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.
Listed here are some of the services available in Humboldt and Del Norte counties. If you don’t see what you need, the Humboldt Community Switchboard at 441-1001 may be able to help.
General Information
Del Norte County
Website: visit site
Offical county website. Lists county services, commissions, meeting agendas, county parks and more.
Humboldt Community Switchboard
441-1001
visit site
Database of resource information. Search it online or call for assistance.
Humboldt County Website
visit site
Official county website. Lists county services, commissions, meeting agendas, county parks and more.
Humboldt Transit Authority
443-0826
visit site
HumGuide
visit site
More than 1,700 links to local websites and resources, plus dining guide, discussion forums and more.
Times-Standard Website
visit site
The website for Humboldt County’s daily newspaper includes local news, business news, sports, style, entertainment, features, opinion, classifieds, advertisements, special sections, weather, obituaries, subscription information and much more.
FAMILIES/CHILDREN
Del Norte InfoCenter:
464-5500
207 Price Mall,
Crescent City, CA 95531
One-stop shopping for youth, family and senior services. Inter-agency collaboration connects residents to health and human services.
Indian Action Council
443-8401
2905 Hubbard Lane Suite C
Eureka, CA 95501
Tutoring and advocacy focusing mainly on the American Indian family.
Humboldt Child Care Council
444-8293, (800) 795-3554
visit site
Child care and family resource agency providing services, support, referrals, child care subsidies and vouchers, children’s centers, respite care.
CASA
(Court Appointed Special Advocates)
Humboldt: 443-3197
Del Norte: 464-3320
visit site
Provides trained volunteer community members who are appointed by a judge to advocate for a child who has been removed from home due to abuse, neglect or abandonment.
Humboldt Kid's Digest
443-4887
visit site
Free publication lists activities, classes, things to do with kids, health, nutrition and parenting information.
Northcoast Children's Services
822-7206
visit site
Head Start and Early Head Start programs for Humboldt and Del Norte counties.
SENIORS
Area Agency on Aging,
Del Norte/Humboldt:
442-3763
3300 Glenwood St.,
Eureka, CA 95501
Leadership and guidance in supporting an older person’s ability to lead a dignified, safe, healthy and independent life. Collects, analyzes and disseminates information on the older adult population.
Del Norte InfoCenter:
464-5500
207 Price Mall
Crescent City, CA 95531
One-stop shopping for senior and family services.
Del Norte Senior Center:
464-7876
1765 Northcrest Drive
Crescent City, CA 95531
Humboldt Senior Resource Center:
443-9747
visit site
Senior Information and Assistance Service:
(800) 408-4636
1910 California St.,
Eureka, CA 95501
visit site
Long term care consultation, Alzheimer’s day care resource center, dining centers, adult day health services, home-delivered meals, minor home repair, health insurance counseling, legal services, ombudsman.
McKinleyville Senior Center
839-0191
1620 Pickett Rd.
McKinleyville, CA 95519
Retired Senior Volunteer Program
442-3711
3300 Glenwood St.
Eureka, CA 95501
AARP Foundation Senior Employment Program
(530) 226-0651 (nearest)
SPECIAL NEEDS
Deaf Counseling Advocacy & Referral Agency: 476-8680
TTY 476-8735
2127 Harrison Ave.,
Eureka, CA 95501
visit site
Community-based social service agency serving the deaf and hard-of-hearing community. Also provides the information about deafness and related issues.
Easter Seals Society of Humboldt County
445-8841, (800) 675-7325
3289 Edgewood Rd.,
Eureka, CA 95501
Direct services to persons with disabilities. Services include financial assistance for programs offered, equipment loans, information/referral and support services, adult day services, children’s programs and adaptive aquatic exercise therapy.
Glen W. Paul School
445-7068
2501 Cypress Ave.,
Eureka, CA 95503
Programs designed to meet the special education needs of children and youth, ages three to 22, who are hearing impaired, physically handicapped, severely developmentally delayed or multiply handicapped. Services include: Identification and referral, speech and language services, adapted physical education services, occupational and physical therapy, vocational and transition programs.
HCAR
443-7077
1707 E St. Eureka, CA 95501
Private nonprofit agency incorporated in 1955. Connects disabled people with the community by providing opportunities for learning, living and employment.
visit site
Humboldt Council of the Blind
839-7266
visit site
A group of blind and sighted people working to increase independence, security, equality of opportunity and quality of life for blind and visually impaired people. With the exception of a summer hiatus the organization meets at 2:30 p.m. on the third Friday of the month at the Humboldt Water District, 828 Seventh St., Eureka, CA 95501. Call ahead to verify meeting date.
Reading Service of the Redwoods
836-1247
920 Samoa Blvd. Suite 214, Arcata 95521
visit site
Provides on-air reading of local newspapers and other printed materials for community members who are blind, visually impaired, homebound or who have disabilities that make it difficult to read printed matter.
The organization broadcasts its readings on a specially tuned radio that can be obtained free to qualified listeners. Applications can be found on the Reading Service of the Redwoods Web site or they can be sent by mail.
VETERANS
North Coast Veterans Resource Center
442-4322
2107 Third St., Eureka, CA 95501
Full range of services and vocational counseling for veterans.
SPECIAL INTEREST/ADVOCATES
NAACP: 268-8287
955 Myrtle Ave.
P.O. Box 1434,
Eureka, CA 95502
Office is open from 1:30-3:30 p.m.
Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
North Coast AIDS Project
268-2132
visit site
Humboldt County Public Health
529 I St., Eureka, CA 95501
Legal Services of
Northern California:
445-0866
Raven Project: 443-7099
523 T St., Eureka, CA 95501
Organization that reaches out to youth aged 21 and younger in need of support.
Hospice of Humboldt
445-8443
2010 Myrtle Ave.,
Eureka, CA 95501
visit site
Humboldt Pride
visit site
Event listings and information for Humboldt County's gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community.
WELL-BEING SERVICES
• Crisis/protective services
Del Norte County
Child Protective Services: 464-3191
Mental Health Services: (888) 446-4408
Humboldt County
Domestic Violence: 443-6042
Mental Health Crisis Line: 445-7715
Rape Crisis: 445-2881
Child Abuse Services Team: 445-7771
Youth Crisis Line: 444-2273
• Emergency food/shelter Eureka, CA
Rescue Mission: 443-4551 110 Second St., Eureka, CA 95501
Serenity Inn (shelter): 442-4815 2109 Broadway, Eureka, CA 95501
St. Vincent de Paul dining facility: 445-9588 35 W. Third St., Eureka, CA 95501
Food For People - Food Bank: 445-3166
Arcata Endeavor - Food Bank: 822-5008
• Substance abuse treatment
Alcoholics Anonymous 24-hour hotlines: Humboldt County: 442-0711 Del Norte County: 464-3411, or 464-8090
Del Norte County Drug & Alcohol Services: 464-4813
Hoopa Tribal Alcohol Program: (530) 625-4236
Humboldt County Alcohol & Other Drugs Programs: 445-6250
Narcotics Anonymous for Humboldt and Del Norte counties: 444-8645 United Indian Health Services: 825-5000