114-486: The Arcata Community Forest is part of the parks and recreation system of the City of Arcata , California , United States . It was originally created in 1955 from six forest tracts: Gannon Tract, Burns Tract, Preston Tract I, Preston Tract II, Reclamation Water Co. Tract, and Brizard Tract. The main forest area covers 793 acres (3.21 km). The park was the culmination of efforts to combine tracts of forest land located east of
228-643: A Green Party majority in its city council. Arcata is also one of three cities in California and one of four cities in the United States ever to have held a Green Party majority in their city councils. In August 1989, the voters of Arcata passed the Nuclear Weapons Free Zone Act, prohibiting activities benefiting nuclear weapons contractors within city jurisdictional limits. Arcata residents are active in regional environmental protection, and played
342-511: A changing climate , the salmon which were once plentiful now face a drastic decline in numbers linked to water quality and fish health. This poses a serious problem for the Yurok whoose life and culture is closely tied with the fish of the Klamath and Trinity rivers . Yurok Tribal Chairman Joe James has said that if the salmon did not survive, neither would the tribe. With the removal of four dams along
456-399: A repurposed shipping container. The staggered releases allow the social draw of still-captive condors to keep the freed birds nearby so the team can observe the birds, who are outfitted with GPS transmitters. As of March 2024 11 birds (4 females and 7 males) have been successfully introduced, with another 5 or more being released this year. In 2010, 217 sacred artifacts were returned to
570-496: A contributing role in the successful effort to preserve the Headwaters Forest from logging. The north coast region is often divided on environmental issues, with conflicts arising between residents and landowners who have made a living harvesting the area's natural resources, and residents aiming to preserve the region's natural habitats. Arcata is on the path to decriminalizing most psychedelic entheogenic substances. Arcata
684-441: A female householder with no husband present, 325 (4.4%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 764 (10.4%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships , and 75 (1.0%) same-sex married couples or partnerships . 2,730 households (37.0%) were made up of individuals, and 524 (7.1%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.10. There were 2,625 families (35.6% of all households);
798-479: A four-year term. Members are allowed to run for re-election, and there is no limit on how many terms a person may serve. The Council directs the course of local government through its power to adopt ordinances, levy taxes, award contracts, and appoint certain city officers, commissions and committees. Arcata has been notably progressive in its political makeup, and was the first city in the United States to elect
912-638: A history of (illegal) camping that remains unpopular with some locals who report being harassed or intimidated by the homeless that have "staked a claim" to both public and private property. According to the Humboldt Housing and Homeless Coalition (HHHC), 74% of homeless individuals were camping in Humboldt County. Approximately 15 illegal, two- to five-person camps are cleaned up annually by the Arcata City Police and Environmental Service Departments in
1026-624: A language family shared with the Algonquian . The traditional homeland of the Wiyot ranged from the Little River in the north and continues south through Humboldt Bay (including the present cities of Eureka and Arcata ) and then south to the lower Eel River basin. The traditional homeland of the Yurok ranges from Mad River to beyond the Klamath River in the north. Today, Arcata is the headquarters of
1140-696: A major part of the culture of Arcata. In February 2018, the Arcata City Council voted to remove the statue from the Plaza, a decision supported in November 2018 when a referendum to block the statue's removal was defeated. In February 2019, the Arcata City Council approved a measure to relocate the statue to the William McKinley Presidential Library and Museum in Canton, Ohio , and on February 28,
1254-526: A majority of its city council members from the Green Party . As a result of the progressive majority, Arcata capped the number of chain restaurants allowed in the city. Arcata was also the first municipality to ban the growth of any type of Genetically Modified Organism within city limits, with exceptions for research and educational purposes. In the state legislature , Arcata is in the 2nd Senate District , represented by Democrat Mike McGuire , and
SECTION 10
#17328557310311368-400: A median income of $ 26,577 versus $ 24,358 for females. The per capita income for the city was $ 15,531, however this figure may be artificially low due to the large student population. About 14.3% of families and 32.2% of the population were below the poverty line , including 22.4% of those under age 18 and 6.0% of those age 65 or over. The 2010 United States Census reported that Arcata had
1482-447: A payment from her husband. For the most part, girls were highly valued in the family. The amount of money paid by a man determined the social status of the couple. A wealthy man, who could afford to pay a large sum, increased the couple and their children's rank within the community. When married, both spouses held onto their personal properties but the bride lived with the groom's family and took his last name. Men who were unable to pay
1596-502: A population of 17,231. The population density was 1,567.4 inhabitants per square mile (605.2/km ). The racial makeup of Arcata was: The Census reported that 15,486 people (89.9% of the population) lived in households, 1,745 (10.1%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 0 were institutionalized. There were 7,381 households, out of which 1,275 (17.3%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 1,651 (22.4%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 649 (8.8%) had
1710-648: A portion of the Yurok's territory and some Yurok villages. The Hoopa-Yurok Settlement Act of 1988, an acted passed by the 2nd Session of the 100th Congress of 1988, declared that Yurok descendants who have chosen to remain members of recognized tribes other than the Yurok Tribe of the Yurok Reservation - primarily the Resighini Rancheria , but also the Cher-Ae Heights Indian Community of
