport schools score in the 80-90th percentile, with a few in the high 90s.