:Humboldt County, California

The original inhabitants of the area now known as Humboldt County include the Algic Wiyot, Yurok; the Hokan Karuk; and the Athapaskan Hupa, Chilula, Whilkut, Tsnungwe as well as the Eel River Athapaskan peoples, including the Wailaki, Mattole and Nongatl.Van Kirk, Susie, [http://www.humboldthistory.org/briefhist.html Humboldt County: A Briefest of Histories] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080827173209/http://humboldthistory.org/briefhist.html|date=August 27, 2008}}, Humboldt County Historical Society, May 1999.

Spanish traders made unintended visits to California with the Manila Galleons on their return trips from the Philippines beginning in 1565. The first recorded entry by people of European origin was a landing by the Spanish in 1775 in Trinidad.

The first recorded entry of Humboldt Bay by non-natives was an 1806 visit from a sea otter hunting party from Sitka employed by the Russian American Company. The hunting party included Captain Jonathan Winship, an American, and some Aleut hunters.[http://ceres.ca.gov/geo_area/counties/Humboldt/landmarks.html Humboldt County State Designated Historical Landmarks] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120323095423/http://ceres.ca.gov/geo_area/counties/Humboldt/landmarks.html|date=March 23, 2012}}. California Historical Landmarks. The bay was not visited again by people of European origin until 1849 when Josiah Gregg's party visited. In 1850, Douglas Ottinger and Hans Buhne entered the bay, naming it Humboldt in honor of the great naturalist and explorer Alexander von Humboldt, and the name was later applied to the county as a whole.{{Cite web |title=Why is Everything Named Humboldt? |url=https://www.ourcityforest.org/blog/2016/6/17/why-is-everything-named-humboldt |access-date=April 27, 2023 |website=Our City Forest |date=June 24, 2016 |language=en-US}}

The area around Humboldt Bay was once solely inhabited by the Wiyot Indian tribe. One of the largest Wiyot villages, Tolowot, was located on Indian Island in Humboldt Bay. Founded around 900 BC, it contains a shell midden {{convert|6|acre|ha}} in size and {{convert|14|ft|m}} deep. It was the site of the February 26, 1860, massacre of the Wiyot people that was recorded by Bret Harte, then living in Union, now called Arcata. Between 60 and 200 Wiyot men, women, and children were murdered that night in the midst of a religious ceremony. Tolowot is now a restricted site and a National Historic Landmark. In 2019, the island was restored to the Wiyot tribe, and is now known as Tuluwat or Duluwat island.

File:Images from DOI 10.5479 sil.131145.39088002742823 03.jpg

Humboldt County was formed in 1853 from parts of Trinity County.

State historic landmarks in Humboldt County include Arcata and Mad River Railroad, California's First Drilled Oil Wells in Petrolia, Camp Curtis, Centerville Beach Cross, the city of Eureka, the Victorian town of Ferndale, Fort Humboldt, Humboldt Harbor Historical District, the Jacoby Building, The Old Arrow Tree, Old Indian Village of Tsurai, the Town of Trinidad, and Trinidad Head.

On February 5 and 6, 1885, Eureka's entire Chinese population of 300 men and 20 women were expelled after a gunfight between rival Chinese gangs (tongs) resulted in the wounding of a 12-year-old boy and the death of 56-year-old David Kendall, a Eureka City Councilman. After the shooting, an angry mob of 600 Eureka residents met and informed the Chinese that they were no longer wanted in Eureka and would be hanged if they were to stay in town past 3 p.m. the next day. They were put on two steamships and shipped to San Francisco. No one was killed in the expulsion. Another Chinese expulsion occurred during 1906 in a cannery on the Eel River, in which 23 Chinese cannery workers were expelled after objections to their presence. However, some Chinese remained in the Orleans area, where some white landowners sheltered and purchased food for the Chinese mineworkers until after racial tension passed. Chinese did not return to the coastal cities until the 1950s.{{Cite web |title=North Coast Journal – Feb. 207, 2003: COVER STORY – The Chinese Expulsion – Looking Back on a dark episode |url=https://www.northcoastjournal.com/022703/cover0227.html |access-date=April 27, 2023 |website=www.northcoastjournal.com}}

According to the United States Census Bureau, Humboldt County encompasses {{convert|4,052|mi2|km2}}, of which {{convert|3,568|mi2|km2}} is land and {{convert|484|mi2|km2}} is water.{{cite web|url=http://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/counties_list_06.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=September 26, 2015|date=August 22, 2012|title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files}}

Cape Mendocino is the westernmost point in California (longitude 124 degrees, 24 minutes, 30 seconds). Humboldt Bay, the only deepwater port between San Francisco and Coos Bay, Oregon, is located on the coast at the midpoint of the county.

Humboldt County contains a diversity of plant and animal species, with significant forest and coastal habitats. In coastal areas there are extensive redwood forests.Neil G. Sugihara, Jan W. Van Wagtendonk, Kevin E. Shaffer, JoAnn Fites-Kaufman, Andrea E. Thode (2006) Fire in California's Ecosystems, University of California Press, 596 pages. {{ISBN|0-520-24605-5}}. A prominent understory shrub is the toyon, whose northern range limit is in Humboldt County.C. Michael Hogan (2008) Toyon: Heteromeles arbutifolia, GlobalTwitcher.com, ed. N. Stromberg {{cite web |title=Toyon (Heteromeles arbutifolia ) – GlobalTwitcher.com |url=http://globaltwitcher.auderis.se/artspec_information.asp?thingid%3D84109 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090906195121/http://globaltwitcher.auderis.se/artspec_information.asp?thingid=84109 |archive-date=September 6, 2009 |access-date=December 16, 2008}}

Image:Arcata CA.jpg on the Pacific Coast]]

Image:Humboldtrockefellerforest.jpg, the largest remaining old-growth Redwood forest on earth, is located within Humboldt Redwoods State Park.]]

Humboldt County's major rivers include (in order of flow – in cubic meters per second – from largest to smallest):

• Klamath River
• Eel River
• Trinity River
• Mad River

The smaller rivers include Redwood Creek, significant due to amount of its flow; the Van Duzen; the Eel River syncline group composed of the South Fork, the North Fork, and the Salt River; the Mattole, Salmon, Elk, Bear, and Little rivers.

Historically, Humboldt County and the entire far north coast of California have had many earthquakes over 6.0 magnitude. The Mendocino fracture zone is in the area.{{cite news |last1=Bush |first1=Evan |date=5 December 2024 |title=Tsunami warnings triggered in California and Oregon after 7.0-magnitude earthquake |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/tsunami-warning-triggered-california-70-magnitude-earthquake-rcna183064 |access-date=5 December 2024}}

The 1992 Cape Mendocino earthquakes were a series of three major earthquakes that occurred off the coast of Cape Mendocino, California on April 25 and 26, 1992, the largest being a 7.2. Ninety-five people were injured and property in the county sustained considerable damage.[https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/states/events/1992_04_25_26.php Cape Mendocino, California Earthquakes ] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161201081440/https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/states/events/1992_04_25_26.php|date=December 1, 2016}}, U.S.G.S. (April 25, 1992).

