1949 Map of Newport Beach

About this map

The Santa Ana River bisects this late 1940s landscape, serving as a boundary between the expanding coastal communities of Huntington Beach and Costa Mesa. This era depicts the region just before the post-war housing boom fully transformed the landscape, showing a unique balance of industrial Oil Wells and nascent suburban developments. Inland, the influence of agriculture and rail is visible through the Pacific Electric line and small settlements like Wintersburg and Talbert. Along the coast, the intricate geography of Newport Bay is clearly defined, featuring Lido Isle, Balboa Island, and the developing harbor. Notably, the map captures early infrastructure such as the Huntington Beach Airport and the campus of Orange Coast College, alongside specialized facilities like the Federal Communications Commission station and the Naval Reservation, reflecting the region's mid-century strategic and educational growth.