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Cortena, California facts for kids

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Cortena
Cortena is located in California
Cortena
Cortena
Location in California
Cortena is located in the United States
Cortena
Cortena
Location in the United States
Country United States
State California
County Colusa County
Elevation
79 ft (24 m)

Cortena is a small, quiet place in California. It's known as an "unincorporated community." This means it's not officially a city or town with its own local government. Instead, it's part of a larger area managed by Colusa County. Cortena is located in Colusa County, which is in the northern part of California.

What is Cortena?

Cortena is a community that doesn't have its own city government. This means that services like roads, police, and fire departments are usually handled by the larger county government, which is Colusa County in this case. It's a bit like living in a neighborhood that isn't part of a specific city, but still has people living there and a name.

A Look Back in Time

Cortena used to be called Colusa Junction. This name gives us a big clue about its history! A "junction" is a place where two or more things meet. For Cortena, it was where two important train lines met: the Southern Pacific Railroad and the Colusa and Lake Railroad.

Why Railroads Were Important

In the past, especially in the late 1800s and early 1900s, railroads were super important for travel and moving goods. They were like the highways of their time. A railroad junction was a busy spot where trains could switch tracks, pick up or drop off cargo, and connect different parts of the country. This made Colusa Junction a key location for transportation.

The Post Office

From 1886 to 1914, Colusa Junction even had its own post office. A post office was a very important place in a community. It helped people send and receive letters and packages, connecting them to friends, family, and businesses far away. The fact that Colusa Junction had a post office shows it was an active and recognized place during that time.

Where is Cortena?

Cortena is located in Colusa County, California. It sits at an elevation of 79 feet (or about 24 meters) above sea level. This means it's not very high up, but rather in a flatter area of the county.

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