Carlotta, California facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Carlotta
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The Carlotta Post Office
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 Carlotta
Location in California
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| Country | United States |
| State | California |
| County | Humboldt County |
| Elevation | 131 ft (40 m) |
| GNIS feature ID | 220601 |
Carlotta is a small community in Humboldt County, California. It's not an official city, but a small town where people live. You can find it about 6.5 miles (10.5 km) southeast of Fortuna. It sits at an elevation of 131 feet (40 meters) above sea level. Carlotta is located about 5 miles (8 km) east of US Route 101 on California State Route 36.
History of Carlotta
Carlotta was named after Carlotta Vance. She was the daughter of John M. Vance. He planned the town as a place for people to visit in the summer. The first post office in Carlotta opened in 1903.
Back then, Carlotta had several small houses, a hotel, a store, a blacksmith shop, and a saloon. Around 1915, a big farm in Carlotta became part of Cottage Garden Nurseries. This company grew many plants and trees. They planted an orchard and thousands of pretty plants there.
The saloon closed for about ten years because of Prohibition. This was a time when selling alcohol was against the law. The tough economic times of the 1930s also meant fewer people visited the resort. But after World War II, the logging business grew a lot. This led to two large mills being built in Carlotta. More homes were also built for the workers.
The old hotel in Carlotta was very special. It was a three-story building with a wide porch. This porch had fancy "gingerbread" decorations. The hotel was one of many resorts along the Overland Stage Route. This old route is now known as Route 36. The hotel was famous for its Sunday dinners and fun celebrations. People would come by train from Eureka to enjoy the hotel.
The Vance family sold the town of Carlotta in December 1921. Local investors, including some shopkeepers, bought it. The hotel was owned by the same family from 1921 to 1977. It was closed for some years but reopened around 1936 by Joe Matteucci. His family ran the hotel and restaurant for about 30 years. The Carlotta Hotel was important because of its unique design. It also showed what roadside hotels were like in the past.
Angelo Batini bought the town and hotel in 1977. He reopened the Carlotta Hotel in 1984. The hotel and restaurant were open until the mid-1990s. Sadly, an electrical fire destroyed the building.
By 2006, the two old mills were still standing but not in use. Today, most people who live in Carlotta travel to nearby towns for work. They often go to Fortuna or Eureka for their jobs.
Geography
Carlotta is next to Yager Creek. This creek flows into the Van Duzen River a short distance away. The town's ZIP Code is 95528. The phone area code for the community is 707. The closest airport is the Rohnerville Airport in Fortuna.
Education
Carlotta is home to the Cuddeback Union School District. The Cuddeback School is a public school for students from kindergarten to 8th grade. It is located just off Route 36.
Notable residents
Robert F. Fisher lived in Carlotta from 1912 until he passed away in 1969. He was a politician who helped make laws for California. He served as a California State Assemblyman for Humboldt County from 1926 to 1932. He was also the last person from Humboldt County who fought in the Spanish–American War.
Images for kids
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The town sign for Carlotta.
