The Newport Coast area of Orange County is a tiny community with a population of less than 10,000. It’s known for its luxury homes and high-end shopping. But it wasn’t always that way. In the early 1960s, Newport Coast was just another small beach town along the Pacific coast of California. TIME Magazine described Newport Coast in an article stating – “In 1961 Newport Beach was one more coastal city in Southern California whose picture postcard setting belied a shabby reality.”
Nestled in the hills and overlooking the Pacific Ocean, this tony suburb of Orange County has long been a favorite destination for those living in Southern California. Recent years have seen an explosion in the number of gated communities and upscale developments as Newport Coast has evolved from its humble origins as a “company town” to become one of America’s wealthiest zip codes.
It’s easy to imagine that its origins were humble and unassuming given the grandeur of this place. In truth, Newport Coast is a contemporary planned city situated on lands first sold by Thomas Lincoln in 1892 to William Chaffee, who owned an adjacent dairy farm.
In 1896, Chaffee divided his land into 160 parcels and began selling them for $150 each. By 1901 he had sold all but 17 lots which he kept for himself or rented out to tenants until they could afford their own home sites.
In recent years, property values have been climbing steadily, and now there are mansions reaching into the sky all along the coastline. With that said, the median listing price of a property in Newport Coast, CA, is around $4250000, which is not so reasonable.
This article will take you on a tour through this beautiful coastal community with interesting facts about its neighborhood, lifestyle, and culture that make Newport Coast such a desirable place to live!
Newport Coast, CA Neighborhood Highlights
Newport Coast is known for its luxury homes and high-end shopping. The population of this suburb is around 85,000 people as of 2020. It is home to some of the most luxurious neighborhoods in the whole of America. It is bounded by San Diego County to the south and Los Angeles County to the north. Hence, Newport Coast offers the convenience of comfortable travel between two prime regions of the country. Moreover, Newport Coast is a planned city and one of the best places to live in America.
Newport Coast has been ranked as among the top 100 most expensive zip codes by Forbes magazine. It is home to some of the wealthiest people on earth, including many celebrities who have chosen this place for their residence since it’s only an hour’s drive away from LA. According to a survey in 2011, about 11% of the population was aged below 18 years.
In the 2010-11 fiscal year, Newport Coast had an estimated median house or condo value of over $799300 that is higher than most parts of California and the nation as well. In 2007, this region had a per capita income level just above significantly lower than any other city in the country.
Newport Coast has often been compared to Beverly Hills for being a luxurious, exclusive high-end neighborhood of California’s Orange County with some of the most expensive real estate on earth.
With that being said, the following are the most preferred neighborhoods in Newport Coast.
Pelican Hill
Pelican Hill is home to some of the most expensive houses in America. This neighborhood epitomizes luxury living with its beautiful Mediterranean-style homes and sprawling manicured lawns. It is located at a short distance from Newport Bay, which offers scenic views of the Pacific Ocean, Catalina Island, coastline hillsides covered with lush vegetation, and much more.
This exclusive community was developed by the Irvine Company. The master plan of Pelican Hill had been drawn up in the 1980s to give shape to a place that would be an international tourist attraction with its lush, green landscape and scenic beauty of the California coast.
Other than being home to some of the most expensive houses on earth, this neighborhood is also known for its golf courses, vineyards, and luxury spas. It is home to the Pelican Hill Golf Club, which features two 18-hole championship courses designed by award-winning architect Tom Fazio.
The Spa at Pelican Hill offers world-class services in an atmosphere of tranquility with luxurious amenities like whirlpools, steam rooms, private massage cottages, and much more.
The Wine Cellar at Pelican Hill offers international wines from California’s finest vineyards along with delicious Mediterranean cuisine for an unforgettable dining experience. Visitors will also enjoy the vintage art collection displayed in this cellar, which features works by renowned artists such as Monet, Renoir, Picasso, and many more. The Club at Pelican Hill has some of the finest amenities for socializing, including a fitness center with modern equipment, an Olympic-sized swimming pool, tennis courts, and much more. The club offers both indoor as well as outdoor facilities for its members to enjoy their favorite activities all year long.
Lido Isle
Lido Isle is another exclusive neighborhood of Newport Coast. It offers beautiful views of the Pacific Ocean and surrounding hills as well as lush green landscapes with a blend of both native and exotic vegetation.
The island was formed by dredging in 1917, part of which included an area that became known as Lido Shores. This place has some exquisite homes with small private beaches that have been ranked as among the most beautiful in America.
The Lido Isle Yacht Club is one of the oldest yacht clubs on this island and features a large clubhouse, outdoor seating area, two piers, tennis courts, and much more. Additionally, the club also offers a variety of amenities for yachting enthusiasts such as slips and moorings, social events like parties and mixers, seminars on boating skills, access to the sailing simulator room, which is open all year round for its members.
The island has several public parks with barbecue facilities; these include Lido Isle Park, Harvey Jones Park, and the city-owned Lido Community Center. The island is also home to some unique stores like The Cottage Shop, which offers high-quality decorative accessories for homes as well as gift items for your loved ones, The Costume Box, where you can find a wide variety of costumes, wigs, makeup supplies, and much more.
Crystal Cove
Crystal Cove is a quaint neighborhood located next to Laguna Beach. It features a serene environment with beautiful views of the Pacific Ocean and its famous coastline known as Crystal Cove State Park, which has been ranked among America’s most scenic shorelines by Sunset magazine.
The park houses some spectacular caves, cliffs, rock formations formed from ancient volcanic activity, and trails that lead to the secluded beaches. The park also features a visitor center as well as some campgrounds with individual sites for tents or RVs, which are open all year round.
The Crystal Cove Alliance offers guided tours of this place along with kayak rentals and other amenities like restrooms and showers for its visitors. Visitors can also enjoy some exquisite seafood at the Beachcomber Restaurant, which is located right on the beach and offers a spectacular view of this scenic spot. The Crystal Cove Cottages feature cozy accommodations for those who want to experience one of California’s most beautiful places from within its borders. The cottages are surrounded by lush vegetation with access to an outdoor pool, a patio area with barbecue grills, and much more.
Neighborhood Challenges
The Newport Coast has some beautiful neighborhoods with some of the most exquisite homes and amenities for its residents. However, it faces some challenges as well, which include traffic congestion during rush hour, high levels of air pollution due to a large number of cars on roads, crime rates that have been increasing over time due to urbanization in recent years.
Moreover, it is expensive! The housing costs are high, and the property taxes that people have to pay every year are also quite expensive.
However, many of these challenges can be overcome if we work together as a community in order to improve our quality of life here. We just need some small changes like carpooling more often, taking public transport instead of driving your own vehicle, and working together on some projects that can help improve our neighborhoods.
The Newport Coast has a lot of potential for growth if we all work together to make it an even better place to live in. The communities are coming together to make sure that the Newport Coast becomes a better place for all of us.
Conclusion
So, that’s it. You have a complete spotlight on Newport Coast, CA. It is a great place to live, especially if you are a family or looking to start a family because there are some great schools, kid-friendly parks and amenities, and more. Also, it’s a great place for those who are into boating, sailing, kayaking, or any other water-based activities because there are some beautiful waterways that you can explore with your friends and family.
