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Harbor Island, Newport Beach facts for kids

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Harbor Island
Collins Island Newport Beach Photo D Ramey Logan.jpg
Aerial view of Harbor Island
Harbor Island is located in the Los Angeles metropolitan area
Harbor Island
Harbor Island
Location in the Los Angeles metropolitan area
Harbor Island is located in California
Harbor Island
Harbor Island
Location in California
Geography
Location Newport Bay
Coordinates 33°36′38″N 117°54′10″W / 33.610671°N 117.902909°W / 33.610671; -117.902909
Adjacent bodies of water Pacific Ocean
Area 9.5 acres (3.8 ha)
Administration
Additional information
Time zone
  • UTC-8
 • Summer (DST)

Harbor Island is a small island in Newport Beach, California. It's not a natural island, but one that was built by people. This type of island is called an artificial island.

The area around Harbor Island, known as Newport Harbor, was created by digging up the bottom of an estuary (where a river meets the sea) in the early 1900s. This process is called dredging. Many artificial islands were made this way, including Harbor Island.

Today, Harbor Island has about thirty private homes. It is a gated community, which means there's a gate that controls who can enter. The homes on the island are very expensive. Every house is located along one street, called Harbor Island Road. Each home also has its own access to the water, often with boat docks.

Some well-known people have lived on Harbor Island. These include George Argyros, Donald Bren, and Bill Gross.

What is Harbor Island?

Harbor Island is a special place in Newport Beach, California. It is a small piece of land surrounded by water. What makes it unique is that it was not formed by nature. Instead, people built it a long time ago.

How was Harbor Island Created?

Harbor Island was built as part of a bigger project. In the early 1900s, workers used large machines to dig out the muddy bottom of an estuary. This created the deep waters of Newport Harbor. The dirt and sand they dug up were then used to build new land, forming islands like Harbor Island.

Why are there so many artificial islands?

The goal of the dredging project was to create a safe and deep harbor for boats. By building artificial islands, they also made more waterfront land. This land became perfect for building homes with easy access to the water.

Life on Harbor Island

Harbor Island is known for its beautiful and expensive homes. It is a very private place to live.

What is a Gated Community?

A gated community is a neighborhood with controlled entry points. This means there is usually a gate or a guard that checks who comes in and out. This helps keep the community safe and private for its residents.

Homes and Water Access

All the homes on Harbor Island are located along a single street called Harbor Island Road. A unique feature of these homes is that each one has direct access to the water. This often includes private docks where residents can keep their boats. This makes it easy for them to enjoy boating and other water activities.

Notable Residents of Harbor Island

Over the years, several important people have chosen to live on Harbor Island. These residents are often successful in business or finance.

Who are George Argyros and Donald Bren?

George Argyros is a well-known businessman and former ambassador. Donald Bren is also a very successful businessman, especially in real estate. These individuals are known for their achievements in the business world.

Who is Bill Gross?

Bill Gross is famous in the world of finance. He is known for being a very successful investor and for co-founding a large investment company.

Harbor Island NB CA Photo D Ramey Logan
Harbor Island viewed from Beacon Bay. The gated bridge to the island can be seen on the left.
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