Weott, California facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Weott
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 Weott
Location in California
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  California |
| County | Humboldt County |
| Area | |
| • Total | 0.771 sq mi (1.998 km2) |
| • Land | 0.753 sq mi (1.949 km2) |
| • Water | 0.019 sq mi (0.049 km2) 2.45% |
| Elevation | 300 ft (100 m) |
| Population | |
| • Total | 219 |
| • Density | 283.9/sq mi (109.61/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-8 (Pacific (PST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-7 (PDT) |
| ZIP Code |
95571
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| Area code(s) | 707 |
| GNIS feature IDs | 237419; 2583075 |
Weott is a small community in Humboldt County, California. It is a "census-designated place," which means it's a special area counted by the government for population. Weott is about 375 kilometers (233 miles) north of San Francisco. It is also about 40 kilometers (25 miles) east of the Pacific Ocean.
The lower part of Weott sits about 100 meters (328 feet) above sea level. It is located along the Avenue of the Giants, a beautiful scenic highway. It is also in the flood plain of the South Fork of the Eel River. In 2010, 288 people lived in Weott.
Weott is not connected to Camp Weeott. Camp Weeott was a fishing village established around 1925. It was about 60 kilometers (37 miles) northwest of Weott. A big flood in 1955 destroyed Camp Weeott.
Contents
History of Weott
The name Weott might come from a group of Wishosk people. These people lived near the delta of the Eel River. This area was about 60 kilometers (37 miles) northwest of where Weott is today. The Wishosk word for that area and its people was wíyat. Today, this group is called the Wiyot.
Weott itself is outside the areas where the Wiyot people are known to have lived. In 1849, white settlers arrived looking for new routes to gold mines. At that time, the Sinkyone people lived in the Weott area. The Wiyot people lived further north. Today, they live on the Table Bluff Reservation near Loleta.
In 1851, an expedition led by Indian Agent Redick McKee brought many new settlers. Native groups did not like this. Conflicts started and continued until at least the 1870s.
Before 1925, Weott was known by other names. It was called Helm's Mill or Helm's Camp. Helm's Camp was set up where workers made redwood ties for the railroad. Later, it was known as McKee's Mill. This name came from Ernest McKee, who ran a shingle mill nearby. He was lost in the 1964 flood.
When residents wanted a post office in 1925, they needed a clear name. Some say they had to choose a new name because another town in California was already called McKee. Other stories say a naming contest led to the name Weott. Another source says the US Postal Service chose the name from several options. Weott's ZIP Code is 95571. There is no home mail delivery in Weott. The area code for Weott is 707.
Flooding in Weott
Weott has been greatly affected by two major floods. The first was in December 1955. The South Fork of the Eel River overflowed, and lower Weott was partly destroyed. The town was mostly rebuilt after this.
Then, in December 1964, an even bigger flood hit. This was caused by a rare weather event called a "Pineapple Express." This storm brought warm, moist air from the Pacific Ocean. It combined with cold air from Alaska and strong winds. It was the biggest flood ever recorded in California's North Coast. The storm was so strong that it destroyed 26 stream gauges. This means much of the flood information comes from people's reports and estimates made after the flood.
Other rivers in northern California, like the Russian, Eel, Klamath, and Rogue Rivers, also rose to record heights. Over nine days, up to 760 millimeters (30 inches) of rain fell. In one 24-hour period, 290 millimeters (11 inches) of rain fell. The South Fork of the Eel River peaked at nearly 5,700 cubic meters per second (200,000 cubic feet per second). This was much higher than the 1955 flood. Many small towns were flooded, and Weott was one of the worst hit.
Because of the 1955 and 1964 floods, most residents now live on the hills above the flood plain. They live at elevations between 120 and 200 meters (394 and 656 feet). The larger Weott area includes places like Bull Creek, Dyerville, South Fork, Camp Grant, and Burlington.
The Weott Community Service District manages local services. They handle the town's sewage treatment and water supply. The town's water used to come from a property east of Weott. Now, it comes from a spring west of town, across the Eel River. The California State Parks tried to find other water sources for Weott. In 2003, they built a well, but it had too much sediment and could not be used. The Weott Community Service District is still looking for a new water source.
In summer, fog often protects the area from extreme heat. Daytime temperatures are usually below 30°C (86°F), though they can sometimes reach the high 30s°C (90s°F). Weott has a very rainy season from November to May. This is because it is close to the ocean and in the shadow of Grasshopper Peak, which is 1,030 meters (3,379 feet) high. Locals report about 2,000 millimeters (79 inches) of rain each year.
Because of its moist climate, Weott is surrounded by redwood trees. Most of these are second-growth trees. However, the nearby Humboldt Redwoods State Park has nearly 7,000 hectares (17,000 acres) of old-growth redwoods. This includes Rockefeller Forest, the largest group of old-growth redwoods still existing. Weott is also close to famous redwood trees. The Giant Tree is 108 meters (354 feet) tall. The Dyerville Giant was 113 meters (371 feet) tall before it fell in 1991. Sometimes, Weott has water rationing in the summers because it does not have enough water storage.
