Eureka, California
Encyclopedia
Eureka is the principal city and the county seat
of Humboldt County
, California
, United States
. Its population was 27,191 at the 2010 census, up from 26,128 at the 2000 census.
Eureka is the largest American West Coast city north of San Francisco situated directly on the Pacific Coast. The port
city serves as the center for government, health care, trade, and the arts for the far North Coast
region of California. Its location adjacent to Humboldt Bay
270 miles (434.5 km) north of San Francisco (via U.S. Route 101
) includes marinas and industrial docking facilities, making it the largest port between San Francisco and Coos Bay
, a distance of about 500 miles. As the primary full-service city situated between the most extensive preserves of the world's tallest trees, the Coast Redwoods, and dozens of related parks, Eureka is the site of the headquarters for both the North Coast Redwoods District of the California State Parks System and the one million acre Six Rivers National Forest
. The city, a major player in the historic west coast lumber trade
, is the site of hundreds of significant Victorian
homes, including the nationally recognized Carson Mansion
, situated at the head of its Old Town
Historic District. Eureka is also site of the Sequoia Park Zoo
, California's oldest zoo.
Eureka's Pacific coastal location on Humboldt Bay adjacent to abundant Redwood forests provided a rich environment for the birth of this 19th century seaport town. Beginning more than 150 years ago, miners, loggers, and fishermen began making their mark in this pristine wilderness of the California North Coast. Before that time the area was already occupied by small groups of indigenous peoples.
lived in the area now known as Eureka for thousands of years prior to European arrival. They are the farthest-southwest people whose language has Algonquian
roots. Their traditional coastal homeland ranged from the lower Mad River
through Humboldt Bay and south along the lower basin of the Eel River
. The Wiyot are particularly known for their basketry and fishery management. An extensive collection of highly evolved basketry of the areas indigenous groups exists in the Clarke Historical Museum
in Old Town Eureka
.
in the Sierras, prospectors discovered gold in the nearby Trinity region (along the Trinity, Klamath, and Salmon Rivers). Because miners needed a convenient alternate to the tedious overland route from Sacramento, schooners and other vessels soon arrived on recently discovered Humboldt Bay. Though the ideal location on Humboldt Bay adjacent to naturally deeper shipping channels ultimately guaranteed Eureka's development as the primary city on the bay, Arcata's proximity to developing supply lines to inland gold mines ensured supremacy over Eureka through 1856. "Eureka"
is a Greek word meaning "I have found it!" This exuberant statement of successful (or hopeful) California Gold Rush
miners is also the official Motto
of the State of California
.
. Records of early forays into the bay reported that the violence of the local indigenous people made it nearly impossible for landing parties to survey the area. After 1850, Europeans ultimately overwhelmed the Wiyot, whose maximum population before the Europeans was in the hundreds in the area of what would become the county's primary city. But in almost every case, settlers ultimately cut off access to ancestral sources of food in addition to the outright taking of the land despite efforts of some US Government and military officials to assist the native peoples or at least maintain peace. A tragic slaughter
took place on Indian Island
in the spring of 1860, committed by a group of locals, primarily Eureka businessmen. The chronicle of the behavior of European settlers toward the indigenous cultures locally and throughout America is presented in detail in the Fort Humboldt State Historic Park
museum, on the southern edge of the city.
A bustling commercial district and ornate Victorians rose in proximity to the waterfront, reflecting the great prosperity experienced during this era. Hundreds of these Victorian homes remain today, of which many are totally restored and a few have always remained in their original elegance and splendor. The representation of these homes in Eureka grouped with those in nearby Arcata and the Victorian village of Ferndale
are of considerable importance to the overall development of Victorian architecture built in the nation. The magnificent Carson Mansion
on 2nd and M Streets, is perhaps the most spectacular Victorian in the nation. The home was built between 1884-1886 by renowned 19th Century architects Newsom and Newsom for lumber baron William M. Carson. This project was designed to keep mill workers and expert craftsman busy during a slow period in the industry. Old Town Eureka
, the original downtown center of this busy city in the 19th Century, has been restored and has become a lively arts center. The Old Town area has been declared an Historic District
by the National Register of Historic Places
. This nexus of culture behind the redwood curtain still contains much of its Victorian architecture
, which, if not maintained as homes, have been transformed into scores of unique lodgings, restaurants, and small shops featuring a burgeoning cottage industry of hand-made creations from glass ware to wood burning stoves and a large variety of art created locally.
Among those who guarded the city jail during the height of the Sinophobic
tension was (then) future Governor of California
James Gillett
, himself a recent resident of the city. The anti-Chinese ordinance was not repealed until 1959.
In 1914 the first major, reliable land route was established between San Francisco and Eureka with the opening of the Northwestern Pacific Railroad
, connecting Eureka through Willits, California
to the northern shore of San Francisco Bay
. With passenger rail service from San Francisco to the bustling Redwood Empire, Eureka's population of 7,300 swelled to 15,000 within ten years. By 1922 the Redwood Highway was completed, providing for the first reliable, direct overland route for automobiles from San Francisco. Eureka's transportation connection to the "outside" world had changed dramatically after more than half a century of uncomfortable stage rides (which could take weeks in winter) or treacherous steamship passage through the infamous Humboldt Bar and on the rarely pacified Pacific Ocean
to San Francisco. The greatest symbol of this advance was the opening of the Eureka Inn
(see photo, right), which coincided with the opening of the new road to "Frisco" (a favorite local nickname for San Francisco). The inn's history of providing quality accommodations and amenities for travelers in a style unsurpassed for its day and for decades to come is well documented. The hotel, recently reopened, is the third largest lodging property in the region. As a result of immense civic pride during this early 20th Century era of expansion, Eureka officially nicknamed itself "Queen City of the Ultimate West." The tourism industry, lodging to support it, and related marketing had been born.
The timber economy of Eureka is part of the Pacific Northwest timber economy which rises and falls with boom and bust economic times.
The Columbus Day Storm of 1962 downed trees and flooded the domestic timber market. A log export trade began to remove this surplus material. After 1962, log trade with Japan and other Pacific Rim nations increased. Despite many rumors to the contrary, little of this wood returned to U.S. markets. In 1989, the U.S. changed log export laws permitting lower cost timber from public lands to be exported as raw logs overseas to help balance the federal budget.
After 1990, the global log market declined and exports fell at the same time as Pacific Northwest log prices increased; leading buyers to seek less expensive logs from Canada and the southern United States. However, debate continues between four stakeholders: timber owners, domestic processors, consumers and communities on the impact of log export on the local economy.
During the span 1991 to 2001, timber harvest peaked in 1997. The local timber market was also affected by the Pacific Lumber Company hostile takeover and ultimate bankruptcy.
Local fisheries expanded through the 1970s and early 1980s. During the 1970s Eureka fishermen, landed more than half of fish and shellfish produced and consumed in California.
In 2010 between 100 and 120 commercial fishing vessels listed Eureka as homeport. The highest landings of all species were 36.9 million pounds in 1981 while the lowest were in 2001 with 9.4 million pounds. Species composition changes during this time with groundfish going down and whiting and crab catches increasing.
In 1991, the Woodley Island marina opened, providing docking facilities for much of Eureka's commercial and recreational fleet.
After 1990 regulatory, economic and other events led to a contraction of the local commercial fleet. Many species are considered to be overfished. Recreational fishing has increased over time. Fifty percent of recreational fishermen using local boats are tourists from outside the area.
Commercial Pacific oyster aquaculture in Humboldt Bay producted an average of 7.6 million pounds of oyster from 1956 to 1965. In 2004, only 600,000 pounds were harvested. Oysters and oyster seed continue to be exported from Humboldt Bay. The value of the oysters and spawn is more than $6 million a year.
Consolidation of buyers and landing facilities resulted in local vulnerability to unexpected events, leading the City to obtain grant funding for and complete the Fishermen's Terminal on the waterfront which will provide fish handling, marketing, and public spaces.
occurred about 33 miles (53.1 km) offshore of Eureka. The quake occurred within a subduction fault associated with the interaction of three tectonic plates
(Pacific
, North American
, and Juan de Fuca
). After 2 seconds, it became a "jumper" (or became violent, making objects fly) i.e., imposing mostly vertical shocks from the ground, leading to broken windows in shops, overturned shelving in homes and stores, and loss of architectural detail on a number of historic buildings. As darkness fell over the region, local hospitals were seeing mostly minor related injuries and electrical power was out over a large area, including large parts of Eureka, Arcata, site of Humboldt State University
, and other more remote communities, like Ferndale
. Numerous natural gas
leaks were a cause for some concern, but no fires resulted. This was the largest recent earthquake since the April 25–26, 1992 event series of magnitudes 7.2, 6.5, and 6.7, over an 18 hour period, which severely damaged some buildings and roads.
Another earthquake hit on February 4, 2010. The U.S. Geological Survey reported a magnitude 6.0 quake struck at 12:20 p.m. about 35 miles (56.3 km) northwest of the community of Petrolia
and nearly 50 miles (80.5 km) west of Eureka. The shaking was felt within a 150 miles (241.4 km) radius, as far north as southern Oregon and as far south as Sonoma County, according to the USGS Web site.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 14.5 square miles (37.6 km²), of which 9.4 square miles (24.3 km²) of it is land and 5.1 square miles (13.2 km²) or 35.07% of it is water.
Eureka is ideally, if remotely, situated within California's Redwood Empire region due to its proximity to exceptional natural resources. These include the spectacular coast of the Pacific Ocean
, Humboldt Bay, and several rivers in addition to Redwood National and State Parks
and Humboldt Redwoods State Park
. The location of Eureka on U.S. 101
is 283 miles (455 km) north of San Francisco and 315 miles (507 km) north and west of Sacramento
. Eureka is the closest city to the most central point of the United States' Pacific Coastline
.
Eureka's port facilities - the Port of Humboldt Bay - is the largest protected deep-water port between San Francisco Bay
and Puget Sound
.
The city begins with its marina on one of three islands at a narrow point on the thirteen mile (19 km) long bay and increases in elevation slightly as it spreads north, south, and especially to the east. This city of mostly one and two story wooden structures (fewer than ten buildings over 5 stories) gently encroaches at least two miles (3 km) eastward into abundant, primarily Redwood and Douglas-fir
second growth forests. The city has a traditional grid that generally radiates toward the points of the compass, though a correction to more accuracy in relation to the compass just east of the older downtown and residential area is noticeable.
In areas of post-1970 development, the previously completely removed forest, gulches, and ravines and their streams remain, adding considerable character to neighborhoods that because of recency in construction often lack the splendor (and occasional disrepair) of the earlier Victorian
homes.
The transition between the official city limits and smaller unincorporated areas described in the demographic section is mostly not discernible. The most recently developed eastern areas include secluded developments on a golf course (as an example) among or in close proximity to extensive second growth forest. The city then gives way to hills and mountains of the rugged coast range, which quickly exceed 2000 feet (609.6 m) in elevation.
(Koppen climate classification
Csb), bordering on the oceanic
climate characterized by mild, rainy winters and cool, dry summers, with an average temperature of 55 °F (12.8 °C). The all-time highest and lowest temperatures recorded in Eureka are 87 °F (30.6 °C) on October 26, 1993, and 20 °F (-6.7 °C) on January 14, 1888, respectively. Temperatures rarely drop to freezing or below.
The area experiences coastal influence fog year round. Annual precipitation averages 38.1 inches (968 mm). Measurable precipitation falls on an average of 119 days each year. The wettest year was 1983 with 67.21 inches (1,707.1 mm) and the driest year was 1976 with 21.71 inches (551.4 mm). The greatest monthly precipitation was 23.21 inches (589.5 mm) in December 2002. The greatest 24-hour precipitation was 6.79 inches (172.5 mm) on December 27, 2002. Snowfall on the coast is very rare, averaging only 0.4 inches (1 cm), but the median is 0, indicating most years do not receive any measurable amount; however, on February 4, 1989, 2 inches (50.8 mm) fell in Eureka and additional snow that month brought the monthly total to 3.5 inches (88.9 mm).