In 2010, a 6.5 magnitude earthquake struck offshore, {{convert|33|mi|abbr=on}} west of Eureka, resulting in only minor injuries and some structural damage to houses and utilities, and no fatalities reported.[https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/recenteqsww/Quakes/nc71338066.php Magnitude 6.5 – OFFSHORE NORTHERN CALIFORNIA] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121011152157/http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/recenteqsww/Quakes/nc71338066.php|date=October 11, 2012}}, U.S.G.S. (January 9, 2010).

In 2022, a 6.4 magnitude earthquake centered approximately {{convert|10|mi|km}} from Ferndale caused damage, especially in Rio Dell.{{Cite web |last1=Johnson |first1=Julie |last2=Flores |first2=Jessica |last3=Morris |first3=J. D. |last4=Tucker |first4=Jill |date=December 20, 2022 |title=Two dead in 6.4 magnitude California earthquake that caused widespread damage |url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/california/article/6-4-magnitude-earthquake-strikes-northern-17666216.php |access-date=March 10, 2023 |website=San Francisco Chronicle |language=en-US}}

The 2024 Cape Mendocino earthquake was a M_ww  7.0 earthquake with an epicenter off the coast of Humboldt County.

The town of Arcata is built on top of an accretionary wedge. This was formed by the subduction of the Gorda plate under the North American plate.{{cite book |last1=Thompson |first1=Jerry |title=Cascadia's Fault |date=March 10, 2012 |publisher=Counterpoint Press |isbn=978-1582438245 |pages=352 |quote="The towns of Eureka and Arcata were built on top of it..." (the accretionary wedge).}}

The coastal zone of the county experiences very wet, cool winters and dry, mild foggy summers. In the winter, temperatures range from highs of {{convert|40|-|59|F}} to lows of {{convert|32|-|49|F}}. Coastal summers are cool to mild, with average highs of {{convert|60|-|69|F}} and frequent fog. Coastal summer temperatures range from highs of {{convert|64|-|70|F}} to lows of {{convert|46|-|55|F}}. In the populated areas and cities near the coast, the highest temperatures tend to occur at locations just a few miles inland from Eureka and Arcata, in towns like Fortuna, Rio Dell, and smaller unincorporated communities located somewhat further away from Humboldt Bay. In these locations summer highs are {{convert|70|-|75|F}}. The coastal zone experiences a number of frosty nights in winter and early spring, though snowfall and hard freezes are rare. Coastal winters are cool and wet. Winter rainstorms are frequent, with averages from {{convert|30|to|100|in|mm|sigfig=2}} a year, depending upon elevation.

Inland areas of the county also experience wet, cool winters. Snowfall is common at elevations over {{convert|3000|ft|m|abbr=on}} throughout the winter months, and is deep enough at higher elevations to have inspired the opening of a small ski lift operation (now defunct) on Horse Mountain, near Willow Creek, for several decades in the late 20th century. Summer displays the sharpest difference between the coastal and inland climates. Inland regions of Humboldt County experience highs of {{convert|80|-|99|F}} depending on the elevation and distance from the ocean. Occasional summer highs of {{convert|100|F}} are common in eastern and southern parts of the county including Orleans, Hoopa, Willow Creek, Garberville, Honeydew, and inland river valleys.

{{US Census population

| 1860 = 2694

| 1870 = 6140

| 1880 = 15512

| 1890 = 23469

| 1900 = 27104

| 1910 = 33857

| 1920 = 37413

| 1930 = 43233

| 1940 = 45812

| 1950 = 69241

| 1960 = 104892

| 1970 = 99692

| 1980 = 108514

| 1990 = 119118

| 2000 = 126518

| 2010 = 134623

| align-fn = center

| footnote = U.S. Decennial Census{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=U.S. Decennial Census|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=September 26, 2015}}
1790–1960{{cite web|url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu|title=Historical Census Browser|publisher=University of Virginia Library|access-date=September 26, 2015}} 1900–1990{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/ca190090.txt|title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990|publisher=United States Census Bureau|editor-last=Forstall|editor-first=Richard L.|date=March 27, 1995|access-date=September 26, 2015}}
1990–2000{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf|title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000|publisher=United States Census Bureau|date=April 2, 2001|access-date=September 26, 2015}} 2010–2015

| 2020 = 136463

|estyear=2024

|estimate=132380

|estref={{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/data/tables.html|title=Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2024|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=May 9, 2025}}

}}

The 2010 United States census reported that Humboldt County had a population of 134,623. The racial makeup of Humboldt County was 109,920 (81.7%) White, 1,505 (1.1%) African American, 7,726 (5.7%) Native American, 2,944 (2.2%) Asian, 352 (0.3%) Pacific Islander, 5,003 (3.7%) from other races, and 7,173 (5.3%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 13,211 persons (9.8%).{{USCensus2010CA}}

File:Lanphere Dunes.jpg, a protected coastal environment]]

As of the 2000 census, the population of Humboldt County was 126,518. As of that census, there were 51,238 households in Humboldt County, and the population density was {{convert|35|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people |people}}. By 2006, the population was projected to have increased to 131,361 by the California Department of Finance.{{cite web |url=http://www.dof.ca.gov/HTML/FS_DATA/STAT-ABS/Statistical_Abstract.php |title=California State Statistical Abstract 2007 |publisher=Dof.ca.gov |access-date=March 6, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120304024208/http://www.dof.ca.gov/HTML/FS_DATA/STAT-ABS/Statistical_Abstract.php |archive-date=March 4, 2012 |url-status=dead }} There were 55,912 housing units at an average density of {{convert|16|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units |units|}}.{{citation needed|date=June 2007}} The racial makeup of the county was 84.7% White, 0.9% Black or African American, 5.7% Native American, 1.7% Asian, 0.2% Pacific Islander, 2.5% from other races, and 4.4% from two or more races. In 2017, 11.7% of the population were Hispanic or Latino according to the United States Census Bureau. 13.3% were of German, 10.7% Irish, 10.3% English, 7.4% American and 5.7% Italian ancestry according to Census 2000. 92.1% spoke English and 4.6% spoke Spanish as their first language.

There were 51,238 households, out of which 28.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.1% were married couples living together, 11.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.2% were non-families. 28.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.95.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 23.2% under the age of 18, 12.4% from 18 to 24, 27.4% from 25 to 44, 24.5% from 45 to 64, and 12.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 97.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.6 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $31,226, and the median income for a family was $39,370. Males had a median income of $32,210 versus $23,942 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,203. About 12.9% of families and 19.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.5% of those under age 18 and 7.2% of those age 65 or over.

Humboldt County is known for its impressive redwood trees,{{Cite web |last=Harrsell |first=Ashley |date=May 2, 2023 |title=State officials block private tours in one of NorCal's best parks |url=https://www.sfgate.com/california-parks/article/local-guides-blocked-humboldt-redwoods-state-park-18000927.php |access-date=May 2, 2023 |website=SFGATE |language=en-US}} and many acres of private redwood timberland make Humboldt the top timber producer in California. The lush river bottoms adjacent to the ocean produce rich, high-quality dairy products. Somewhat further inland, the warmer valleys have historically produced abundant apples and other fruit. More recently vineyards have been planted in the Trinity, Klamath, Mattole and upper Eel river areas.

