Ferndale   



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: 1,390
Settled: 1852, incorporated 1893
Median home price:
October 2005-March 2006: $419,500
October 2004-March 2005: $422,000
October 2003-March 2004: $259,000
October 2002-March 2003: $250,000
October 2001-March 2002: $227,500

City Government
Mayor: Elizabeth Anderson
Vice Mayor: vacant City Manager: Michael Powers
City Council: Stuart Titus, Carlos Benneman, and Ken Mierzwa.
The council meets the first Thursday of the month at 7:00 p.m. in City Hall.

City Contacts
City Hall
834 Main St.,
786-4224, Fax: 786-9314

Chamber of Commerce
786-4477
P.O. Box 325, Ferndale 95536
visit site

Library
807 Main St.
786-9559

Police
834 Main St.
786-4025

Fire
339 Main St.
786-990
Ferndale is home to beautiful pastures and a healthy dairy industry.
  Driving down Main Street Ferndale is like taking a step back in time when life and times were simpler. Colorful Victorians coupled with an old-fashioned sense of charm makes this small dairy town an enchanting getaway.
  Used as the main set for several Hollywood movies and a past winner of the Prettiest Painted Places in America contest, the city has had its fair share of national coverage. Whether you hike Ferndale’s Russ Park, venture 5 miles west to the coast, tour historic Fern Cottage or stroll down Main Street, you will most likely agree that there is plenty to do in the Victorian Village.
  The town’s authenticity and its determination to protect its unique character and sense of place are at the heart of its appeal. That’s why the National Trust for Historic Preservation in 2002 designated it one of its Dozen Distinctive Destinations.
  Ferndale was founded in 1852 and quickly became a major agricultural center. The surrounding dairyland was the source of a prosperous industry that provided the town’s economic base and still exists today.
  The village is full of architectural treasures, delightful shops, excellent dining and the pioneer Ferndale Cemetery, a unique hillside cemetery popular for its expansive views of the ocean to the west and the Eel River Valley to the east.
  The town’s spirit is evident in its often offbeat attractions. The Ferndale Art & Cultural Center features a Kinetic Sculpture Museum, and the town is also home to the longest-running county fair in California.
  No longer an isolated settlement, today Ferndale is just a few miles off the beaten path.