Korbel, Humboldt County, California facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Korbel
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 Korbel
Location in California
Korbel
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | California |
| County | Humboldt County |
| Elevation | 154 ft (47 m) |
Korbel, once known as North Fork, is a small community in Humboldt County, California. It's not a city with its own government, but a place where people live. You can find it about 1.5 miles (2.4 km) east of Blue Lake, sitting 154 feet (47 meters) above sea level. Its ZIP Code is 95550.
Contents
History of Korbel
Early Days and the Sawmill
In 1881, three brothers named Antone, Frank, and Joseph Korbel bought the Arcata and Mad River Railroad. They were from Sonoma County, California. The brothers extended the railroad along the North Fork Mad River.
In 1883, they built a large sawmill there. This sawmill was part of their Humboldt Lumber Company. They also created a "company town" nearby. A company town is a place where a company builds houses and stores for its workers. This sawmill was special because it was the first in Humboldt County to use a kiln to dry lumber.
Name Change and Ownership
The town was first called North Fork. But in 1891, when a post office opened, its name was changed to Korbel. This was to honor the Korbel brothers.
In 1902, the Korbel family sold their properties to the Northern Redwood Lumber Company. The railroad stopped carrying passengers in 1931. The sawmill closed in 1933, but it opened again in 1942.
Later Years and Today
In 1956, a company called Simpson Investment Company bought the site. The railroad connection to the Northwestern Pacific Railroad was removed in 1985.
Even though many of the old houses and shops are gone, the sawmill still operates today. Simpson's operations in Korbel later became part of Green Diamond Resources. In 2016, the mill was sold to Trinity River Timber. Green Diamond still owns much of the timberland in the area. Today, the mill is owned and run by North Forks Lumber Company.
The Old Arrow Tree
The Old Arrow Tree is an important historical spot near Korbel. It is California Historical Marker Number 164. You can find it about 0.8 miles (1.3 km) east of Korbel.
This tree marks the place where a peace agreement was made long ago. It was a treaty between two Native American groups, the Hupa and the Karuk people. As people traveled by, they would leave arrows or other small gifts in the tree's bark. Sometimes, they would even shoot arrows into the tree as an offering.