People of Weott
The 2010 United States Census counted 288 people living in Weott. All of them lived in homes. The population density was about 144 people per square kilometer (373 people per square mile).
Most people in Weott were White (87.5%). There were also Native American (4.5%), Asian (0.3%), and people of two or more races (6.6%). About 6.9% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
There were 134 households in Weott. About 26.9% of these households had children under 18. Many households (38.1%) were married couples. About 35.1% of households had only one person living there. The average household size was 2.15 people.
The ages of people in Weott were spread out. About 18.8% were under 18 years old. The largest group, 38.2%, was between 45 and 64 years old. The average age was 45.6 years.
Economy and Jobs
In 1987, a long-time resident named Velma Childs remembered the businesses in Weott before the 1955 flood. These included:
- a candy store
- an ice cream store
- two gas stations
- a laundromat
- a bar
- two cafes
- three restaurants
- two car garages
- a Ford car agency
- a church
- a movie theater
- two grocery stores
- a dress shop
- a telephone office (with party lines)
- a print shop
- a chainsaw shop
- a sporting goods store
- a beauty shop
- an apple orchard
The 1955 flood destroyed or badly damaged the theater, two motels, a grocery store, a gas station, the bar, and a restaurant. Other businesses repaired their buildings. After the 1964 flood, only one house was rebuilt in its old spot. Most residents and businesses moved to higher ground to avoid future floods. Many did not return. The 1964 flood was called a "thousand-year flood" by Governor Edmund Brown. An 11-meter (36-foot) tall marker shows how high the water rose on December 24, 1964.
Weott's main jobs used to be in the lumber industry. However, these jobs have mostly disappeared. Some locals now travel to work in nearby towns. Others work for the school district or Humboldt Redwoods State Park. Retirees are also an important part of the community.
Arts and Culture in Weott
Events and Activities
Since 1972, the Avenue of the Giants Marathon has taken place in Weott. It happens on the first Sunday in May. The race starts about 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) north of Weott at the Dyerville Bridge. Shorter races, like a 10K and a half-marathon (21.1 km), have been added over the years.
The Humboldt Redwoods Marathon also takes place here. It has been held on the second Sunday of October since 1976. It also includes 5K and half-marathon races. Before the races, there is a large spaghetti dinner at Weott's Milligan Hall for the runners.
Since 1951, Weott has hosted the Southern Humboldt Garden Club Flower Show. It is held at the Agnes J. Johnson Elementary School on the fourth Sunday in May. Local gardeners show off their beautiful roses and other flowers. They can win ribbons and prizes. The show also sells plants, food, and crafts.
The Humboldt-Redwood State Park headquarters also has seasonal activities. These include guided nature walks and Christmas tree lightings.
Weott's Infrastructure
Facilities and Services
Weott does not have many commercial services anymore. The general store, which opened in 1919, closed in 2003.
However, Weott does have:
- a post office
- a Cal Fire station
- the Agnes J. Johnson Charter School
The Cal Fire station was rebuilt in 2010. The Agnes J. Johnson Charter School is a public, tuition-free school. It serves students from Transitional Kindergarten (TK) to 9th grade. By 2025, it will serve students up to 12th grade. This school welcomes students from several nearby communities.
Milligan Hall is a community center in Weott. It is named after a long-time resident. This building was the town's schoolhouse from 1923 to 1954. Later, it became a Legion Hall. Sometimes, the land around it was used as a tent camp for firefighters.
At one time, Weott had two churches: Faith Chapel Assembly of God and the Weott Christian Church. The Weott Christian Church, started in 1954, is currently not active. The Faith Chapel is still open.
Weott Center, located near the Highway 101 off-ramp, used to have several businesses. These included the Sequoia Hotel, a restaurant, a Union 76 gas station, and a company that made redwood souvenirs. None of these businesses are still open.
About 3 kilometers (1.9 miles) south of Weott is Burlington Campground. This campground also has the Humboldt Redwoods State Park visitor center. It is one of several campgrounds in the Humboldt Redwoods State Park. Burlington Campground is the only one open all year. The closest commercial services to Weott are in Myers Flat, about 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) south. For major shopping, people go to Garberville (35 kilometers or 22 miles south) or Fortuna (45 kilometers or 28 miles north).
Until 2010, Weott only had slow dial-up internet. In 2010, high-speed internet became available in the town.
Transportation in Weott
Two main roads lead to Weott. These are State Highway 254 (the Avenue of the Giants) and U.S. Highway 101. Both roads run north to south. Weott can be reached from the Avenue of the Giants. However, it has not had a big presence on it since the 1964 flood.
Highway 101 was built in 1962. It goes through the upper part of Weott. It has special off-ramps and on-ramps for both directions. Both roads go through Humboldt Redwoods State Park. The Avenue of the Giants is a scenic route. It is popular with people traveling in RVs, motorcycles, and bicycles.
During the summer, there are several swimming spots along the Avenue near Weott. A temporary pedestrian bridge is set up at Burlington campground in summer. Another one is about 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) north at Women's Federation Grove. Weott is surrounded by old homesteads that are now part of the State Park. Many of these old properties still have parts of orchards and old buildings.
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