.
was 1,881.3 people per square mile (726.4/km²). The racial makeup of Eureka was 21,565 (79.3%) White, 514 (1.9%) African American, 1,011 (3.7%) Native American, 1,153 (4.2%) Asian, 176 (0.6%) Pacific Islander, 1,181 (4.3%) from other races
, and 1,591 (5.9%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3,143 persons (11.6%).
The Census reported that 25,308 people (93.1% of the population) lived in households, 1,434 (5.3%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 449 (1.7%) were institutionalized.
There were 11,150 households, out of which 2,891 (25.9%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 3,554 (31.9%) were opposite-sex married couples
living together, 1,449 (13.0%) had a female householder with no husband present, 710 (6.4%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 1,161 (10.4%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships
, and 146 (1.3%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 3,971 households (35.6%) were made up of individuals and 1,183 (10.6%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.27. There were 5,713 families
(51.2% of all households); the average family size was 2.93.
The population dispersal was 5,431 people (20.0%) under the age of 18, 3,102 people (11.4%) aged 18 to 24, 8,021 people (29.5%) aged 25 to 44, 7,422 people (27.3%) aged 45 to 64, and 3,215 people (11.8%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36.2 years. For every 100 females there were 106.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 105.7 males. There were 11,891 housing units at an average density of 822.7 per square mile (317.6/km²), of which 4,829 (43.3%) were owner-occupied, and 6,321 (56.7%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.0%; the rental vacancy rate was 3.7%. 11,251 people (41.4% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 14,057 people (51.7%) lived in rental housing units.
of 2010, there were 26,128 people. The population density
was 2,764.5 people per square mile (1,067.5/km²). There were 11,637 housing units at an average density of 1,231.3 per square mile (475.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 88.5% White, 1.2% Black or African American, 4.2% Native American, 2.6% Asian, 0.3% Pacific Islander, 2.7% from other races, and 5.10% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 10.8% of the population.
There were 10,957 households out of which 25.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 34.8% were married couples
living together, 14.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 46.3% were non-families. 35.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.26 and the average family size was 2.93. In the city the population dispersal was 22.4% under the age of 18, 11.6% from 18 to 24, 28.9% from 25 to 44, 23.5% from 45 to 64, and 13.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 98.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.7 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $25,849, and the median income for a family was $33,438. Males had a median income of $28,706 versus $22,038 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $16,174. About 15.8% of families and 23.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 29.6% of those under the age of 18 and 11.1% of those 65 and older.
and fishing
and supplying gold mining efforts inland. Gold mining
diminished quickly in the early years and activities of timber and fishing have also diminished, especially in the latter decades of the twentieth century. Today, the major industries are tourism, timber (in value), and healthcare and services (in number of jobs). Major employers today in Eureka include the following governmental entities: College of the Redwoods, The County of Humboldt, and the Humboldt County Office of Education. St. Joseph Hospital in Eureka is now the largest private employer in Eureka.
The 2000 U.S. Census indicates that 3.7% of the employed civilian population 16 years and over (totaling 20,671) worked in agriculture, forestry, fishing, and hunting industries. This percentage may not be indicative of the actual number of people in these professions as many are self-employed, especially in the fishing industry. The 2000 U.S. Census reported that 24.9% of the community worked in education, health care, and social services. Another 18.4% were employed by the government, while self employed workers totaled 11.2% of all workers. The unemployment rate in 2000 was 5.5% compared to the national average of 5.7% (calculated by dividing the unemployed population by the labor force). For the population 16 years and older, 42.7% were not in the labor force, while 57.3% were employed.
According to the 2000 U.S. Census, in 1999 the median household income was $25,849 and the per capita income was $16,174. Inhabitants whose income was below poverty level in 1999 were 23.7% of the population. Of the 11,637 housing units in 2000, 94.2% of the housing units were occupied, while 5.8% were vacant. Of the occupied housing units, 46.5% were owner occupied and 53.5% were renter occupied.
.
of the region. Official city business is administered by the Office of the City Manager. The Eureka City Council regularly meets on the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of the month at 5:30 p.m. for closed session, and 6:30 p.m. for open session. All meetings are open to the public, with the exception of the published closed session portion. Time is allowed during every council meeting for the public to address the council. The meetings are held in the Council Chambers on the 2nd floor of Eureka City Hall at 531 "K" Street, Eureka.
District, represented by Democrat
Noreen Evans
, and in the 1st Assembly
District, represented by Democrat Wes Chesbro. Federally, Eureka is located in California's 1st congressional district
.
, located 15 miles (24.1 km) north in McKinleyville. Murray Field
, a general aviation airport for private and charter air service, is located within the northern city limit of Eureka adjacent Humboldt Bay. Ten miles southeast of Eureka, Kneeland Airport
, also a general aviation airport, at 2,737 ft (834.2 m) elevation, provides an option for pilots choosing to avoid the prevalent marine layer at airports closer to sea level.
manages the resources of Humboldt Bay and its environs, including the deep water port. The port is located directly west of the city and is serviced across the bay in the community of Samoa. In addition to two deep water channel docks for large ships, several modern small craft marinas are available for private use, with a total capacity of more than 400 boats.
. The Redwood Transit System
provides bus transportation through Eureka and connects to major towns and places outside the city, including educational institutions. Dial-A-Ride service is available through an application process.
Amtrak
provides Thruway Bus service to Eureka at its unstaffed bus stop. The bus service connects passengers from the northernmost coastal train station in Martinez, California
and continues to southern Oregon.
Greyhound
provides bus service to San Francisco from Eureka. Tickets not purchased online may also be purchased at the nearest full service station in Arcata, CA.(Note:
Greyhound no longer operates from Eureka to San Francisco. One bus daily goes from San Francisco to Eureka but going back Southbound, one must depart from Arcata in the North or Rio Dell in the South).
Eureka residents are served by Pacific Gas and Electric Company
. Some reserves of natural gas are located south of the city. These and other fuels help power the Humboldt Bay Power Plant (which includes the now defunct and partially dismantled Humboldt Bay Nuclear Power Plant
). The co generation plant is scheduled to be replaced on site by new power units which will exceed the current production of 130 MW.
Water
The City of Eureka is the largest of the local water districts supplied by the Humboldt Bay Municipal Water District. The entire region is one of the few places in California that has historically enjoyed a significant surplus of water despite climate change. The reduction in major forest products manufacturing in recent decades has left the area with a 45 MGD surplus of industrial water.
located on the south edge of the Greater Eureka Area and Humboldt State University
, located just eight miles (13 km) north in Arcata. College of the Redwoods has recently developed a downtown satellite campus to augment offerings of the 270 acres (1.1 km²) campus located south of the city. Meanwhile, in 2005 Humboldt State University made public its plans to bring the campus to Eureka. The first of these plans has been realized with the spring 2007 opening of the HSU Humboldt Bay Aquatic Center, a $4.5 million aquatic facility on Humboldt Bay in Old Town Eureka
. Other plans include a new HSU Bay and Estuarine Studies Center, to be placed on the bay. This new facility will be closer to the Coral Sea (now docked at Woodley Island, Eureka), HSU's floating classroom. The new facility would be considerably larger than other existing facilities in Trinidad, twenty miles (32 km) north.
Eureka City Schools, the largest school district in the region, administers the public schools of the city. Eureka High School receives all students from city grammar schools as well as all those from nearby unincorporated communities. Specific Schools within the city limits include: Alice Birney Elementary, Grant Elementary, Lafayette Elementary, Washington Elementary, Winship and Zane Middle Schools, Eureka High School, Humboldt Bay High School, Zoe Barnum High School, the Eureka Adult School, and Winzler Children's Center.
The Humboldt County Office of Education administers the Glen Paul Center in Eureka, which specializes in the educational needs of developmentally disabled children.
, located just off of Highway 101 in Eureka. The mall features over 70 stores, anchored by Kohl's and Sears. Other major shopping areas and centers include Henderson Center, the Eureka Mall, and Downtown and Old Town Eureka
.
, #477, designating Eureka, is located in Old Town
, one of the nation's best preserved original Victorian era commercial districts. The city was voted as the #1 best small art town in John Villani's book "The 100 Best Small Art Towns In America." Eureka boasts the region's largest monthly cultural and arts event, "Arts' Alive!" On the first Saturday of each month more than 80 Eureka business and local galleries open their doors to the public. Often local cuisine and beverages accompany live performances by acclaimed regional bands and other types of performance art. The downtown Eureka area is also decorated with many murals for such a small geographic area.
Theater offerings include year round productions from several various theater groups including the North Coast Repertory Theater and the Eureka Theater. Various events occur throughout the year at the Redwood Acres Fairgrounds. Art organizations include the Humboldt State University First Street Gallery, http://www.humboldtarts.org Humboldt Arts Council and Morris Graves Museum of Art, Redwood Art Association, The Ink People and the Eureka Art and Culture Commission. As a major regional center, the city offers many lodgings, restaurants, and shopping areas, including dozens of specialty shops in its historic 19th Century Old Town commercial district and the only large mall in the region.
, the Humboldt Bay Maritime Museum
in nearby Samoa
(which operates the Madaket, an historic excursion boat operating on the bay), the Morris Graves Museum of Art
, HSU First Street Gallery
, Discovery Museum for Children, and the Blue Ox Mill. A collection of logging equipment spanning 150 years and other cultural assets abound in and around museums at Fort Humboldt State Historic Park
.
Due to northern isolation and unfavorable economic conditions in the latter part of the twentieth century, much of the post-war redevelopment and urban renewal
that other cities experienced did not occur in Eureka. As a result, Eureka is resplendent with hundreds of examples of 19th and early 20th century architecture and historic districts. David Gebhard, Professor of architectural history at University of California, Santa Barbara
, has said that Eureka has the potential of becoming the West Coast Williamsburg. He stated Williamsburg, Virginia
preserves an authentic colonial environment; Eureka preserves intact Victorian
and early twentieth century architecture. The extensive array of intact Victorian era and later homes and public buildings include many ornate examples of Colonial Revival, Eastlake
, Greek Revival, Italianate, Queen Anne
, and Stick
styles of Victorian architecture. All of these styles are present in the most famous and possibly most ornate of Victorian homes, the Carson Mansion
(pictured above).
A remake of another Newsom and Newsom (builder architects of the Carson Mansion), is the Carter House Inn
located only two blocks from the mansion. The surprise of this magnificent Queen Anne is that the original was lost in the fire after the Great 1906 Earthquake in San Francisco. Plans were found and the completed building stands today as a testament to local capacity to recreate Victorian past in such a way that no one notices that it is "new" until they are told. Local craftsman, including the owners of the Blue Ox Millworks in Eureka, have revived the old ways and secrets in building from the bygone era and are in demand in local refurbishment and other projects, including from the White House.
Approximately 16% of the city's structures are cataloged as important historical structures, with many of those attaining the status of state and national significance in terms of a particular structure's importance in relationship to the body of surviving examples of the architectural style attributed to its construction and related detail. 13 distinct districts have been identified which meet the criteria for the National Register of Historic Places
. Among them are the 2nd Street District (10 buildings), 15th Street district (13 buildings) and the O Street district (43 buildings). Hillsdale Street, a popular and well-preserved district, contains 17 buildings of historic interest. In all, some 1,500 buildings have been recognized as qualifying for the National Register. The Eureka Heritage Society, a local architectural preservation group founded in 1973, has been instrumental in protecting and preserving many of Eureka’s fine Victorians.
, situated on more than 67 acres (271,139.6 m²) of mature second-growth Redwood forest, includes Eureka's largest public playground and a duck pond in addition to meticulously kept gardens and examples of the area's many varieties of rhododendron bushes. The City of Eureka Recreation Department manages 13 playgrounds, including Cooper Gulch, which is 33 acres, and many ball fields as well as tennis courts and others, including basket ball and soccer. Other parks in or near Eureka include the Humboldt Botanical Garden
and the Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge
, and the Eureka Marsh
, an accessible protected marsh between the Bayshore Mall
and Humboldt Bay. There is a modern boardwalk along the city's waterfront and two large marinas capable of mooring over 400 small craft.
