Arcata, California

Arcata is a city, adjacent to Humboldt Bay, in Humboldt County, California, United States. The population was 16,651 during the 2000 Census. This quirky and socially progressive college town is home to both the Humboldt State University and the Humboldt Crabs, a highly successful minor league baseball team.

[edit] Government

Arcata is notably liberal in its political makeup, and is the first city in the United States to elect a majority of its city council members from the Green Party. The town was originally named 'Union' and was established during the timber boom generated by the 19th century Gold Rush, Arcata features a large number of original Victorian structures, many of which have been lovingly restored, and is home to the oldest movies-only theater in the United States which is still in operation (the Arcata Minor Theater)[1]. For its size, the city has many bookstores, coffeehouses, (e.g. Mosgos - live music weekend venues; Jitter Bean; Muddy's Hot Cup; Sacred Grounds), restaurants, galleries and music venues.

In order to preserve its community character, laws in Arcata limit the number of chain restaurants allowed in the city. Residents hotly debate major issues, including protection of the physical environment, the domination of America by corporate culture, legalization of marijuana, and the statue of President William McKinley that is located in Arcata's downtown plaza. Arcata was the first city in the nation to pass a resolution purporting to nullify the USA PATRIOT Act in said city. The legality of the resolution has not yet been tested. Arcata was also the first municipality to ban the growth of any type of Genetically Modified Organism within city limits, with exceptions for research and educational purposes.

[edit] Geography

Arcata is located at 40°52′22″N, 124°4′58″W (40.872805, -124.082814)^GR1. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 28.6 km² (11.0 mi²). 23.8 km² (9.2 mi²) of it is land and 4.8 km² (1.9 mi²) of it (16.76%) is water.

There are several neighborhoods, or geophysical areas, that are closely associated with Arcata. Sunny Brae to the south, The Bottoms to the west, Fickle Hill to the east, and Valley West (including Valley East) to the north. Each of those areas are outside of the city limits. There is some movement to officially annex some of those areas into the city limits of Arcata. Sub sections of Arcata within the city limits are Curtis Heights, Woodland Heights, the Saides, Westwood, Greenview, and Windsong.

The area along the Mad River bluff overlooking Arcata is sometimes considered part of Arcata because the Arcata noon whistle can be heard from this area.

[edit] Climate

Average temperature is 55 degrees Fahrenheit. Winter high temperatures average in the mid-50s, with lows in the lower 40s. Summer high temperatures average in the lower to middle 60s, with lows in the lower 50s. Temperatures sometimes dip to below 30 degrees Fahrenheit in winters and climb to the 70s Fahrenheit in summer and fall. For climate graphs and averages: [2]

[edit] Demographics

As of the census^GR2 of 2000, there were 16,651 people, 7,051 households, and 2,813 families residing in the city. The population density was 699.6/km² (1,812.1/mi²). There were 7,272 housing units at an average density of 305.5/km² (791.4/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 84.51% White, 1.56% Black or African American, 2.65% Native American, 2.27% Asian, 0.20% Pacific Islander, 3.49% from other races, and 5.31% from two or more races. 7.22% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 7,051 households out of which 19.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 25.9% were married couples living together, 10.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 60.1% were non-families. 34.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.16 and the average family size was 2.81.

In the city the population was spread out with 15.3% under the age of 18, 32.3% from 18 to 24, 27.8% from 25 to 44, 15.9% from 45 to 64, and 8.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 26 years. For every 100 females there were 99.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.9 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $22,315, and the median income for a family was $36,716. Males had a median income of $26,577 versus $24,358 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,531. About 14.3% of families and 32.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.4% of those under age 18 and 6.0% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] Education

Arcata is host to Humboldt State University, a member of the 23-campus California State University system. With a student body of over a third the town's total population, Arcata is a classic example of a traditional "college town" — with all the concomitant cultural advantages, but also with the inevitable tensions that arise between year round residents and the part-time student population.

[edit] Culture and institutions

As of 2002, there were 8,210 employed persons living in Arcata [3] and an unemployment rate of 7.2%. The majority of Arcata jobs come from the government, the city's many independently-owned businesses, Humboldt State University, and the "agriculture, forestry, and fishing" industries. Although, many have argued that the number of employment opportunities available to citizens of Arcata (along with the rest of Humboldt County) has slimmed down over the past six years.

Arcata is home to a higher-than-average unhoused population. Many of these people reside in illegal domiciles within the Arcata Community Forest, which is only a short walk from downtown and the Arcata Food Endeavor [4]. Panhandling is part of daily life in Arcata, and community members have coined the colloquial term "plazoid" for this demographic because of their concentration in its downtown plaza.

