Fernbridge, California facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Fernbridge, California
Formerly Singley Station (c. 1885 to 1913)
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View of Fernbridge along SR 211
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| Country | United States |
| State | California |
| County | Humboldt County |
| Named for | Fernbridge (the bridge) |
| Elevation | 39 ft (12 m) |
| Area code(s) | 707 |
Fernbridge is a small community in Humboldt County, California. It's called an "unincorporated community" because it doesn't have its own local government, unlike a city. The community is named after a very important bridge, also called Fernbridge. This bridge is about 3 miles (5 km) west of Fortuna.
The Fernbridge bridge is special because it's the longest concrete bridge in the world that was built by pouring concrete. It's also famous for being the only bridge over the lower Eel River that survived big floods in the middle of the 1900s.
Discovering Fernbridge
The Fernbridge community is located between the Eel River and Highway 101. Old train tracks from the Northwestern Pacific Railroad also run through it.
Along Fernbridge Drive, which used to be part of Highway 101, you can find a few buildings. These include the Humboldt Creamery, an old train station, some warehouses, and several houses. This road now helps people get on and off Highway 101.
If you need to travel, Fernbridge is a stop for public buses. The Humboldt Transit Authority and the Redwood Transit System connect the community to other places in Humboldt County along Highway 101. The ZIP Code for Fernbridge is 95540, and its area code is 707.
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) has a webcam that looks over the Fernbridge area. They also have a special device, called a river gage, at the bridge. This device helps them measure the water level in the river.
How Fernbridge Got Its Name
The area was first known as Singley Station in 1885. It was named after George Singley, who operated a ferry across the Eel River from 1876 to 1889. When a train station was built, a stagecoach service started running regularly to connect with the trains. By 1891, the ferry was improved with a steam winch, and a temporary bridge was added in the summer.
The name of the town changed from Singley Station to Fernbridge around 1913. This happened about two years after the famous Fernbridge bridge was built across the Eel River between 1910 and 1911. The first post office in Fernbridge opened in 1924.
In 1934, when California started numbering its state routes, California State Route 1 began in Las Cruces and ended right here in Fernbridge. However, by 1984, this part of Route 1 was renumbered to State Highway 211.