, owned by the Colorado-based Media News Group (founded by Dean Singleton), survives, printing nearly 20,000 papers a day. This major daily contains original local news and syndicated content on state, national and international news. The Eureka Reporter, founded in 2003, became a daily in 2006. It began publishing only five days a week at the end of 2007 and permanently closed in November 2008. The Reporter's editorial section was absorbed into the Times-Standard editorial section as a weekly feature page for one year.
Media News Group also owns a weekly classified advertiser, the Tri-City Weekly. Recently, the North Coast Journal, a regional weekly moved from Arcata to Eureka" The North Coast Journal
. and Humboldt State University
's student newspaper,The Lumberjack, as well as the unique weekly The Arcata Eye
. Eureka is also home to several alternative weekly publications, including the Emerald Coast Herald, a Christian publication produced by a consortium of local churches and "Savage Henry," a local monthly magazine.
Online readers can browse more than 170 Humboldt County & Eureka blogs, each with varying opinions, topics, and viewpoints from behind the Redwood Curtain
.
Many of Humboldt County's commercial radio stations are based in Eureka: KFMI
, KRED
, KJNY
and KATA
. Lost Coast Communications, based in nearby Ferndale, run by CEO Patrick Cleary, owns and operates several stations broadcasting to Eureka: KSLG
, KHUM
, KXGO
, and KWPT
. Eureka also hosts KMUE
, the local repeater for Redway
-based community radio station KMUD
. On August 26, 2006 the Blue Ox Millworks and School of the Traditional Arts launched KKDS-LP
, a low power FM station focused on youth and community issues. On November 3, 2008, a low-power part 15 AM radio station went on the air. Old Glory Radio 1650 AM is based in the Myrtletown neighborhood of Eureka. The radio station airs the area's only daily live local call-in program in the morning. KHSU, the region's local public radio station, is broadcast from Humboldt State University in Arcata.
Only two of the county's TV stations, KIEM Ch. 3 (NBC) and KEET
Ch. 13 (PBS) are fully based in Eureka while KVIQ
Ch. 17 (CBS), KAEF
Ch. 23 (ABC), KBVU
Ch. 28 (Fox), and KEUV
Ch. 31 (Univision) are located near Eureka but operated from elsewhere.
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
of Humboldt County
Humboldt County, California
Humboldt County is a county in the U.S. state of California, located on the far North Coast 200 miles north of San Francisco. According to 2010 Census Data, the county’s population was 134,623...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Its population was 27,191 at the 2010 census, up from 26,128 at the 2000 census.
Eureka is the largest American West Coast city north of San Francisco situated directly on the Pacific Coast. The port
Port
A port is a location on a coast or shore containing one or more harbors where ships can dock and transfer people or cargo to or from land....
city serves as the center for government, health care, trade, and the arts for the far North Coast
North Coast, California
The North Coast of California is a region which commonly includes Marin, Sonoma, Mendocino, Humboldt, and Del Norte counties...
region of California. Its location adjacent to Humboldt Bay
Humboldt Bay
Humboldt Bay is a natural bay and a multi-basin, bar-built coastal lagoon located on the rugged North Coast of California, United States entirely within Humboldt County. The regional center and county seat of Eureka and the college town of Arcata adjoin the bay, which is the second largest enclosed...
270 miles (434.5 km) north of San Francisco (via U.S. Route 101
U.S. Route 101
U.S. Route 101, or U.S. Highway 101, is an important north–south U.S. highway that runs through the states of California, Oregon, and Washington, on the West Coast of the United States...
) includes marinas and industrial docking facilities, making it the largest port between San Francisco and Coos Bay
Coos Bay
Coos Bay is an S-shaped inlet where the Coos River enters the Pacific Ocean, approximately 10 miles long and two miles wide, on the Pacific Ocean coast of southwestern Oregon in the United States. The estuary is situated south of the Salmon River. The city of Coos Bay, once named Marshfield, was...
, a distance of about 500 miles. As the primary full-service city situated between the most extensive preserves of the world's tallest trees, the Coast Redwoods, and dozens of related parks, Eureka is the site of the headquarters for both the North Coast Redwoods District of the California State Parks System and the one million acre Six Rivers National Forest
Six Rivers National Forest
Six Rivers National Forest is a U.S. National Forest located in the northwestern corner of California. It was established on July 1, 1947 by U.S. President Harry S. Truman from portions of Klamath, Siskiyou and Trinity National Forests. Its over one million acres of land contain a variety of...
. The city, a major player in the historic west coast lumber trade
West coast lumber trade
The West Coast lumber trade was a maritime trade route on the West Coast of the United States. It carried lumber from the coasts of Washington, Oregon, and Northern and Central California mainly to the port of San Francisco.-Lumber schooners:...
, is the site of hundreds of significant Victorian
Victorian architecture
The term Victorian architecture refers collectively to several architectural styles employed predominantly during the middle and late 19th century. The period that it indicates may slightly overlap the actual reign, 20 June 1837 – 22 January 1901, of Queen Victoria. This represents the British and...
homes, including the nationally recognized Carson Mansion
Carson Mansion
The Carson Mansion is a large Victorian house located in Old Town, Eureka, California. Regarded as one of the highest executions of American Queen Anne Style architecture, the home is "considered the most grand Victorian home in America." It is one of the most written about and photographed...
, situated at the head of its Old Town
Old Town Eureka
Old Town Eureka in Eureka, California, is listed on the United States National Register of Historic Places. This Historic district is a area containing 154 buildings mostly from the Victorian era...
Historic District. Eureka is also site of the Sequoia Park Zoo
Sequoia Park Zoo
The Sequoia Park Zoo is a small zoo located in Eureka, California, United States and is operated by the City of Eureka. With over 250 animals representing 75 different species the zoo is one of the main tourist draws in Eureka...
, California's oldest zoo.
History
Eureka's Pacific coastal location on Humboldt Bay adjacent to abundant Redwood forests provided a rich environment for the birth of this 19th century seaport town. Beginning more than 150 years ago, miners, loggers, and fishermen began making their mark in this pristine wilderness of the California North Coast. Before that time the area was already occupied by small groups of indigenous peoples.
Native Americans
The Wiyot peopleWiyot people
The Wiyot people are a native people of the Humboldt Bay, California and nearby environs.-History:The Wiyot and Yurok are the farthest southwest people whose language has Algic roots; Wiyot and Yurok are distantly related to the Algonquian languages...
lived in the area now known as Eureka for thousands of years prior to European arrival. They are the farthest-southwest people whose language has Algonquian
Algonquian languages
The Algonquian languages also Algonkian) are a subfamily of Native American languages which includes most of the languages in the Algic language family. The name of the Algonquian language family is distinguished from the orthographically similar Algonquin dialect of the Ojibwe language, which is a...
roots. Their traditional coastal homeland ranged from the lower Mad River
Mad River (California)
The Mad River is a river in upper Northern California. It flows for in a roughly northwest direction through Trinity County and then Humboldt County, draining a watershed into the Pacific Ocean north of the college town of Arcata near Arcata-Eureka Airport in McKinleyville...
through Humboldt Bay and south along the lower basin of the Eel River
Eel River (California)
The Eel River is a major river system of the northern Pacific coast of the U.S. state of California. Approximately 200 miles long, it drains a rugged area in the California Coast Ranges between the Sacramento Valley and the ocean. For most of its course, the river flows northwest, parallel to the...
. The Wiyot are particularly known for their basketry and fishery management. An extensive collection of highly evolved basketry of the areas indigenous groups exists in the Clarke Historical Museum
Clarke Historical Museum
The Clarke Historical Museum in Eureka, California contains the area's premier collection of far California North Coast regional and cultural history, with significant focus on the 19th Century Victorian era...
in Old Town Eureka
Old Town Eureka
Old Town Eureka in Eureka, California, is listed on the United States National Register of Historic Places. This Historic district is a area containing 154 buildings mostly from the Victorian era...
.
Humboldt Bay
European exploration of the coast of what would become northern California, beginning as early as 1579, repeatedly missed definitively locating Humboldt Bay for nearly three hundred years. This was due to a combination of geographic features, often aided by weather conditions, which concealed the narrow entrance from view. Despite a well-documented 1806 sighting by Russian explorers, the bay was not definitively known by Europeans until an 1849 overland exploration provided a reliable accounting of the exact location of what is the second largest bay in California. The timing of this discovery would lead to the May 13, 1850 founding of the settlement of Eureka on its shore by the Union and Mendocino Exploring (development) companies.Gold rush era
Secondarily to the California Gold RushCalifornia Gold Rush
The California Gold Rush began on January 24, 1848, when gold was found by James W. Marshall at Sutter's Mill in Coloma, California. The first to hear confirmed information of the gold rush were the people in Oregon, the Sandwich Islands , and Latin America, who were the first to start flocking to...
in the Sierras, prospectors discovered gold in the nearby Trinity region (along the Trinity, Klamath, and Salmon Rivers). Because miners needed a convenient alternate to the tedious overland route from Sacramento, schooners and other vessels soon arrived on recently discovered Humboldt Bay. Though the ideal location on Humboldt Bay adjacent to naturally deeper shipping channels ultimately guaranteed Eureka's development as the primary city on the bay, Arcata's proximity to developing supply lines to inland gold mines ensured supremacy over Eureka through 1856. "Eureka"
Eureka (word)
"Eureka" is an interjection used to celebrate a discovery, a transliteration of a word attributed to Archimedes.-Etymology:The word comes from ancient Greek εὕρηκα heúrēka "I have found ", which is the 1st person singular perfect indicative active of the verb heuriskō "I find"...
is a Greek word meaning "I have found it!" This exuberant statement of successful (or hopeful) California Gold Rush
California Gold Rush
The California Gold Rush began on January 24, 1848, when gold was found by James W. Marshall at Sutter's Mill in Coloma, California. The first to hear confirmed information of the gold rush were the people in Oregon, the Sandwich Islands , and Latin America, who were the first to start flocking to...
miners is also the official Motto
Motto
A motto is a phrase meant to formally summarize the general motivation or intention of a social group or organization. A motto may be in any language, but Latin is the most used. The local language is usual in the mottoes of governments...
of the State of California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
.
Europeans in conflict with indigenous Native Americans
The first Europeans venturing into Humboldt Bay encountered the indigenous WiyotWiyot people
The Wiyot people are a native people of the Humboldt Bay, California and nearby environs.-History:The Wiyot and Yurok are the farthest southwest people whose language has Algic roots; Wiyot and Yurok are distantly related to the Algonquian languages...
. Records of early forays into the bay reported that the violence of the local indigenous people made it nearly impossible for landing parties to survey the area. After 1850, Europeans ultimately overwhelmed the Wiyot, whose maximum population before the Europeans was in the hundreds in the area of what would become the county's primary city. But in almost every case, settlers ultimately cut off access to ancestral sources of food in addition to the outright taking of the land despite efforts of some US Government and military officials to assist the native peoples or at least maintain peace. A tragic slaughter
1860 Wiyot Massacre
The Wiyot Massacre refers to the incidents on February 26, 1860, at Tuluwat on what is now known as Indian Island, near Eureka in Humboldt County, California.-Event:...
took place on Indian Island
Indian Island (Humboldt Bay)
Indian Island or Duluwat Island is located on Humboldt Bay within the City of Eureka, California. The village of Tolowot or Tuluwat on Duluwat Island was the site of the spiritual if not political center of the Wiyot people and is where the main thrust of the 1860 Wiyot Massacre by European...
in the spring of 1860, committed by a group of locals, primarily Eureka businessmen. The chronicle of the behavior of European settlers toward the indigenous cultures locally and throughout America is presented in detail in the Fort Humboldt State Historic Park
Fort Humboldt State Historic Park
Fort Humboldt State Historic Park is a California state park located in the southern portion of Eureka, just off U.S. Route 101. The North Coast regional headquarters of the California State Parks is located onsite.-Early years, 1853–1860:...
museum, on the southern edge of the city.
