Navarro, California facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Navarro
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Navarro, California
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 Navarro
Location in California
Navarro
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | California |
| County | Mendocino County |
| Elevation | 269 ft (82 m) |
| ZIP code |
95463
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Navarro (once known as Wendling) is a small, quiet community in Mendocino County, California. It is an "unincorporated community," which means it doesn't have its own local government like a city does. Navarro is located about 18 miles (29 km) west of Ukiah. It sits at an elevation of 269 feet (82 meters) above sea level. You can reach Navarro by taking California State Route 128. This road connects it to the beautiful Pacific coast in the west and the Anderson Valley to the southeast.
Contents
The original town of Navarro was founded in the 1860s. It was a busy place with about 1,000 people. This first town was located about 14 miles (23 km) west of where Navarro is today. It was right at the mouth of the Navarro River, in what is now Navarro River Redwoods State Park. A post office opened there in 1867, helping people send and receive mail.
The Mill Burns and a New Town Begins
In 1902, a big lumber mill at the mouth of the river burned down. After this, the post office in the old town closed. But that same year, a new mill was built by G. C. Wendling. This new mill was located on the north fork of the Navarro River, exactly where the community of Navarro is today.
In 1905, the town of Wendling grew up around this new mill. A post office opened in Wendling in 1914.
Things changed again in 1916. The Wendling mill was bought by the Navarro Lumber Company. Because of this, the town of Wendling became known as Navarro Mill, or simply Navarro. To avoid confusion, the older, smaller town by the sea became known as Old Navarro, Navarro Ridge, or Navarro-by-the-sea.
Railroad Connections
From 1905 to 1930, a railroad called the Fort Bragg and Southeastern Railroad connected Wendling (which later became Navarro) to seaport facilities in Albion, California. This railroad helped transport goods and people, connecting the community to the wider world.
