Westport, California facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Westport
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![]() The Westport Community Store
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Country | United States |
State | California |
County | Mendocino County |
Elevation | 125 ft (38 m) |
Population
(2010)
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• Total | 60 |
Time zone | UTC-8 (PST) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC-7 (PDT) |
ZIP code |
95488
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Area code(s) | 707 |
Westport is a small, quiet community located in Mendocino County, California. It sits right by the Pacific Ocean on California State Route 1. This makes it a scenic spot, about 13 miles (21 km) north of Fort Bragg. Westport is known as an "unincorporated community." This means it's a town that doesn't have its own local government. Instead, it's managed by the county.
Contents
Discovering Westport's Past
Westport has an interesting history. It was first called Beall's Landing. This name honored Samuel Beall, who was the first white settler in the area. The first post office in Westport opened its doors in 1879.
How Westport Got Its Name
The name changed to Westport in 1877. A man named James T. Rodgers was responsible for this. He built a special facility there to load timber onto ships. He chose the name "Westport" to be a contrast to his hometown, Eastport, Maine. It's like having a "West" town to go with an "East" town!
Life in Westport Today
Westport is a very small community. In 2010, only 60 people lived there. Even though it's small, it has some important places.
What You'll Find in Westport
The town has a community store. This store is handy because it also has gas pumps. There are also several inns where visitors can stay. In recent years, more homes have become available for rent. These include places listed on Airbnb or VRBO. This shows that Westport is a peaceful spot for people to visit and enjoy the coast.