Lumber and developing economy
The soon to be center of commerce opened its first post office in 1853 just as the town began to carve its grid pattern into the edge of a forest it would ultimately consume to feed the building of San Francisco and beyond. Many of the first immigrants who arrived as prospectors were also lumbermen, and the vast potential for industry on the bay was soon realized, especially as many hopeful miners realized the difficulty and infrequency of striking it rich in the mines. By 1854, after only four years since the founding, seven of nine mills processing timber into marketable lumber on Humboldt Bay were within Eureka. A year later 140 lumber schooners operated in Humboldt Bay, supplying lumber to other booming cities along the Pacific coast. Rapid growth of the lumber industry, depletion of forests located in close proximity to Humboldt Bay and technological advances led to the development of dozens of local, narrow gauge railroads to move the giant trees to dozens of lumber mills on Humboldt Bay.Ferndale, California
Ferndale is a city in Humboldt County, California, United States. Known for its well-preserved Victorian buildings, the city's population was 1,371 at the 2010 census, down from 1,382 at the 2000 census...
are of considerable importance to the overall development of Victorian architecture built in the nation. The magnificent Carson Mansion
Carson Mansion
The Carson Mansion is a large Victorian house located in Old Town, Eureka, California. Regarded as one of the highest executions of American Queen Anne Style architecture, the home is "considered the most grand Victorian home in America." It is one of the most written about and photographed...
on 2nd and M Streets, is perhaps the most spectacular Victorian in the nation. The home was built between 1884-1886 by renowned 19th Century architects Newsom and Newsom for lumber baron William M. Carson. This project was designed to keep mill workers and expert craftsman busy during a slow period in the industry. Old Town Eureka
Old Town Eureka
Old Town Eureka in Eureka, California, is listed on the United States National Register of Historic Places. This Historic district is a area containing 154 buildings mostly from the Victorian era...
, the original downtown center of this busy city in the 19th Century, has been restored and has become a lively arts center. The Old Town area has been declared an Historic District
Historic district
A historic district or heritage district is a section of a city which contains older buildings considered valuable for historical or architectural reasons. In some countries, historic districts receive legal protection from development....
by the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
. This nexus of culture behind the redwood curtain still contains much of its Victorian architecture
Victorian architecture
The term Victorian architecture refers collectively to several architectural styles employed predominantly during the middle and late 19th century. The period that it indicates may slightly overlap the actual reign, 20 June 1837 – 22 January 1901, of Queen Victoria. This represents the British and...
, which, if not maintained as homes, have been transformed into scores of unique lodgings, restaurants, and small shops featuring a burgeoning cottage industry of hand-made creations from glass ware to wood burning stoves and a large variety of art created locally.
Fishing, shipping, and boating
Eureka's founding and livelihood was and remains linked to Humboldt Bay, the Pacific Ocean, and related industries, especially fishing. Salmon fisheries sprang up along the Eel River as early as 1851, and within seven years, 2,000 barrels of cured fish and 50,000 pounds of smoked salmon were processed and shipped out of Humboldt Bay annually, primarily from processing plants on Eureka's waterfront, which exist to this day. By 1858 the first of many ships built in Eureka was launched, beginning an industry that spanned scores of years. The bay is also the site of the west coast's largest Oyster farming operations, which began its commercial status in the nineteenth century. The Bay remains the home port to more than 200 fishing boats in two modern marinas which can berth at least 400 boats within the city limits of Eureka.Chinese expulsion
Rising immigration from China in the late 1800s sparked conflict between white settlers and immigrants, which ultimately led to the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882. Economic downturns resulting in competition for jobs led some white people to commit violent actions against Chinese immigrants, especially on the Pacific coast. In February 1885, the racial tension in Eureka broke when Eureka City Councilman David Kendall was caught in the crossfire of two rival Chinese gangs and killed. This led to the convening of 600 Eurekans and resulted in the forcible permanent expulsion of all 480 Chinese residents of Eureka's Chinatown. The expelled Chinese unsuccessfully attempted to sue for damages. In the U.S. Circuit Court case Wing Hing v. Eureka, the court noted that the Chinese owned no land and held that their other property was worthless. A citizen's committee then drafted an unofficial law decreeing:
1) That all Chinamen be expelled from the city and
that none be allowed to return.
2) That a committee be appointed to act for one year,
whose duty shall be to warn all Chinamen who may
attempt to come to this place to live, and to use all
reasonable means to prevent their remaining. If the
warning is disregarded, to call mass meetings of
citizens to whom the case will be referred for proper
action.
3) That a notice be issued to all property owners
through the daily papers, requesting them not to lease
or rent property to Chinese.
Among those who guarded the city jail during the height of the Sinophobic
Sinophobia
Sinophobia or anti-Chinese sentiment is the fear of or dislike of China, its people, overseas Chinese, or Chinese Culture...
tension was (then) future Governor of California
Governor of California
The Governor of California is the chief executive of the California state government, whose responsibilities include making annual State of the State addresses to the California State Legislature, submitting the budget, and ensuring that state laws are enforced...
James Gillett
James Gillett
James Norris Gillett was an American lawyer and politician. A Republican involved in federal and state politics, Gillett was elected both a member of the U.S...
, himself a recent resident of the city. The anti-Chinese ordinance was not repealed until 1959.
Queen City of the Ultimate West
Northwestern Pacific Railroad
The Northwestern Pacific Railroad is a regional railroad serving California's North Coast. The railroad currently runs on 62 miles of the 462 mile main line, stretching from Schellville, California to Eureka, California...
, connecting Eureka through Willits, California
Willits, California
Willits is a city in Mendocino County, California, United States. Willits is located north-northwest of Ukiah, at an elevation of 1391 feet . The population was 4,888 at the 2010 census, down from 5,073 at the 2000 census. Willits is at the center of Mendocino County and its redwood forests...
to the northern shore of San Francisco Bay
San Francisco Bay
San Francisco Bay is a shallow, productive estuary through which water draining from approximately forty percent of California, flowing in the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers from the Sierra Nevada mountains, enters the Pacific Ocean...
. With passenger rail service from San Francisco to the bustling Redwood Empire, Eureka's population of 7,300 swelled to 15,000 within ten years. By 1922 the Redwood Highway was completed, providing for the first reliable, direct overland route for automobiles from San Francisco. Eureka's transportation connection to the "outside" world had changed dramatically after more than half a century of uncomfortable stage rides (which could take weeks in winter) or treacherous steamship passage through the infamous Humboldt Bar and on the rarely pacified Pacific Ocean
Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
to San Francisco. The greatest symbol of this advance was the opening of the Eureka Inn
Eureka Inn
The Eureka Inn in Eureka, California, is a four story, 104 room Elizabethan Tudor Revival architectural style hotel, which dates from 1922. In 1982 the structure was listed on the National Register of Historic Places...
(see photo, right), which coincided with the opening of the new road to "Frisco" (a favorite local nickname for San Francisco). The inn's history of providing quality accommodations and amenities for travelers in a style unsurpassed for its day and for decades to come is well documented. The hotel, recently reopened, is the third largest lodging property in the region. As a result of immense civic pride during this early 20th Century era of expansion, Eureka officially nicknamed itself "Queen City of the Ultimate West." The tourism industry, lodging to support it, and related marketing had been born.
Post World War II
In Eureka, both the timber industry and commercial fishing declined after the Second World War.The timber economy of Eureka is part of the Pacific Northwest timber economy which rises and falls with boom and bust economic times.
The Columbus Day Storm of 1962 downed trees and flooded the domestic timber market. A log export trade began to remove this surplus material. After 1962, log trade with Japan and other Pacific Rim nations increased. Despite many rumors to the contrary, little of this wood returned to U.S. markets. In 1989, the U.S. changed log export laws permitting lower cost timber from public lands to be exported as raw logs overseas to help balance the federal budget.
After 1990, the global log market declined and exports fell at the same time as Pacific Northwest log prices increased; leading buyers to seek less expensive logs from Canada and the southern United States. However, debate continues between four stakeholders: timber owners, domestic processors, consumers and communities on the impact of log export on the local economy.
During the span 1991 to 2001, timber harvest peaked in 1997. The local timber market was also affected by the Pacific Lumber Company hostile takeover and ultimate bankruptcy.
Local fisheries expanded through the 1970s and early 1980s. During the 1970s Eureka fishermen, landed more than half of fish and shellfish produced and consumed in California.
In 2010 between 100 and 120 commercial fishing vessels listed Eureka as homeport. The highest landings of all species were 36.9 million pounds in 1981 while the lowest were in 2001 with 9.4 million pounds. Species composition changes during this time with groundfish going down and whiting and crab catches increasing.
In 1991, the Woodley Island marina opened, providing docking facilities for much of Eureka's commercial and recreational fleet.
After 1990 regulatory, economic and other events led to a contraction of the local commercial fleet. Many species are considered to be overfished. Recreational fishing has increased over time. Fifty percent of recreational fishermen using local boats are tourists from outside the area.
Commercial Pacific oyster aquaculture in Humboldt Bay producted an average of 7.6 million pounds of oyster from 1956 to 1965. In 2004, only 600,000 pounds were harvested. Oysters and oyster seed continue to be exported from Humboldt Bay. The value of the oysters and spawn is more than $6 million a year.
Consolidation of buyers and landing facilities resulted in local vulnerability to unexpected events, leading the City to obtain grant funding for and complete the Fishermen's Terminal on the waterfront which will provide fish handling, marketing, and public spaces.
2010 earthquakes
At 16:27:38 (local time), January 9, 2010, a Richter magnitude 6.5 earthquakeEarthquake
An earthquake is the result of a sudden release of energy in the Earth's crust that creates seismic waves. The seismicity, seismism or seismic activity of an area refers to the frequency, type and size of earthquakes experienced over a period of time...
occurred about 33 miles (53.1 km) offshore of Eureka. The quake occurred within a subduction fault associated with the interaction of three tectonic plates
Tectonic Plates
Tectonic Plates is a 1992 independent Canadian film directed by Peter Mettler. Mettler also wrote the screenplay based on the play by Robert Lepage. The film stars Marie Gignac, Céline Bonnier and Robert Lepage.-Plot summary:...
(Pacific
Pacific Plate
The Pacific Plate is an oceanic tectonic plate that lies beneath the Pacific Ocean. At 103 million square kilometres, it is the largest tectonic plate....
, North American
North American Plate
The North American Plate is a tectonic plate covering most of North America, Greenland, Cuba, Bahamas, and parts of Siberia, Japan and Iceland. It extends eastward to the Mid-Atlantic Ridge and westward to the Chersky Range in eastern Siberia. The plate includes both continental and oceanic crust...
, and Juan de Fuca
Juan de Fuca Plate
The Juan de Fuca Plate, named after the explorer of the same name, is a tectonic plate, generated from the Juan de Fuca Ridge, and subducting under the northerly portion of the western side of the North American Plate at the Cascadia subduction zone...
). After 2 seconds, it became a "jumper" (or became violent, making objects fly) i.e., imposing mostly vertical shocks from the ground, leading to broken windows in shops, overturned shelving in homes and stores, and loss of architectural detail on a number of historic buildings. As darkness fell over the region, local hospitals were seeing mostly minor related injuries and electrical power was out over a large area, including large parts of Eureka, Arcata, site of Humboldt State University
Humboldt State University
Humboldt State University is the northernmost campus of the California State University system, located in Arcata within Humboldt County, California, USA. The main campus, nestled at the edge of a coast redwood forest, is situated on Preston hill overlooking Arcata and with commanding views of...
, and other more remote communities, like Ferndale
Ferndale, California
Ferndale is a city in Humboldt County, California, United States. Known for its well-preserved Victorian buildings, the city's population was 1,371 at the 2010 census, down from 1,382 at the 2000 census...
. Numerous natural gas
Natural gas
Natural gas is a naturally occurring gas mixture consisting primarily of methane, typically with 0–20% higher hydrocarbons . It is found associated with other hydrocarbon fuel, in coal beds, as methane clathrates, and is an important fuel source and a major feedstock for fertilizers.Most natural...
leaks were a cause for some concern, but no fires resulted. This was the largest recent earthquake since the April 25–26, 1992 event series of magnitudes 7.2, 6.5, and 6.7, over an 18 hour period, which severely damaged some buildings and roads.
