Benbow, California facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Benbow, California
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Location of Benbow in Humboldt County, California.
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 Benbow, California
Location in Northern California
Benbow, California
Location in California
Benbow, California
Location in the United States
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  California |
| County | Humboldt County |
| Area | |
| • Total | 4.88 sq mi (12.64 km2) |
| • Land | 4.88 sq mi (12.64 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) 0% |
| Elevation | 440 ft (134 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 422 |
| • Density | 86.48/sq mi (33.39/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-8 (Pacific) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-7 (PDT) |
| Area code(s) | 707 |
| GNIS feature IDs | 1655827, 2611375 |
Benbow is a small community in Humboldt County, California. It's not a city, but a special kind of place called an "unincorporated community" or a "census-designated place." This means it's a recognized area for counting people, but it doesn't have its own local government like a city does. Benbow is located right next to the South Fork Eel River. It's about 2 miles (3.2 km) south-southeast of a town called Garberville. The land here is about 440 feet (134 meters) above sea level.
In 2020, about 422 people lived in Benbow. This was an increase from 321 people counted in 2010.
History of Benbow
The story of Benbow began in 1922. That year, the children of Arthur Benbow bought a large piece of land, about 1,288 acres (521 hectares). They bought it from several people, including Ernest Linser, John Kamper, and Jack Bowden.
Building the Benbow Inn
At first, the family thought about ranching on the land. However, they soon realized that ranching wouldn't be enough to support them. So, they decided to build a resort hotel instead. This hotel became known as the Benbow Inn.
The Benbow Inn first opened its doors on July 17, 1926. In its early days, it was called the Hotel Benbow. The hotel got its electricity from two diesel generators. Later, a dam and a powerhouse were built on the South Fork of the Eel River to provide power.
The Benbow Inn is famous for its special Tudorbethan style of architecture. This style looks like old English Tudor buildings. The inn is still open today. You can find it along US Route 101, which is a major highway between Humboldt Bay and the San Francisco Bay Area.
Benbow Post Office
Benbow also had its own post office for many years. It was set up on December 30, 1929. The post office helped people send and receive mail in the community. However, it eventually closed down. On January 31, 1953, the Benbow post office joined with the post office in nearby Garberville.
Population in Benbow
The population of Benbow has changed over time. In 2010, the 2010 United States Census counted 321 people living there. By the 2020 census, the population had grown to 422 people. This means more people chose to live in Benbow during that ten-year period.
Most people in Benbow live in homes with their families or housemates. A very small number of people live in group housing. The community is made up of different kinds of households, including families with children and people living alone. The average age of people in Benbow is about 46 years old.
See also
In Spanish: Benbow (California) para niños