1824-508: A process of changing the present narrative about who, and for whom, natural lands are managed. The return of the 125 acres - named 'O Rew by the Yurok - demonstrates "the sheer will and perseverance of the Yurok people". Joseph L. James , Yurok chairman, said: "Together, we are creating a new conservation model that recognizes the value of tribal land management". The Yurok see Redwoods as living beings and only used fallen trees to build their homes and canoes. The land that will be co-managed
1938-645: A reservation of around 90,000 acres: by 1993, this had declined to around 5% of the original reservation. Carbon sequestration has enabled the Yurok to own approximately 100,000 acres by 2021. Because of this effort, the Yurok have been awarded the Equator Prize by the United Nations Development Program . Using the cap-and-trade scheme, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) issues one offset credit ($ 12) for each metric ton
2052-659: A revolutionary marsh-based wastewater treatment system. The marsh was built on a retired municipal solid waste dump and has received many awards, including the Innovations in Government award from the Ford Foundation and Harvard Kennedy School . The marsh is a popular destination for cyclists, bird watchers, transients, and joggers, and was recently expanded as a part of the McDaniel Slough restoration project. The City owns
2166-678: A ritual dance. Shamans would use plants, prayer, and rituals to heal people and also performed ceremonies to ensure successful hunting, fishing, and gathering. Every year the Yurok came together for what was known as the World Renewal Ceremony , where songs and dances which had been passed on through many generations would be performed. Dancers would wear elaborate clothing for the occasion. Some sources refer to it Yurok society as socially stratified because communities were divided between syahhlew ("rich"), wa's'oyowok' / wa'soyowok' ("poor"), and ka'aal ("slaves"). The syahhlew were
2280-439: A shift in management regimes." Forest management impacts forests on Yurok lands, since the environment is interconnected despite political boundaries. In United States forestry programs, Indigenous peoples are only given the right to "alienate the land but not to manage the vegetation." In the case of the Yurok, "vegetation management and Yurok culture and economy are closely linked" and as a result "the increasing unsuitability of
2394-569: A student-run, general-interest magazine, the Osprey , published once a semester, and El Leñador , Cal Poly Humboldt's first bilingual, student-run newspaper. Arcata is also home to CPH's student-run radio station, KRFH 105.1 FM, which is notable for being one of a select few freeform radio stations still on the air today. The town has a number of small 'zines and blogs that cover a variety of local issues, including youth culture and homelessness . U.S. Route 101 extends north and south and bisects
SECTION 20
#17328557310312508-599: A total of 2,100 acres (8.5 km ) of forest land, including the Arcata Community Forest, the Sunny Brae Forest, and the Jacoby Creek Forest. Arcata's community forest lands have been the subject of national media attention. The Arcata Community Forest was originally acquired by the City in order to protect the integrity of its municipal water supply. Upon acquisition in 1955, The Arcata Community Forest
2622-470: A tribal elder. "It's not viable. It allows polluters to pollute". Tribal member Marty Lamebear agreed that the carbon project had brought in money but said: "They buy our air, so they can, you know, pollute theirs." Angela Adrar, the executive director of Climate Justice Alliance , said: "The Yurok should have their land regardless of some program... The fact that they have to sell their forest to get back their land seems really backwards." In February 2024,
2736-513: A wide variety of service industries (ranging from professional services to restaurant and hospitality). A large but unmeasurable cannabis economy employs many in Arcata and the surrounding area. The area's economy and population are both growing more slowly than the State of California overall. Median reported household income in Arcata was $ 22,315, and the median income for a family was $ 36,716. Males had
2850-554: Is Arcata High School , with a total population of 827 for the 2012–2013 school year. The high school is located at 1720 M Street in Arcata, and is part of the Northern Humboldt Union High School District. The school offers a number of programs, including an Advanced Placement program, special programs through the Arcata Arts Institute, and a variety of student clubs. The Eureka Times-Standard
2964-560: Is even more pronounced further inland in the Trinity River valley. Winter high temperatures average in the low 40s to mid-50s, with lows in the mid-30s to lower 40s. Temperatures infrequently dip below 30 °F (−1 °C) in the winter, and nearly as infrequently climb above 72 °F (22 °C) in the summer and fall. Arcata has higher record temperatures than county seat Eureka , although averages are very similar. Changing populations have happened in timber and mining towns in
3078-419: Is a short but pronounced dry season from June to September. Northerly winds keep the spring very cool and create a coastal upwelling of deep, cold, ocean water. This upwelling in turn results in foggy conditions throughout the summer, with high temperatures commonly in the 50s and low 60s. Yet just a few miles inland the temperatures may be up to 25 °F (14 °C) degrees warmer in the summer and fall. This
3192-731: Is also the center of Humboldt County's largest farmers' market, and serves as a major venue for local Fourth of July festivities, the Arcata Main Street Oyster Festival, the start of the Kinetic Sculpture Race , and the North Country Fair. The North Country Fair Samba Parade has been a community favorite since 1986. The Plaza is also a popular rendezvous point for travelers who stop off in Arcata. The annual Explorations in Afro-Cuban Dance and Drum workshop
3306-612: Is also the location of the Arcata Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Land Management , which is responsible for the administration of natural resources, lands and mineral programs, including the Headwaters Forest , on approximately 200,000 acres (810 km ) of public land in Northwestern California. The Wiyot people and Yurok people inhabited this area prior to the arrival of Europeans and continue to live in