Notable local companies include:

• Cypress Grove Chevre
• Humboldt Creamery
• Lost Coast Brewery
• C. Crane Company
• Holly Yashi
• Eel River Brewing Company
• Six Rivers Brewery
• Restoration Hardware
• Pacific Lumber Company

Humboldt County is known for its family-operated dairy farms. The Humboldt Creamery, a significant producer of high-grade ice cream and other dairy products, operates from the original headquarters located at Fernbridge adjacent to the Eel River.{{cite web | first = Emily | last = Wilson | title = On ice cream, organic milk and avoiding corporate takeovers | publisher = The North Coast Journal |date = November 2, 2006 | url = http://www.northcoastjournal.com/110206/food1102.html | access-date = December 29, 2008}}

{{further|Cannabis in California}}

File:Humboldt_County_Indoor_Grow_2020.jpg

As part of the Emerald Triangle, Humboldt County is known for its cultivation of cannabis, estimated to be worth billions of dollars.[https://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/law/july-dec10/marijuana_10-13.html California to Let Voters Decide on Marijuana Legalization] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140122085418/http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/law/july-dec10/marijuana_10-13.html |date=January 22, 2014 }}, PBS NewsHour, aired October 13, 2010.{{Cite web |date=February 16, 2023 |title=Home Page {{!}} |url=https://culture.org/ |access-date=April 27, 2023 |website=Culture |language=en-US}} Proposition 215 allows patients and caregivers who are given a doctor's recommendation to legally (State level only) grow up to 99 plants in Humboldt County.{{cite web |url=http://www.safeaccessnow.net/humboldt.htm |title=Humboldt County Medical Marijuana Guidelines |publisher=Safeaccessnow.net |access-date=March 6, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120227081018/http://www.safeaccessnow.net/humboldt.htm |archive-date=February 27, 2012 |url-status=dead }}{{Cite magazine |date=July 21, 2008 |title=Dr. Kush |url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2008/07/28/dr-kush |access-date=April 27, 2023 |magazine=The New Yorker |language=en-US}} However, in the years before Prop 215 (early 1970s – late 1980s), Humboldt County saw a large migration of the Bay Area counter-culture to the region. Many came looking to purchase cheap land, and ended up growing marijuana to pay for their land. Especially around Garberville and Redway, the rural culture and hippie scene eventually collaborated to create a rural hippie community in which marijuana became the center of the economy and the culture. Many people prospered by producing marijuana for California and other states because of its reputation for quality.{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.newyorker.com/news/dispatch/how-legalization-changed-humboldt-county-weed|title=How Legalization Changed Humboldt County Marijuana|last=Witt|first=Emily|date=May 20, 2019|magazine=The New Yorker|access-date=May 21, 2019|language=en|issn=0028-792X}} A Redway radio station, KMUD, in the past has issued warnings and alerts to the region with information on whereabouts of law enforcement on their way to raid marijuana gardens.{{cite web |last=Anderson |first=Glenda |url=http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20100425/ARTICLES/100429643?tc=ar |title=Garberville's KMUD radio alerts: Helpful or dangerous? |publisher=PressDemocrat.com |date=April 25, 2010 |access-date=March 6, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120307175036/http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20100425/ARTICLES/100429643?tc=ar |archive-date=March 7, 2012 |url-status=dead }}{{r|TNY 2019-05-20}}

The Campaign Against Marijuana Planting is the multi-agency law enforcement task force managed by the California Department of Justice, formed with the prime purpose of eradicating illegal cannabis production in California. The operations began in the late 1970s, named the Northern California Sinsemilla Strike Force in 1979, but the name CAMP became used after its official establishment in 1983. While the influence of CAMP in Humboldt County has waned with decriminalization of marijuana, there is a renewed interest at the state level regarding valid growing permits and environmental concerns. As a result, CAMP is today still used as a policing body, in accordance with the DEA.{{cite archive|series=CAMP Reports collection =|collection=Marijuana Research Collection|collection-url=http://library.humboldt.edu/humco/holdings/CAMP.htm|repository=Cal Poly Humboldt Special Collections|institution=Cal Poly Humboldt University|location=Arcata, California}} Yearly CAMP reports, published by the California Department of Justice, Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement (BNE) are available online through Cal Poly Humboldt's Special Collections. Starting in 1983, the annual reports detail the organizational structure and names of individual participants, a summary of the season's activities, tactics, and mention of special successes, trends and hazards.

County officials and the industry have encountered challenges in the transition from an illegal, underground economy to legal recreational cannabis sales that began in California in 2018.{{Cite news|url=https://www.routefifty.com/management/2019/07/challenges-local-pot-regulation/158398/|title=Heaps of Cash, Strong Odors and Other Challenges With Local Pot Regulation|website=Route Fifty|first=Bill|last=Lucia|language=en|access-date=July 20, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190720051008/https://www.routefifty.com/management/2019/07/challenges-local-pot-regulation/158398/|archive-date=July 20, 2019|url-status=dead}}

As of 2023, the county has the largest cannabis farming industry in the Emerald Triangle. While the largest legal pot farm in the county was {{convert|8|acres}}, a 2021 survey found the median pot farm sito be as {{convert|0.09|ha||order=flip}}.{{Cite news |last=Black |first=Lester |date=August 21, 2023 |title=Critics warn 'Karen initiative' could wipe out Calif. pot farms |work=SFGate |url=https://www.sfgate.com/cannabis/article/humboldt-county-initiative-cannabis-farms-18299312.php}}

Humboldt County children are at greater risk of dangerously elevated blood lead levels than Flint, Michigan's – and almost double that of any other California county measured. The cases are concentrated in Eureka's Old Town and downtown areas.{{cite news |title=Audit Reveals Failure to Test Millions of Babies for Lead |url=https://www.northcoastjournal.com/humboldt/audit-reveals-failure-to-test-millions-of-babies-for-lead/Content?oid=16241991 |work=North Coast Journal |language=en}}{{cite news |title=(UPDATED) Lead Poisoning Rate in Eureka Children is Higher Than Among Kids in Flint, Michigan |url=https://lostcoastoutpost.com/2017/mar/22/lead-poisoning-rate-eureka-children-higher-flint-m/ |work=Lost Coast Outpost |language=en}}{{cite web |title=California Local Health Jurisdictions,by Percent of Children Under 6 Years Old with a Blood Lead Level of 4.5 mcg/dL or Greater, in Descending Order, with Estimates of Children in Medi-Cal and Total Population, 2018 |url=https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CCDPHP/DEODC/CLPPB/CDPH%20Document%20Library/2018_BLL_Maps_Tables.pdf |website=www.cdph.ca.gov}}

;National Park

• Redwood National and State Parks – National Park Service

;Conservation area

• King Range National Conservation Area and The Lost Coast – Bureau of Land Management

