City of Newport Beach history

As early as 1909, there was community action to create a library.

In 1911, the Ebell Club developed a permanent collection of 300 books that was available each afternoon for a few hours.

On May 10, 1912, Glenn L. Martin flew his own plane, built in Santa Ana, from the waters of the Pacific Ocean at Balboa to Catalina Island.

Water lines to the Island were first laid in 1914.

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 1919, Joe got the first contract for a ferry between the Island and Balboa Pennisula.

In the 1920's a municipal library was formally established by City Council, with a Board of Library Trustees and budget of $75 per month.

By 1921, homes were beginning to fill in the Island and Balboa Peninsula.

In 1924, the narrow bridge to Balboa Island was replaced with two lanes of wood.

The incorporation petition claimed there were 700 residents in the proposed city, but there were only 75 registered voters. It originally took in everything on the peninsula, along the Coast Highway (which didn’t open until 1925), and what would become Lido Island.

In 1928 a new Rendezvous Ballroom was built and began to feature such big bands as Benny Goiodman's group.

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.

In 1933, local bonds were passed and the Orange County Harbor District was created to implement the harbor project.

After several false starts, the jetties were built at the harbor entrance and the bay was thoroughly dredged in 1936.

James Cagney bought Collins Island in 1938.

World War IIThe road to warThe United States at warWar productionFinancing the warSocial consequences of the warThe 1944 electionThe new United States role in world affairs

The peak Cold War years, 1945–60The Truman Doctrine and containmentPostwar domestic reorganizationThe Red ScareThe Korean WarPeace, growth, and prosperityEisenhower’s second termDomestic issuesWorld affairsAn assessment of the postwar era

The 1950's, with the postwar City growth, was also a period of expansion for the library.

In 1952, the Balboa Branch was expanded to 5,000 square feet, with a more open, modern façade, windows and entrance replacing the Spanish style exterior.

In the 1970's, the trustees and the City commissioned several formal library studies and needs assessments, all calling for a main or central library for the growing city.

In the late 1980's, a new needs assessment and the companion library strategic plan were developed.

The Grand Opening of the 54,000 square foot Central Library was celebrated in July of 1994.

In 2002, a fundraising drive took place to raise $1 million needed for the City of Newport Beach to apply for a California State Library construction grant for a “joint-use” facility serving area residents and school children from Mariners Elementary School.

As of late 2010, it has an estimated permanent population of 86,738 but during the summer months, the population grows to more than 100,000 with 20,000 to 100,000 tourists daily.