3420-428: Is giving members access to it". Through working with companies and organisations such as New Forests and The Trust for Public Land , the Yurok will employ a blend of Traditional Ecological Knowledge and western science to re-create the environmental conditions that existed in this region. The participation by the Yurok in the scheme has been met with concerns and criticism. "I'm not happy with it" said Jene McCovey,
3534-493: Is held every summer on the CPH campus. The workshop hosts the largest assemblage of Afro-Cuban folkloric music and dance masters in the United States. The statue of William McKinley has been a point of controversy since the 1970s. Opponents of the statue condemned McKinley's supposed support of settler colonialism and policies that led to the slaughter of Native Americans. Supporters of the statue emphasized its historical significance as
Arcata Community Forest - Misplaced Pages Continue
3648-566: Is one of two Algic languages spoken in California, the other being Wiyot (therefore they are culturally similar to the Wiyot people ) and is currently undergoing a successful revitalization effort. The Yurok have been living along the Klamath River for 10,000 years, with a lifestyle closely linked to the once abundant salmon. Some of their villages date back to the 14th century. There are descriptions of some contact being made with Californian Indians as far back as June 1579 by Francis Drake and
3762-535: Is still in operation. It is also home to the Arcata Theatre . Arcata is home to the Humboldt Crabs , the nation's longest continuously operated semi-pro baseball team, which has played every season since 1945 except for the 2020 season, which was cancelled due to COVID-19 quarantine measures. The Arcata Marsh , a constructed network of freshwater and saltwater ponds initially completed in 1979, demonstrates
3876-591: Is taking part in at the moment, including Orick Mill, Coffee Creek, Heliwood, Oregon Gulch and Condor Aviation. In 2023, the construction company carved out new channels for the Chinook salmon along the Sacramento River . They introduced vegetation into the channels to act as cover for juvenile salmon to hide in. Through oral tradition and archaeological records, it is estimated that the Yurok lands were originally some half-a-million acres. In 1855 they were confined to
3990-543: Is the only major regional daily publication covering Arcata. The Arcata Eye was a former weekly newspaper covering Arcata and Blue Lake until it merged with the McKinleyville Press newspaper in 2013 to become the Mad River Union . The Northcoast Environmental Center , located in Arcata, has published Econews as a monthly journal since 1971. CPH produces a weekly student-run paper titled The Lumberjack ,
4104-419: Is the site of California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt , the northernmost campus of the 23-campus California State University system. With a student body equaling nearly half the city's total population, Arcata is a classic example of a traditional "college town." The city center is 0.8 mi (1.3 km) from the university center and takes about 16 minutes to walk. The primary public high school
4218-482: Is working with the local Redwood National and State Parks to restore the California condor to the area where they were last spotted around 1892. The Bald Hills are part of the Yurok Tribal lands. Due to the cultural and ecological importance of the condor, the tribe began a program in 2008 to reintroduce the condor. While based on the latest scientific protocols, Yurok Traditional Ecological Knowledge provided by
4332-552: The 2nd Assembly District , represented by Democrat Jim Wood . Federally, Arcata is in California's 2nd congressional district , represented by Democrat Jared Huffman . Arcata voters are among the most Democratic in Humboldt County. In the 2008 United States presidential election , Republican candidate John McCain received less than 10% of the popular vote in many Arcata precincts, while in those same precincts Democratic candidate Barack Obama received 85% or more of
4446-592: The Arcata Marsh , a preserve located on the city's bay shore. Arcata has a cool-summer Mediterranean climate (Köppen: Csb ), which is dominated by marine influences associated with Humboldt Bay and the Pacific Ocean . These influences make the climate in the city much cooler than that of a typical Mediterranean climate and more on par with that of an oceanic climate . On average, Arcata experiences 40 to 50 inches (1,000 to 1,300 mm) of rain per year, though there
4560-659: The Bear River Band and the Tolowa Dee-ni' Nation in its opposition. On March 20, 2024, the Yurok began a first-of-its-kind land deal to manage tribal lands with the National Park Service under a memorandum of understanding between the tribe, Save the Redwoods League and Redwood National and State Parks . Sam Hodder, president and CEO of Save the Redwoods League, explained that the agreement would be starting
4674-516: The Big Lagoon Rancheria tribe, who maintain a 20-acre (81,000 m ) reservation close by. Local Indian tribes operate several casinos in the area. In a coordinated 1860 massacre , significant numbers of Wiyot people were killed by white settlers at several locations in and around Humboldt Bay, including the center of their society, the island known to them as Duluwat Island . A local newspaper editor, who would later be known as Bret Harte ,
Arcata Community Forest - Misplaced Pages Continue
4788-504: The Klamath River ) and on the Pacific coast , from Trinidad south of the river ’s mouth almost to Crescent City along the north coast. The people of the Yurok Tribe traditionally identify as Oohl , a Yurok word simply meaning “the people.” Some historic documents, like the Yurok Tribe’s unratified treaty with the Government of the United States (GoUS), refer to the Yurok Tribe as
4902-617: The Lower Klamath, Pulikla, or Poh-lik Indians to distinguish the people of the Yurok Tribe from the “Upper Klamath” or “Peh-tsick” Indians, who are now known as the Karuk Tribe. The name Yurok is derived from the Karuk word yúruk va’áraaras , meaning "downriver people; i.e. Yurok Indians". American ethnologist George Gibbs first recorded the term as 'Yourrk' while traveling with Col. Redick McKee in 1851, and mistakenly used it as
