Orick   



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: 400

City Government
Orick is an unincorporated area of Humboldt County. It does not have a mayor or city council and as such, is governed by the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors. The Orick Community Services District manages the town's water system and community hall.

Orick Community Services District
101 Swan Road
Orick  95555
488-5741

Chamber of Commerce
P.O. Box 234
Orick, 95555
488-2885
visit site

Humboldt County
Board of Supervisors
825 Fifth St.
Eureka, 95501
476-2390
Cinco de Mayo celebration in Orick, their first annual such event.
  Situated at the southern gateway to Redwood National and State Parks as well as Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park, Orick is surrounded by natural beauty. Nearby are the Tall Trees Grove, the Lady Bird Johnson Grove and the 1,500-year-old Big Tree.
  Lush green rolling hills, redwoods and stunning beach access evoke images that fit with Orick’s motto, “Where the redwoods meet the sea.”
  The town is also close to Freshwater Lagoon, Humboldt Lagoons State Park, Stone Lagoon, Newton B. Drury Scenic Parkway and Fern Canyon. Visitors can see wild Roosevelt elk in their habitat at the Davidson Road lookout, just north of town. Take a minute to get some pictures and see these magnificent animals, but don’t get too close.
  Orick Valley is Humboldt County’s northernmost community along U.S. Highway 101. The Redwood Information Center south of town provides visitor information about all of the nearby parks. Redwood National and State Parks opened its South Operations Center in the heart of Orick last year.
  Home to about 400 people, Orick is on the banks of Redwood Creek and boasts an active artists’ community working in mediums from watercolors to redwood burl carvings. A number of them are featured at www.OrickArts.com.
  The beach at Orick offers a variety of surf casting and the popular net fishing enjoyed by locals. Agate hunting and horseback riding along the beach are also popular activities.
  The annual two-day Orick Rodeo takes place in July at the Orick Rodeo Arena and includes barrel racing, mutton bustin’, kids’ games, a barbecue and a quilt show at Orick School. In September, the Banana Slug Derby takes place at Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park.