;Recreation area

• Samoa Dunes Recreation Area – Bureau of Land Management

;Forests

• Headwaters Forest Reserve – Bureau of Land Management
• Six Rivers National Forest – U.S. Forest Service
• Trinity National Forest – U.S. Forest Service

;Wildlife refuge

• Humboldt Bay National Wildlife Refuge – Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

;Beaches

• Little River State Beach
• Trinidad State Beach

;Parks

• Fort Humboldt State Historic Park
• Grizzly Creek Redwoods State Park
• Humboldt Lagoons State Park
• Humboldt Redwoods State Park
• Sue-meg State Park
• Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park
• Richardson Grove State Park
• Sinkyone Wilderness State Park

;Tide pools

• Sue-meg State Park
• Moonstone Beach
• Indian Beach (also known as Old Home Beach)

;Recreation areas

• Benbow State Recreation Area
• Harry A. Merlo State Recreation Area

;Reserves

• Azalea State Reserve
• John B. Dewitt Redwoods State Reserve

{{Div col|colwidth=22em}}

• A. W. Way[http://co.humboldt.ca.us/portal/living/county_parks/default.asp?parkID=AWP A.W. Way Park] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029204022/http://co.humboldt.ca.us/portal/living/county_parks/default.asp?parkID=AWP |date=October 29, 2013 }}, Humboldt County Parks, 2013
• Big Lagoon County Park[http://co.humboldt.ca.us/portal/living/county_parks/default.asp?parkID=BLP Big Lagoon Park] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029203850/http://co.humboldt.ca.us/portal/living/county_parks/default.asp?parkID=BLP |date=October 29, 2013 }}, Humboldt County Parks, 2013
• Centerville Beach[http://co.humboldt.ca.us/portal/living/county_parks/default.asp?parkID=CB Centerville Beach] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029203331/http://co.humboldt.ca.us/portal/living/county_parks/default.asp?parkID=CB |date=October 29, 2013 }}, Humboldt County Parks, 2013
• Clam Beach[http://co.humboldt.ca.us/portal/living/county_parks/default.asp?parkID=CLAM Clam Beach] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029203847/http://co.humboldt.ca.us/portal/living/county_parks/default.asp?parkID=CLAM |date=October 29, 2013 }}, Humboldt County Parks, 2013
• Crab Park[http://co.humboldt.ca.us/portal/living/county_parks/default.asp?parkID=CRAB Crab Park] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029204205/http://co.humboldt.ca.us/portal/living/county_parks/default.asp?parkID=CRAB |date=October 29, 2013 }}, Humboldt County Parks, 2013
• Freshwater County Park[http://co.humboldt.ca.us/portal/living/county_parks/default.asp?parkID=FP Freshwater Park] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029203330/http://co.humboldt.ca.us/portal/living/county_parks/default.asp?parkID=FP |date=October 29, 2013 }}, Humboldt County Parks, 2013
• Hammond Trail[http://co.humboldt.ca.us/portal/living/county_parks/default.asp?parkID=HAMMOND Hammond Trail] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029204203/http://co.humboldt.ca.us/portal/living/county_parks/default.asp?parkID=HAMMOND |date=October 29, 2013 }}, Humboldt County Parks, 2013
• Luffenholtz Beach[http://co.humboldt.ca.us/portal/living/county_parks/default.asp?parkID=LB Luffenholtz Beach] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029203636/http://co.humboldt.ca.us/portal/living/county_parks/default.asp?parkID=LB |date=October 29, 2013 }}, Humboldt County Parks, 2013
• Mad River, California[http://co.humboldt.ca.us/portal/living/county_parks/default.asp?parkID=MR Mad River] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029202649/http://co.humboldt.ca.us/portal/living/county_parks/default.asp?parkID=MR |date=October 29, 2013 }}, Humboldt County Parks, 2013
• Margarite Lockwood[http://co.humboldt.ca.us/portal/living/county_parks/default.asp?parkID=LOCKWOOD Margarite Lockwood] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029204201/http://co.humboldt.ca.us/portal/living/county_parks/default.asp?parkID=LOCKWOOD |date=October 29, 2013 }}, Humboldt County Parks, 2013
• Moonstone Beach[http://co.humboldt.ca.us/portal/living/county_parks/default.asp?parkID=MOON Moonstone Beach] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029203637/http://co.humboldt.ca.us/portal/living/county_parks/default.asp?parkID=MOON |date=October 29, 2013 }}, Humboldt County Parks, 2013
• Van Duzen Pamplin Grove[http://co.humboldt.ca.us/portal/living/county_parks/default.asp?parkID=VDUZEN2 Van Duzen Pamplin Grove] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029193031/http://co.humboldt.ca.us/portal/living/county_parks/default.asp?parkID=VDUZEN2 |date=October 29, 2013 }}, Humboldt County Parks, 2013

{{div col end}}

• The Sequoia Park Zoo is the oldest zoo in California operating on a {{convert|7|acre|ha}} facility operated by the City of Eureka in {{convert|60|acre|ha}} Sequoia Park.{{Cite web |title=Welcome to Sequoia Park Zoo – Eureka's Fun Size Zoo – 707-441-4263 |url=https://sequoiaparkzoo.net/ |access-date=April 27, 2023 |website=Sequoia Park Zoo |language=en-US}}
• The Clarke Historical Museum in Eureka, displays North Coast regional and cultural history in the repurposed Historic Register Bank of Eureka building.
• The Ferndale Museum, in Ferndale, houses and exhibits artifacts, documents and papers from settlement during the California Gold Rush to the 1950s covering the lower Eel River Valley.{{Cite web |title=ABOUT US {{!}} Ferndale Museum |url=https://ferndalemuseum.com/about-us |access-date=March 10, 2023 |website=ferndalemuseum.com}}
• The Morris Graves Museum of Art conserves and displays the works of local artists in a restored Carnegie Library building.
• The Ferndale Repertory Theatre is the county's oldest theater company; it has been in operation since 1972 at the Hart Theater building in Ferndale.{{cite web | title =Ferndale Repertory Theatre | year =2013 | url =http://www.ferndale-rep.org/ | access-date =December 10, 2011 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20111215084855/http://www.ferndale-rep.org/ | archive-date =December 15, 2011 | url-status =dead }}
• The Humboldt Crabs, founded in 1945, are the oldest continuously operated summer collegiate, wood-bat baseball team in the country.{{cite web |title=Team – Humboldt Crabs |url=http://humboldtcrabs.com/team/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107025358/http://humboldtcrabs.com/team/ |archive-date=November 7, 2017 |access-date=October 30, 2017 |website=humboldtcrabs.com}}
• See also the List of museums in the North Coast (California).

