Vibrant Figures in Newport Beach History: From ‘Swamp’ to International Resort
With its manicured neighborhoods and glistening coastline, Newport Beach is also home to interesting and accomplished figures both past and present. Thanks to its founders with the vision to see the affluence and productivity the town is known for today, Newport Beach remains a top destination for residents and visitors alike.
The town of more than 86,000 was not always so bustling, however. Back in the late 1800s, the bay that is the present-day Newport Harbor was considered “too treacherous” to navigate, according to the town’s city guide.
Newport Harbor in Newport Beach, Calif., on Feb. 20, 2022. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)
Then considered a “swamp and overflow” land, Newport was a less-than-desirable place for Westward-bound settlers. So much so that in the mid-1800s, the state of California sold parts of Harbor, Balboa, and Lido islands for $1 an acre, according to the Newport Beach Historical Society….