[edit] History

[edit] First Nation

The Wiyot People and Yurok People lived in this area prior to Russian and European arrival. They are the farthest-southwest people whose language has Algonquian roots. The traditional homeland of the Wiyot ranged from Mad River in the north and continues through Humboldt Bay (including the present cities of Eureka and Arcata) and then south to the lower Eel River basin. The traditional homeland of the Yurok ranges from Mad River to beyond the Klamath River in the north. Due to several factors, including acts of violence against the Wiyot people, their population was reduced to less than 5% of pre-European numbers. See the article on the Wiyot people for more on their history in the region. The Yurok managed slightly better. Both cultural groups are a strong part of today's life in Arcata.

[edit] European arrival

Arcata was originally founded as the company town of Union (the permanent name change occurred in 1860). What was to become the first "real" town on Humboldt Bay began as Union Company employees laid out the plaza and first city streets in the Spring of 1850. Along with the initially much smaller neighbor, Eureka, these towns began as bases for the provision of gold mining operations located due east on the Klamath, Trinity, and Salmon rivers. The re-focus on logging and related industries came secondarily.^[1]

[edit] Recent history

In August 1989, the voters of Arcata passed the Nuclear Weapons Free Zone Act, prohibiting activities benefiting nuclear weapons contractors within city jurisdictional limits.

In 2003 the city passed a law making it illegal to voluntarily cooperate with enforcement of the USA PATRIOT Act, making it the first to take such a step.

On January 4, 2006, the Arcata city council adopted the New Year's Resolution, demanding the impeachment or the resignation of President George W. Bush and Vice President Richard B. Cheney for violations of Constitutional and International law, making it the first city to pass such a resolution. This is the second time the City Council has passed a resolution calling for the impeachment of President Bush.

Arcata is also known for its progressive involvement in environmental politics and environmental activism. As an example, in 1981, Arcata constructed the Arcata Marsh and Wildlife Sanctuary. The Arcata Marsh has multiple uses including recreation, wildlife habitat, education, and wastewater treatment. In 1996 Arcata elected the first-ever Green Party city council majority. This majority was lost two years later, restored in 2004 and lost again in 2006.

[edit] Transportation

[edit] Land

U.S. Route 101 extends north and south and bisects the city. The downtown has several overcrossings and is considered a fairly walkable community[5]. U.S. Route 299 connects to U.S. Route 101 at the northern end of Arcata. U.S. Route 299 begins at this point and extends easterly.

Humboldt Transit Authority (HTA) is the major provider of public bus transportation in Arcata and the county. HTA has several stops in Arcata. Arcata-Mad River Transit is the local bus and serves Arcata and a small surrounding area. Arcata-Mad River Transit is subsidized by Humboldt State University and offers low cost rides to students. Dial-A-Ride service is available from Humboldt Senior Resource Center through an application process.

Arcata is the home of the Arcata Bike Library^[6]) Program, a non-profit lending library for refurbished bicycles.

At times, vehicle traffic into and out of Arcata has been restricted due to landslides on the U.S. Routes. A 7.0 magnitude earthquake on November 8, 1980 caused an overcrossing to collapse[7]

[edit] Air

The closest airport is the Arcata-Eureka Airport and is located in McKinleyville.

[edit] Media

The newspaper with the largest circulation produced in the city is the regional Northcoast Journal. The paper is free and circulates 21,000 [8] papers a week throughout the northcoast region. The Arcata Eye, with a circulation of around 5,000, is the only paper that covers Arcata solely and extensively. HSU also has a weekly student-run paper called the The Lumberjack. Regional publications covering Arcata include the Times-Standard, The Eureka Reporter and the Humboldt Sentinel. Arcata also has a number of small 'zines and blogs that cover a variety of issues important to Arcatans, such as youth culture and homelessness.

The Northcoast Environmental Center, located in Arcata, publishes the Econews, a monthly journal dedicated to "educate, activate, and when necessary litigate on behalf of the Klamath-Siskiyou bioregion."[9]

Arcata Community Access Channel served the area for many years.

[edit] Pollution

The city is known worldwide in the scientific community for its sewer treatment system, the Arcata Marsh, started in 1979 as a natural way of processing the city's wastewater. The marsh was built on a retired municipal solid waste dump. The marsh has received many awards including the Innovations in Government award from the Ford Foundation/Harvard University Kennedy School of Government. Despite being effectively a treatment facility, the open-air "lake" does not smell, and is a popular destination for bikers, bird watchers and joggers.

Arcata's Paperboard Plant has contributed to EPA ratings of high formaldehyde concentration in local air quality.

[edit] Sports

Arcata is home to the Humboldt Crabs, the nation's longest continuously operated semi-pro baseball team,^[2] who frequently play for sold-out crowds (of c. 1500) each summer.