Eureka

Eureka is the principal city and county seat of Humboldt County in the Redwood Empire region of California. It is the largest coastal city between San Francisco and Portland, Oregon, and the westernmost city of more than 25,000 residents in the 48 contiguous states. The Wiyot people lived in Jaroujiji (Wiyot: "where you sit and rest"), now known as Eureka, for thousands of years before European arrival. The city is home to California's oldest zoo, the Sequoia Park Zoo. The headquarters of both the Six Rivers National Forest and the North Coast Redwoods District of the California State Parks System are in EureKA. The entire city is a state historic landmark, which has hundreds of significant Victorian homes, including the nationally recognized Carson Mansion, and has retained its original 19th-century commercial core as a nationally recognized Old Town Historic District. The location of the city is the only U.S. location to use the same seal as the state for its seal for its motto, "Ioror" (or "I have found it" in Greek) The city's motto is also the official motto of the State of California, which is named after a Greek word meaning "I hope to have found" or "I am hopeful" The city has an extremely maritime climate with very small annual temperature differences and seasons mainly being defined by the rainy winters and dry summers, whereas nearby inland areas are much hotter in summer.

History

Eureka's Pacific coastal location on Humboldt Bay, adjacent to abundant redwood forests, provided the reason for settlement of this 19th-century seaport town. Before the arrival of Euro-American settlers, including farmers, miners, fishermen, and loggers, the area was home to Native Americans. The Wiyot people lived in Jaroujiji (Wiyot: "where you sit and rest"), now known as Eureka, for thousands of years before European arrival. By 1854, after only four years since the founding, seven of nine timber processing mills were within EureKA. A year later, 140 schooners operated out of Humbolds Bay moving lumber from the Pacific coast to cities along the California coast. By the time the city was granted a charter in 1856, the city had a busy daily population of about 2,000 people. The city's name comes from a Greek word meaning "I have found it!" This exuberant statement of successful (or hopeful) gold rush miners is also the official motto of the State of California. It is the only U.S. location to use the same seal as the state for its seal. It was founded on May 13, 1850, by the Union and Mendocino Exploring (development) companies. It became the primary city on the bay, but Arcata's proximity to developing supply lines to inland gold mines ensured supremacy through 1856. The first post office opened in 1853, just as the town began its grid plan into a forest it ultimately would consume to feed the first points beyond.

Geography

The city marina is on one of three islands at a narrow point on the 13-mile-long (21 km) bay. The city gently encroaches at least two miles (3.2 km) eastward into primarily Redwood and Douglas-fir second growth forests. Eureka is unique among mid-latitude climates in that in more than 135 years of recorded temperatures, February has measured a warmer absolute maximum temperature than both the two high summer months of July and August. On average, the highest temperature seen throughout the entire year is only 79 °F (26.1 °C), one of the mildest in the contiguous US. The average high in December, the coolest month, is 55.0°F (12.8 °C) while the average high temperature in August, the warmest month, is 64.3 °F (17.9 °C). The city has never recorded an ice day, with the coldest daytime maximum being 34 °C in 1990. Between 1991 and 2020, the high of the year was 45 °C (1.4 °F) in 1990, and the low of 4358 °F  (114.6°C) in 2020. The all-time highest and lowest temperatures recorded in the city were only 87 °F [30.6 °C] on October 26, 1993, September 2, 2017, and September 28, 2020, and 20 °F. (6.7 ° C) on January 14, 1888, respectively.

Demographics

Eureka is the largest city of the Eureka-Arcata-Fortuna Micropolitan Area, a construct of the U.S. Census Bureau. The city's population was 27,191 at the 2010 census, up from 26,128 at the 2000 census, representing a 4.1% increase, and the population of Greater EureKA was 45,034 at the2010 Census. The Greater Eureska area makes up the largest urban settlement on the Pacific Coast between San Francisco and Portland. Eurekas include the unincorporated adjacent or nearby neighborhoods and Census Defined Populated Areas of Bayview, Cutten, Elk River, Freshwater, Humboldt Hill, Indianola, Myrtletown, Pine Hill, Ridgewood Heights, and Rosewood. The bayside communities of Manila, Samoa, and Fairhaven (all on the Samoa Peninsula), and King Salmon and Fields Landing (both located south of the city) are shown to be part of the eureka Urban Cluster, with the exception of Elk River and Freshwater. In the city, the population dispersal was 22.4% under the age of 18, 11.6% from 18 to 24, 28.9% from 25 to 44, 23.5% from 45 to 64, and 13.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The per capita income for the city was $16,174. About 15.8% of families and 23. 7% of the population were below the poverty line.

