City of Newport Beach

The City of Newport Beach was incorporated on September 1, 1906 and the current City Charter was adopted in 1954. The City operates under a Council-Manager form of government. Its seven City Council Members are elected by district, but are voted on by the population as a whole. They serve four-year terms. The Council consists of the Mayor and six other members and is responsible for policy-making, passing local ordinances, adopting the budget, appointing committees and hiring the City Manager, City Attorney, and City Clerk. The City Manager is responsible for carrying out the policies and ordinances of the City Council, for overseeing the day-to-day operations of the City, and for appointing heads of departments.

07_Ch6_HistoricalResources_web.pdf

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Research Guide

The California State Library selected Newport Beach as the California History Section's City of the Month. This distinction highlights organizations involved in local cultural preservation and outreach, as well as the varied local history resources available to researchers at the State Library. Click the link above to access the Newport Beach History Research Guide.

Newport Beach Research Guide.pdf

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Local Newspaper Historical Collection

The Central Library of the Newport Beach Public Library houses local publications from the 1940s to the early 2000s on microfilm and in a digital format.  Thanks to generous funding from the NBPL Foundation, the microfilm collection has been preserved and made searchable through a remote-access portal. 

A History of Cultural Arts

Rex Brandt, a renowned watercolorist, lived and worked in the City for most of his life, he also created the iconic Newport Beach City seal, served on the Newport Beach Public Library Board of Trustees in the 1940s and 1950s, and helped establish the Newport Harbor Art Museum.

Rex Brandt and Joan Irving, married artists,

had a long history of appreciation and support for cultural arts events, education, and organizations. Highlights of the City’s long-standing support for the arts include the establishment of the Balboa Theatre in 1912, the same year that a City Hall was established, the founding of the Orange County Museum of Art in 1962 (previously the Newport Harbor Museum of Art) and the beginnings of South Coast Repertory on Newport Blvd. in 1964.  As Newport Beach has grown to be a burgeoning and sophisticated city, the role of arts and culture became even more prominent. In 1972, the City’s arts and cultural infrastructure was formally established with the birth of the Newport Beach Arts Committee. The group transitioned into the Newport Beach Arts Commission in 1974. Since then, the City has become home to numerous art galleries and cultural events, including: Newport Beach Film Festival, the Newport Beach Jazz Festival, the Southern California Children’s Chorus, Baroque Music Festival, and the Newport Beach Art Exhibition.

Rex Brandt, "Morning Mood Balboa" 1963-07-25

Newport Beach has also been home to many artists such as renowned painters Rex Brandt and Joan Irving Brandt, animator Chuck Jones, fashion icon Don Ed Hardy, writers Dean Koontz and Joseph Wambaugh, architect William Pereira, violinist Jascha Heifetz, “The King of Surf Guitar” Dick Dale, actors June Allyson, Joey Bishop, Ray Milland, John Wayne, Buddy Ebsen, Kelly McGillis and the legendary Helena Modjeska.