Newport Coast is an affluent coastal community located within the city of Newport Beach in Orange County, California, south of Newport Beach's main body and set along a stretch of elevated Pacific coastline. It was originally a separate census-designated place, but in 2001 it was annexed into Newport Beach, and today it functions as one of that city's most distinctive residential districts. The community spans approximately 9,400 acres, a substantial portion of which is dedicated to open space and golf courses. The area is best known for its upscale, largely guard-gated neighborhoods developed around panoramic ocean views and the landmark Resort at Pelican Hill, an Italian Renaissance-inspired resort that opened in 2008 and anchors the community's identity. The development of Newport Coast began in earnest in the 1990s, when a series of exclusive neighborhoods — Pelican Hill, Pelican Crest, Pelican Ridge, Pelican Point, and Pelican Heights — were created across the coastal hills. The community's commitment to environmental preservation is reflected in the significant acreage held as open space and in the adjacent Crystal Cove State Park, which protects one of the last remaining examples of early 20th-century Southern California coastal development, including a historic district of vintage beach cottages. Newport Coast's location offers direct access to the Pacific Ocean, coastal trails, and a collection of high-end amenities, while remaining about 40 miles southeast of downtown Los Angeles and convenient to John Wayne Airport. The community is part of the Newport-Mesa Unified School District. Newport Coast appeals to residents seeking a quiet, resort-like coastal setting with estate-scale homes, dramatic views, and proximity to the beaches, shopping, and cultural amenities of Newport Beach and the greater Orange County coast.