Blink and you'll miss it.
Sunset Beach, an unincorporated 1 1/4 - mile sliver along the northern edge of Orange County's stretch of ocean, is a tight-knit community. For more than 100 years, tourists and residents have been drawn by the beauty and serenity of the surf-side sanctuary, where pretty much anywhere is a short walk to the sand.
The community prides itself on being "indie," so visitors beware: Don't compare it to Newport Beach.
To the east of this area, which runs parallel to Pacific Coast Highway, is the bay-front community of Huntington Harbour (part of Huntington Beach); to the north, in Seal Beach, are a naval weapons station and a national wildlife refuge. Gated Surfside Colony, between Sunset Beach and the naval station, is part of Seal Beach.
Beginnings
After the Pacific Electric's Newport-Balboa rail line began operating in the early 1900s, travelers discovered several new coastal communities, among them Sunset Beach. What they found was an idyllic setting with a chance to stake their claim a few steps from the ocean.
Homes and businesses soon sprang up along the railroad tracks, and residents were able to commute to larger population centers such as Los Angeles with ease.
As roads improved and automobiles became more popular, rail ridership declined. The line was discontinued in June 1950. Sunset Beach's last link to the Pacific Electric's Red Car past is the old ticket office. Today, it is occupied by Mother's, a popular bar with a history as colorful as its unmistakable bright red building.
Recognizing the need to upgrade and maintain the beachfront area, the Orange County Board of Supervisors began a series of infrastructure improvements in 1968. The former rail-line right of way was redeveloped to create more parking to handle the beach community's growing number of visitors.
Insider's viewpoint
In the 1920s, the stretch of road from Anderson Street to Warner Avenue was dotted with one- and two-story beach cottages, which over the years have been torn down, remodeled or replaced with ultramodern, tri-level mansions. One, which sold last year for $7.4 million, is an 8,000-square-foot, six-bedroom, six-bathroom custom home.
Trying to preserve what remains of old Sunset -- at least on canvas -- is watercolorist Bill Anderson.