Economy

The economic base of the city was founded on timber and fishing and supplying gold mining efforts inland. Today, the major industries are tourism, timber (in value), and healthcare and services (in number of jobs) St. Joseph Hospital is the largest private employer in Eureka. The city is home to the College of the Redwoods, The County of Humboldt, and the Humberoldt County Office of Education. The town is located on the banks of the San Francisco Bay, which was once known as the "Bay of California" The city's population peaked in the 1950s and 1960s, when it had a population of more than 100,000. It has been the site of several World War II-era battles, including the Battle of the Bulge in World War I. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is based in the city, and has been there since the early 1950s. It is also the location of the U.N. World Trade Center, which opened in 1961. The American Museum of Natural History is located in the town's downtown area, and was founded in 1872. It was the first museum in the United States, and is one of the largest in the world, with more than 1,000 acres of land. It also has a museum of American history, which dates back to the 17th century. The museum is the only one of its kind in the state, and it is located near the city's downtown. The California State Museum is also located in town, and opened in 1876.

Government

The City of Eureka has a mayor-council system of governance. Primary power lies with the five council members, divided into five wards. The mayor has the power to appoint, as well as ceremonial duties. The City Council regularly meets on the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of the month at 5:30 pm for closed session, and 6:30pm for open session. Official city business is administered by the Office of the City Manager.Eureka is in the 2nd Senate District, represented by Democrat Mike McGuire, and the 2nd Assembly District,represented by Democrat Jim Wood. Federally, the city is in California's 2nd congressional district, representedby Democrat Jared Huffman. The city is located in the Central Coast region of California, and is located near the San Francisco Bay Area. It is located on the Pacific Coast Highway, which runs through the town of Humboldt. The town has a population of about 2,000 people, with most of its residents living in the central part of the city. It has an average income of about $30,000 per year, with the majority of its population living near the city center. It also has a high school population of around 1,000, with many of its students attending the local community college. The average age of the town's residents is about 40. It's located in a rural area, with much of its land in the foothills and mountains. It was founded in 1858.

Infrastructure

U.S. Route 101 is the major north and south highway, which connects Eureka to the rest of the North Coast region. The city is served by St. Joseph Hospital, which is the largest acute care hospital in the San Francisco Bay Area. The Humboldt Bay Harbor Recreation & Conservation District manages the resources of Humbolds Bay and its environs, including the deep-water port. EureKA residents are served by Pacific Gas and Electric Company, which supplies electricity and natural gas to the city and surrounding area. The entire region is one of the few places in California that has historically enjoyed a significant surplus of water in major manufacturing products. The reduction of water surplus in the area in recent decades has left the area with a 45D surplus of MGD surplus in industrial water supplies. The area is also served by a number of small-craft marinas for private use, with a total capacity of more than 400 boats. It is located on the northern tip of the Bering Strait, between San Francisco and Portland, Oregon. It has a population of around 3,000. The town is located in the northern part of the Northern Pacific Ocean, between Oregon and Washington. It was the first city to be annexed by the state of California in 1868. It also has a long history of being the site of World War II-era battles, including one in the Battle of the Bulge in World War I. The current mayor is a former mayor of the city of San Francisco.

Education

Eureka City Schools administers the public schools of the city. Eureka High School receives all students from city grammar schools as well as all those from nearby unincorporated communities. The district offices are located in the remodeled Marshall School, which also contains the Marshall Family Resource Center. California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt in Arcata manages a downtown satellite campus as well. College of the Redwoods and California State University, San Francisco also have satellite campuses in the area. The city is home to the California Institute of the Arts, which offers a variety of programs for adults and children. It is also the home of the California Maritime Museum, which has a collection of more than 1,000 pieces of maritime memorabilia. It also hosts the California State Museum of Natural History and Science, which includes a large collection of photographs of the region's history and culture. The California State Maritime Museum also has a large display of the area's historic buildings, including the California Coast Museum, where the state's first lighthouse was built in 1869. The EureKA City School District is the largest school district in the region. It administers all public schools in the city, including grammar schools, middle and high schools, and the adult school. The school district also runs a satellite campus in the town of Arcata, where students can study at the College of Redwoods, which is located in downtown Arcata. In addition to the city schools, the region has a number of colleges and universities, including California State College, Santa Cruz and the University of San Francisco.

Shopping

The North Coast's primary shopping facility, the Bayshore Mall, is the largest north of the San Francisco Bay Area on the California coast. The mall features over 70 stores, which is anchored by Kohl's and Walmart. TJ Maxx and Ulta opened in 2013. Other major shopping areas and centers include Henderson Center, the Eureka Mall, Burre Center, and Downtown and Old TownEureka. The North Coast is home to more than 1,000,000 tourists a year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. It is the world's second largest tourist destination, after New York City, with over 1.2 million visitors a year. The U.N. World Trade Center in Geneva, Switzerland, is one of the largest shopping centers in the world. It has over 1,200,000 visitors per year, and is the second largest shopping center in the United States, behind New York's Times Square. It opened in 1914 and is located in the heart of the city of San Francisco. It was the first major shopping center on the North Coast, opening in 1894. It's located on the shores of the Redwood River, which runs through the town of EureKA, California. The city's population is 2.3 million. It also has a population of 1.4 million. The Eurekas are the third largest city in the state, after San Francisco and Los Angeles. The town of Henderson, California, is just 20 miles from the North coast, and has over 100,000 residents.