5016-616: The Redwood Coast region are part of the most populous state in the US, the Redwood Coast region is also one of the most remote locations along the continental US west coast . The city also offers several cycling trails. Yurok tribe The Yurok people are an Algic-speaking Indigenous people of California that has existed along the Hehlkeek 'We-Roy or "Health-kick-wer-roy" (now known as
5130-526: The natural environment and the spirit world. Peyerk from many villages came together to settle tribal disputes and also hosted tribal ceremonies. At these times, the peyerk would supply food and shelter for the Yurok people and special clothing for the dancers. Peyerk lived in homes at higher elevation, wore finer clothing, and sometimes spoke foreign languages. Yurok medicine people were usually women. Women would become shamans after dreaming of being told to do so. Another shaman would then assist her in
5244-425: The 2009 receipt of a donated 185-acre (0.75 km ) conservation easement adjacent to the Arcata Community Forest's northern boundary in the upper Janes Creek watershed. The city of Arcata has a Council-Manager form of government, with a City Council of five members, which is the legislative policy-making branch of city government. Each Council member is elected at large (i.e., by all voting Arcata residents) for
5358-473: The American West as a result of boom and bust economic cycles. Some towns decrease in population following a bust, while some, like Arcata, experience a change in demographics. In the case of Arcata, the peak and the bust were close due to Arcata's relatively late entry into the timber industry, and its domination by mechanization. The population of the city of Arcata was 3,729 during its peak 1950, when lumber
5472-540: The Arcata Bay (northern) portion of Humboldt Bay in Humboldt County , California , United States . At the 2020 census , Arcata's population was 18,857. Arcata was first founded in 1850 as Union , was officially established in 1858, and was renamed Arcata in 1860. It is located 280 miles (450 km) north of San Francisco (via Highway 101 ), and is home to California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt . Arcata
5586-495: The Arcata area, such as graduations at Arcata High School as early as 1910, as well as images of social gatherings at the Arcata plaza before the statue of William McKinley was erected in the center from 1906 until its relocation in 2019. In August 1989, the voters of Arcata passed the Nuclear Weapons Free Zone Act, prohibiting work on nuclear weapons, and the storage or transportation of nuclear weapons within
5700-526: The Klamath river which will open up near 400 miles of historic salmon habitat, it is hoped that the fish will return. Yurok fisherman Oscar Gensaw said "Once the dams are down, the salmon will know what to do." The Yurok are known globally for their arts that include basketry and regalia-making, and that salmon give the tribe the physical and mental strength for those arts. Tori McConnell, Miss Indian World 2023–2024, said that without salmon "we wouldn’t have had
5814-696: The Pacific coast as Ner-'er-ner' (meaning “Coast Indian”). However, all these terms were merely practical descriptions of how to get to or from a village location within the Ancestral Land of the Yurok Tribe; the Pue-lik-lo' , Pey-cheek-lo' and Ner-'er-ner' were, and are, all still Oohl . The Yurok people live primarily within the exterior boundaries of Yurok Reservation and surrounding communities in Humboldt , Del Norte and Trinity counties. Although
SECTION 50
#17328557310315928-718: The Square or Hoopa Valley Reservation as the reservation to be held in trust for the Hoopa Valley Tribe, 25 U.S.C. § 1300i-1(b) 7; (4) recognizing and organizing the Yurok Tribe, and designating the Addition or Yurok Reservation as the reservation to be held in trust for the Yurok Tribe, 25 U.S.C. § 1300i-1(c) 8." Shermoen v. U.S., 982 F.2d 1312, 1316 (9th Cir. 1992) Fishing, hunting, and gathering remain important to tribal members. Basket weaving and woodcarving are important arts. A traditional hamlet of wooden plank buildings, called Sumeg,
6042-620: The Trinidad Rancheria and Big Lagoon Rancheria - "shall no longer have any right or interest whatsoever in the tribal, communal, or unallotted land, property, resources, or rights within, or appertaining to, the Yurok Indian Reservation or the Yurok Tribe." The Resighini Rancheria attempted to challenge the Hoopa-Yurok Settlement Act in 1992 case Shermoen v. United States, 982 F.2d 1312, 1314 (9th Cir. 1992), but
6156-495: The US under the Forest Stewardship Council. This was intended to develop an ecologically responsible long-term forest management program to generate income to develop and acquire parkland. Generating $ 500,000–$ 700,000 of revenue per year from timber harvesting, the forest is self-supporting, and excess net revenue is used to maintain other city parkland and open space. The forest is popular with hikers, birders, and has
6270-632: The US-101, its speed limit is 55 mph (89 km/h) though, unlike the speed on Highway 101 – which from the Bayside cutoff to Gallagher lane north 101 and x street south 101 is 50 mph (80 km/h) due to a safety corridor. The highways connecting Arcata to areas outside Humboldt County include long segments of winding two-lane road traversing remote mountains and river canyons, portions of which may close after extensive rain and wind storms, requiring possibly long detours. While Arcata, Eureka , Fortuna and
6384-475: The Yurok can prove its forests have sequestered. After starting negotiations in 2010, the Yurok have paid off loans, supported schools, youth programming, housing, road improvement and off-reservation businesses through carbon sequestration. Land reclamation using the cap-in-trade revenue has allowed them to take control of land management and to sustainably harvest timber. Tribal Vice Chairman Frankie Myers said: "the most beneficial thing we're doing with our land
6498-502: The Yurok had its first Tribal Offshore Wind Summit to help native communities gain more understanding about offshore wind power and how the ever-growing clean energy developments could impact on the food, culture and income for Native communities. A central point emerged from the Summit that there could not be responsible offshore wind development "in tribal areas without tribal consent" and that tribal leaders were concerned about their role in