Another earthquake hit on February 4, 2010. The U.S. Geological Survey reported a magnitude 6.0 quake struck at 12:20 p.m. about 35 miles (56.3 km) northwest of the community of Petrolia
Petrolia, California
Petrolia is an unincorporated community in Humboldt County, California. It is located southeast of Cape Mendocino, at an elevation of 121 feet . The ZIP Code is 95558....
and nearly 50 miles (80.5 km) west of Eureka. The shaking was felt within a 150 miles (241.4 km) radius, as far north as southern Oregon and as far south as Sonoma County, according to the USGS Web site.
Geography
Eureka is located at 40°47′24"N 124°9′46"W (40.790022, -124.162752).According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 14.5 square miles (37.6 km²), of which 9.4 square miles (24.3 km²) of it is land and 5.1 square miles (13.2 km²) or 35.07% of it is water.
Eureka is ideally, if remotely, situated within California's Redwood Empire region due to its proximity to exceptional natural resources. These include the spectacular coast of the Pacific Ocean
Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
, Humboldt Bay, and several rivers in addition to Redwood National and State Parks
Redwood National and State Parks
The Redwood National and State Parks are located in the United States, along the coast of northern California. Comprising Redwood National Park and California's Del Norte Coast, Jedediah Smith, and Prairie Creek Redwoods State Parks , the combined RNSP contain...
and Humboldt Redwoods State Park
Humboldt Redwoods State Park
Humboldt Redwoods State Park is located south of Eureka, California in southern Humboldt County, within northern California. Established by the Save-the-Redwoods League in 1921 with the dedication of the Raynal Bolling Memorial Grove, it has grown to become the third largest park in the California...
. The location of Eureka on U.S. 101
U.S. Route 101
U.S. Route 101, or U.S. Highway 101, is an important north–south U.S. highway that runs through the states of California, Oregon, and Washington, on the West Coast of the United States...
is 283 miles (455 km) north of San Francisco and 315 miles (507 km) north and west of Sacramento
Sacramento
Sacramento is the capital of the state of California, in the United States of America.Sacramento may also refer to:- United States :*Sacramento County, California*Sacramento, Kentucky*Sacramento – San Joaquin River Delta...
. Eureka is the closest city to the most central point of the United States' Pacific Coastline
West Coast of the United States
West Coast or Pacific Coast are terms for the westernmost coastal states of the United States. The term most often refers to the states of California, Oregon, and Washington. Although not part of the contiguous United States, Alaska and Hawaii do border the Pacific Ocean but can't be included in...
.
Eureka's port facilities - the Port of Humboldt Bay - is the largest protected deep-water port between San Francisco Bay
San Francisco Bay
San Francisco Bay is a shallow, productive estuary through which water draining from approximately forty percent of California, flowing in the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers from the Sierra Nevada mountains, enters the Pacific Ocean...
and Puget Sound
Puget Sound
Puget Sound is a sound in the U.S. state of Washington. It is a complex estuarine system of interconnected marine waterways and basins, with one major and one minor connection to the Strait of Juan de Fuca and the Pacific Ocean — Admiralty Inlet being the major connection and...
.
The city begins with its marina on one of three islands at a narrow point on the thirteen mile (19 km) long bay and increases in elevation slightly as it spreads north, south, and especially to the east. This city of mostly one and two story wooden structures (fewer than ten buildings over 5 stories) gently encroaches at least two miles (3 km) eastward into abundant, primarily Redwood and Douglas-fir
Douglas-fir
Douglas-fir is one of the English common names for evergreen coniferous trees of the genus Pseudotsuga in the family Pinaceae. Other common names include Douglas tree, and Oregon pine. There are five species, two in western North America, one in Mexico, and two in eastern Asia...
second growth forests. The city has a traditional grid that generally radiates toward the points of the compass, though a correction to more accuracy in relation to the compass just east of the older downtown and residential area is noticeable.
In areas of post-1970 development, the previously completely removed forest, gulches, and ravines and their streams remain, adding considerable character to neighborhoods that because of recency in construction often lack the splendor (and occasional disrepair) of the earlier Victorian
Victorian architecture
The term Victorian architecture refers collectively to several architectural styles employed predominantly during the middle and late 19th century. The period that it indicates may slightly overlap the actual reign, 20 June 1837 – 22 January 1901, of Queen Victoria. This represents the British and...
homes.
The transition between the official city limits and smaller unincorporated areas described in the demographic section is mostly not discernible. The most recently developed eastern areas include secluded developments on a golf course (as an example) among or in close proximity to extensive second growth forest. The city then gives way to hills and mountains of the rugged coast range, which quickly exceed 2000 feet (609.6 m) in elevation.
Climate
Eureka's climate is cool-summer MediterraneanMediterranean climate
A Mediterranean climate is the climate typical of most of the lands in the Mediterranean Basin, and is a particular variety of subtropical climate...
(Koppen climate classification
Köppen climate classification
The Köppen climate classification is one of the most widely used climate classification systems. It was first published by Crimea German climatologist Wladimir Köppen in 1884, with several later modifications by Köppen himself, notably in 1918 and 1936...
Csb), bordering on the oceanic
Oceanic climate
An oceanic climate, also called marine west coast climate, maritime climate, Cascadian climate and British climate for Köppen climate classification Cfb and subtropical highland for Köppen Cfb or Cwb, is a type of climate typically found along the west coasts at the middle latitudes of some of the...
climate characterized by mild, rainy winters and cool, dry summers, with an average temperature of 55 °F (12.8 °C). The all-time highest and lowest temperatures recorded in Eureka are 87 °F (30.6 °C) on October 26, 1993, and 20 °F (-6.7 °C) on January 14, 1888, respectively. Temperatures rarely drop to freezing or below.
The area experiences coastal influence fog year round. Annual precipitation averages 38.1 inches (968 mm). Measurable precipitation falls on an average of 119 days each year. The wettest year was 1983 with 67.21 inches (1,707.1 mm) and the driest year was 1976 with 21.71 inches (551.4 mm). The greatest monthly precipitation was 23.21 inches (589.5 mm) in December 2002. The greatest 24-hour precipitation was 6.79 inches (172.5 mm) on December 27, 2002. Snowfall on the coast is very rare, averaging only 0.4 inches (1 cm), but the median is 0, indicating most years do not receive any measurable amount; however, on February 4, 1989, 2 inches (50.8 mm) fell in Eureka and additional snow that month brought the monthly total to 3.5 inches (88.9 mm).
Demographics
The Greater Eureka area has a population of over 40,000 and minimally includes the neighborhoods of Bayview, Cutten, Myrtletown, Humboldt Hill, and Pine Hill. The Greater Eureka area makes up the largest urban area on the Pacific Coast between San Francisco and Portland. Eureka is the principal city of the Eureka-Arcata-Fortuna Micropolitan AreaUnited States micropolitan area
United States Micropolitan Statistical Areas , as defined by the United States Office of Management and Budget, are urban areas in the United States based around a core city or town with a population of 10,000 to 49,999. The micropolitan area designation was created in 2003...
.
2010 Census data
The 2010 United States Census reported that Eureka had a population of 27,191. The population densityPopulation density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 1,881.3 people per square mile (726.4/km²). The racial makeup of Eureka was 21,565 (79.3%) White, 514 (1.9%) African American, 1,011 (3.7%) Native American, 1,153 (4.2%) Asian, 176 (0.6%) Pacific Islander, 1,181 (4.3%) from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 1,591 (5.9%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3,143 persons (11.6%).
The Census reported that 25,308 people (93.1% of the population) lived in households, 1,434 (5.3%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 449 (1.7%) were institutionalized.
There were 11,150 households, out of which 2,891 (25.9%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 3,554 (31.9%) were opposite-sex married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 1,449 (13.0%) had a female householder with no husband present, 710 (6.4%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 1,161 (10.4%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships
POSSLQ
POSSLQ is an abbreviation for "Persons of Opposite Sex Sharing Living Quarters," a term coined in the late 1970s by the United States Census Bureau as part of an effort to more accurately gauge the prevalence of cohabitation in American households....
, and 146 (1.3%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 3,971 households (35.6%) were made up of individuals and 1,183 (10.6%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.27. There were 5,713 families
Family (U.S. Census)
A family or family household is defined by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes as "a householder and one or more other people related to the householder by birth, marriage, or adoption. They do not include same-sex married couples even if the marriage was performed in a state...
(51.2% of all households); the average family size was 2.93.
The population dispersal was 5,431 people (20.0%) under the age of 18, 3,102 people (11.4%) aged 18 to 24, 8,021 people (29.5%) aged 25 to 44, 7,422 people (27.3%) aged 45 to 64, and 3,215 people (11.8%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36.2 years. For every 100 females there were 106.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 105.7 males. There were 11,891 housing units at an average density of 822.7 per square mile (317.6/km²), of which 4,829 (43.3%) were owner-occupied, and 6,321 (56.7%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.0%; the rental vacancy rate was 3.7%. 11,251 people (41.4% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 14,057 people (51.7%) lived in rental housing units.
2000 Census data
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2010, there were 26,128 people. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 2,764.5 people per square mile (1,067.5/km²). There were 11,637 housing units at an average density of 1,231.3 per square mile (475.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 88.5% White, 1.2% Black or African American, 4.2% Native American, 2.6% Asian, 0.3% Pacific Islander, 2.7% from other races, and 5.10% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 10.8% of the population.
There were 10,957 households out of which 25.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 34.8% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 14.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 46.3% were non-families. 35.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.26 and the average family size was 2.93. In the city the population dispersal was 22.4% under the age of 18, 11.6% from 18 to 24, 28.9% from 25 to 44, 23.5% from 45 to 64, and 13.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 98.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.7 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $25,849, and the median income for a family was $33,438. Males had a median income of $28,706 versus $22,038 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $16,174. About 15.8% of families and 23.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 29.6% of those under the age of 18 and 11.1% of those 65 and older.
Economy
The economic base of the city was originally founded on timberTimber
Timber may refer to:* Timber, a term common in the United Kingdom and Australia for wood materials * Timber, Oregon, an unincorporated community in the U.S...
and fishing
Fishing
Fishing is the activity of trying to catch wild fish. Fish are normally caught in the wild. Techniques for catching fish include hand gathering, spearing, netting, angling and trapping....
and supplying gold mining efforts inland. Gold mining
Gold mining
Gold mining is the removal of gold from the ground. There are several techniques and processes by which gold may be extracted from the earth.-History:...
diminished quickly in the early years and activities of timber and fishing have also diminished, especially in the latter decades of the twentieth century. Today, the major industries are tourism, timber (in value), and healthcare and services (in number of jobs). Major employers today in Eureka include the following governmental entities: College of the Redwoods, The County of Humboldt, and the Humboldt County Office of Education. St. Joseph Hospital in Eureka is now the largest private employer in Eureka.
The 2000 U.S. Census indicates that 3.7% of the employed civilian population 16 years and over (totaling 20,671) worked in agriculture, forestry, fishing, and hunting industries. This percentage may not be indicative of the actual number of people in these professions as many are self-employed, especially in the fishing industry. The 2000 U.S. Census reported that 24.9% of the community worked in education, health care, and social services. Another 18.4% were employed by the government, while self employed workers totaled 11.2% of all workers. The unemployment rate in 2000 was 5.5% compared to the national average of 5.7% (calculated by dividing the unemployed population by the labor force). For the population 16 years and older, 42.7% were not in the labor force, while 57.3% were employed.
According to the 2000 U.S. Census, in 1999 the median household income was $25,849 and the per capita income was $16,174. Inhabitants whose income was below poverty level in 1999 were 23.7% of the population. Of the 11,637 housing units in 2000, 94.2% of the housing units were occupied, while 5.8% were vacant. Of the occupied housing units, 46.5% were owner occupied and 53.5% were renter occupied.
Government
Local government
The City of Eureka has a Mayor-Council system of governance. Primary power lies with the five council members, divided up into five wards. The Mayor has the power to appoint, as well as ceremonial duties, though the job includes presiding over council meetings, meeting visiting dignitaries, and, perhaps, the most significant bully pulpitBully pulpit
A bully pulpit is a public office or other position of authority of sufficiently high rank that provides the holder with an opportunity to speak out and be listened to on any matter...
of the region. Official city business is administered by the Office of the City Manager. The Eureka City Council regularly meets on the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of the month at 5:30 p.m. for closed session, and 6:30 p.m. for open session. All meetings are open to the public, with the exception of the published closed session portion. Time is allowed during every council meeting for the public to address the council. The meetings are held in the Council Chambers on the 2nd floor of Eureka City Hall at 531 "K" Street, Eureka.
