California

Humboldt

136,463
2020 population
1860
first census record
17
census records

About Humboldt

Humboldt, California, first appears in the United States federal census in 1860, when it recorded a population of 2,694. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 136,463.

The county's recorded population has risen across the decades to its highest level in 2020.

On the ground today, 21 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Battle of Humboldt Bay (Fort Humboldt era) 1855, Battle of Battle Creek (Klamath), [Verify or remove — 'Jair Massacre' not found in historical record], and 59 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
2020136,463
2010134,623
2000126,518
1990119,118
1980108,514
197099,692
1960104,892
195069,241
194045,812
193043,233
192037,413
191033,857
190027,104
189023,469
188015,512
18706,140
18602,694
Source

Population data from the United States decennial census, U.S. Census Bureau (public domain).

Battles & engagements in Humboldt

Military engagements that took place in Humboldt, California.

Battle of Humboldt Bay (Fort Humboldt era) 1855
1855
Battle of Battle Creek (Klamath)
1856
[Verify or remove — 'Jair Massacre' not found in historical record]
1858
Bald Hills War (Wailaki)
1858
Bald Hills War
1858
Humboldt Bay Massacre — Second Attack (Spring 1860)
1860
Humboldt Bay Massacre (Indian Island)
1860
Wiyot Massacre at Indian Island
1860
Humboldt Bay Militia Raid — Eureka area
1860
Humboldt Bay Massacre (February 26, 1860)
1860
Humboldt Bay Massacre
1860
Indian Island Massacre (Wiyot Gunther Island)
1860
Eel River Expedition (1861)
1861
Mad River Fight — Wailaki Conflict (1861)
1862
Rio Dell Massacre
1862
Dutch Henry Massacre — Eel River (1862)
1862
Eel River War — Van Duzen River Fight (1862)
1862
Sinkyone Massacre at Needle Rock
1863
Hupa Resistance and Hoopa Valley War 1864
1864
Hoopa Valley War (1864)
1864
Wailaki Resistance on South Eel River 1865
1865

Historic places in Humboldt

National Register of Historic Places listings in Humboldt, California.

Gunther Island Site 67
Eureka
Old Jacoby Creek School
Bayside
Pythian Castle
Arcata
Bank of Eureka Building
Eureka
Eureka Historic District
Eureka
Trinidad Head Light Station
Trinidad
McFarlan, George, House
Eureka
Ferndale Public Library
Ferndale
Prairie Creek Fish Hatchery
Orick
De-No-To Cultural District
Hoopa
Punta Gorda Light Station
Petrolia
Andreasen, F. W.-John Rossen House
Ferndale
Jacoby Building
Arcata
Eureka Inn
Eureka
Ricks, Thomas F., House
Eureka
Ferndale Main Street Historic District
Ferndale
Janssen, E., Building
Eureka
Clark, William S., House
Eureka
Humboldt Bay Life-Saving Station
Samoa
Grizzly Bluff School
Ferndale
Eureka Theatre
Eureka
Lower Blackburn Grade Bridge
Bridgeville
Hotel Arcata
Arcata
Fernbridge
Fernbridge
Browse all Californiahistoric sites ›

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Everything a full report reveals about Humboldt County, California

This page charts the census history of Humboldt County, California. A full Aubrey report for an address here pulls together everything the historical record holds about the ground, from the earliest settlement to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Frequently asked about Humboldt

When does Humboldt first appear in the US census?
Humboldt, California first appears in the federal census in 1860, with a recorded population of 2,694.
What is the population of Humboldt?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Humboldt had a recorded population of 136,463.
Were any battles fought in Humboldt?
21 documented military engagements took place in Humboldt, including Battle of Humboldt Bay (Fort Humboldt era) 1855, Battle of Battle Creek (Klamath), [Verify or remove — 'Jair Massacre' not found in historical record].
How many historic places are in Humboldt?
59 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Humboldt, California.
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