6612-449: The Yurok population had declined to 1350. By 1910 it was reported as 668 or 700. There were 5,793 Yurok living throughout the United States. The Yurok Indian Reservation is California's largest tribe, with 6357 members as of 2019. On November 24, 1993, the Yurok Tribe adopted a constitution that details the jurisdiction and territory of their lands. Under the Hoopa-Yurok Settlement Act of 1988, Pub. L. 100-580, qualified applicants had
6726-584: The Yurok tribe by the Smithsonian Institution . The condor feathers, headdresses and deerskins had been part of the Smithsonian's collection for almost 100 years and represent one of the largest Native American repatriations . The regalia will be used in Yurok ceremonies and on display at the tribe's cultural center. Yurok Villages ('o'loolekw - "village") were composed of individual families that lived in separate, single-family homes. The house
6840-484: The area. "Kori" is the name for the Wiyot settlement that existed on the site of what would become Arcata. The name "Arcata" comes from the Yurok term oket'oh , meaning "where there is a lagoon" (referring to Humboldt Bay), from o- , "place", plus ket'oh , "to be a lagoon". The same name was also used by the Yuroks for Big Lagoon . The natives of this region are the farthest-southwest people whose language has Algic roots,
6954-672: The average family size was 2.73. The population dispersal was with 2,164 people (12.6%) under the age of 18, 5,891 people (34.2%) aged 18 to 24, 4,619 people (26.8%) aged 25 to 44, 3,149 people (18.3%) aged 45 to 64, and 1,408 people (8.2%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 26.1 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.0 males. There were 7,722 housing units at an average density of 702.4 units per square mile (271.2 units/km ), of which 7,381 were occupied, of which 2,519 (34.1%) were owner-occupied, and 4,862 (65.9%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate
SECTION 60
#17328557310317068-581: The beach or a place near the water and dried the flesh. Salmon is the vital source of food and nutrients for the Yurok. Kaitlin Reed (Yurok/Hupa/Oneida) from California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt , described in 2014 the deep connection of salmon to the Yurok people and their identity: "Salmon are a gift from the Creator. Salmon are truly the essence of Yurok existence and foundational to Yurok identity for they would not exist without them." Fish census from
7182-416: The brainpower or the physical power to create and maintain and preserve the beautiful culture that we see today." The major currency of the Yurok nations was the dentalium shell ( terkwterm ). Alfred L. Kroeber wrote of the Yurok perception of the shell: "Since the direction of these sources is 'downstream' to them, they speak in their traditions of the shells living at the downstream and upstream ends of
7296-409: The changed forest for Yurok subsistence helped push the Yurok to sell their land." The Yurok Fisheries Department works at reviving the streams and the runs of salmon and steelhead trout. Reforesting by tribal members helps to stabilize the banks of the waterways and reduce the sediment load. Yurok or Saa'agoch' / Saa'agochehl ("Yurok language") is one of two Algic languages spoken in California,
7410-567: The citizens of Arcata and vicinity, wish the total expulsion of the Chinese from our midst. We endorse the efforts of Eureka to exclude all Chinese settlements in the city and environs." History and images of early settler families in Arcata are cataloged in the Susie Baker Fountain Papers and True Hoyle Collection at California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt . These collections also include images of important social events in
7524-491: The citizens of Arcata were of a median age of 26.4 and a median annual income of $ 35,506. The heart of Arcata is the Plaza. In the 1850s the Plaza was where goods destined for the Trinity County mines were loaded onto mule trains. The Plaza has a green lawn, extensive flower plantings, and at its center there used to be a statue of president William McKinley by Haig Patigian . The Plaza is surrounded by bookstores, bars, coffee shops, restaurants, and live music venues. The Plaza
7638-414: The city has a total area of 11.0 square miles (28.5 km ), of which 9.1 square miles (23.6 km ) is land and 1.9 square miles (4.9 km ), comprising 17.25%, is water. Arcata contains major public and shopping areas within the city. They include: the Downtown/Plaza Area, Northtown, and Valley West (each of these are also large neighborhoods). There are additional named neighborhoods encompassed by
7752-416: The city limits. The ordinance also minimized the city's contracts for and purchases of the products and services of nuclear weapons contractors. On March 17, 2010, the Arcata city council voted for final passage of an unlawful-panhandling ordinance (Ordinance No. 1399). Among other restrictions, it forbids panhandling within 20 feet (6 m) of any business. According to the United States Census Bureau ,
7866-453: The city together in one continuous section of city-owned second-growth coast redwood forest. Over a 50-year period, 622 acres (2.52 km) were obtained in several purchases. In November 2006, the 171-acre (0.69 km) Sunny Brae Forest was added to the Community Forest. The city also owns and manages the 1,200-acre (4.9 km) Jacoby Creek Forest. The City owns a total of 2,350 acres (9.5 km) of forest. Prior to European settlement,
7980-647: The city. The downtown has several overcrossings; Arcata is considered a fairly walkable community. State Route 299 connects to U.S. Route 101 at the northern end of Arcata. SR 299 begins at this point and extends easterly towards Weaverville , Redding , Alturas , and Nevada . SR 255 connects to U.S. Route 101 at the southern end of Arcata on Samoa Blvd. and to the west of US-101 passes through Manila. Bridge access (left at first controlled intersection) leads to Eureka through Woodley island and Tuluwat island (using three bridges) ending on 4th (south 101) and 5th (north 101) streets in Eureka, CA. Used as an alternate route to
8094-445: The city: They include: Aldergrove, Alliance (which was once a separate community located North of Arcata), Arcata Bottoms, portions of Bayside (despite it having its own Post Office and postal code), Bayview, California Heights, the Creamery District, Fickle Hill (lower portions), Greenview, the Marsh District (aka South G Street), Redwood Park (which includes the City-owned Redwood forest), Sunny Brae, Sunset, and Westwood. Arcata also has
