Balboa Island, Newport Beach, California

Balboa Island is an area of Newport Beach, California actually comprising three modified or artificial islands in Newport Harbor: Balboa Island (coord|33|36|23|N|117|53|40|W|), the largest; the smaller Little Balboa Island (coord|33|36|23|N|117|53|16|W|) to the east of Balboa Island, joined by a two-lane bridge; and the smallest Collins Island (coord|33|36|31|N|117|54|1|W|) to the northwest of Balboa Island, joined by a one-lane bridge. The Balboa Island community is joined to the mainland by a short two-lane bridge on the northeast of Balboa Island, and a privately-operated fleet of three, three-car ferryboats (Balboa Island Ferry) which provide access across the harbor to the Balboa Peninsula which lies to the south.

History

The island was not always easily accessible. Newport Harbor was still largely undredged, and sailboat was often the only way to get around. Robert McFadden, an early Balboa Harbor developer had established a successful fishing wharf on the Balboa Peninsula and by 1906, the Pacific Electric line Red Cars began servicing the Balboa Peninsula and Balboa Pavilion, and soon the Red Cars brought thousands of visitors from Los Angeles.

In the late 1860’s, the bay was used as a landing to load hides, tallow, hay and other goods for export. In September 1870, Captain Samuel S. Dunnells’ steamer Vaquero ventured into the bay to offload a cargo of lumber and shingles. Captain Dunnells soon established “Newport Landing” by constructing a small wharf and warehouse near the west end of the present Coast Highway/Newport Bay Bridge.Balboa Island Visitor's Guide, www.balboa-island.net, 2007.]

James McFadden and his younger brother Robert acquired the landing in 1875 survey map of Newport Bay 1875 and for the next nineteen years operated a thriving commercial trade and shipping business. However, the bay was not yet a true harbor and sand bars and a treacherous bay entrance caused the McFadden Brothers to move the shipping business to the oceanfront by constructing a large pier on the sand spit that would become the Balboa Peninsula. The site was ideal because a submarine canyon (Newport Submarine Canyon), carved along with Newport Bay by the ancient Santa Ana River, provided calm waters close to the shore. McFadden Wharf was completed in 1888 and was connected by rail to Santa Ana in 1891. For the next eight years, the McFadden Wharf area was a booming commercial and shipping center and a company town began to grow. However, in 1899, the Federal Government allocated funds for major improvements to a new harbor at San Pedro, which would become Southern California’s major seaport. The McFadden Wharf and railroad was sold to the Southern Pacific Railroad that same year, signaling the end of Newport Bay as a commercial shipping center.

In 1902, James McFadden sold his Newport townsite and about half of the Peninsula to William S. Collins, who saw Newport Bay’s resort and recreation potential. Collins took on Henry E. Huntington as a partner in the Newport Beach Company. Huntington had acquired the Pacific Electric railway system and used it to promote new communities outside of Los Angeles. In 1905, the Pacific Electric “Red Cars” were extended to Newport. Collins began dredging a channel on the north side of the bay and deposited the sand and silt on tidelands that would become Balboa Island. Formerly known as Balisle, this enchanting little island was not always easy to get to. Newport Harbor was still largely undredged, and sailboat was often the only way to get around. Robert McFadden, an early Balboa Harbor developer had established a successful fishing wharf on the Balboa Peninsula and by 1906, the Pacific Electric line Red Cars began service to the Balboa Peninsula and Pavilion, and soon, the Red Cars would bring thousands of summertime visitors from Los Angeles.

Between 1902 and 1907, many of Newport Beaches’ waterfront communities were subdivided, including West Newport, East Newport, Bay Island, Balboa, and Balboa Island. This established the grid system of small lots and narrow streets and alleys that still exists today in these areas.

Within a few years, real estate promoters began sending salesmen to Pasadena and to Los Angeles (both connected by the Red Cars) to promote property in and around Newport Harbor. Much Balboa Island property was sold in Pasadena, one of the reasons that many longtime Island residents have family and contacts in the Pasadena area. One of these real estate promoters was William Collins. At the time, Balboa Island was little more than a sandbar, usually swallowed up by high tide.

In 1908 and 1909, with permission of the Orange County Board of Supervisors, Collins moved his small dredge to the eastern part of the Newport bay, a mud flat called "Snipe Island," and begin cutting a channel along the north side of the bay across from the Pavilion, pilling the sand and silt up on the mud flat and thus Balboa Island was born.

At this same time an advertising campaign was prepared offering lots for $350.00 to $750.00. The high priced lots were located on the waterfront. However, despite the advertisements, Collins originally sold lots on the Island for as little as $25, with promises that all streets, sewers and street lights would be soon installed and a bridge and ferry service to follow. Construction was begun for the ferry landing. Streets were staked out and lots were mapped. Even a few narrow sidewalks were built. A low 14-inch wooden bulkhead was built along the south side of the island and an impromptu sewer system was laid out with pipes draining onto the beaches at their low tide levels to keep the discharge out of sight.