Humboldt County is in {{Representative|cacd|2|fmt=district}}.{{Cite GovTrack|CA|2|access-date=March 1, 2013}}

In the state legislature, Humboldt is part of {{Representative|casd|2|fmt=sdistrict}},{{Cite web |url=http://senate.ca.gov/senators |title=Senators |access-date=March 10, 2013 |publisher=State of California}} and {{Representative|caad|2|fmt=adistrict}}.{{Cite web |url=http://assembly.ca.gov/assemblymembers |title=Members Assembly |access-date=March 2, 2013 |publisher=State of California}}

Election audits in the county since 2008 have used a distinctive system which has spread elsewhere. They scan all ballots and release a file of the images with a digital signature, so candidates and the public can recount to find if the official totals are correct. They also release software to let the public tally the images electronically."Trachtenberg Election Verification Software" (TEVS). {{Cite magazine |url=https://www.wired.com/2008/12/unique-transpar/ |title=Unique Transparency Program Uncovers Problems with Voting Software |last=Zetter |first=Kim |date=December 8, 2008 |magazine=WIRED |access-date=April 6, 2018 |language=en-US}} The first time they did this they found the official software omitted 200 ballots.{{Cite magazine |last=Zetter |first=Kim |title=Serious Error in Diebold Voting Software Caused Lost Ballots in California County – Update |language=en-US |magazine=Wired |url=https://www.wired.com/2008/12/unique-election/ |access-date=October 16, 2021 |issn=1059-1028}}{{Cite web |url=https://electionstransparencyproject.org/ |title=The Elections Transparency Project |website=The Elections Transparency Project |language=en-US |access-date=April 24, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180406101849/https://electionstransparencyproject.org/ |archive-date=April 6, 2018 |url-status=dead }}{{Cite web |url=https://sfgov.org/electionscommission/ftp/meetingarchive/www.sfgov2.org/Modules/Humboldt%20Cty%20September%2015-documentid=162.pdf |title=Humboldt County Election Transparency Project |last=Trachtenberg |first=Mitch |website=San Francisco Elections Commission |access-date=April 5, 2018}}{{Cite web |url=http://dickatlee.com/issues/elections/evote/pdfs/EAC_Grant_TEVS_Docs_1.pdf |title=The Humboldt County Election Transparency Project and TEVS |last=Trachtenberg |first=Mitch |date=July 29, 2013 |website=Report for Elections Advisory Commission |access-date=April 5, 2018}}

From 1920 to 1984, the county was a noted bellwether area, voting for the national winner of every Presidential election. Since 1988, Humboldt has swung heavily to the Democratic Party at the Presidential and congressional levels, and is now one of the most Democratic areas in the state outside the Bay Area and Southern California. The last Republican presidential candidate to win a majority in the county was Ronald Reagan, a Californian, in 1984.{{Cite web |title=United States Historical Election Returns Series |url=https://www.icpsr.umich.edu/web/ICPSR/series/59 |access-date=April 27, 2023 |website=www.icpsr.umich.edu}}

In the late 1990s and early 2000s, Humboldt also had a substantial number of people affiliated with the Green Party, but that number has declined in recent years; however, the Green Party has had its best performance by presidential and gubernatorial candidates of any county in the United States in Humboldt County, with Jill Stein gaining her largest county-level number of votes in Humboldt in 2016.{{Citation needed|date=March 2024}}

{{PresHead|place=Humboldt County, California|source={{cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections|last=Leip|first=David|website=uselectionatlas.org|access-date=August 31, 2018}}}}

{{PresRow|2024|Democratic|21,559|39,800|3,284|California}}

{{PresRow|2020|Democratic|21,770|44,768|2,886|California}}

{{PresRow|2016|Democratic|18,373|33,200|8,441|California}}

{{PresRow|2012|Democratic|18,825|34,457|4,404|California}}

{{PresRow|2008|Democratic|21,713|39,692|2,563|California}}

{{PresRow|2004|Democratic|25,714|37,988|2,184|California}}

{{PresRow|2000|Democratic|23,219|24,851|7,902|California}}

{{PresRow|1996|Democratic|19,803|24,628|11,326|California}}

{{PresRow|1992|Democratic|18,299|28,854|12,868|California}}

{{PresRow|1988|Democratic|21,460|29,781|905|California}}

{{PresRow|1984|Republican|27,832|25,217|842|California}}

{{PresRow|1980|Republican|24,047|17,113|7,532|California}}

{{PresRow|1976|Democratic|18,034|23,500|1,838|California}}

{{PresRow|1972|Republican|22,345|21,132|2,286|California}}

{{PresRow|1968|Republican|16,719|16,476|3,019|California}}

{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|12,909|25,515|75|California}}

{{PresRow|1960|Democratic|18,074|20,391|226|California}}

{{PresRow|1956|Republican|19,019|17,025|133|California}}

{{PresRow|1952|Republican|19,949|12,949|293|California}}

{{PresRow|1948|Democratic|10,979|11,268|1,019|California}}

{{PresRow|1944|Democratic|9,127|12,083|50|California}}

{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|9,470|12,329|225|California}}

{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|6,808|11,909|208|California}}

{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|6,795|8,723|577|California}}

{{PresRow|1928|Republican|9,162|3,726|247|California}}

{{PresRow|1924|Republican|6,767|845|4,298|California}}

{{PresRow|1920|Republican|6,528|1,778|1,034|California}}

{{PresRow|1916|Republican|5,786|4,103|1,424|California}}

{{PresRow|1912|Progressive|93|2,887|5,572|California}}

{{PresRow|1908|Republican|4,221|1,206|1,065|California}}

{{PresRow|1904|Republican|4,930|1,249|554|California}}

{{PresRow|1900|Republican|3,902|1,698|284|California}}

{{PresRow|1896|Republican|3,142|2,465|68|California}}

{{PresRow|1892|Republican|2,416|1,844|1,166|California}}

{{PresRow|1888|Republican|2,773|2,014|170|California}}

{{PresRow|1884|Republican|2,184|1,450|419|California}}

{{PresFoot|1880|Republican|1,490|735|726|California}}

In 2018, Humboldt County was featured in the Netflix documentary Murder Mountain which highlighted the county's marijuana industry, violent crime and missing person cases.{{Cite news|url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/netflixs-murder-mountain-where-marijuana-can-kill|title=Netflix's 'Murder Mountain': Where Marijuana Can Kill|last=Leon|first=Melissa|date=January 1, 2019|work=The Daily Beast|access-date=January 4, 2019|language=en}}

As of 2022, Humboldt County ranked fourth out of California's 58 counties in missing adults per capita.{{cite web |url=https://oag.ca.gov/missing/stats |title=Missing Persons Statistics |date=February 28, 2011 |publisher=California Office of the Attorney General |access-date=December 19, 2023}} (See table below)

The following table includes the number of incidents reported and the rate per 1,000 persons for each type of offense.

