Humboldt County, California
History, Records, Facts and Genealogy

Humboldt County was created in May 12, 1853 from the western portion of Trinity County. Territory which at one time was in Humboldt County is now in Del Norte County. The County has had five Boundary Changes:

Most of its territory was in Trinity County until the 1853 transfer to Humboldt County.
A large territory in Trinity County from 1850 to 1851, was in Klamath County from 1851 to 1875 when Klamath County was disbanded and part of that county transferred to Humboldt County.
Territory in Trinity County from 1850 to 1851, and in Klamath County from 1851 to 1857, was then in Del Norte County from 1857 to 1901 when it was added to Humboldt County.
Territory in Trinity County from 1850 to 1851, in Klamath County from 1851 until its death in 1875, and in Siskiyou County from 1875 to 1887, was in Del Norte County from 1887 to 1901 when it was added to Humboldt County.
Territory in Trinity County from 1850 to 1853, and in Humboldt County from 1853 to 1859, was in Mendocino County from 1859 to 1860 when it was added to Humboldt County.

The County derived its name from Humboldt Bay, which was entered by a sea otter party in 1806, but was not rediscovered until 1849. In 1850, Douglas Ottinger and Hans Buhne entered the bay, naming it Humboldt in honor of the great naturalist and world explorer, Baron Alexander von Humboldt. The County Seat is Eureka . See also County History for more historical details.

Counties adjacent to Humboldt County are Del Norte County (north), Mendocino County (south), Siskiyou County (northeast), Trinity County (east).

Humboldt County Cities Include Arcata, Blue Lake, Eureka, Ferndale, Fortuna, Rio Dell, Trinidad. CDPs (A census-designated place (CDP) is a type of place or area identified by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes) Include Bayview, Cutten, Humboldt Hill, Hydesville, McKinleyville, Myrtletown, Pine Hills, Redway, Westhaven-Moonstone, Willow Creek. Unincorporated Communities Include Alderpoint, Alton, Bridgeville, Carlotta, Fernbridge, Fieldbrook, Garberville, Honeydew, Hoopa, Loleta, Miranda, Myers Flat, Orleans, Pepperwood, Petrolia, Phillipsville, Redcrest, Samoa, Scotia, Shelter Cove, Weott, Whitethorn

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The use of published genealogies, electronic files containing genealogical lineage, and other compiled sources can be of tremendous value to a researcher.

When view family trees online or not, be sure to only take the info at face value and always follow up with your own sources or verify the ones they provide. Below is a list of online resources for Humboldt County Family Trees, web forums and other family type information. Email us with websites containing Humboldt County Family Trees, web forums and other family type information by clicking the link below:

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Extended History

Image of historic Humboldt County courthouse - click to enlarge

Humboldt County Courthouse
Completed 1889

Thirteen zinc statues adorned the perimeter of the roof and the tower of this grand Italianate building in Eureka. Minerva, the Roman goddess of wisdom, was placed at the top of the tower, surrounded by four statues of Justice and others representing Flora, Ceres, Fortuna, and Juno. Minerva tilted in the 1906 earthquake, after which the statues were removed. The courthouse survived a fire in 1924, but another quake in 1954 cracked the building and the courthouse was vacated. In 1956, the condemned courthouse was demolished to make room for a more modern facility

Humboldt County was already multi-cultural when Euro-Americans arrived in the spring of 1850. The indigenous people occupied specific territories, spoke languages of several different stocks, and had similar but different social and cultural structures. The Wiyot, Yurok, Hupa, Karok, Chilula, Whilkut, and the southern Athabascans, including the Mattole and Nongatl practiced lifeways carefully prescribed by cultural and religious mores. Humboldt's Indian communities made and continue to make significant contributions to the history and development of the county.

Ocean exploration of the northern coast of California included Spanish, Russian and British ships, with the first recorded Humboldt landing at Trinidad by the Spanish in 1775. The first entrance to Humboldt Bay was in 1806 by an American with Aleut hunters, all in the employ of the Russian-American Company out of Sitka. But it wasn't until rediscovery by land by the Gregg-Wood Party in December 1849, that the region's history was forever defined. Spring 1850 brought the first ships to Humboldt and Trinidad bays, where men, generally from the States, disembarked on their way to the gold mining districts on the Klamath, Salmon and Trinity rivers. First settled as a point of arrival and as a supply center for these interior mines, Eureka, Union (Arcata), and Trinidad were hubs of activity. But as the excitement and rush for gold subsided, the prospects for economic well-being, if not wealth, shifted to the region's premiere resources - big trees, salmon, and land.

