| Korbel | |
|---|---|
| — Unincorporated community — | |
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Korbel
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| Coordinates: | |
| Country | United States |
| State | California |
| County | Humboldt County |
| Elevation[1] | 154 ft (47 m) |
Korbel (formerly, North Fork)[2] is an unincorporated community in Humboldt County, California.[1] It is located 1.5 miles (2.4 km) east-southeast of Blue Lake,[2] at an elevation of 154 feet (47 m).[1] The ZIP Code is 95550.[3]
In 1881, the Korbel brothers of Sonoma County, California acquired the Arcata and Mad River Railroad. They extended the railroad up the North Fork Mad River, where they built the Humboldt Lumber Company sawmill in 1883 with a company town for worker housing. The sawmill was the first in Humboldt County to use a kiln for drying lumber.[4] The town was originally called North Fork, but was renamed Korbel in 1891 with the arrival of the post office.[2] The Korbel family sold their Mad River properties to the Northern Redwood Lumber Company in 1902. Rail passenger service ended in 1931. The sawmill closed in 1933, but was reopened in 1942. In 1956 Simpson Investment Company of Washington purchased the site.[4] Rail connection with the Northwestern Pacific Railroad was abandoned in 1985. Sawmill operations have continued into the 21st century, but few residential or commercial structures remain.