File:Salmon_Creek_Community_School,_Humboldt_County,_CA.jpg

The List of schools in Humboldt County, California shows the many school districts, including charter and private schools, at the elementary and high school level. Post-secondary education is offered locally at the College of the Redwoods and California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt (Cal Poly Humboldt). Blue Lake's Dell'Arte International School of Physical Theatre offers accredited three-year Masters of Fine Arts degrees in Ensemble Based Physical Theatre. Humboldt County has the lowest starting teacher pay scale in the whole state of California.{{cite web |title=CAPSO – Public School Salary Schedule Data (2021–2022) |url=https://www.capso.org/salarytable16-17/}}

The Times-Standard is the only daily newspaper in the region; in continuous publication since 1854, and owned by Media News Group since 1996,{{Cite book |last=Congress (U.S.) |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dANTZWDDq5wC&pg=PA24116 |title=Congressional Record, V. 150, Pt. 18, November 18, 2004, to November 19 2004 |date=October 28, 2009 |publisher=U.S. Government Printing Office |isbn=978-0-16-084417-1 |language=en}}{{cite web |title=Times-Standard – History |url=http://extras.times-standard.com/about/history.asp |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120917031200/http://extras.times-standard.com/about/history.asp |archive-date=September 17, 2012 |access-date=March 22, 2013 }} They also print three weeklies: the Redwood Times,{{cite news|url=https://www.redwoodtimes.com/2019/01/04/and-now-its-on-former-councilwoman-takes-on-eureka-womens-march/|title=Redwood Times|newspaper=Redwood Times|access-date=January 5, 2019|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190203074324/https://www.redwoodtimes.com/2019/01/04/and-now-its-on-former-councilwoman-takes-on-eureka-womens-march/|archive-date=February 3, 2019}} the Tri-City Weekly,{{cite web|url=http://www.tricityweekly.com/|title=Tri-City Weekly|date=June 21, 2000|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000621221620/http://www.tricityweekly.com/|archive-date=June 21, 2000}} and Northcoast 101.{{cite web|url=http://www.northcoast101.com/|title=North Coast 101|date=August 28, 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080828012558/http://www.northcoast101.com/|archive-date=August 28, 2008}} Other local publications include The Independent,{{Cite news |last=Black |first=Lester |date=August 22, 2024 |title='On the ropes': Northern California weekly newspaper to shutter after 27 years |url=https://www.sfgate.com/cannabis/article/humboldt-independent-garberville-shuttering-19715690.php |work=SFGate}}{{Cite web|title=Home Page {{!}} The Humboldt Independent|url=http://humboldtnews.com/|access-date=November 21, 2021|website=humboldtnews.com}} the North Coast Journal,{{cite web|url=https://www.northcoastjournal.com/|title=Humboldt County|website=North Coast Journal|access-date=January 5, 2019}} the Ferndale Enterprise,{{cite web|url=http://www.ferndaleenterprise.com/|title=The Ferndale Enterprise|website=The Ferndale Enterprise|access-date=January 5, 2019|archive-date=January 5, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190105200900/http://www.ferndaleenterprise.com/|url-status=dead}} the Two Rivers Tribune,{{cite web|url=http://www.tworiverstribune.com/|title=Serving Klamath & Trinity River Communities|newspaper=Two Rivers Tribune|access-date=January 5, 2019|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181224201220/http://www.tworiverstribune.com/|archive-date=December 24, 2018}} the Isis Scrolls,{{cite web|url=http://isisscrolls.com/|title=Isis Scrolls|access-date=January 5, 2019|url-status=usurped|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160316104116/http://isisscrolls.com/|archive-date=March 16, 2016}} and The Lumberjack.{{cite web|url=https://thelumberjack.org/|title=The Lumberjack|website=The Lumberjack|access-date=January 5, 2019|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190105084051/https://thelumberjack.org/|archive-date=January 5, 2019}} The Arcata Eye {{Cite web|url=http://arcataeye.com/|title=Arcata Eye|website=Arcata Eye|language=en-US|access-date=March 23, 2021}} and the McKinleyville Press{{Cite web|url=http://mckinleyvillepress.com/|title=McKinleyville Press|website=McKinleyville Press|language=en-US|access-date=January 5, 2019}} merged in August 2013 to form the Mad River Union.{{cite web|url=http://madriverunion.com/|title=Mad River Union|website=Mad River Union}}

Humboldt County's locally produced television stations, NBC station KIEM and PBS station KEET, are based in Eureka. KIEM produces the only local TV newscast and KEET is the only PBS station in the region. Since 2017, CBS affiliate KVIQ has been a low-powered station operated as part of a duopoly with KIEM, sharing the same studios.

Fox affiliate KBVU, a semi-satellite of KCVU, is based in Chico and ABC affiliate KAEF, a semi-satellite of KRCR-TV, is based in Redding. In previous decades all major networks had production capacity in Eureka.

{{div col|colwidth=22em}}

• KATA{{cite web|url=http://www.kata1340.com/|title=Home|website=1340 KATA - ESPN Humboldt County}}
• KEKA,{{cite web|url=https://keka101.com/|title=KEKA 101 FM - Classic Country Hits, Giants Baseball, NFL}}
• KFMI{{cite web|url=http://www.power963.com/|title=Home|website=Power 96.3 - KFMI FM}}
• KEJB{{cite web|url=https://jukeboxeureka.com|title=Home|website=The Jukebox 92.7 FM & 1480 AM}}
• KHUM{{cite web|url=http://khum.com/|title=KHUM - Freeform Radio, Humboldt County|website=KHUM - Freeform Radio, Humboldt County}}
• KINS-FM{{cite web|url=http://www.kins1063.com/|title=KINS 106.3 FM}}
• KISS[http://www.991kissfm.com/ KISS-FM]>
• KKHB{{cite web|url=http://www.cool1055.com/|title=Home|website=Cool 105.5 KKHB-FM}}
• KLGE{{cite web|url=https://941lounge.com|title=Humboldt's Home Of Syncopation And Style}}
• KRED{{cite web|url=http://www.kred923.com/|title=Home|website=92.3 KRED - Big Red Country - Eureka, Humboldt County, California}}
• KSLG-FM{{cite web|url=http://kslg.com/|title=KSLG – New Bands, New Songs, New Sounds|website=KSLG – New Bands, New Songs, New Sounds|access-date=January 5, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190122065852/http://kslg.com/|archive-date=January 22, 2019|url-status=dead}}
• KWPT{{cite web|url=https://www.kwptfm.com/|title=Home|website=www.kwptfm.com|access-date=January 5, 2019|archive-date=January 10, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190110205734/https://kwptfm.com/|url-status=dead}}
• KWSW{{cite web|url=https://kwsw980.com/|title=KWSW 980 AM – The Songs You Love to Hear}}

{{div col end}}

{{div col|colwidth=22em}}

• KIDE[http://www.hoopa-nsn.gov/departments/kide.htm KIDE] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060831203524/http://www.hoopa-nsn.gov/departments/kide.htm |date=August 31, 2006 }}
• KHSU{{cite web|url=https://www.khsu.org/|title=KHSU - Diverse Public Radio|website=www.khsu.org}}
• KKDS-LP{{Cite web |url=http://blueoxradio.org/ |title=Blue Ox Radio |access-date=October 28, 2013 |archive-date=October 29, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029201055/http://blueoxradio.org/ |url-status=dead }}
• KMUD{{cite web|url=http://www.kmud.org/|title=Redwood Community Radio, Humboldt County, California • KMUD - KMUE - KLAI|first=Simon|last=Frech|website=www.kmud.org}}
• KMUE[http://www.humboldtbeacon.com/news/ci_20363837/kmue-upgraded-and-moved-new-frequency?source=rss KMUE upgraded and moved to new frequency] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029201110/http://www.humboldtbeacon.com/news/ci_20363837/kmue-upgraded-and-moved-new-frequency?source=rss |date=October 29, 2013 }}, Humboldt Beacon, April 10, 2012
• KNHM{{cite web|url=https://www.ijpr.org/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20011107164433/http://www.ijpr.org/|url-status=usurped|archive-date=November 7, 2001|title=Jefferson Public Radio - NPR News and Music for Southern Oregon and Northern California|website=www.ijpr.org}}
• KNHT
• KRFH-LP{{cite web|url=http://www.krfh.net/|title=KRFH 1O5.1 FM|website=KRFH 1O5.1 FM}}

