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.
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
PLEASE READ FIRST!! Please call the clerk's department to confirm hours, mailing address, fees and other specifics before visiting or requesting information because of sometimes changing contact information. All Departments below can be contacted by clicking the link.NOTE: The record dates below are from the earliest date to present time.
Humboldt County Clerk-Recorder's Officehas Birth Records from 1876, Marriage Records from 1864, Death Records from 1873 and , Land Records from 1864. The County Recorder-Clerk is responsible for examination and recording of all documents presented for recording that deal with establishing ownership of land in the County or as required by statute; administers the real property transfer tax law and maintains a permanent record and indexes of all documents for public viewing plus providing certified copies requested by the public; recording of all lawful documents such as deeds, deeds of trust, judgments, liens, affidavits, Uniform Commercial Code Financial Statements, etc; and the filing of Births, Deaths, and Marriages.
Humboldt County Clerk of Superior Court has Probate Records from 1886 and Court Records from 1886. The county Superior Court clerk has probate books and files from the county's superior court, civil court records, and naturalizations. Divorces may be here or in the Recorders Office, depending on how it was filed.
Some early court records from the various courts may have been sent to the California State Archives. Besides court minutes and judgements, these records include tax lists, wills, deeds, estate inventories, and marriage bonds. The California State Archives has microfilm of selected county records, 1850–1919.
Below is a list of online resources for Humboldt County Court Records. Email us with websites containing Humboldt County Court Records by clicking the link below:
California Voter Registrations, 1900-1968: This database contains indexes to voter registration lists from various counties in California from 1900-1968. Information listed in these records includes: name of voter, age, address, occupation, and political affiliation.
California Passenger and Crew Lists, 1893-1957: This database is an index to passenger and crew lists of ships and some airplanes arriving at Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Pedro, and Ventura in the U.S. state of California, between 1893 and 1957. Information contained in the index includes name of passenger, their age, gender, ethnicity, nationality or last country of permanent residence, arrival date, port of arrival, port of departure, and ship name. If a name of a friend or relative whom the passenger was going to join with, or place of nativity was provided, that information is included as well.
San Francisco Ship Passenger Lists Vol. I [1850-1864]: The volume offered here is a reprint of the first volume in a series dealing with passenger arrivals at the port of San Francisco between 1850 and 1875, though this first volume contains a selection of passenger lists extending only though 1864.
San Francisco Ship Passenger Lists Vol. II [1850-1851]: Volume II is based on completely different sources than the first volume in the series, which covered the years 1850-1864, and it encompasses an additional 16,500 passenger arrivals at San Francisco Bay during the 20-month period from April 1850 to November 1851.
San Francisco Ship Passenger Lists. Vol. III: November 7, 1851 to June 17, 1852: Volume III covers a seven-month period during which approximately 25,000 persons arrived at the port of San Francisco--nearly 50% more than the number of arrivals for the preceding 18-month period covered in Volume II. The year 1852 witnessed a surge in migration to California, and this volume reflects the initial thrust of that surge.
Click Here to Search California Birth, Marriage & Death Records! - Birth, marriage, and death records are connected with central life events. They are prime sources for genealogical information. Look also for baptism, christening, and burial records in this collection.
California Department of Public Health, Office of Vital Records,
MS 5103, P.O. Box 997410, Sacramento, CA 95899-7410; (916) 445-2684. They have the following records:
Birth & Death Certificates: The state of California began issuing certificates for births and Deaths in July 1905. Birth and death records for current year events and one year prior are available from the county health department; records for all years are maintained by the county recorder.
If not, you should submit your request to the County Recorder’s Office in the county where the birth or death took place or order the birth / death certificate online through VitalChek.
Cost: $14.00 per birth certificate & $12.00 per death certificate.
Processing Time: 12-14 weeks when ordered by mail (Application for Birth or Death Certificate) or 2-5 Days when you order online
Marriage Certificates: The state of California began issuing certificates for marriages since July 1905, except for 1987 to 1995 (The state does not have indexes for the years 1987-1995 so you must request these from the county). Certified copies of public marriage records are available from both the California Office of Vital Records and the County Recorder’s Office in the county where the public marriage license was issued. However, the Office of Vital Records is limited in its ability to search the records, and it can take up to 2-3 years to obtain a certified copy from thier office. Therefore, we recommend that certified copies of public marriage records be requested directly from the County Recorder’s Office or online.
Cost: $13.00 per certificate.
