Greenwood State Beach, also known as Elk Beach, is located in the unincorporated village of Elk in Mendocino County

Mendocino County, California

Mendocino County is a county located on the north coast of the U.S. state of California, north of the greater San Francisco Bay Area and west of the Central Valley. As of the 2010 census, the population was 87,841, up from 86,265 at the 2000 census...

. It is located about 15 miles (25 km) north of Point Arena

Point Arena, California

Point Arena is a small coastal city in Mendocino County, California, United States. Point Arena is located west of Hopland, at an elevation of 118 feet . The population was 449 at the 2010 census, down from 474 at the 2000 census, making it one of the smallest incorporated cities in the state...

 on Highway 1

California State Route 1

State Route 1 , more often called Highway 1, is a state highway that runs along much of the Pacific coast of the U.S. state of California. It is famous for running along some of the most beautiful coastlines in the world, leading to its designation as an All-American Road.Highway 1 does not run...

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History

The beach is located in Elk, a lumber town through the 19th century and early twentieth century. It was originally used by the L.E. White Lumber Company, which operated from 1884–1916. The Goodyear Redwood Lumber Company then purchased the land from 1916–1930. The old mill office of the lumber company is now a visitor center for the state beach.

The beach is named after Britton Bailey Greenwood, son of famed mountain man Caleb Greenwood

Caleb Greenwood

Caleb Greenwood was a Western U.S. fur trapper and trail guide. Born in Virginia, Greenwood took part in trapping expeditions organized by associates of John Jacob Astor in 1810 and by Manuel Lisa in 1812-1813...

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In 1995, the beach was renamed from Greenwood Creek State Beach to Greenwood State Beach.