8208-587: The clean energy America needs, unless the industry "truly engages with the Native American tribes that suffered the impacts from previous natural resource extraction, it will be as dirty as the rest of them." On 6 March 2024, the Yurok Tribal Council voted to oppose offshore wind developments near the Yurok Coast. The Council gave several reasons on their Facebook page for this stance: The Yurok join
8322-504: The coast and Hehlkeeklaa ("Klamath River people, i.e. Klamath River Yurok") refers to Yurok who live along the Klamath River. Pueleeklaa / Pueleekla' or Puelekuekla' / Puelekueklaa' ("down river/downstream people, i.e. River Yurok") is used to distinguish themselves from the upriver (Klamath River) living Karuk ( Pecheeklaa / Pecheekla = "up river/upstream people, i.e. Karuk people"). Saa'agoch' / Saa'agochehl (" Yurok language ")
8436-400: The community forest. Parking and main trail head can be accessed from an unmarked road at Bayview and E 12th St. The Redwood Lodge is located at the park; it is available for rent to host activities and contains tables, chairs, and a small kitchen with appliances. Arcata Arcata ( / ɑːr ˈ k eɪ . t ə / ; Wiyot : Goudi’ni ; Yurok : Oket'oh ) is a city adjacent to
8550-486: The court ruling in the case found that "In the Hoopa-Yurok Settlement Act, Congress sought to resolve the legal conflicts by: (1) partitioning the reservation into two reservations, designating the Square as the "Hoopa Valley Reservation" and the Extension as the "Yurok Reservation," 25 U.S.C. § 1300i-1; (2) distributing the escrow funds, 25 U.S.C. § 1300i-33; (3) confirming the statutes of the Hoopa Valley Tribe, and designating
8664-429: The creeks before logging and poor water quality wiped them out. It is currently used for education , recreation , wildlife habitat , and sustainable timber harvesting. Many of Arcata's small streams possess their headwaters in the Arcata Community Forest. In 1979, the citizens of Arcata passed the "Forest Management and Parkland Initiative". The Arcata Community Forest was the first municipal forest certified in
8778-644: The crew of the Golden Hind . Fur traders and trappers from the Hudson's Bay Company came in 1827. Following encounters with white settlers moving into their aboriginal lands during a gold rush in 1850, the Yurok were faced with disease and massacres that reduced their population by 75%. In 1855, following the Klamath and Salmon River War , the Lower Klamath River Indian Reservation was created by executive order. The reservation boundaries included
8892-583: The decision making process. A major topic of conversation were the two Humboldt area wind farms and how the industrialization involved might impact the local ports and surrounding areas. Robert Hemstead, vice-chairman for the Trinidad Rancheria said that people from the tribes had come together "to move forward in a good way on renewable energy". Yurok Chairman Joseph L. James said that the tribes did not want to see other industries "take advantage of our natural resources and contribute little or nothing to
9006-463: The east, and was very briefly the county seat during this period. It was slightly closer to the mines than Eureka , which gave Union an early advantage. What was to become the first significant town on Humboldt Bay began as Union Company employees laid out the plaza and first city streets in the Spring of 1850. By later in the 1850s redwood timber replaced the depleted gold fields as the economic driver for
9120-401: The full sum of money could pay half the cost for the bride. In doing so, the couple was considered “half-married.” Half-married couples lived with the bride's family and the groom would then become a slave for them. Furthermore, their children would take on the mother's last name. In cases of divorce , either spouse could initiate their split. The most frequent reason for divorce was if the wife
9234-572: The land which makes up Arcata Community Forest was occupied by the indigenous Wiyot people. The Wiyot community used the Arcata forestlands for hunting, fishing, as well as other practices. In the 1850s, European settlers began to occupy the Humboldt Bay region and Wiyot people were driven off the land. Until 1964, this land was used as the municipal water source, obtaining its supply from Gannon Creek, Preston Creek (Jolly Giant), and Janes Creek. Historically, steelhead and salmon migrated upstream into all
9348-521: The late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries suggest an estimated 650,000 to 1 million adult salmon used to make the run from the mouth of the river to Upper Klamath Lake and beyond to spawn. Also, more than 100,000 spring-run Chinook would return each year. Yet, by August 2023, the Yurok salmon festival missed its basic ingredient - salmon. Because of the scarcity of salmon, the Yurok have been catalysed into "the need to fight for their main sources of nutrition and for their very way of life". But with
9462-459: The local community." In 2023, Frankie Myers of the Yurok tribe wrote that since colonization began, natural resource extraction had devestated indigenous communities. This has led to a great mistrust of industry, so that when the offshore wind industry tells people about the great opportunities it will bring, native peoples remain sceptical. Further, during Yurok sacred ceremonies, mountain peaks are often used "which offer an unobstructed view of
9576-561: The name of the tribe in his book, Observations on the Indians of the Klamath River and Humboldt Bay, Accompanying Vocabularies of Their Languages , published in 1887. These names all developed from the way the river was, and still is, centered in the worldview of the people of the Yurok Tribe. Traditionally, the people of the Yurok Tribe would refer to villages down river as Pue-lik-lo' (meaning 'Down River Indian'), villages upriver as Pey-cheek-lo' (meaning 'Up River Indian'), and villages on
9690-429: The object. For instance, one human being would be ko:ra' or ko'r , two human beings would be ni'iyel , and three human beings would be nahkseyt . The Yurok traditionally fished for salmon along rivers, gathered ocean fish and shellfish, hunted game, and gathered plants. Yurok ate varied berries and meats, with whale meat being prized. Yuroks did not hunt whales , but waited until a drift whale washed up onto
