McKinleyville, California facts for kids

Quick facts for kids McKinleyville
census-designated place
Location in Humboldt County and the state of California
Country	United States
State	California
County	Humboldt
Area
• Total	21.014 sq mi (54.426 km2)
• Land	20.796 sq mi (53.862 km2)
• Water	0.218 sq mi (0.564 km2)  1.2%
Elevation	141 ft (43 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	16,262
• Density	773.87/sq mi (298.791/km2)
Time zone	UTC-8 (Pacific (PST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-7 (PDT)
ZIP codes	95519, 95521
Area code(s)	707
FIPS code	06-44910
GNIS feature ID	1659090

McKinleyville is a community in Humboldt County, California. It's located about 5 miles (8 km) north of Arcata. In 2020, about 16,262 people lived there.

McKinleyville is the third largest community on the far North Coast of California. Only the cities of Eureka and Arcata are bigger. It's also home to the Arcata–Eureka Airport, which is the biggest airport in the area.

History of McKinleyville

The Wiyot and Yurok people have lived in this area for a very long time. Their traditional lands are part of what is now McKinleyville. These groups are still an important part of the community today.

How McKinleyville Got Its Name

McKinleyville started as a mix of smaller settlements. In the 1860s, a man named Joe Dows settled in the area. This part became known as Dows Prairie. South of Dows Prairie was a small community called Minor, or Minorville. Even further south was a place called Calville. This area was settled by people who worked for the California Barrel Company.

In 1901, President William McKinley was sadly assassinated. To honor him, the community of Minor changed its name to McKinleyville. Today, all these smaller areas are considered part of McKinleyville. The first post office opened here in 1903.

McKinleyville is not an official city or town. It's a community with many shops and businesses that serve the people who live there.

Geography and Nature

McKinleyville covers about 21 square miles (54 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a small part being water.

Rivers and Creeks

The community is located near several important water areas. To the south, you'll find the north bank of the Mad River. As you go north, there are smaller creeks like Mill Creek, Widow White Creek, Norton Creek, Strawberry Creek, and Patrick Creek. The northernmost water area is the south bank of the Little River. To the west, the community meets the Pacific Ocean.

Climate and Weather

McKinleyville has a cool-summer Mediterranean climate. This means it has mild, rainy winters and cool, mild summers. The average temperature is about 55°F (13 °C). Unlike nearby Eureka and Arcata, McKinleyville's summers are usually less foggy and a bit warmer. However, the area still gets coastal fog throughout the year.

People and Population

McKinleyville has grown quite a bit over the years.

Community Makeup

The community is made up of people from many different backgrounds. Here's a look at the racial and ethnic groups in McKinleyville over the years:

How McKinleyville is Run

Since McKinleyville is not an official city, it's managed by Humboldt County. There's also a special group called the McKinleyville Community Services District. They help provide local services to the residents.

Local and National Representation

For state laws, McKinleyville is part of California's 2nd Senate District and 2nd Assembly District. For national laws, it's part of California's 2nd Congressional District.

Getting Around McKinleyville

Roads and Public Transport

U.S. Route 101 is a major highway that runs north and south through the area. State Route 299 connects to Route 101 near Arcata and goes east. This road is important for traffic heading east from McKinleyville.

The Humboldt Transit Authority (HTA) provides public bus services in McKinleyville and across the county. There are several bus stops in the community. You can also get special Dial-A-Ride services for seniors.

Sometimes, roads in the area can be closed because of landslides. For example, a big earthquake in 1980 caused part of a freeway overpass to collapse south of Eureka.

Hammond Trail for Fun and Travel

The Hammond Trail is a great place for hiking, biking, and horseback riding. It's over 5 miles (8 km) long and connects Arcata, McKinleyville, and nearby areas. The trail follows an old railroad path used by the Hammond Lumber Company. It starts at the Hammond Bridge near the Mad River County Park and goes north to Clam Beach County Park. You can even camp overnight at Clam Beach County Park.

The Hammond Trail is also part of two bigger trails: the California Coastal Trail (CCT) and the Pacific Coast Bike Route (PCBR).

Air Travel

The Arcata–Eureka Airport is located right in McKinleyville. This airport serves the main towns of Arcata and Eureka. It was chosen as a special test site because the area is one of the foggiest in Northern California. This allowed them to test how planes could land safely in heavy fog.

Fun Things to Do

McKinleyville has several fun events and places to visit:

• Clam Beach Run: A popular race held at the beach.
• Pony Express Days: A community festival that used to be called the Azalea Festival.

Parks in McKinleyville

You can enjoy nature at these parks:

• Azalea State Reserve
• Pierson Park
• Hiller Park
• Clam Beach County Park

Six Rivers Brewery

McKinleyville is home to the Six Rivers Brewery, a restaurant that makes its own beer. They brew eleven different kinds of beer. In 2010, it became the second brewery in California owned only by women. Six Rivers Brewery has won awards at the Great American Beer Festival.

Famous People from McKinleyville

• John Jaso, a professional baseball catcher who played in Major League Baseball.

See also

In Spanish: McKinleyville para niños