Branscomb, California facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Branscomb
Unincorporated community
Branscomb Location in California Show map of California Branscomb Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Country	United States
State	California
County	Mendocino County
Elevation	1,565 ft (477 m)
ZIP code	95417

Branscomb is a small, unincorporated community located in Mendocino County in California, United States. It's about 8 miles (13 km) west-southwest of Laytonville. Branscomb sits at an elevation of 1,565 feet (477 meters) on a flat area next to the South Fork Eel River.

The local ZIP code for Branscomb is 95417. The community is also within area code 707.

The Story of Branscomb

How Branscomb Got Its Name

The community of Branscomb is named after Benjamin Franklin Branscomb. He was born in Ohio in 1832. In 1857, he traveled to California with his family by joining a wagon train pulled by oxen.

Benjamin later became a farmer in Sonoma County for about 20 years. He married Mary Jane Taylor, who was the daughter of the wagon train captain. They had a large family with 10 children!

Building a Community

In 1880, Benjamin and his family moved to Jackson Valley in Mendocino County. He claimed 160 acres of land for farming and another 40 acres under the Timber Act. This act allowed people to buy public land for growing timber.

Benjamin was very important in starting the first school in the area. He also built a big home. As his family grew up, he turned this home into a hotel. Later, a small grocery store, a meat market, and a place for horses (a livery stable) were added.

The Post Office and Beyond

As more people moved to the area, Benjamin decided to open a post office. It first opened in 1894. Since the place didn't have an official name yet, it was named "Branscomb" after him, because he was the postmaster.

After Benjamin passed away in 1921, his son John took over the property. John ran it until 1959. Then, the Harwood family bought it. They built a large timber mill in Branscomb called Harwood Products.

Sadly, the mill faced problems and closed down in 2008. A few years later, in 2016, the Branscomb store and post office also closed their doors.

Nearby Attractions

Just a short distance north of Branscomb, about 0.25 miles (0.4 km), you can find the Cantwell Soda Spring. This is a natural spring that produces carbonated water!

Branscomb's Weather

Understanding the Climate

Branscomb has a type of weather called a "warm-summer Mediterranean climate." This means it has warm, dry summers. The average monthly temperatures during summer don't go above 71.6°F (22°C). Winters are generally mild and wet.