The island grew slowly at first, but in 1916, it became part of the City of Newport Beach. In 1918 the Balboa Island Improvement Association was started (and is still going strong). The BIIA was a strong motivating force in working with the City on bulkhead repair, ferry service, a sewer system, water, gas, electricity, paved streets and sidewalks, and street lighting.

In those early days (1919), water for the Island came from the famous "Wooden Water Tower" built on Agate St. (removed in 1929). In 1920, Park Ave. was the only road paved on the Island. People had outhouses behind their house as there was no sewer. They buried trash in big holes dug in vacant lots. In 1920, a gas utility came to the Island (heating, cooking, lights)

Joseph Allan Beek, while still a student at Pasadena City College, was enchanted with the area, and became one of Collins' salesmen. Joe Beek played a crucial role in the development of Balboa Island, and spent a lifetime devoted to it. In 1919, Joe got the first contract for a ferry between the Island and Balboa Peninsula. In 1920, the first car was pushed across the bay (for 10 cents). In 1922, Joe Beek got a 15 year franchise, using the ferry boat "Joker", which could hold two cars. That franchise has continued until this day, with three 64 ft. boats that can carry three cars. He later served as Secretary of the California State Senate until his death in 1968.

By 1921, homes were beginning to fill in the Island and Balboa Peninsula. Roads to the Newport Harbor area were still largely undeveloped, and many people still arrived by rail to the peninsula and took the ferry over to the island. Although the first Bridge from the mainland to the North Bayfront was built in 1912, it was not capable of carrying automobiles until 1929, when it was refurbished.

The seawall was rebuilt in 1922. . The Grand Canal wooden bulkhead and walk were rebuilt in concrete in 1929. The present day Bay Front bulkhead, walks and public piers were completed in 1938.

In 1924, the narrow bridge to Balboa Island was replaced with two lanes of wood. That bridge existed until 1928, when it was demolished to make way for a Concrete Bridge. Some of the wood from the old bridge was used to construct the building next to the "Jolly Roger" restaurant on Marine Ave. (now Wilma's). In 1929, a new Concrete Bridge was built and served for 51 years. Population grew from a little over 100 in 1929 to today's 4,500 in winter and close to 10,000 summer renters. In 1981, the Bridge was replaced with a modern concrete structure with 9' wide walks.

In 1941 Englishman William Maxwell purchased 15 lots, an investment that he still owns today.

Jamboree Road

The 1953 National Scout Jamboree of the Boy Scouts of America held its event where Newport Center and Fashion Island now sit. It was the third international jamboree, the first to be held west of the Mississippi River, and had 50,000 scouts from all 50 states and 16 foreign countries. [ [http://www.ocalmanac.com/History/hi01h.htm Orange County - 1946 to 1962 ] ] Thousands of tents were pitched in the area accessible only by a muddy two-lane trail called Palisades Road. The road was soon paved, and later the name was changed to Jamboree Road in honor of the event. It remains a major thoroughfare through Newport Beach, ending at Balboa Island.fact|date=April 2008

Balboa Island today

According to the 2000 US Census, Balboa Island is one of the densest communities in Orange County. Approximately 3,000 residents live on just 0.2 square miles giving it a population density of 17,621 person per square mile—higher than that of San Francisco. [ [http://www.city-data.com/zips/92662.html 92662 Zip Code (Newport Beach, California) Detailed Profile - residents and real estate info ] ] Despite having some of the country's most expensive homes, most of the dwellings are on small lots. The perimeter of the island along the Bayfront is dotted with piers for the homeowners' boats. Marine Avenue and Agate Avenue form the commercial spine of the island.fact|date=April 2008

Balboa Island has developed into a close-knit community, home to professionals, families, retirees, students and celebrities.fact|date=April 2008

Balboa Island is one of the most expensive real estate markets in North America outside of Lower Manhattan. A two-bedroom house with a water view from the living room can cost about $3 million.fact|date=April 2008

Local tradition has it that Balboa Island is where the "frozen chocolate banana" was first marketedfact|date=April 2008. Snack shops on Marine Avenue will dip a frozen banana on a stick into chocolate sauce and dredge it in ground nuts or candy sprinkles. This legend is referenced in the American television show "Arrested Development" in which the wealthy Bluth family of Orange County owns a frozen chocolate banana stand on Balboa Island. Also popular is the "Balboa bar", a square of vanilla ice cream on a stick prepared in a similar fashionfact|date=April 2008.

Tourists from all over the world come stay on the island in one of the many of the vacation rentals year after year as tradition. They enjoy the summers days at the beach and evenings on the main street having dinner in many of the restaurants and after dinner having their Balboa Bars and the ice cream shops and getting bags of Salt water taffy at the old fashioned candy store with the barrels filled with taffy. [http://www.balboacandy.com/aboutus.html]

The zip code for Balboa Island is 92662.

References

External links

* http://www.balboa-island.com/
* http://www.balboa-island.net/
* http://www.balboacandy.com
* [http://3dtour.cz/usa-california/newport-beach/balboa-island?lang=en Virtual tour]