This redirection resulted in the arrival of new groups of people from foreign shores and different cultures and, very importantly, the settlement of the county. The Chinese came first to mine on the Klamath and Salmon rivers, work in the fish canneries on lower Eel River, and later to build railroads. They were forcibly expelled in 1885. Americans and later Italians fished commercially on lower Eel River, the Italians acting as the buyers for San Francisco firms. Canadian "Blue Noses" from the maritime provinces, particularly Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, came to work in Humboldt's woods. William Carson, of Carson Mansion fame, developed logging and milling operations around the bay and recruited workers from his home in New Brunswick. Operations on Washington and Jacoby creeks created a community of Canadian woodsmen that came to be known as Bayside. Some of their descendants are still there, as well as the houses they built along Old Arcata and Graham roads.

With the establishment of dairying operations in the latter part of the 19th century, Swiss-Italian immigrants came to work for others on the bottom lands of Mad and Eel rivers, in the Orick valley, and on the coastal plains around the lagoons. But it didn't take long before industry and ingenuity made these dairyman owners of both land and cows. Many residents of the Ferndale and Loleta area trace their ancestry to these immigrants of a century ago. The Portuguese, who came to Humboldt County from the Azores, also found work on dairy ranches, but the timber industry provided employment for many.

People of Slavic origins came at the turn-of-the-century to work in Humboldt County's woods and mills. The homes of James Malvich, Joseph Maronich, Nick Dubrovich, Cosmo Stiglich, and others remain within a few blocks of each other in East Arcata, where these families enjoyed the social activities of a Croatian society. The French found homes in Blue Lake and Arcata, published newspapers, developed townsites, and opened French restaurants. The interior prairies of the Bald Hills, Kneeland, Showers Pass, Bridgeville and the headwaters of the Van Duzen, Mad and North Fork Eel rivers were settled by Americans who ran cattle and sheep operations.

Up to and through the Second World War, this demographic and occupational structure prevailed. People came and went, of course, but the population and work remained fairly stable. The natural resources of the North Coast continued to provide livelihoods for most of Humboldt County's people. Large timber companies, such as Hammond, Northern Redwood Lumber Co., Pacific Lumber Company, and Dolbeer and Carson kept people employed. The close of the war, however, forever changed that stability. A new Doug fir/plywood industry brought woods and mill workers from Oregon and Washington. Gypo loggers and seat-of-the-pants mills appeared overnight. Workers from Arkansas and Oklahoma found ready work. On the peninsula, Manila became a settlement of these folks, many of whom brought home the scrap wood from the mill at Samoa to build their houses. In 1947, Arcata was a lumber boom town with 30 mills in operation and more to come. Railroad shipments of lumber broke records year after year.

Timber dominated the economic and political life of the county well into the 1970s, but times were changing. College students, back-to-the-land refugees, and environmentalists brought a new perspective to resource use. What had once been a totally resource-extractive economy became a more diverse economy which included education, health and social services, resource protection and restoration, and government. And new groups of immigrants arrived, notably Hispanic workers and their families and refugees from countries impacted by the Vietnam War.

An incomparable natural environment and a diversity of people and cultures have created a history for Humboldt County as rich as any in California.

CHAPTER I - THE ORIGIN OF THE NAME CALIFORNIA - Its alleged formation from two Spanish or Latin words—First appearance of the name—Result of E. E. Hale's investigations.

CHAPTER II.- THE NORTH WAS SLOW TO BE DISCOVERED - Knowledge of Humboldt county vague prior to war of Rebellion—Indians and wild beasts only tenants—First white inhabitants—Causes of slow development—The Laura Virginia Association—First expedition of the Laura Virginia—H. H. Buhne discovers mouth of Klamath river—Interesting experiences with Indians in crossing Mad river—Entrance to Humboldt Bay discovered.

CHAPTER III.- THE DISCOVERY OF HUMBOLDT BAY - Authentic information regarding early explorations—Cabrillo and Ferrelo--Sir Francis Drake—Robert Dudley—Humboldt Bay not known to the Spaniards—Vancouver's explorations—Discovery of Bay by water due to activities of Russians—Capt. Jonathan Winship, an American, true discoverer—The Laura Virginia continues her cruise—Capt. H. Buhne—D. L. Thornbury summarizes his conclusions.

