This magazine has gone by many names in its four and a half decades: Nieuport, Newport Life, and Orange County Newport Life, as well as Orange Coast. Since 1974, we’ve shared the stories of our county—from the Angels winning their first divisional championship to how to navigate dining at a “frightening” sushi bar. You won’t be surprised to see how far technology has come, but there are many other tidbits that might enlighten or even shock you. Reminisce with us as we review some of the highlights and lowlights from the past 45 years.

1979
100
→ Years estimated until a space colony would be created

1979
$200K
→ Price of a new home in Orange’s Ridgeline Ranch. The developer predicted that “the housing boom will be over in a year.”

2019
$1.73 million
→ List price of an existing home in Orange’s Ridgeline Ranch

1980
10
→ Proposition on the California ballot to create smoking and nonsmoking sections in public spaces and places of employment

1989
10
→ Orange County’s economic ranking among “U.S. metropolitan markets”

1993
46
→ Cottages in Crystal Cove given eviction notices to make way for renovation

1988
2 million
→ Projected population of Orange County by its centennial in 1989, which ended up being closer to 2.4 million

2019
3.2 million
→ The county’s estimated population