Newport Beach, incorporated in 1906, is a city in Orange County, California, 10 miles (16 km) south of downtown Santa Ana. The population was 85,186 at the 2010 census.

The city's median family income and property values consistently place high in national rankings, making Newport Beach one of the wealthiest communities in California, and in the United States overall. The Daily Pilot, a newspaper published in the neighboring city of Costa Mesa, reported in 2010 that more than a quarter of households have an income greater than $200,000, and the median value for homes exceeds $1 million.

History

In 1870 a steamer named "The Vaquero" made its first trip to a marshy lagoon for trading. Ranch owners in the Lower Bay decided from then on that the area should be called "Newport."

In 1905 city development increased when Pacific Electric Railroad established a southern terminus in Newport connecting the beach with downtown Los Angeles. In 1906 with a population of 206 citizens, the scattered settlements were incorporated as the City of Newport Beach.

Settlements filled in on the Peninsula, West Newport, Balboa Island and Lido Isle. In 1923 Corona del Mar was annexed and recently in 2002 Newport Coast was annexed.

Geography

Newport Beach extends in elevation from sea level to the 1161 ft (354 m.) summit of Signal Peak in the San Joaquin Hills, but the official elevation is 25 feet (8 m) above sea level at a location of 33°37′0″N 117°53′51″W.

The city is bordered to the west by Huntington Beach at the Santa Ana River, on the north side by Costa Mesa, John Wayne Airport, and Irvine (including UC Irvine), and on the east side by Crystal Cove State Park.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 53.0 square miles (137.2 km²). 23.8 square miles (61.7 km²) of it is land and 29.2 square miles (75.6 km²) of it (55.07%) is water.

Areas of Newport Beach include Corona del Mar, Balboa Island, Balboa Peninsula (also known as Balboa), Newport Coast, San Joaquin Hills, and Santa Ana Heights, and West Newport.

Harbor

The Upper Newport Bay was carved out by the prehistoric flow of the Santa Ana River. It feeds the delta that is the Back Bay, and eventually joins Lower Newport Bay, commonly referred to as Newport Harbor. The Lower Bay includes Balboa Island, Bay Island, Harbor Island, Lido Isle and Linda Isle.

Climate

Newport Beach has a Mediterranean climate. Like many costal cities in Orange and Los Angeles Counties, Newport Beach shows strong climate variation compared to inland cities, even those only a few miles from the ocean. The Pacific Ocean greatly moderates Newport Beach's climate by warming winter temperatures and cooling summer temperatures; there is little variation between seasons and high and monthly low temperatures.

Demographics

The 2010 United States Census reported that Newport Beach had a population of 85,186. The population density was 1,608.0 people per square mile (620.8/km²). The racial makeup of Newport Beach was 74,357 (87.3%) White, 6,174 persons (7.2%)Hispanic or Latino of any race, 5,982 (7.0%) Asian, 2,493 (2.9%) from two or more races, 1,401 (1.6%) from other races, 616 (0.7%) African American, 223 (0.3%) Native American, and114 (0.1%) Pacific Islander.

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 made up of individuals and 4,412 (11.4%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age 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 spread out 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 age 18 and over, there were 95.5 males.

There were 44,193 housing units at an average density of 834.2 per square mile (322.1/km²), 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.

Politics

As of January 2010, there were 34,747 registered Republicans, 13,684 Democrats 11,719 unaffiliated and 2,432 minor party voters.

In the state legislature Newport Beach is located in the 35th Senate District, represented by Republican Tom Harman, and in the 68th and 70th Assembly District, represented by Republicans Van Tran and Chuck DeVore respectively. Federally, Newport Beach is located in California's 48th congressional district, which is represented by Republican John Campbell.

Attractions

Attractions include beaches on the Balboa Peninsula (featuring body-boarding hot-spot The Wedge), Corona del Mar State Beach and Crystal Cove State Park, to the south.

The Catalina Flyer, a giant 500 passenger catamaran, provides daily transportation from the Balboa Peninsula in Newport Beach to Avalon, California located on Santa Catalina Island. The historic Balboa Pavilion, established in 1906, is Newport Beach's most famous landmark.

The Newport Harbor Nautical Museum tells the story of our maritime culture and heritage as well as the vitality of our marine environment.

The Orange County Museum of Art is a museum that exhibits modern and contemporary art, with emphasis on the work of California artists.

Balboa Island is an artificial island in Newport Harbor that was dredged and filled right before World War I.

Notable natives and/or residents

Business:

George Argyros, billionaire real estate investor and former owner of the Seattle Mariners
Donald Bren, billionaire owner of the Irvine Company
John Curci, real estate developer (Thunderbird and Indian Wells near Palm Springs)
William H. Gross, billionaire co-founder of Pimco
Gavin Herbert, founder of Allergan
John H. Meier, former business adviser to Howard Hughes
Michael Morhaime, cofounder and chief executive of Blizzard Entertainment
Henry Samueli, billionaire co-founder of Broadcom and owner of the Anaheim Ducks
Gary Primm, casino developer and former chairman, chief executive of Primm Valley Resorts & Primadonna Resorts Inc.

Entertainment:

Steve Aoki, producer and DJ
Lauren Bacall
Joey Bishop, entertainer
Humphrey Bogart, actor, yachtsman
George Burns, entertainer
Nicolas Cage, actor
James Cagney, actor and dancer
Dick Dale, musician, "King of the Surf Guitar"
Buddy Ebsen, actor
Stephen Fry, actor and comedian
Chuck Jones, cartoon artist, animator of Bugs Bunny and Daffy Duck
Dean Koontz, writer
Heather Locklear, actress
Karl Malone, retired NBA player[47]
McG, film and television director and producer
Mark McGrath, singer (Sugar Ray)
Mike Ness of Social Distortion
Chuck Norris, martial arts star, actor
Peter North, pornstar
Cathy Rigby, gymnast and actress
Frank Rumbauskas, bestselling author
Gwen Stefani, singer, No Doubt
Emma Stone, actress
Shirley Temple, actress
Mamie Van Doren, actress and sex symbol
John Wayne, actor and icon

Sports:

Bill Macatee, Sportscaster
Carsten Ball, Australian Tennis Player
Matt Barkley, first freshman to ever start at quarterback for the University of Southern California football team
Francois Botha, former Heavyweight boxer
Scott Boras Notorious baseball agent
Kobe Bryant, NBA player, Los Angeles Lakers
Sasha Cohen, figure skater
Ekaterina Gordeeva, figure skater
Keith Hartwig, NFL player, Green Bay Packers
Erica Hosseini, Professional surfer
Reggie Jackson, Hall of Fame Baseball Player
Jürgen Klinsmann, German football manager and former football player
Kevin Kouzmanoff, MLB player, San Diego Padres
Ilia Kulik, figure skater
Joffery Lupul, NHL player, Toronto Maple Leafs
Todd Marinovich football player for Oakland Raiders
Dennis Rodman, retired NBA player
Leigh Steinberg, noted sports agent, said to be the model for the title character of Jerry Maguire
Robert "Wingnut" Weaver, surfer
John Welbourn, NFL player, New England Patriots
C.J. Wilson, MLB starting pitcher for the Texas Rangers.
Tiger Woods, professional golfer
George Yardley, former Detroit Pistons basketball player
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