Laguna Beach The region was originally known to the Spanish as "La Cañada de Las Lagunas" which means "The Canyon of the Small Lakes.” The City of Laguna Beach is well known as an affluent, seaside resort town located in southern Orange County. A unique beach community and artist’s colony with 7 miles of beaches running along its 9 square miles, residents enjoy the ambiance provided by the sandy beaches, canyons and coastal hills. Laguna Beach is the second oldest city in Orange County, second to Anaheim.
Settlers arriving after the American Civil War found scarce amounts of land available for homesteading, and one such tract, known then simply as "the public lands" was the coastal strip from Laguna Canyon to Three Arch Bay. During the 1870’s, a small community named Arch Beach had been started at the mouth of Bluebird Canyon. By the early 1880s most of the land around its small Post Office and general store had been subdivided. It was founded in 1887 as Lagunas, and renamed to Laguna Beach in 1904.
In the early 1920’s the area was discovered by a group of landscape painters who laid the foundation of the art community which is still thriving to this day. Subsequently, various groups have "discovered" Laguna Beach and added incrementally to the town's diversity. Many wealthy and progressive people have made Laguna Beach their home and added to the local culture. Many marvel at the sensational vistas and the peaceful valley on the one side and the full sweep of the ocean on the other.
Orange County’s most sought after stretch of real estate, Emerald Bay is situated in Laguna Beach, in the heart of the art and culture of Orange County. It is recognized as one of the premier private communities in Orange County, it offers the ultimate in safety, 24-hour protection with private security patrol. Although Orange County’s hot spots like Laguna Beach and Newport Beach are nearby, residents can also enjoy 14 acres of lush green private parks and trails. There is also a private beach, 6 tennis courts, beach volleyball, and various other community activities exclusively for the residents of Emerald Bay. Elegance and beauty define these multi-million dollar ocean front properties with panoramic views of the ocean, Catalina Island, the coastline, and gorgeous sunsets. Coastal promontories to the north and south create a distinct private experience that has made Emerald Bay one of the most sought after neighborhoods in Southern California.