CHAPTER IV. - LAND DISCOVERY OF HUMBOLDT BAY - Fascination attaching to exploits of Pioneers—The thrilling adventures of L. K. Wood and party—David A. Buck's contribution—Indians show friendly interest in the explorers' activities—Hardship and lack of food daily experiences—Wood's summary of the discovery—Life and death struggle with Grizzly bears—Some early explorations.

CHAPTER V. - UNIQUE EARLY HISTORY - Early history of Humboldt county shows no trace of Spanish influence—The county still in its infancy as compared with what has been accomplished in the south—County not settled until after Mexican war—The scene of General Grant's early military services—Influence of Panama Canal, Humboldt Bay jetties and Northwestern Pacific Railroad—Resources of county unlimited—Rapid settlement after land discovery of Humboldt Bay—Mining more attractive than agriculture—Union, Bucksport and Eureka.

CHAPTER VI. - GOLD MINES LURE MEN TO THE NORTH - Early settlers inured to hardships—The lure of gold a powerful magnet—Influence of the discovery of gold on Humboldt county—Major P. B. Reading -Search for the mouth of Trinity river—Cruising expedition of the Cameo.

CHAPTER VII. - GRANT 'S CAREER IN HUMBOLDT COUNTY - Fort Humboldt the quarters of U. S. Grant in 1853 and 1854—Two accounts of his life while at the Fort—Colonel Buchanan and Captain Grant not the best of friends—In those days only a mule trail connected Fort Humboldt with Eureka—An episode that gave rise to unfavorable comment—Mrs. Shields' account of Grant's voyage to Fort Humboldt—In spite of disagreeable experiences at the Fort, Grant had nothing but kind words for his associates.

CHAPTER VIII. - EARLY TROUBLES WITH THE INDIANS - Humboldt county formerly a part of Trinity county—The Klamath river an attraction for gold hunters—Ill feeling between old-timers and Indians—Interesting recollections of Mrs. R. F. Herrick—Her predictions regarding Indian war come true—The Klamath war of 1855—Other battles and raids—Indian reservations.

CHAPTER. IX. - LIFE AND TIMES IN THE EARLY FIFTIES - "The days of old, the days of gold, the days of forty-nine"—John Carr's account of those days—Mail delivery—Crude habitations of settlers—Peril from rattlesnakes more disturbing than from bear or wild lion.

CHAPTER X. - ORGANIZATION OF HUMBOLDT COUNTY - When state was divided into counties, in 1850, the northern region was not taken into account—Trinity county divided in 1852, again in 1853—Humboldt county the western division—Humboldt and Siskiyou acquire territory of old Klamath county—Contest for county seat—Court of Sessions and County Court.

CHAPTER XI. - RUSSIAN'S IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA - The ship Ocean visits Humboldt Bay early in nineteenth century—Russian ship anchors in bay of San Francisco in 1806—Rezanof and his exploits—His romance woven into poem by Bret Harte—Captain Sutter takes over Russian holdings—Mexican Congress passes stringent laws against foreigners—Tom Gregory's account of Fort Ross situation—Close of Russian power in California.

CHAPTER XII. - TOPOGRAPHY, CLIMATE AND SCENERY - Natural barriers of mountain and forest made the county undesirable for settlement—Spanish priests preferred the milder climate of the south—G. A. Kellogg's description of physical appearance of the county—Weather observations of A. H. Bell—Many improvements under way to build better roads—The scenery of the county extremely picturesque—Much of the county still a virgin wilderness—Bull creek forest—Rivers, creeks and streams a boon to fishermen—Birds of the county.

CHAPTER XIII. - EARLY TOWNS AND VILLAGES OF HUMBOLDT COUNTY - No great increase in population during 1851 and 1852—Arcata the only exception to the rule—Bucksport—Eureka—Trinidad—Hydesville—Rohnerville—Eureka becomes county seat in 1856—City waterworks built—Completion of state highway to work a transformation in county.

CHAPTER XIV. - EARLY SCHOOL AND EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITY - No historical data of educational matters in early days obtainable—First school organized in 1852—Schools at Bucksport, Eureka and Arcata—A number of eminent professional men in state were educated in Humboldt county—School system has been extended throughout county—High schools —Bitter fight between Arcata and Eureka for site of normal school—Arcata won.

