Albion, California
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Albion is an unincorporated town in Mendocino County, California, USA with a population of 1,035.
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[edit] Geography
Albion lies directly on California's Highway 1 north of Elk, and south of Mendocino and Little River. It lies just north of the intersection of Highway 128 and Highway 1. Albion consists of three major roads: Albion Ridge Road, Navarro Ridge Road, and Middle Ridge Road. The first two are accessible from the coast (Highway 1), but Middle Ridge, running parallel, is only accessible from inland. The side-roads on Albion Ridge Road are labeled from B through Q.
The topography of the area can be viewed with TerraServer.
The nearest beaches include Navarro Beach, to the south, and Handley Beach at the head of Albion Ridge Road.
Vegetation includes Coastal Headlands, California Redwood Forests, and Pygmy forests.
Albion has two bridges, spanning the Albion River and the Navarro River. The Albion River Bridge is the last standing wooden bridge on the Highway 1.
[edit] History
In 1845, Mexico awarded English sea captain William Richardson a large land grant, stretching along the California coast from Mal Paso Creek to Big River (encompassing the land between the present-day towns of Elk and Mendocino). Captain Richardson had partly earned this prize by marrying the daughter of the Mexican Commandant of Yerba Buena (present-day San Francisco). By 1853 Richardson had built, in the middle of this tract, a home and sawmill alongside a narrow river estuary. He named the spot Albion, after the ancient name for his homeland.
Richardson's sawmill was the first to begin operation along the Redwood Coast. It was powered by a tide-driven water wheel, which would operate whether the tide was coming in or going out. Unfortunately, the mill was destroyed by ocean waves during its first winter. Richardson rebuilt the mill the following year, steam-driven this time, but lost all his land that same year when the U.S. Land Commission refused to recognize his Mexican title.
A sawmill would continue to operate at this location over the next 75 years. By 1861 a hotel, livery stable, and mercantile store were also in operation. Miles Standish (a direct descendant of the famous pilgrim) and Henry Hickey purchased the lumber company in 1891. Southern Pacific Railroad bought the operation in 1907 in order to provide redwood ties for railroads they were building in Mexico. They expanded the small logging railroad in the area, extending lines inland to Comptche and the deep end of Anderson Valley. The mill eventually closed down in 1928, and the railroad halted operation in 1930.
[edit] Schools
The town belongs to the Mendocino Unified School District and children attend Albion Elementary School or Mendocino Grammar School until third or fourth grade, then Mendocino Middle School and Mendocino High School.
[edit] Further Resources
Current local news can be found at [1]
Incorporated places: Ukiah (County seat) • Fort Bragg • Point Arena • Willits
Census-designated places: Covelo • Laytonville • Mendocino • Talmage
Other unincorporated communities: Albion • Boonville • Elk • Gualala • Little River • Philo • Redwood Valley • Potter Valley
State parks: Big River • Caspar Headlands • Greenwood Beach • Hendy Woods • Jug Handle • MacKerricher • Maillard Redwoods • Manchester • Mendocino Headlands • Mendocino Woodlands • Montgomory Woods • Navarro River Redwoods • Point Cabrillo • Russian Gulch • Schooner Gulch • Sinkyone Wilderness • Smithe Redwoods • Standish-Hickey • Standley • Van Damme • Westport Union Landing