State and federal government
Eureka is located in the 2nd California State SenateCalifornia State Senate
The California State Senate is the upper house of the California State Legislature. There are 40 state senators. The state legislature meets in the California State Capitol in Sacramento. The Lieutenant Governor is the ex officio President of the Senate and may break a tied vote...
District, represented by Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
Noreen Evans
Noreen Evans
Noreen Evans is an American politician in the California State Senate. She is a Democrat representing the 2nd district, encompassing Humboldt, Mendocino, Lake, and Napa counties, as well as parts of Sonoma and Solano counties....
, and in the 1st Assembly
California State Assembly
The California State Assembly is the lower house of the California State Legislature. There are 80 members in the Assembly, representing an approximately equal number of constituents, with each district having a population of at least 420,000...
District, represented by Democrat Wes Chesbro. Federally, Eureka is located in California's 1st congressional district
California's 1st congressional district
California's 1st congressional district is a congressional district located in the U.S. state of California and presently consists of the northern coastline and includes Del Norte, Humboldt, Lake, Mendocino and Napa counties and parts of Sonoma and Yolo counties.The district is currently...
.
Transportation
Land
- U.S. Route 101 is the major north and south highway, which connects Eureka to the rest of the North Coast region. The highway connects to Oregon
.svg.png)
OregonOregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
, located approximately 100 miles to the north, and San Francisco, over 250 miles to the south. The highway follows city streets through the city, with flow and cross-traffic controlled by traffic signals. Highway 101 enters Eureka from the south as Broadway. As it reaches the downtown area, it splits into a one-way couplet composed of 4th Street and 5th Street. On the northern side of the city, northbound and southbound rejoin at the Northeast side before this major becomes an expressway (to Arcata and points beyond) as double bridges cross the Eureka Slough (mouth of the Freshwater Creek).
- State Route 255
California State Route 255State Route 255 is a state highway in Humboldt County, California, United States.-Route description:It is a western alternate route of U.S. Route 101 between Eureka and Arcata, routed via the three bridges over Humboldt Bay and Indian Island and Woodley Islands, rather than motorists having to...
is an alternate route of U.S. 101 between Eureka and the nearby city of ArcataArcata, California-Demographics:-2010 Census data:The 2010 United States Census reported that Arcata had a population of 17,231. The population density was 1,567.4 people per square mile...
, running along the western shore of Humboldt BayHumboldt BayHumboldt Bay is a natural bay and a multi-basin, bar-built coastal lagoon located on the rugged North Coast of California, United States entirely within Humboldt County. The regional center and county seat of Eureka and the college town of Arcata adjoin the bay, which is the second largest enclosed...
. It begins in the downtown area at U.S. 101 and proceeds up R Street towards the Samoa Bridge and the community of SamoaSamoa, CaliforniaSamoa is a census-designated place in Humboldt County, California. It is located northwest of Eureka, at an elevation of 23 feet . Samoa is located in the northern peninsula of Humboldt Bay and is the site of the Samoa Cookhouse, one of the last remaining original, lumber style cookhouses...
.
- State Route 299
California State Route 299State Route 299 is a state highway in the U.S. state of California that runs across the northern part of the state. It runs from Arcata on the Pacific Ocean to the border with Nevada. Between Arcata and Redding, Route 299 junctions with State Route 96 and is briefly co-signed with State Route 3. In...
(formerly U.S. Route 299) connects to U.S. Route 101 at the northern end of Arcata. Route 299 begins at that point and extends easterly to serve as the major traffic artery to the east for Eureka.
Air
Eureka's full service airport is the Arcata-Eureka AirportArcata-Eureka Airport
Arcata/Eureka Airport , also known as Arcata Airport, is an airport located north of Eureka in the unincorporated town of McKinleyville, California. This regional airport serves Humboldt County, including the two primary regional cities that compose its name: Arcata and Eureka. The airport is a...
, located 15 miles (24.1 km) north in McKinleyville. Murray Field
Murray Field
Murray Field is a county-owned public-use airport in Humboldt County, California, United States. It is three nautical miles east of the central business district of Eureka....
, a general aviation airport for private and charter air service, is located within the northern city limit of Eureka adjacent Humboldt Bay. Ten miles southeast of Eureka, Kneeland Airport
Kneeland Airport
Kneeland Airport is a public airport operated by Humboldt County and located 10 miles southeast of the central business district of Eureka, USA. The airport is co-located with a California Dept. of Forestry Helitack Station. Located on a mountain ridge line at over 2,700 ft...
, also a general aviation airport, at 2,737 ft (834.2 m) elevation, provides an option for pilots choosing to avoid the prevalent marine layer at airports closer to sea level.
Water
The Humboldt Bay Harbor Recreation & Conservation DistrictHumboldt Bay Harbor Recreation & Conservation District
The Humboldt Bay Harbor Recreation & Conservation District, created in 1972 by local voters, manages the Port of Humboldt Bay, and the Port of Eureka, the primary city of the region, and much larger facilities on the shore of the adjacent peninsula, known as Samoa...
manages the resources of Humboldt Bay and its environs, including the deep water port. The port is located directly west of the city and is serviced across the bay in the community of Samoa. In addition to two deep water channel docks for large ships, several modern small craft marinas are available for private use, with a total capacity of more than 400 boats.
Public
Public bus transportation services within Eureka are provided by the Eureka Transit ServiceEureka Transit Service
The Eureka Transit Service is the city fixed-route bus system in Eureka, California. ETS operates four weekday routes between downtown Eureka, Bayshore Mall, Henderson Center, Myrtletown, Cutten, and Pine Hill. Three routes operate on Saturdays...
. The Redwood Transit System
Redwood Transit System
The Redwood Transit System is a commuter transit service that operates Monday-Saturday on the Highway 101 corridor between Trinidad and Garberville in Humboldt County, California, also serving Westhaven, McKinleyville, Arcata, Eureka, Fields Landing, Loleta, Fortuna, and Scotia...
provides bus transportation through Eureka and connects to major towns and places outside the city, including educational institutions. Dial-A-Ride service is available through an application process.
Amtrak
Amtrak
The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak , is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971, to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States. "Amtrak" is a portmanteau of the words "America" and "track". It is headquartered at Union...
provides Thruway Bus service to Eureka at its unstaffed bus stop. The bus service connects passengers from the northernmost coastal train station in Martinez, California
Martinez, California
Martinez is a city and the county seat of Contra Costa County, California, United States. The population was 35,824 at the 2010 census. The downtown is notable for its large number of preserved old buildings...
and continues to southern Oregon.
Greyhound
Greyhound Lines
Greyhound Lines, Inc., based in Dallas, Texas, is an intercity common carrier of passengers by bus serving over 3,700 destinations in the United States, Canada and Mexico, operating under the well-known logo of a leaping greyhound. It was founded in Hibbing, Minnesota, USA, in 1914 and...
provides bus service to San Francisco from Eureka. Tickets not purchased online may also be purchased at the nearest full service station in Arcata, CA.(Note:
Greyhound no longer operates from Eureka to San Francisco. One bus daily goes from San Francisco to Eureka but going back Southbound, one must depart from Arcata in the North or Rio Dell in the South).
Utilities
Electricity and natural gasEureka residents are served by Pacific Gas and Electric Company
Pacific Gas and Electric Company
The Pacific Gas and Electric Company , commonly known as PG&E, is the utility that provides natural gas and electricity to most of the northern two-thirds of California, from Bakersfield almost to the Oregon border...
. Some reserves of natural gas are located south of the city. These and other fuels help power the Humboldt Bay Power Plant (which includes the now defunct and partially dismantled Humboldt Bay Nuclear Power Plant
Humboldt Bay Nuclear Power Plant
The Humboldt Bay Nuclear Power Plant is a 63 MWe boiling water reactor, owned by Pacific Gas and Electric Company that operated from August 1963 to July 1976 just south of Eureka, California. Concern about previously undiscovered seismic faults combined with more stringent requirements required...
). The co generation plant is scheduled to be replaced on site by new power units which will exceed the current production of 130 MW.
Water
The City of Eureka is the largest of the local water districts supplied by the Humboldt Bay Municipal Water District. The entire region is one of the few places in California that has historically enjoyed a significant surplus of water despite climate change. The reduction in major forest products manufacturing in recent decades has left the area with a 45 MGD surplus of industrial water.
Healthcare
Eureka is the regional center for healthcare. The city is served by St. Joseph Hospital, which is the largest in the region. The hospital is operated by the Sisters of Saint Joseph of Orange and it was the first hospital opened by the order in 1920. The facility is entering a second phase of major expansion in 2008. In addition there are rehabilitation hospitals, assisted living facilities, skilled nursing facilities, and surgery centers in Eureka. Most of the doctors for the many medical specialties available on the far North Coast are located in or near Eureka, which also has the only oncology program and dialysis clinic in the region.Education
Institutions of higher learning include the College of the RedwoodsCollege of the Redwoods
College of the Redwoods is a public two-year community college whose main campus, comprising , is located on the southernmost edge of Eureka in Humboldt County, California. This sprawling site is spacious and distinctive in its modernistic use of massive, exposed wooden support beams in each...
located on the south edge of the Greater Eureka Area and Humboldt State University
Humboldt State University
Humboldt State University is the northernmost campus of the California State University system, located in Arcata within Humboldt County, California, USA. The main campus, nestled at the edge of a coast redwood forest, is situated on Preston hill overlooking Arcata and with commanding views of...
, located just eight miles (13 km) north in Arcata. College of the Redwoods has recently developed a downtown satellite campus to augment offerings of the 270 acres (1.1 km²) campus located south of the city. Meanwhile, in 2005 Humboldt State University made public its plans to bring the campus to Eureka. The first of these plans has been realized with the spring 2007 opening of the HSU Humboldt Bay Aquatic Center, a $4.5 million aquatic facility on Humboldt Bay in Old Town Eureka
Old Town Eureka
Old Town Eureka in Eureka, California, is listed on the United States National Register of Historic Places. This Historic district is a area containing 154 buildings mostly from the Victorian era...
. Other plans include a new HSU Bay and Estuarine Studies Center, to be placed on the bay. This new facility will be closer to the Coral Sea (now docked at Woodley Island, Eureka), HSU's floating classroom. The new facility would be considerably larger than other existing facilities in Trinidad, twenty miles (32 km) north.
Eureka City Schools, the largest school district in the region, administers the public schools of the city. Eureka High School receives all students from city grammar schools as well as all those from nearby unincorporated communities. Specific Schools within the city limits include: Alice Birney Elementary, Grant Elementary, Lafayette Elementary, Washington Elementary, Winship and Zane Middle Schools, Eureka High School, Humboldt Bay High School, Zoe Barnum High School, the Eureka Adult School, and Winzler Children's Center.
The Humboldt County Office of Education administers the Glen Paul Center in Eureka, which specializes in the educational needs of developmentally disabled children.
Shopping
The North Coast's primary shopping facility is the Bayshore MallBayshore Mall
The Bayshore Mall is an indoor shopping mall located in Eureka, California. It is named for its close proximity to Humboldt Bay. The large shopping facility is the only major mall located on the coast north of the San Francisco Bay Area, securing Eureka as the trading center for the entire far...
, located just off of Highway 101 in Eureka. The mall features over 70 stores, anchored by Kohl's and Sears. Other major shopping areas and centers include Henderson Center, the Eureka Mall, and Downtown and Old Town Eureka
Old Town Eureka
Old Town Eureka in Eureka, California, is listed on the United States National Register of Historic Places. This Historic district is a area containing 154 buildings mostly from the Victorian era...
.
Arts and culture
Eureka is one of California's historic landmarks. The California State Historical markerCalifornia Historical Landmark
California Historical Landmarks are buildings, structures, sites, or places in the state of California that have been determined to have statewide historical significance by meeting at least one of the criteria listed below:...