Processing Time: 2-3 years when ordered by MAIL or 2-5 Days when you order online
Divorce Certificates: Certified copies are not available from State Health Department. Certified copies of actual divorce decrees are only available from the Superior Court in the county where the divorce was filed. The Office of Vital Records issues a Certificate of Record that includes only the names of the parties to the divorce, the county where the divorce was filed, and the court case number – it is not a certified copy of the divorce decree and does not indicate whether the divorce was ever finalized in court. The Office of Vital Records only has information for divorces that were filed with the court between 1962 and June 1984, and our processing times can take up to 2-3 years or Online with VitalChek.
Cost: $12.00 per certificate. Fee is for search and identification of county where certified copy can be obtained.
Processing Time: 2-3 years when ordered by MAIL or 2-5 Days when you order online
PLEASE READ!! A certified copy fee must accompany all requests for copies of vital records. Requests received without the appropriate fee will be returned to the sender. Make your check or money order payable to the Office of Vital Records. Checks must be drawn on a United States bank. Money orders must be drawn on a United States bank or issued by the United States Postal Service. Do not send cash. If no record is found, they will issue a Certificate of No Public Record and retain the fee for the search according to State law. Before submitting your application to the Office of Vital Records, please view the processing times to make sure they are acceptable for your needs.
Order On-Line: To obtain a certified copy of a vital record by on-line purchase with a credit card, please link to VitalChek
Below is a list of online resources for Humboldt County Vital Records. Email us with websites containing Humboldt County Vital Records by clicking the link below:
California Birth Index, 1905-1995: This database is an index to over 24.5 million births occurring in California between 1905 and 1995.
California Death Index, 1940-1997: his database is an index to the death records in State of California, USA, from 1940 through 1997. The database provides such valuable information as first, last and middle names of the descendants, birth dates, mother's maiden name, father's last name, sex, birth place, death place, residence at time of death, death date, social security number (when available), and the age of the individual when they died.
California Divorce Index, 1966-1984: This database is an index to over 3.5 million divorces that were filed in California (U.S.A.) from 1966-1984. Information that may be found in this database includes spouses' names, divorce date, and divorce county or city.
California Marriage Index, 1960-1985: This database contains a statewide index to over 4.8 million marriages that were performed in California between 1960 and 1985. Information that may be found in this database includes the bride's and groom's names, their ages, the marriage county, and the marriage date.
California Marriages, 1850-1877: This database contains information on individuals who were married in select areas of California between 1850 and 1960. Note that not all counties are included in this index and within the counties that are included not all years within the date range...
Below is a list of online resources for Humboldt County Census Records. Email us with websites containing Humboldt County Census Records by clicking the link below:
California Census, 1790-1890: This collection contains the following indexes: 1790 Census Substitute; 1850 Federal Census Index; 1860 Federal Census Index; 1870 Federal Census Index (excluding San Francisco County); 1870 San Francisco County Census Index; 1834 Census Index of Santa Barbara; 1890 Veterans Schedule; 1890 Naval Veterans Schedule.
California Antique Maps & Atlases has images of old American atlases during the years 1795, 1814, 1822, 1823, 1836, 1838, 1845, 1856, 1866, 1879 and 1897 for California and other states.
You can view rotating animated maps for California showing all the county boundaries for each census year overlayed with past and present maps so you can see the changes in county boundaries. You can view a list of maps for other states at Census Maps
You can view rotating animated maps for California showing all the county boundary changes for each year overlayed with past and present maps so you can see the changes in county boundaries . You can view a list of maps for other states and State Department of Transportation Maps at County Maps.
Below is a list of online resources for Humboldt County Maps. Email us with websites containing Humboldt County Maps by clicking the link below:
Click Here to Search California Military Records! - Military and civil service records provide unique facts and insights into the lives of men and women who have served their country at home and abroad.
The uses and value of military records in genealogical research for ancestors who were veterans are obvious, but military records can also be important to re-searchers whose direct ancestors were not soldiers in any war. The fathers, grandfathers, brothers, and other close relatives of an ancestor may have served in a war, and their service or pension records could contain information that will assist in further identifying the family of primary interest. Due to the amount of genealogical information contained in some military pension files, they should never be overlooked during the research process. Those records not containing specific genealogical information are of historic value and should be included in any overall research design. A list of Wars fought on American.