CHAPTER XV. - EARLY CHURCHES IN HUMBOLDT COUNTY - Ten years before Civil war churches existed in the county—First meeting appointed for worship at Bucksport in 1850—First Methodist Church building in Eureka dedicated in 1859—Rohnerville Methodist Church organized in 1852—Congregationalists organized churches in Eureka and Ferndale—Presbyterian, United Brethren, Roman Catholic and Christian Science churches.

CHAPTER XVI. - GOLD MINING IN HUMBOLDT COUNTY - Early mining excitement bears an important part in making history—Placer mining followed with success in early days—The famous Orleans bar—Starvation times on Salmon river—Thousands of acres of gold-bearing land awaiting the miner with modern facilities for utilizing fine gold—Gold Bluff—Humboldt county claims some of the richest possibilities for platinum in the United States.

CHAPTER XVII. - HISTORY OF THE LUMBER INDUSTRY - Redwood forests and the lumber industry have an important place in the county's history—Science tells of great age of trees—Durability of redwood—History of manufacture of lumber dates from 1850—Steady improvement in methods and facilities—Record of shipments and values—Non-combustible qualities of redwood—Other trees of value in county—Wages of woodsmen.

CHAPTER XVIII. - ACTIVITY IN MANY TOWNS - Early day industries as compared with the present—Activities stimulated by reason of projected highway and completion of railroad—Plans for improvement of towns and building of new ones—Lake Switzerland, Humboldt county has many hotels and resorts—Rev. William Rader's observations—Arcata and its outlook—Fort Seward—Commercial activities of Eureka—Ferndale — Fortuna — Loleta—Rohnerville—Trinidad—Hydesville—Alton:Metropolitan — Rio Dell—Scotia—Shively—Pepperwood—Dyerville—Blocksburg—Alderpoint—Korbel—Blue Lake—Samoa—Carlotta.

CHAPTER XIX. - PROMOTION ACTIVITIES - Education of public sentiment an important factor in community development—Interest in county aroused through magazines and other publications—Development organizations discussed—Campaign undertaken in behalf of community development—The work in charge of R. R. Wilson—Farm adviser installed in office in July, 1913—Good roads—Humboldt Promotion and Development Committee—Chamber of Commerce of Humboldt county—Value of organized effort.

CHAPTER XX. - PAST AND PROSPECTIVE HUMBOLDT AGRICULTURE - No attempt at agriculture in early days—Radical change in conditions—Clover at one time king of agricultural products—Coming of Professor Christiansen and the organization of farm bureau arouse new interest—Humboldt Land and Development Company—Notable advance made in dairy industry—Humboldt's apple belt—Summary of conditions and possibilities by A. E. Etter.

CHAPTER XXI. - HUMBOLDT'S BENCH AND BAR - History of Bench and Bar in California always regarded as romantic and unique—Impress made by settlers from Canada and New England—Official Court Reporter W. K. Strong gives entertaining account of early conflicts in court—Pioneer days in Humboldt county.

CHAPTER XXII. - THE EUREKA FREE LIBRARY - By H. A. KENDAL - First public reading room originated among members of Methodist Episcopal Church—Movement had steady growth from first—First board of library trustees appointed—Eureka Library Association turns over its property to appointed trustees of Eureka Free Library—Movement started to secure Carnegie Library.

CHAPTER XXIII. - HOW THE FIFTH DIVISION, U. S. NAVAL MILITIA, CAME INTO EXISTENCE - By A. B. ADAMS - Meeting called for organization of a military company—Officers elected—Anniversary of organization observed with appropriate ceremonies—Present officers of the division.

Humboldt County, California
History, Records, Facts and Genealogy

County Court Courthouse Records

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County Vital Records

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County Census Records

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County Maps & Atlases

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County Military Records

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County Tax Records

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County Genealogical Addresses

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County Church & Cemeteries

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Family Trees & Genealogy Tidbits

Extended History

Humboldt County, California History, Records, Facts and Genealogy

County Court Courthouse Records

See Also California Land Records, Marriage Records, Court & Probate Records

County Vital Records

See Also Vital Records in California

County Census Records

See Also Research In Census Records & Statewide Records that exist for California

County Maps & Atlases

See Also Research In State Map Collections

County Military Records

See Also Military Records in California

County Tax Records

See Also Research In Tax Records

County Genealogical Addresses

See Also Other California Genealogical Addresses

County Church & Cemeteries

See Also Church & Cemetery Records in California

Family Trees & Genealogy Tidbits

Extended History

Humboldt County, California
History, Records, Facts and Genealogy