, #477, designating Eureka, is located in Old Town
Old Town Eureka
Old Town Eureka in Eureka, California, is listed on the United States National Register of Historic Places. This Historic district is a area containing 154 buildings mostly from the Victorian era...
, one of the nation's best preserved original Victorian era commercial districts. The city was voted as the #1 best small art town in John Villani's book "The 100 Best Small Art Towns In America." Eureka boasts the region's largest monthly cultural and arts event, "Arts' Alive!" On the first Saturday of each month more than 80 Eureka business and local galleries open their doors to the public. Often local cuisine and beverages accompany live performances by acclaimed regional bands and other types of performance art. The downtown Eureka area is also decorated with many murals for such a small geographic area.
Theater offerings include year round productions from several various theater groups including the North Coast Repertory Theater and the Eureka Theater. Various events occur throughout the year at the Redwood Acres Fairgrounds. Art organizations include the Humboldt State University First Street Gallery, http://www.humboldtarts.org Humboldt Arts Council and Morris Graves Museum of Art, Redwood Art Association, The Ink People and the Eureka Art and Culture Commission. As a major regional center, the city offers many lodgings, restaurants, and shopping areas, including dozens of specialty shops in its historic 19th Century Old Town commercial district and the only large mall in the region.
Annual cultural events
- Redwood Coast Jazz Festival - March
- Perilous Plunge- March
- Rhododendron Festival - April
- Kinetic sculpture raceKinetic sculpture raceKinetic sculpture races are organized contests of human-powered amphibious all-terrain works of art. The original event, the Kinetic Grand Championship in Humboldt County, California, is also called the "Triathlon of the Art World" because art and engineering are combined with physical endurance...
- May - Redwood Acres Fair and Rodeo - June
- Fourth of July Celebration - July
- College of the RedwoodsCollege of the RedwoodsCollege of the Redwoods is a public two-year community college whose main campus, comprising , is located on the southernmost edge of Eureka in Humboldt County, California. This sprawling site is spacious and distinctive in its modernistic use of massive, exposed wooden support beams in each...
Wood Fair - July - Organic Planet Festival - August
- Blues by the Bay - September
- Chicken Wingfest - September
- Excalibur Medieval Tournament & Market Faire - Last weekend in September
- Gay Lesbian Bisexual Transgender (GLBT) Pride Parade and Celebration - September
- Humboldt Bay Paddle Fest - September
- Oysters and Ale - September
- Craftsman's Days - November
- Mushroom Fair - November
- Christmas Truckers Parade - December
Museums and galleries
Museums include the Clarke Historical MuseumClarke Historical Museum
The Clarke Historical Museum in Eureka, California contains the area's premier collection of far California North Coast regional and cultural history, with significant focus on the 19th Century Victorian era...
, the Humboldt Bay Maritime Museum
Humboldt Bay Maritime Museum
The Humboldt Bay Maritime Museum is located in Samoa, California, a small town across Humboldt Bay from Eureka. The focus of the museum is the preservation and interpretation of its collection of artifacts, photographs, library archives and materials which relate principally to the maritime history...
in nearby Samoa
Samoa, California
Samoa is a census-designated place in Humboldt County, California. It is located northwest of Eureka, at an elevation of 23 feet . Samoa is located in the northern peninsula of Humboldt Bay and is the site of the Samoa Cookhouse, one of the last remaining original, lumber style cookhouses...
(which operates the Madaket, an historic excursion boat operating on the bay), the Morris Graves Museum of Art
Morris Graves Museum of Art
The Morris Graves Museum of Art is located in Eureka, California. It was named after Morris Graves, a painter and founder of the Northwest School of Art in the Pacific Northwest. Prior to his death in 2001, he donated a substantial portion of his personal art collection, including some of his own...
, HSU First Street Gallery
HSU First Street Gallery
HSU First Street Gallery is a contemporary, fine arts gallery located on the north coast of California, USA. The gallery, which supports the Exhibition Programs of Humboldt State University, is an off-campus,non-profit gallery located in the historic Old Town district of Eureka, California. This...
, Discovery Museum for Children, and the Blue Ox Mill. A collection of logging equipment spanning 150 years and other cultural assets abound in and around museums at Fort Humboldt State Historic Park
Fort Humboldt State Historic Park
Fort Humboldt State Historic Park is a California state park located in the southern portion of Eureka, just off U.S. Route 101. The North Coast regional headquarters of the California State Parks is located onsite.-Early years, 1853–1860:...
.
Architecture
Due to northern isolation and unfavorable economic conditions in the latter part of the twentieth century, much of the post-war redevelopment and urban renewal
Urban renewal
Urban renewal is a program of land redevelopment in areas of moderate to high density urban land use. Renewal has had both successes and failures. Its modern incarnation began in the late 19th century in developed nations and experienced an intense phase in the late 1940s – under the rubric of...
that other cities experienced did not occur in Eureka. As a result, Eureka is resplendent with hundreds of examples of 19th and early 20th century architecture and historic districts. David Gebhard, Professor of architectural history at University of California, Santa Barbara
University of California, Santa Barbara
The University of California, Santa Barbara, commonly known as UCSB or UC Santa Barbara, is a public research university and one of the 10 general campuses of the University of California system. The main campus is located on a site in Goleta, California, from Santa Barbara and northwest of Los...
, has said that Eureka has the potential of becoming the West Coast Williamsburg. He stated Williamsburg, Virginia
Williamsburg, Virginia
Williamsburg is an independent city located on the Virginia Peninsula in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area of Virginia, USA. As of the 2010 Census, the city had an estimated population of 14,068. It is bordered by James City County and York County, and is an independent city...
preserves an authentic colonial environment; Eureka preserves intact Victorian
Victorian architecture
The term Victorian architecture refers collectively to several architectural styles employed predominantly during the middle and late 19th century. The period that it indicates may slightly overlap the actual reign, 20 June 1837 – 22 January 1901, of Queen Victoria. This represents the British and...
and early twentieth century architecture. The extensive array of intact Victorian era and later homes and public buildings include many ornate examples of Colonial Revival, Eastlake
Eastlake Movement
The Eastlake Movement was a nineteenth century architectural and household design reform movement started by architect and writer Charles Eastlake . The movement is generally considered part of the late Victorian period in terms of broad antique furniture designations...
, Greek Revival, Italianate, Queen Anne
Queen Anne Style architecture
The Queen Anne Style in Britain means either the English Baroque architectural style roughly of the reign of Queen Anne , or a revived form that was popular in the last quarter of the 19th century and the early decades of the 20th century...
, and Stick
Stick-Eastlake
The Stick style was a late-19th-century American architectural style. According to McAlester, it served as the transition between the Carpenter Gothic style of the mid-19th century, and the Queen Anne style that it evolved into and superseded it by the 1890s....
styles of Victorian architecture. All of these styles are present in the most famous and possibly most ornate of Victorian homes, the Carson Mansion
Carson Mansion
The Carson Mansion is a large Victorian house located in Old Town, Eureka, California. Regarded as one of the highest executions of American Queen Anne Style architecture, the home is "considered the most grand Victorian home in America." It is one of the most written about and photographed...
(pictured above).
A remake of another Newsom and Newsom (builder architects of the Carson Mansion), is the Carter House Inn
Carter House Inn
The Carter House Inn is a hotel in Old Town Eureka, California. It is known both for housing Restaurant 301 and for being a replica of a Queen Anne style building by Newsom & Newsom.-Restaurant 301:...
located only two blocks from the mansion. The surprise of this magnificent Queen Anne is that the original was lost in the fire after the Great 1906 Earthquake in San Francisco. Plans were found and the completed building stands today as a testament to local capacity to recreate Victorian past in such a way that no one notices that it is "new" until they are told. Local craftsman, including the owners of the Blue Ox Millworks in Eureka, have revived the old ways and secrets in building from the bygone era and are in demand in local refurbishment and other projects, including from the White House.
Approximately 16% of the city's structures are cataloged as important historical structures, with many of those attaining the status of state and national significance in terms of a particular structure's importance in relationship to the body of surviving examples of the architectural style attributed to its construction and related detail. 13 distinct districts have been identified which meet the criteria for the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
. Among them are the 2nd Street District (10 buildings), 15th Street district (13 buildings) and the O Street district (43 buildings). Hillsdale Street, a popular and well-preserved district, contains 17 buildings of historic interest. In all, some 1,500 buildings have been recognized as qualifying for the National Register. The Eureka Heritage Society, a local architectural preservation group founded in 1973, has been instrumental in protecting and preserving many of Eureka’s fine Victorians.
Parks and recreation
Sequoia Park ZooSequoia Park Zoo
The Sequoia Park Zoo is a small zoo located in Eureka, California, United States and is operated by the City of Eureka. With over 250 animals representing 75 different species the zoo is one of the main tourist draws in Eureka...
, situated on more than 67 acres (271,139.6 m²) of mature second-growth Redwood forest, includes Eureka's largest public playground and a duck pond in addition to meticulously kept gardens and examples of the area's many varieties of rhododendron bushes. The City of Eureka Recreation Department manages 13 playgrounds, including Cooper Gulch, which is 33 acres, and many ball fields as well as tennis courts and others, including basket ball and soccer. Other parks in or near Eureka include the Humboldt Botanical Garden
Humboldt Botanical Garden
The Humboldt Botanical Gardens are under construction south of Eureka, California, USA near the Humboldt Bay at the College of the Redwoods. Grading and site preparation for the Gardens began in August 2003, and...
and the Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge
Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge
Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge is located on Humboldt Bay, on the California North Coast near the cities of Eureka and Arcata. The refuge exists primarily to protect and enhance wetland habitats for migratory water birds using the bay area, including tens of thousands of shorebirds, ducks,...
, and the Eureka Marsh
Eureka Marsh
The Eureka Marsh is an area adjacent to the Humboldt Bay located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Humboldt County, California....
, an accessible protected marsh between the Bayshore Mall
Bayshore Mall
The Bayshore Mall is an indoor shopping mall located in Eureka, California. It is named for its close proximity to Humboldt Bay. The large shopping facility is the only major mall located on the coast north of the San Francisco Bay Area, securing Eureka as the trading center for the entire far...
and Humboldt Bay. There is a modern boardwalk along the city's waterfront and two large marinas capable of mooring over 400 small craft.
Media
Though Eureka has been the base for two major daily newspapers at different times in its 150 years, only the Times-StandardTimes-Standard
The Times-Standard is the only major local daily newspaper covering the far North Coast of California. Headquartered in Eureka, the paper provides coverage of international, national, state and local news in addition to entertainment, sports, and classified listings...
, owned by the Colorado-based Media News Group (founded by Dean Singleton), survives, printing nearly 20,000 papers a day. This major daily contains original local news and syndicated content on state, national and international news. The Eureka Reporter, founded in 2003, became a daily in 2006. It began publishing only five days a week at the end of 2007 and permanently closed in November 2008. The Reporter's editorial section was absorbed into the Times-Standard editorial section as a weekly feature page for one year.
Media News Group also owns a weekly classified advertiser, the Tri-City Weekly. Recently, the North Coast Journal, a regional weekly moved from Arcata to Eureka" The North Coast Journal
North Coast Journal
The North Coast Journal is an alternative weekly newspaper serving Humboldt County, California. The Journal is published in Eureka, California and includes coverage of the arts, news, personages, and politics of the region....
. and Humboldt State University
Humboldt State University
Humboldt State University is the northernmost campus of the California State University system, located in Arcata within Humboldt County, California, USA. The main campus, nestled at the edge of a coast redwood forest, is situated on Preston hill overlooking Arcata and with commanding views of...
's student newspaper,The Lumberjack, as well as the unique weekly The Arcata Eye
The Arcata Eye
The Arcata Eye is a newspaper which describes itself as "the mildly objectionable weekly newspaper for Arcata, California." The paper was started and is currently owned and edited by Kevin L. Hoover, a former founding member of legendary Michigan band, The Sparklers. It covers news relevant to...
. Eureka is also home to several alternative weekly publications, including the Emerald Coast Herald, a Christian publication produced by a consortium of local churches and "Savage Henry," a local monthly magazine.