9804-419: The ocean" and some of the last places that they can see the world as their ancestors had seen it. Yet the Yurok, traditional managers of their local ecosystem , had a lack of outreach from the corporations involved. In the future, tribal nations may decide to support offshore wind development, but that they "must be in leadership positions through every phase of the process". While offshore wind can help provide
9918-469: The only group allowed to perform religious duties. Furthermore, they had homes at higher elevations, wore nicer clothing, and spoke in a distinctive manner. The primary reason men became slaves was because they owed money to certain families. Nonetheless, slavery was not considered to be a significant institution. Overall, the higher a man's social ranking was, the more valuable his life was considered. When daughters got married, Yurok families would receive
10032-466: The option of enrolling in the Yurok Tribe. Of the 3,685 qualified applicants for the Settlement Roll, 2,955 people chose Yurok membership. 227 of those members had a mailing address on the Yurok reservation, but a majority lived within 50 miles of the reservation. The Yurok Tribe is currently the largest group of Native Americans in the state of California, with 6357 enrolled members living in or around
10146-413: The other being Wiyot . Between twenty and one hundred people speak the Yurok language today. The language is passed on through master-apprentice teams and through singing. Language classes have been offered through Humboldt State University and through annual language immersion camps. An unusual feature of the language is that certain nouns change depending upon whether there is one, two, or three of
10260-499: The population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. The composition of Arcata's households reflects the large number of unrelated college-age students living together. Of the 7,051 households in Arcata, only 19.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, only 25.9% were married couples living together, 10.4% had a female householder with no husband present, while 60.1% were non-families. 34.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.1% had someone living alone who
10374-425: The population. Those age 40–54 made up 16% of Arcata's population. Those age 55–64 made up 6.7% of Arcata's population. Those age 65 and over made up 6.9% of Arcata's population . Overall, census data reflects a lowering in the age of the Arcata population, due to an influx of young workers, due to there not being enough time after the bust for older workers to leave, in the decade between 1950 and 1960, during which
10488-424: The population. Those of retirement age (age 65 and older) made up 9.1% of the population. For Arcata specifically, those age 65 and older were 8.3% of the population in 1950, and the median age was 29.4 years. After the bust in 1955, the population of Arcata in 1960 was 5,235. In Arcata the population under the age of 15 was 28.1%. Those age 15–24 made up 22.8% of Arcata's population. Those age 25–39 made up 19.4% of
10602-407: The region and Eureka became the principal city on the bay due to its possession of the better harbor, gaining it the county seat by the end of the decade. The Union town post office opened in 1852, and the town changed its name to Arcata in 1860. In 1886, concern over the growing number of unassimilated immigrants led Arcata to expel its Chinese population and enact the following resolution: "We,
10716-678: The reservation comprises some 56,000 acres (23,000 ha) of contiguous land along the Klamath River, only about 5,000 acres (2,000 ha) of scattered plots are under partial tribal ownership. Most Yurok land is owned by timber corporations or is part of national parks and forests. This forest management has significantly disempowered the Yurok people and disrupted their ability to access natural resources, land, and practice Indigenous lifeways. The Yurok refer to themselves as ' Oohl ("person") or 'O'loolekweesh 'o'l / 'Oolekwoh (lit. "'o'loolekw [= "village"] dwellers"). Ner'ernerh / Nert'ernerh ("Coast people, i.e. Coast Yurok") refers to Yurok on
10830-413: The reservation for the benefit of the timber industry or a "fine stand of timber" prevented Yurok modes of subsistence. As such the researchers note that Yurok were divested from their forest resources for the following reasons: "by straightforward expropriation of their lands, as Yurok property rights were ignored and access to gathering sites was cut off; and through ecological change brought about by
10944-585: The social hierarchy that is crucial to the survival of a flock. Two condors were released in May 2022 from a pen in Redwood National Park. A third juvenile was released a few weeks later with the fourth being allowed outside the release pen in July. Each bird must leave the program area voluntarily after entering and exiting a staging pen with the birds being monitored for their safety by researchers who remain hidden in
11058-406: The statue was removed from the Plaza in preparation for its relocation. Arcata also features a large number of original Victorian structures, many of which have been restored. The Wiyot people, the original inhabitants of the area, call the Plaza "Goad-la-nah" for the "land a little above the water". Arcata's Minor Theater is one of the oldest movies-only theaters in the United States which
11172-586: The timber industry peaked and busted. As of the census of 2000, there were 16,651 people, 7,051 households, and 2,813 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,812.1 inhabitants per square mile (699.7/km ). There were 7,272 housing units at an average density of 791.4 units per square mile (305.6 units/km ). The racial makeup of the city in 2010 is 76.3% non-Hispanic White , 1.9% non-Hispanic Black or African American , 1.9% Native American , 2.5% Asian , 0.2% Pacific Islander , 0.6% from other races , and 5.0% from two or more races. 11.6% of
11286-422: The tribal elders informs the restoration program. In preparation, they have tested local wildlife for organochlorine pesticides such as DDT and for exposure to lead . They built a re-introduction and handling facility and received a clear Environment Impact Statement . An adult condor was brought in to mentor four juvenile birds who would be released. An adult not only serves as a role model but also enforces
