Camp Meeker, California facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Camp Meeker, California
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Welcome arch on Bohemian Highway
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 Camp Meeker, California
Location in California
Camp Meeker, California
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | California |
| County | Sonoma |
| Elevation | 331 ft (101 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-8 (PST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-7 (PDT) |
| ZIP code |
95419
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| Area code(s) | 707 |
| FIPS code | 06-10466 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1658200 |
| Website | http://www.campmeeker.org/ |
Camp Meeker is a small community in Sonoma County, California, USA. You can find it on the Bohemian Highway, nestled between the towns of Occidental and Monte Rio.
About 350 homes are here, with around 425 people living in them. Some homes are on flat, sunny land, while others are on steep, narrow streets. It's surrounded by giant redwood trees and sits right on Dutch Bill Creek. In winter, it gets a lot of rain, about 55 inches over 69 days.
A Look Back: Camp Meeker's Story
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Camp Meeker gets its name from Melvin Cyrus Meeker. He was a "lumber baron," which means he owned many businesses that cut down trees for wood. He started several sawmills in the area around 1866.
The town was located on the North Pacific Coast Railroad line, which is no longer used today. Camp Meeker was very important for cutting down coast redwoods. This wood was used to build and rebuild San Francisco after the big earthquake in 1906.
After the trees were cut, Meeker divided Camp Meeker into small plots of land in 1898. Each plot was about 25 feet by 12 feet and came with a small one-room cabin. They sold for $75 each. Around 1900, Camp Meeker became a popular vacation spot, especially for people from San Francisco.
What You'll Find in Camp Meeker
Camp Meeker is home to St. Dorothy's Rest. This is a special place that serves as a retreat center and a summer camp for many visitors.
The Camp Meeker Volunteer Fire Department helps keep everyone safe from fires. In 2003, the department shared that Camp Meeker was the only place in Sonoma County with fire hydrants every 500 feet. This helps them fight fires quickly.
Dutch Bill Creek, which runs through Camp Meeker, is important for fish. In December 2001, young wild coho salmon were seen spawning there. Spawning means the fish were laying their eggs. Since 2006, young coho salmon have been released into the creek as part of a program to help them grow.
In November 2009, Camp Meeker improved its park along Dutch Bill Creek. They removed an old dam that was built a long time ago by the WPA. In its place, they built a new bridge. The whole park area was rebuilt to make it better for everyone to enjoy.
Before it became a village, Camp Meeker was a busy lumber town. Later, it became a popular summer getaway. People who lived there all year round mixed with those who came just for the summer.