Online readers can browse more than 170 Humboldt County & Eureka blogs, each with varying opinions, topics, and viewpoints from behind the Redwood Curtain
Redwood Curtain
Redwood Curtain is a 1995 American dramatic TV movie created by Hallmark Hall of Fame, and directed by John Korty based upon the 1993 Broadway play of the same name by Lanford Wilson. Starring Jeff Daniels, Lea Salonga, Debra Monk and John Lithgow, the film debuted on ABC on April 23,...
.
Many of Humboldt County's commercial radio stations are based in Eureka: KFMI
KFMI
KFMI is a commercial radio station in Eureka, California, broadcasting on 96.3 FM. KFMI airs a Top 40 music format.-External links:*...
, KRED
KRED-FM
KRED-FM is a commercial radio station in Eureka, California, broadcasting on 92.3 FM. KRED airs country music programming from Jones Radio Networks.-External links:*...
, KJNY
KJNY
KJNY is a commercial radio station in Ferndale, California, broadcasting to the Eureka, California, area. It airs a mainstream top 40 format billed as "99.1 KISS-FM." Prior to that, it partially aired a country music format until it adopted the "KISS" branding and went Top 40 full-time on April 8,...
and KATA
KATA (AM)
KATA is a radio station broadcasting a Sports radio format. Licensed to Arcata, California, USA. The station is currently owned by Bicoastal Media Licenses Ii, LLC and features programing from ESPN Radio, Premiere Radio Networks and Westwood One....
. Lost Coast Communications, based in nearby Ferndale, run by CEO Patrick Cleary, owns and operates several stations broadcasting to Eureka: KSLG
KSLG-FM
KSLG-FM is a commercial modern rock music radio station in Ferndale, California, broadcasting to the Eureka, California, area on 94.1 FM. KSLG-FM is branded as K-Slug, which refers to the banana slugs native to the region....
, KHUM
KHUM
KHUM is a commercial Freeform music radio station in Ferndale, California, broadcasting to Humboldt County, Mendocino County, as well as Eureka, California, Arcata, California, and Humboldt State University on 104.7 FM. KHUM also broadcasts on translator K282AD 104.3 FM...
, KXGO
KXGO
KXGO, 93.1 FM, is a classic rock station based in Eureka, California. Its parent company is Redwood Broadcasting. Its sister station is KJNY, 99.1 FM. The majority of KXGO programming is not local; however, they do employ local DJs for regularly scheduled shows. As of 12/29/08, Greg Kihn hosts the...
, and KWPT
KWPT
KWPT is a commercial classic hits music radio station in Fortuna, California, broadcasting to the Eureka, California area on 100.3 FM.KWPT also serves Eureka, California, on translator K274AM 102.7 FM....
. Eureka also hosts KMUE
KMUE
KMUE is a radio station broadcasting a Variety format. Licensed to Eureka, California, USA, it serves the Eureka area. The station is owned by Redwood Community Radio, Inc. KMUE is a repeater for KMUD....
, the local repeater for Redway
Redway, California
Redway is a census-designated place in Humboldt County, California, United States. Redway is located northwest of Garberville, at an elevation of 538 feet...
-based community radio station KMUD
KMUD
KMUD is a community radio station broadcasting a Variety format. Licensed to Garberville, California, USA, the station serves Humboldt, Northern Mendocino, and Western Trinity counties in Northwestern California. KMUD is owned by Redwood Community Radio, Inc...
. On August 26, 2006 the Blue Ox Millworks and School of the Traditional Arts launched KKDS-LP
KKDS-LP
KKDS-LP is a radio station broadcasting a format. Licensed to Eureka, California, USA, it serves the Eureka area. The station is currently owned by Dell' Arte, Inc....
, a low power FM station focused on youth and community issues. On November 3, 2008, a low-power part 15 AM radio station went on the air. Old Glory Radio 1650 AM is based in the Myrtletown neighborhood of Eureka. The radio station airs the area's only daily live local call-in program in the morning. KHSU, the region's local public radio station, is broadcast from Humboldt State University in Arcata.
Only two of the county's TV stations, KIEM Ch. 3 (NBC) and KEET
KEET
KEET is a digital-only public television station in Eureka, California, broadcasting locally on channel 11 as a PBS member station. Founded in 1969, the station is owned by Redwood Empire Public Television, Inc...
Ch. 13 (PBS) are fully based in Eureka while KVIQ
KVIQ
KVIQ is a digital-only broadcast television station which broadcasts as a CBS affiliate on UHF channel 17 from a transmitter in Eureka, California.-History:KVIQ signed on the air on VHF channel 6 as Eureka's second television station on April 1, 1958...
Ch. 17 (CBS), KAEF
KRCR-TV
KRCR-TV is an ABC affiliated television station in California, USA, that serves the northern Sacramento Valley, including the towns of Redding and Chico. Its studios are located in Redding, where the station is licensed...
Ch. 23 (ABC), KBVU
KCVU
KCVU Fox 20 is a Fox Network affiliated television station based in Chico, California. The station is owned and operated by Sainte Partners II, L.P. of Modesto, California...
Ch. 28 (Fox), and KEUV
KEUV-LP
KEUV-LP is a low-power UHF television station operating on Channel 31 in Eureka, California.KEUV was founded in 1994 by Sainte Partners II, L.P.. It was the first, and is presently the only, Spanish language television station in Eureka. KEUV is an affiliate of Univision, and broadcasts all of...
Ch. 31 (Univision) are located near Eureka but operated from elsewhere.
Notable natives and residents
- Sara BareillesSara BareillesSara Beth Bareilles is an American singer-songwriter and pianist. She achieved mainstream success in 2007 with the hit single "Love Song", which brought her into the number one spot on the Billboard Pop 100 chart. She has sold over 1 million records in the United States alone and has been...
, musical artist - Lloyd BridgesLloyd BridgesLloyd Vernet Bridges, Jr. was an American actor who starred in a number of television series and appeared in more than 150 feature films. Bridges is best known for his role of Mike Nelson in Sea Hunt, the most-popular syndicated American TV series in 1958...
, actor - David CobbDavid CobbDavid Keith Cobb is an American activist and was the 2004 presidential candidate of the Green Party of the United States .-Career and political activities:...
, presidential candidate, orator - Steve CochranSteve CochranSteve Cochran was an American film, television, and stage actor, the son of a California lumberman. He graduated from the University of Wyoming in 1939...
, actor - Alexander CockburnAlexander CockburnAlexander Claud Cockburn is an American political journalist. Cockburn was brought up in Ireland but has lived and worked in the United States since 1972. Together with Jeffrey St. Clair, he edits the political newsletter CounterPunch...
, journalist and columnist - Trevor DunnTrevor DunnTrevor Roy Dunn is an American composer, bass guitarist and double bassist.Dunn came to prominence in the 1990s with the experimental band Mr. Bungle. He has since worked in an array of musical styles, notably with singer and Mr...
musical artist - Brendan FraserBrendan FraserBrendan James Fraser is a Canadian-American film and stage actor. Fraser portrayed Rick O'Connell in the three-part Mummy film series , and is known for his comedic and fantasy film leading roles in major Hollywood films, including Encino Man , George of the Jungle , Dudley Do-Right , Monkeybone ,...
, actor - James GillettJames GillettJames Norris Gillett was an American lawyer and politician. A Republican involved in federal and state politics, Gillett was elected both a member of the U.S...
, Governor of CaliforniaGovernor of CaliforniaThe Governor of California is the chief executive of the California state government, whose responsibilities include making annual State of the State addresses to the California State Legislature, submitting the budget, and ensuring that state laws are enforced...
from 1907 to 1911 - Mindy GledhillMindy GledhillMindy Gledhill is an indie folk singer. She is also known for her guest vocal work for "America's Best DJ 2011" Kaskade.Gledhill released her debut album The Sum of All Grace in the beginning of 2004 on Lumen Records...
, musical artist - El Hefe, (Aaron Abeyta) musical artist
- Dane IorgDane IorgDane Charles Iorg is a retired Major League Baseball infielder and outfielder. He played for ten seasons for four teams, including eight seasons for the St. Louis Cardinals. He is the brother of former third basemen Garth Iorg; they played against each other in the 1985 American League...
, former Major League Baseball player - Seth KinmanSeth KinmanSeth Kinman was an early settler of Humboldt County, California, a hunter based in Fort Humboldt, a famous chair maker, and a nationally recognized entertainer. He stood over tall and was known for his hunting prowess and his brutality toward bears and Indians...
, '49er and hunter for Fort Humboldt - Rey MaualugaRey MaualugaRey Maualuga is an American football linebacker for the Cincinnati Bengals of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Bengals in the second round of the 2009 NFL Draft...
, professional football player - Mike PattonMike PattonMichael Allan "Mike" Patton is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, producer, and actor, best known as the lead singer of the metal/experimental rock band Faith No More. He has also sung for Mr...
, musical artist - Maurice PurifyMaurice PurifyMaurice Purify is an American football wide receiver for the Arizona Rattlers of the Arena Football League. He was signed by the Cincinnati Bengals as an undrafted free agent in 2008...
, professional football player - Nate QuarryNate QuarryNathan Parker Quarry is an American mixed martial arts fighter who is most notable for his appearance in The Ultimate Fighter, a reality show from the Ultimate Fighting Championship.-Early life:...
, professional fighter - Trey SpruanceTrey SpruancePreston Lea Spruance III or "Trey Spruance" is an American composer, producer, and musician, perhaps best known as the leader of the multi-genre outfit Secret Chiefs 3 and for his work as guitarist and keyboardist with Mr. Bungle...
, musical artist - Walter Ray Williams, Jr., professional bowler
- Ned YostNed YostEdgar Frederick "Ned" Yost III is a former Major League Baseball catcher and current manager of the Kansas City Royals. He is the former manager of the Milwaukee Brewers.-Playing career:...
, former baseball manager
See also
- Clarke Historical MuseumClarke Historical MuseumThe Clarke Historical Museum in Eureka, California contains the area's premier collection of far California North Coast regional and cultural history, with significant focus on the 19th Century Victorian era...
- Humboldt Botanical GardenHumboldt Botanical GardenThe Humboldt Botanical Gardens are under construction south of Eureka, California, USA near the Humboldt Bay at the College of the Redwoods. Grading and site preparation for the Gardens began in August 2003, and...
- Humboldt County Historical SocietyHumboldt County Historical SocietyThe Humboldt County Historical Society , one of the premier regional historical societies in the West, is located in Eureka, Humboldt County, California.- Overview :...
- Morris Graves Museum of ArtMorris Graves Museum of ArtThe Morris Graves Museum of Art is located in Eureka, California. It was named after Morris Graves, a painter and founder of the Northwest School of Art in the Pacific Northwest. Prior to his death in 2001, he donated a substantial portion of his personal art collection, including some of his own...
- Sequoia Park ZooSequoia Park ZooThe Sequoia Park Zoo is a small zoo located in Eureka, California, United States and is operated by the City of Eureka. With over 250 animals representing 75 different species the zoo is one of the main tourist draws in Eureka...
- HSU First Street GalleryHSU First Street GalleryHSU First Street Gallery is a contemporary, fine arts gallery located on the north coast of California, USA. The gallery, which supports the Exhibition Programs of Humboldt State University, is an off-campus,non-profit gallery located in the historic Old Town district of Eureka, California. This...
Other citations
- The 100 Best Small Art Towns in America, by John Villani; ISBN 1-56261-405-3
- California Place Names: The Origin and Etymology of Current Geographical Names, by Erwin G. Gudde; ISBN 0-520-01574-6
- Eureka: An Architectural View, by The Eureka Heritage Society, Inc; ISBN 0-9615004-0-9
- The Humboldt Bay Region 1850-1875, by Owen C. Coy (Reprinted by the Humboldt County Historical SocietyHumboldt County Historical SocietyThe Humboldt County Historical Society , one of the premier regional historical societies in the West, is located in Eureka, Humboldt County, California.- Overview :...
; ISBN B0006Y3SOU
Further reading
History- Two People One Place. Ray Rahpael and Freeman House. Published by the Humboldt County Historical Society. 2007