{{div col end}}

Community broadband networks and public, educational, and government access (PEG) cable TV channels provide air time for local voices on Access Humboldt.{{cite web |title=Access Humboldt – Local Voices through Community Media |url=http://www.accesshumboldt.net/site/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190114192925/http://www.accesshumboldt.net/site/ |archive-date=January 14, 2019 |access-date=January 5, 2019 |website=www.accesshumboldt.net}} Cable TV channels are carried by Suddenlink Communications{{cite web |title=Suddenlink Communications – High Speed Internet and Cable TV Provider |url=https://suddenlink.com/ |website=suddenlink.com}} and local programs are provided online through the Community Media Archive.{{cite web |title=Community Media Archive – Access Humboldt |url=http://www.accesshumboldt.net/site/community-media-archive/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190105145427/http://www.accesshumboldt.net/site/community-media-archive/ |archive-date=January 5, 2019 |access-date=January 5, 2019 |website=www.accesshumboldt.net}} The Digital Redwoods initiative of Access Humboldt is developing local networks to meet comprehensive community needs, including public, education and government purposes.{{cite web |title=DreamHost |url=http://digitalredwoods.net/ |website=digitalredwoods.net}}

Image:Fernbridge.JPG (1911) on the road to Ferndale – California State Route 211]]

{{div col}}

• 25px U.S. Route 101
• 20px State Route 36
• 20px State Route 96
• 25px State Route 169
• 25px State Route 200
• 25px State Route 211
• 25px State Route 254 – Avenue of the Giants
• 25px State Route 255
• 25px State Route 271
• 25px State Route 283
• 25px State Route 299

{{div col end}}

• Humboldt Transit Authority operates two fixed route transit bus systems:
• Redwood Transit System provides intercity service to and within communities between Trinidad and Garberville, including Manila, King Salmon, Field's Landing, Loleta, Fernbridge and Fortuna. HTA also offers service between McKinleyville or Arcata and Willow Creek and an express bus between Arcata and College of the Redwoods when classes are in session.
• Eureka Transit Service, operated in the City of Eureka, provides local service on four scheduled routes (one hour headway) in Eureka and its adjacent unincorporated communities. Connections can be made to the Redwood Transit System at several places in Eureka.
• Arcata and Mad River Transit System, operated by the City of Arcata with funding from Cal Poly Humboldt. A&MRTS provides fixed route local bus service on two scheduled routes (one hour headway) in Arcata and an additional route between the Valley West Neighborhood and the university when classes are in session.
• The city of Blue Lake and the Blue Lake Rancheria operates the Blue Lake Rancheria Transit Authority.{{Cite web |date=August 20, 2008 |title=Blue Lake Rancheria – Transit Systems |url=http://www.bluelakerancheria-nsn.gov/boTransit.html |access-date=February 9, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080820055806/http://www.bluelakerancheria-nsn.gov/boTransit.html |archive-date=August 20, 2008 }} This provides fixed route intercity transit bus service (one hour headway) between Arcata and the Blue Lake Rancheria Indian Reservation and casino and local service within the city of Blue Lake.
• Del Norte County's Redwood Coast Transit operates fixed route intercity transit bus service between Arcata and Crescent City or Smith River.
• Amtrak Thruway bus has stops in many towns in the region, including Eureka, Arcata, and Fortuna. These stops are not managed by Amtrak and therefore have no services beyond serving passengers. Full service is only provided at the train station in Martinez, near San Francisco.

Arcata-Eureka Airport is located in McKinleyville (north of Arcata). Commercial flights are available. Other general aviation airports are located at Dinsmore, Garberville, Kneeland, Murray Field (Eureka), Samoa Field and Rohnerville (Fortuna).

The Port of Humboldt Bay is on Humboldt Bay, California's second largest natural bay.

Ferndale, in southern Humboldt county, has been featured in such movies as The Majestic{{cite web | title =The Majestic | work =Northern California Filming locations. | publisher =Film in America | year =2011 | url =http://www.filminamerica.com/Movies/TheMajestic/ | access-date = January 14, 2011 }} and Outbreak.{{cite news | last =Haeseler | first =Rob | title =Hollywood Invades Humboldt County | newspaper =San Francisco Chronicle | date =April 17, 1995 | url =https://www.sfgate.com/entertainment/article/Hollywood-Invades-Humboldt-County-Ferndale-3036529.php | archive-url =https://archive.today/20130104173316/http://articles.sfgate.com/1995-04-17/entertainment/17804588_1_hobart-brown-main-street-santa-claus | url-status =live | archive-date =January 4, 2013 | access-date = January 14, 2011 }}{{cite web | title =Outbreak | work =Northern California Filming locations. | publisher =Film in America | year =2011 | url =http://www.filminamerica.com/Movies/Outbreak/ | access-date = January 14, 2011 }} It has appeared in made-for-television movies including Salem's Lot, A Death in Canaan, and Joe Dirt.{{Citation |title=Joe Dirt (2001) – IMDb |url=http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0245686/locations |access-date=January 24, 2023}} It was also the location of the iconic "I'm a Pepper" commercial for Dr. Pepper.{{Citation |title=Dr. Pepper – "I'm a Pepper" TV Commercial 1970's | date=March 2, 2008 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jvCTaccEkMI |access-date=June 22, 2021 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/jvCTaccEkMI |url-status=live |language=en |archive-date=December 11, 2021}}{{cbignore}}

Additionally the following films were shot in Ferndale: the science fiction horror cult film She Demons (1958),{{Citation |last=Cunha |first=Richard E. |title=She Demons |date=June 2, 1960 |type=Horror, Sci-Fi |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0052187/ |access-date=January 24, 2023 |publisher=Screencraft Enterprises}}. the award-winning short film Nonnie & Alex (1995),{{Citation |last=Field |first=Todd |title=Nonnie & Alex |date=January 17, 1995 |type=Short, Drama |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0113998/ |access-date=January 24, 2023 |publisher=Mercury Film}}. and the comedy-drama Kingdom Come (2001).{{Citation |last=McHenry |first=Doug |title=Kingdom Come |date=April 11, 2001 |type=Comedy, Drama |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0246002/ |access-date=January 24, 2023 |publisher=Bates Entertainment, Searchlight Pictures, The Turman-Morrissey Company}}.

