Newport Beach

^{Prior to the 1500s, when the area was explored by Europeans, the Tongva and Juaneno/Luiseno people lived in what we now know as Newport Beach. They had been living there for thousands of years and shells and relics can still be found in the area.}

^{An explorer known as Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo sailed the coastal shores of Newport Beach in 1542 but the coast was mapped for New Spain in 1602 by Sebastian Vizcaino. The area was a tiny part of a land grant given to Don Jose Antonio Yorba I. That larger portion of the entire grant was given to him as an award for his service by the Spanish Empire. It was first given under Spanish rule then later given under Mexican rule. Later on, American settlers developed the land after the Civil War. While that original grant encompassed a total of 61,512 acres, the portion that is now Newport Beach is 52.9 square miles, with 29.17 of it being water.}

^{Interestingly, a stream in the Pleistocene period carved out the Upper bay Canyon of Newport Beach while the lower bay emerged due to sand brought in by ocean currents.}

^{In 1870, a 105-ton steamer called The Vaquero made its way through the lower and upper bay of Newport and unloaded its cargo. The captain was Samuel S Dunnells. At the time, he ignored the warnings and safely steered his vessel in. When James Irvine got news of this, he met with his brother, Robert Irvine and their friend James McFadden and decided to name the area “Newport”. James Irvine continued to use the area for ranching and James Mc Fadden used it for shipping.}

^{When Pacific Electric Railway set up their southern terminus in Newport in 1905, the development of the city grew. This endeavor connected the beach with downtown Los Angeles.}

^{McFaddens’ Wharf was located near what is now the Newport Pier. At the time, it became the largest business of Orange County but when the San Pedro Harbor opened in 1899, the commercial shipping industry in Newport took a sharp dive. The area eventually became a recreational boating community and steered more toward the tourism industry.}

^{The city has more than 8 miles of beaches, from the Santa Ana River jetty to Crystal Cove State Park. It remains a lovely coastal city with loads of attractions for tourists and residents alike. Many people enjoy a fulfilling and healthy lifestyle here.}

^{The median household income is $122,709 as of 2019.}

^{Population: Approximately 85,694 as of 2019}

^{Well Known Places near Newport Beach}

^{Newport Harbor}

^{The Wedge}

^{Newport Whale Watching}

^{Fact Sheet}

^{Newport Beach was incorporated as a city in August of 1906.}

^{In the early 1800s, an acre of land in Newport Beach sold for $1.}

^{The Upper Newport Bay is known as the Upper Newport Bay Ecological Reserve. It’s a protected area and was established in 1975.}