Arts and culture

Eureka hosts the region's largest monthly cultural and arts event, "Arts' Alive!" More than 80 Eureka business and local galleries open their doors to the public. The city was voted as the No. 1 best small art town in John Villani's book The 100 Best Small Art Towns in America. Museums include the Clarke Historical Museum, the Humboldt Bay Maritime Museum, and the Morris Graves Museum of Art. The original Queen Anne-style Murphy home in San Francisco was completely destroyed by the fire resulting from the 1906 San Francisco earthquake. Mark Carter found the blueprints for the home in an antique store and rebuilt the structure, but in EureKA; it is now the Carter House Inn. The town has hundreds of examples of 19th- and early-20th-century architecture and historic districts. Thirteen distinct districts have been identified which meet the criteria for the National Register of Historic Places. In all, some 1,500 buildings have been recognized as qualifying for theNational Register. The Eurekas Heritage Society, a local architectural preservation group founded in 1973, has been instrumental in protecting and preserving many of Eureaka's fine Victorians. The City's annual cultural events include the Redwood Coast Music Festival, the Perilous Plunge, and a Paddle Fest for kayakers and paddleboarders. The Town's annual Christmas Truckers Parade takes place in December. The July 4th parade is the largest parade in the city, with more than 1,000 participants.

Air Quality, Water Quality, Superfund Sites & UV Index

The Air Quality index is in Eureka, Humboldt County, California = 98.3. These Air Quality index is based on annual reports from the EPA. Higher values are better (100=best). The number of ozone alert days is used as an indicator of air quality, as are the amounts of seven pollutants including particulates, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, lead, and volatile organic chemicals. The Water Quality Index is 53. A measure of the quality of an area’s water supply as rated by the EPA. Higher values are better (100=best). The EPA has a complex method of measuring the watershed quality, using 15 indicators such as pollutants, turbidity, sediments, and toxic discharges. The Superfund Sites Index is 22. Higher is better (100=best). Based upon the number and impact of EPA Superfund pollution sites in the county, including spending on the cleanup efforts. The UV Index in Eureka = 5 and is a measure of an area's exposure to the sun's ultraviolet rays. This is most often a combination of sunny weather, altitude, and latitude. The UV Index has been defined by the WHO (www.who.int/news-room/questions-and-answers/item/radiation-the-ultraviolet-(uv)-index) and is uniform worldwide.

Employed

The most recent city population of 26,512 individuals with a median age of 36.7 age the population dropped by -1.94% in Eureka, Humboldt County, California population since 2000 and are distributed over a density of 2,846.33 residents per square mile of area (1,098.96/km²). There are average 2.23 people per household in the 10,823 households with an average household income of $30,653 a year. The unemployment rate in Alabama is 11.80% of the available work force and has dropped -5.72% over the most recent 12-month period and the projected change in job supply over the next decade based on migration patterns, economic growth, and other factors will increase by 16.76%. The number of physicians in Eureka per 100,000 population = 216.2.

Weather

The annual rainfall in Eureka = 39.1 inches and the annual snowfall = 0.3 inches. The annual number of days with measurable precipitation (over .01 inch) = 120. The average number of days per year that are predominantly sunny = 179. 62 degrees Fahrenheit is the average daily high temperature for the month of July and 41.5 degrees Fahrenheit is the average daily low temperature for the month of January. The Comfort Index (higher=better) is 83, where higher values mean a more pleasant climate. The Comfort Index measure recognizes that humidity by itself isn't the problem. (Have you noticed nobody ever complains about the weather being 'cold and humid?) It's in the summertime that we notice the humidity the most, when it's hot and muggy. Our Comfort Index uses a combination of afternoon summer temperature and humidity to closely predict the effect that the humidity will have on people.

Median Home Cost

The percentage of housing units in Eureka, Humboldt County, California which are owned by the occupant = 43.60%. A housing unit is a house, apartment, mobile home, or room occupied as separate living quarters. The average age of homes = 55 years with median home cost = $229,280 and home appreciation of -6.32%. This is the value of the years most recent home sales data. Its important to note that this is not the average (or arithmetic mean). The median home price is the middle value when you arrange all the sales prices of homes from lowest to highest. This is a better indicator than the average, because the median is not changed as much by a few unusually high or low values. The property tax rate of $6.82 shown here is the rate per $1,000 of home value. If for simplification for example the tax rate is $14.00 and the home value is $250,000, the property tax would be $14.00 x ($250,000/1000), or $3500. This is the 'effective' tax rate.

Study

The local school district spends $5,305 per student. There are 19 students for each teacher in the school, 2019 students for each Librarian and 1346 students for each Counselor. 8.60% of the area’s population over the age of 25 with an Associate Degree or other 2-year college degree, 11.37% with a master’s degree, Ph.D. or other advanced college degree and 5.48% with high school diplomas or high school equivalency degrees (GEDs).