McKinleyville   



Humboldt County's first residents hailed from the Yurok, Karuk, Wiyot, Chilula, Whilkut and Hupa tribes, among others. They settled on the coast and along the banks of the Trinity and Klamath rivers. The county was created in May 1853 and derives its name from Humboldt Bay, which was "discovered" by a sea otter hunting party in 1806 and rediscovered in 1849. Douglas Ottinger and Hans Buhne entered the bay in 1850 and named it in honor of naturalist and explorer Baron Alexander von Humboldt.

Del Norte County has been home to the Yurok and Tolowa peoples for thousands of years. Legendary explorer Jedediah Smith is credited with being the first non-native to enter the region, in 1828. Gold strikes on the Klamath and Smith Rivers in the 1850s led to the settlement of the county, which was created in March 1857. Its name, meaning "the north" is derived from its position in the northwest corner of the state.

Statistics
Population: 13,944
Settled: Late 1800s
Median home price:
October 2005-March 2006: $344,900
October 2004-March 2005: $289,900
October 2003-March 2004: $231,750
October 2002-March 2003: $189,450
October 2001-March 2002: $166,900

City Government
McKinleyville is an unincorporated area of Humboldt County. It does not have a mayor or city council. The McKinleyville Community Services District manages water, sewer, lighting, recreational services and wetland preserves.
Board of Directors:
President: Paul Trepanier
General Manager: Thomas A. Marking
Directors: Bill Wnnerholm, Javan Reid, Jeff Dunk, John Corbett, Paul Trepanier.
The board meets the third Wednesday of every month at 7 p.m. at Azalea Hall, 1620 Pickett Road.

City Contacts
McKinleyville Community
Services District
1656 Sutter Road.
McKinleyville 95519
Phone: (707) 839-3251
visit site

Chamber of Commerce
1640 Central Ave.
839-2449
Website

Library
1606 Pickett Road
839-4459

Sheriff??s Substation
1608 Pickett Road
839-3857

Fire
2149 Central Ave.
839-2432
An aerial view of McKinleyville and teh mouth of the Mad River
  What used to be known as the town where the horses have the right of way, McKinleyville has dusted off that outdated reputation. Booming growth fueled by fast-paced housing development has given McKinleyville — one of the largest unincorporated communities in California — a reinvigorated focus on being a family friendly community.
  The town’s beginnings stem from the 1860s, when rancher Joe Dow established a community between the Mad River and the Little River. In the late 1890s, pioneer and businessman Isaac Minor began building businesses in what was then called Dow’s Prairie. The businesses provided necessities for farmers, dairymen, ranchers and timber workers. Minor renamed the town McKinleyville in honor of the then president.
  In 1897, the townspeople dedicated the new town and renamed it Minorville after its founder, but after President William McKinley was assassinated in 1901 the town was renamed McKinleyville.
  The Arcata-Eureka Airport is the largest in the county, with service to San Francisco, Sacramento, Los Angeles, Redding and Portland, Ore., by United Express and Horizon Air. The airport also serves as home base to Air Station McKinleyville, the Coast Guard’s Air Rescue Team.
  A popular recreation destination in McKinleyville is the scenic Hammond Trail — a walking, bicycling and equestrian trail that begins at Mad River Road and ends at Knox Cove. The Azalea State Preserve is another scenic destination, with trails winding through the plants and informational markers to describe the various species.
  Clam Beach just north of McKinleyville is one of the most popular beaches in Humboldt County and the location for the area’s annual sand castle competition.
  McKinleyville celebrates the three-day Azalea Festival the first weekend in June and kicks off with the Fireman’s muster followed by the McKinleyville vs. Arcata High School Alumni football game, a children’s garden for fun family games and activities; a commercial garden for area vendors and the azalea garden for gardeners. There will also be a wine and beer tasting venue, food tasting venue, a parade and the Pony Express barbecue.