Maintained by Local jurisdictions | ||
South end SR 55 (Newport Boulevard) in Costa Mesa Major
junctions I-405 in Costa Mesa
I-5 in Anaheim North end Fullerton Road in Rowland Heights | ||
Harbor Boulevard is the busiest north-south corridor in Orange County, California. The thoroughfare passes through some of the most densely populated areas in the region and carries about 8 percent of the county’s bus riders.
Contents
- Map of Harbor Blvd California USA
- Route description
- Major intersections
- Transportation
- History
- Current
- Former
- In popular culture
- References
Map of Harbor Blvd, California, USA
Route description
It runs from Costa Mesa through Santa Ana, Garden Grove, Anaheim, Fullerton, La Habra and La Habra Heights before it turns into Fullerton Road in the unincorporated community of Rowland Heights just over the Los Angeles County line.
The portion of Harbor Boulevard between La Palma Avenue in Anaheim to Whittier Boulevard in La Habra was part of the historical routing of U.S. Route 101, which was at the time the Coast Route from the Mexican Border to Oregon.
North Harbor Boulevard, where it rises from La Habra and passes over the Puente Hills, follows the historical route of the 1769 Portolà expedition, first Europeans to explore inland California.
Major intersections
Note: Mileages are taken from Google Maps and those are approximate measurements.The route is in Orange County except for a mile in Los Angeles County.
Transportation
The Orange County Transportation Authority began the Central Harbor Boulevard Transit Corridor Study in 2016 to improve transit along Harbor Boulevard in northern and central Orange County between Westminster Boulevard in Santa Ana and Chapman Avenue in Fullerton. The study will analyze and develop transportation options to move people through the area.
History
In 1976, the Orange County District Attorney declared the stretch in Garden Grove with six gay bars a "red light area" and attempted to close the bars. While formal charges were filed, they were dismissed a year later with no convictions.
Protests marches over the Anaheim police shootings in July 2012 were centered around Harbor. A fatal shooting by police officers on July 21 was followed by a second on July 22. On July 29, 200 protesters walked from the Anaheim police headquarters toward Disneyland. They were stopped at the intersection of Harbor Boulevard and Ball Road by a line of riot police and officers on horseback. Both shootings were eventually ruled justified by the Orange County District Attorney.
Current
Former
In popular culture
Anaheim native Gwen Stefani mentions Harbor Boulevard in the song "Cool".