Trinidad, California

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Trinidad is a picturesque seaside town in Humboldt County, California, on the far North Coast of California. Surrounded by spectacular beaches and craggy, wooded hillsides, Trinidad is a small fishing village with one of the West Coast's most photographed lighthouses. Fishing from Trinidad Harbor remains one of the area's economic mainstays.

Due to its coastal location, the climate is remarkably temperate compared with that of its inland neighbors in the nearby Trinity Alps. The temperatures year-round generally range from the 40s to 60s Fahrenheit, although the winter months are rainy. The ecosystem is ideal for the growth of coastal redwoods, with which the area was once thick. Stands of old growth can still be found 20 miles north of Trinidad, in Redwood National Park, and second growth abounds.

Outdoor activities are popular for both visitors and local residents, who enjoy freshwater and deep sea fishing, kayaking, sailboarding, hiking and hunting. Six rivers run through Humboldt County, providing ample opportunity for recreation. The chill waters of the Pacific Ocean, however, discourage all but the hardiest wetsuit wearers from surfing or scuba diving.

Trinidad is convenient to Eureka-Arcata Airport, just 8 miles south, which is served by most major airports from San Francisco north. Just a few miles south of Trinidad is the college town of Arcata, home of Humboldt State University. Arcata, with a population of approximately 16,000, is also home to many artists and writers, and features a number of bookstores, coffeehouses, microbreweries, restaurants and music venues.

As of the 2000 census, Trinidad population was 311, making Trinidad the smallest incorportated City in California.

1 History
2 Geography
3 Demographics
4 External links

[edit] History

Yurok Indians settled the bluffs over the bay before 1700 CE. The first European sighting of Trinidad Harbor was by the Portugese navigator Sebastian Rodriguez Cermeno. He did not land. The next visit was by the Spaniard Bodega on Trinity Sunday (June 9) 1775. The area was named "la Santisima Trinidad" and Claimed for the King of Spain. Trinidad was incorporated in 1870 as a city of the State of California, USA. Some say that this makes it the first incorporated city in California.

[edit] Geography

Trinidad is located at 41°3′43″N, 124°8′29″W (41.061976, -124.141255)^GR1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.7 km² (0.7 mi²). 1.2 km² (0.5 mi²) of it is land and 0.5 km² (0.2 mi²) of it (27.27%) is water.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census^GR2 of 2000, there were 311 people, 168 households, and 73 families residing in the city. The population density was 250.2/km² (643.0/mi²). There were 228 housing units at an average density of 183.4/km² (471.4/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 94.86% White, 1.61% Black or African American, 0.32% Native American, 0.64% Asian, 0.32% Pacific Islander, 0.32% from other races, and 1.93% from two or more races. 2.25% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 168 households out of which 12.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 36.9% were married couples living together, 5.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 56.5% were non-families. 40.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.85 and the average family size was 2.51.

In the city the population was spread out with 11.3% under the age of 18, 5.5% from 18 to 24, 21.9% from 25 to 44, 41.5% from 45 to 64, and 19.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 50 years. For every 100 females there were 98.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.0 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $40,000, and the median income for a family was $50,357. Males had a median income of $39,583 versus $31,167 for females. The per capita income for the city was $28,050. About 2.3% of families and 8.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.7% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.