11400-444: The tribe's cultural resources said: "This is work that we’ve always done, and continued to fight for, but I feel like the rest of world is catching up right now and starting to see that Native people know how to manage this land the best". In 1995, researchers observed that "control of reservation and allotment [of] natural resources has been withheld from them [Yurok people] under the auspices of scientific forest management." Managing
11514-407: The vote. Arcata is a hub of liberal thought typical of a college town, a place where environmentalism and social activism are broadly embraced. Humboldt County fits the statewide trend of increasingly liberal coastal counties and conservative interior counties, but some conservative voters remain. College students have, at times, been mayor or city council members. Arcata was the first city to have
11628-520: The world, where strange but enviable peoples live who suck the flesh of univalves." California condors (Yurok name 'prey-go-neesh') are understood as beings of great spiritual power by the Indigenous people in the Pacific Northwest and California . Yurok, Wiyot, and other tribes use the shed feathers in ceremonies to treat the sick. The Yurok Tribe Northern California Condor Restoration Program
11742-407: Was infertile . If the woman wanted a divorce and to take the children with her, her family had to refund the husband for his initial payment. Estimates for the pre-contact populations of most native groups in California have varied substantially. Alfred L. Kroeber put the 1770 population of the Yurok at 2500. Sherburne F. Cook initially agreed, but later raised this estimate to 3100. By 1870,
11856-426: Was 1.2%; the rental vacancy rate was 2.2%. 5,496 people (31.9% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 9,990 people (58.0%) lived in rental housing units. The 2018 population of Arcata, California is 18,989 based on projected census data. The US Census estimates the current population of Arcata to be 18,989, of which 5,698 are students at California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt . In 2019,
11970-474: Was 26 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.9 males. As of 2002, there were 8,210 employed persons living in Arcata and an unemployment rate of 7.2%. For many years the timber industry dominated Arcata's economy. Today, the majority of Arcata jobs come from government (including schools and Cal Poly Humboldt), the city's many owner-resident small businesses, some lumber and food manufacturing, and
12084-450: Was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.16 and the average family size was 2.81. Arcata's age cohorts are also distorted by a large percentage of college-age students. Only 15.3% of Arcata residents are under the age of 18, while nearly a third (32.3%) fall between ages 18 and 24, and 27.8% are 25 to 44 years old. Among older age cohorts, 15.9% are 45 to 64 years old, and 8.7% were 65 years of age or older. The median age
12198-476: Was bought by the Save the Redwoods League in 2013 after having been a lumber mill for 50 years. Plans for 'O Rew, originally one of dozens of villages on ancestral lands, include traditional redwood plank houses, a sweat house and a visitor and cultural centre. The centre will be displaying sacred artefacts from deerskins to baskets, as well as serving as a hub for the Yurok to carry out their traditions. Rosie Clayburn,
12312-591: Was built in 1990. The Jump Dance and Brush Dance remain part of tribal ceremonies. The tribe's involvement in condor reintroduction, along with traditional burning , environmental restoration , wildfire preparedness, the drought, and juvenile fish kill, was discussed with Governor Gavin Newsom when he visited in June 2021. The tribe owns and operates a casino, river jet boat tours and other tourist attractions. The Yurok Tribe Construction Corporation has several projects that it
12426-400: Was dedicated as the first city-owned community forest in the State of California. Since then it has served many functions including recreation, education, sustainable timber harvesting, and wildlife habitat. The forest serves as the headwaters of many of Arcata's urban streams . In 1979, the citizens of Arcata passed the "Forest Management and Parkland Initiative." The intent of the legislation
12540-510: Was exported throughout the country and abroad. For the County of Humboldt, the age distribution for urban residents, which would include Arcata, had 23.7% of the population under the age of 15. Those that would be considered young workers (age 15–24) made up 14% of the population. "Normal" aged workers (age 25–39) made up 23.9% of the population. Older working age (age 40–54) made up 19.4% of the population. Pre-retirement aged (age 55–64) made up 9.7% of
12654-452: Was forced to leave the Humboldt Bay area after he editorialized his disgust with the incident. The Spaniards claimed the area but never settled it; the first permanent settlements occurred after California was admitted to the Union. Arcata was first settled as Union in 1850. Union was created as a port, and reprovisioning center for the gold mines in the Klamath, Trinity, and Salmon mountains to
12768-510: Was owned by the eldest male and in each lived several generations of men related on their father's side of the family as well as their wives, children, daughters’ husbands, unmarried relatives, and adopted kin. Yurok villages also consisted of sweat houses and menstrual huts . Sweat houses were designated for men of an extended patrilineal family as a place to gather. While during their menstruation cycles, women stayed in separate under-ground huts for ten days. Additionally, inheritance of land
12882-400: Was predominantly patrilineal. The majority of the estate was passed down to the fathers’ sons. Daughters and male relatives were also expected to acquire a portion of the estate. Yurok society had no chiefs, but in each village, a wealthy man known as a peyerk acted as leader, who was trained by elders. The peyerk 's training would include a vision quest in which he would communicate with
12996-461: Was to develop a responsible and ecologically sensitive long-term forest management program, which would provide timber-harvest revenues for the acquisition and development of City parkland. In 1998 the Arcata Community Forest was the first municipal forest certified in the U.S. under the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). Since that time additional acreage has been protected, such as the 175-acre (0.71 km ) Sunny Brae Forest acquisition in 2006, and
#30969