Huntington Harbour, located in the northwestern part of Huntington Beach, California, is a residential and recreational area with a rich history. The area was originally inhabited by the Tongva people, who were the native inhabitants of the Los Angeles basin and the southern Channel Islands. European settlement began in the late 1700s when Spanish explorers claimed the land for Spain.
The development of Huntington Harbour began in 1963, transforming the historic Sunset Bay Estuary wetlands into a man-made harbor at a cost of approximately $200 million.The harbor includes five man-made islands—Admiralty, Davenport, Gilbert, Humboldt, and Trinidad—and a network of waterways used for boating and other recreational activities[
The construction of the harbor was part of a larger trend of development in Southern California, influenced by figures such as Henry E. Huntington, after whom the harbor is named.
Huntington Harbour is bordered to the south by the Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve and to the north by the Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach. The area has become a popular destination for boating, fishing, kayaking, and other water sports. It is also home to the Huntington Harbour Yacht Club, established in 1965, which offers community sailing programs.
Despite its success as a residential and recreational area, Huntington Harbour has faced challenges, including damage from storms and flooding in the 1970s. The community responded by rebuilding and improving the harbor’s infrastructure. Today, Huntington Harbour is a thriving community known for its waterfront homes, some of which are among the most desirable real estate in the area.