Much of The WB's Hyperion Bay and the CBS show Blue Skies as well as an episode of Moonlighting were filmed in Humboldt County. The infamous Patterson-Gimlin film was filmed on Bluff Creek near Orleans, California.

Humboldt County has also been the subject of multiple documentary miniseries including Discovery Channel's Pot Cops and Netflix's Murder Mountain.

Humboldt County has also been featured in episodes of On the Case with Paula Zahn, The Profit, Hamilton's Pharmacopeia, Top Gear, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Survivorman, Diners, Drive-ins and Dives, Finding Bigfoot, Treehouse Masters, Rescue 911, Walking With Dinosaurs, Somebody's Gotta Do It, Monsters Resurrected, Weediquette, Dan Rather Reports, Monster Fish, Beachfront Bargain Hunt, and many more.{{Cite web|url=https://humboldt.filmhumboldtdelnorte.org/filmography|title = Filmography | Film Humboldt-Del Norte| work=Humboldt County }}

Ferndale was featured by Huell Howser in Road Trip Episode 149.{{cite web |title=Ferndale – Road Trip with Huell Howser (149) – Huell Howser Archives at Chapman University |date=April 11, 2010 |url=https://blogs.chapman.edu/huell-howser-archives/2010/04/11/ferndale-road-trip-with-huell-howser-149/}}

Humboldt County has also been the filming location for countless national television advertisements, including many major car commercials.

The Netflix series Virgin River is set in Humboldt County.

In the book Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov there is a possible pun using the county's name (Humboldt) in connection to the main character's name (Humbert Humbert). This appears on page 108: "With the help of a guidebook I located [The Enchanted Hunters inn] in the secluded town of Briceland." This 'secluded town' could very well be a reference to the unincorporated Briceland of Humboldt County, making The Enchanted Hunters in 'Humboldt Land', continuing the novel's grotesque fairy-tale veneer.{{Cite book|title=Lolita|author=Nabokov, Vladimir Vladimirovich|isbn=9780141182537|oclc=990688197}}

Image:Carson Mansion Eureka California.jpg in Eureka (private)]]

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• Arcata
• Blue Lake
• Eureka (county seat)
• Ferndale
• Fortuna
• Rio Dell
• Trinidad

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• Alderpoint
• Bayview
• Benbow
• Big Lagoon
• Cutten
• Fairhaven
• Fieldbrook
• Fields Landing
• Garberville
• Hoopa
• Humboldt Hill
• Hydesville
• Indianola
• Kep'el
• Loleta
• McKinleyville
• Manila
• Miranda
• Myers Flat
• Myrtletown
• Orick
• Phillipsville
• Pine Hills
• Redcrest
• Redway
• Samoa
• Scotia
• Shelter Cove
• Wautec
• Weitchpec
• Weott
• Westhaven-Moonstone
• Willow Creek

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• Alton
• Bayside
• Blocksburg
• Briceland
• Bridgeville
• Carlotta
• Cooks Valley
• Dinsmore
• Dyerville
• Elk River
• Englewood
• Fernbridge
• Fort Seward
• Freshwater
• Freshwater Corners
• Fruitland
• Glendale
• Holmes
• Honeydew
• Johnsons
• King Salmon
• Kneeland
• Korbel
• Maple Creek
• Moonstone
• Orleans
• Patricks Point
• Pepperwood
• Petrolia
• Pine Hill
• Port Kenyon
• Ridgewood Heights
• Riverside Park
• Rohnerville
• Rosewood
• Shively
• Stafford
• Sunny Brae
• Westhaven
• Whitethorn

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Humboldt County has eight Indian reservations lying within its borders. Only four other counties in the United States have more: San Diego County, California; Sandoval County, New Mexico; Riverside County, California; and Mendocino County, California. The Hoopa Valley Indian Reservation is the largest in the state of California, a state that generally has small reservations (although numerous) relative to those in other states.

• Big Lagoon Rancheria
• Blue Lake Rancheria
• Hoopa Valley Indian Reservation
• Karuk Indian Reservation (partly in Siskiyou County)
• Rohnerville Rancheria
• Table Bluff Rancheria
• Cher-Ae Heights Indian Community of the Trinidad Rancheria
• Yurok Indian Reservation (partly in Del Norte County)

The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2010 census of Humboldt County.{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census/decade.2010.html |publisher=United States Census Bureau |title=2010 U.S. Census website |access-date=February 10, 2013 }}

† county seat

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• Sara Bareilles
• Lloyd Bridges
• Hobart Brown
• Becky Chambers
• Wesley Chesbro
• David Cobb
• Alexander Cockburn
• Trevor Dunn
• Guy Fieri
• Michael John Fles
• Brendan Fraser
• Robert A. Gearheart
• James Gillett
• Steven Hackett
• Bret Harte
• Dan Hauser
• El Hefe
• Julia Butterfly Hill
• John Jaso
• Christa Johnson
• Howard B. Keck
• Seth Kinman
• Naomi Lang
• Rey Maualuga
• Pamela McGee
• Tim McKay
• Mike Patton
• Maurice Purify
• Nate Quarry
• Eric Rofes
• Stephen W. Shaw
• Steve Sillett
• Trey Spruance
• Greg Stafford
• Robert M. Viale
• Don Van Vliet
• Stephen Girard Whipple[https://books.google.com/books?id=RTEOAAAAIAAJ California. Adjutant General's Office, Records of California men in the war of the rebellion 1861 to 1867, SACRAMENTO: State Office, J. D. Young, Supt. State Printing, 1890, pp. 11, 826–831]
• Ned Yost

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{{portal|California}}

• Arcata and Eureka Community Recycling Centers
• Arcata Jacoby Creek Community Forest
• Arcata Marsh and Wildlife Sanctuary
• HSU First Street Gallery
• Humboldt Arts Council
• Humboldt County Historical Society
• Humboldt Crabs
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Humboldt County, California
• Operation Green Sweep
• California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt
• Lost Man Creek Dam
• Sequoia County, California

{{reflist|group=note}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{cite journal |last=Emerson |first=F. W. |date=July 1903 |title=Among the Redwoods of Humboldt County |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8WI4AAAAIAAJ&pg=RA3-PA69 |journal=Overland Monthly |volume=XLII |issue=1 |pages=69–96 }}

{{wikivoyage|Humboldt County}}

{{commons}}

• {{Official website}}
• [http://www.humboldt.edu/econindex/ Humboldt Economic Index]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20101007025258/http://humboldtliving.com/ All About Living in Humboldt County]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20190419164523/https://humguide.com/ General Guide to Humboldt County]

{{Geographic Location

|Centre = Humboldt County, California

|North = Del Norte County

|Northeast = Siskiyou County

|East = Trinity County

|Southeast =

|South = Mendocino County

|Southwest =

|West = Pacific Ocean

|Northwest =

}}

{{Humboldt County, California}}

{{North Coast (California)}}

{{California}}

{{authority control}}

{{coord|40.8|N|123.8|W|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-CA_source:UScensus1990}}

Category:1853 establishments in California

Category:Alexander von Humboldt

Category:California counties

Category:Populated places established in 1853