Below is a list of online resources for Humboldt County Military Records. Email us with websites containing Humboldt County Military Records by clicking the link below:
The U.S. Internal Revenue Service Assessment List for California, 1862–66, is available on thirty-three microfilm rolls at the California State Library in Sacramento. The lists include names, location and description of business, and tax rate for individuals taxed.
Similar to tax records in their yearly listing of residents are the “Great Register” of California, which are miscellaneous county voting registers that exist from the mid-nineteenth century. The registers were compiled and printed about every two years. Before 1900, they show name, address, and age (but the age may remain the same after a man's first entry). From about the mid-1800s, physical descriptions are included, but after the 1898 register, only the name, address, party affiliation, and sometimes occupation are listed.
Before 1892, the lists are county-wide, but usually alphabetical only by first letter or surname. They are particularly valuable for foreign-born voters, as the date and court of naturalization are listed. Copies of the "Great Registers," (1866–1944) are at the California State Library, which also has alphabetical card file abstracts for some of the earlier registers for San Francisco. Records from 1946 are with the individual county registrars of voters.
Below is a list of online resources for Humboldt County Tax Records. Email us with websites containing Humboldt County Tax Records by clicking the link below:
The Repositories
in this section are Archives, Libraries, Museums, Genealogical
and Historical Societies. Many County Historical and Genealogical
Societies publish magazines and/or news letters on a monthly,
quarterly, bi-annual or annual basis. Contacting the local societies
should not be over looked. State Archives and Societies are
usually much larger and better organized with much larger archived
materials than their smaller county cousins but they can be
more generalized and over look the smaller details that local
societies tend to have. Libraries can also be a good place to
look for local information. Some libraries have a genealogy
section and may have some resources that are not located at
archives or societies. Also, take a special look at any museums
in the area. They sometimes have photos and items from years
gone by as well as information of a genealogical interest. All
these places are vitally important to the family genealogist
and must not be passed over.
Below is a list of online resources for Humboldt County Genealogical Addresses. Email us with websites containing Humboldt County Genealogical Addresses by clicking the link below:
The California Historical Society, 678 Mission Street, San Francisco, California 94105; 415-357-1848 — voice; 415-357-1850 — fax; info@calhist.org — e-mail
California State Genealogical Alliance, 19765 Grand Avenue, Lake Elsinore, CA 92330
One way to access many local and county genealogical and historical societies is through the Alliance, which publishes its own newsletter.
California State Archives, Office of Secretary of State, 1020 O Street, Room 130, Sacramento, CA 95814; Reference Desk: (916) 653-2246; General Information: (916) 653-7715; FAX: (916) 653-7363; E-Mail:ArchivesWeb@sos.ca.gov
California Newspapers & Periodicals Records - Newspapers and periodicals are the diaries of local communities. They are excellent sources of family history details - often recorded nowhere else. Look for obituaries, marriages, legal notices, and more found in our Historical Newspaper Archives.
Click Here to Search California Obituary Records! - This database is a compilation of obituaries published in U.S. newspapers, collected from various online sources. Obituaries can vary in the amount of information they contain, but many of them are genealogical goldmines, including information such as names, dates, places of birth and death, marriage information, and family relationships.
There are no centralized repositories dealing with church records in California. Scattered records can be found in genealogical publications, the DAR compilations, and on microfilm. The Spanish missions have played a central role in California's religious history.
Printed secondary sources of transcribed cemeteries exist for most California counties. The California State Society of the DAR has collected hundreds of such records. Transcripts are housed both at the national DAR and with some local chapters and libraries.
Below is a list of online resources for Humboldt County Cemetery & Church Records. Email us with websites containing Humboldt County Cemetery & Church Records by clicking the link below:
Click Here to Search Califonia Family Tree Records! - 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:
Genealogy Encyclopedia: General Abbreviations, Early Illnesses, Nickname Meanings, Worldwide Epidemics, Early Occupations, Common Terms, Censuses Explained, Free Genealogical Forms
Nichols and Related Families of Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Florida, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virgina.
California Family & Local History Records - The Family & Local Histories Collection lets you read journals, memoirs, and other first-hand historical narratives right on your computer. Gathered from some of the world's finest libraries, these materials may provide hard-to-find town, county, and state information; tax records and wills; military, church, and court records; as well as photographs, stories, and maps.
California Pioneer Project - The California Pioneer List (CPL) is a list of settlers to California who migrated to or were born in California prior to 1880 (included in the 1880 California Census) and obtained from those sent (e-mailed) directly from individuals doing genealogical research.
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 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.
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