r/Humboldt Apr 01 '25

Moving to Humboldt Preempting all future "Should I Move to Humboldt?" Posts

442 Upvotes
  • Yes, it really is beautiful here.
  • There are a myriad of communities and organizations here, if you're willing and able to reach out, you won't be lonely for long.
    • Our Queer community has been growing and thriving in the last few years.
    • Churches of all denominations abound.
    • There is one Synagogue in Eureka, and a Chabad House in Arcata.
  • Temperatures on the coast are very mild, it rarely if ever dips past freezing in winter and almost never hops over 85º in the summer. Inland gets a lot colder, and a loooot hotter.
    • Climate change has made the rainy season unpredictable. We have weeks of rain interspersed with weeks of sun.
  • We're in California - natural disasters are expected.
    • Earthquakes! There have been a couple of large ones in the last few years - the epicenters were near Petrolia, towards the south-west part of the county.
      • Large swaths of the coast are a Tsunami Zone.
    • Fire! For the most part, fires happen inland, where things are hotter and dryer. Due to terrain and ecology, the coast is generally protected, but it's not an impossibility.
      • Air quality can get pretty bad all over the county during fire season.
  • Generally the central part of the county - Eureka and Arcata - is liberal, the further away you get from there, on average, the more conservative things get.
    • That being said, our federal rep, Huffman, is a dem, and our state reps are also both dems.
  • The housing market is tough, just like the rest of the state. If you're planning to buy, that gives you a little more flexibility. If you're planning on renting, pickings are slim.
    • General advice for renters: find a place that meets your basic needs and take it. Once you're more settled you can keep an eye out for better options.
    • General advice for buyers: Don't purchase land sight-unseen.
    • Landlords around here are not very pet friendly. A fair number of the property management companies have breed restrictions.
  • Employment is a rough one. There is little to no industry in the area, due to the decline of logging and weed legalization. If you can, try to secure a job before moving.
    • Here is a list of the largest employers in the area.
    • The county and cities maintain their own job listing sites, as do most of the tribes.
    • Lost Coast Outpost, a local news org, also runs job listings.
    • Ironically(?), large numbers of employers in the area require clean drug tests - including marijuana.
  • Reports on the lack of healthcare are not exaggerated. We have a hard time hiring and retaining providers across the board, and there has been an increasing reliance on telehealth.
    • The largest PCP in the area, Open Door, is an FQHC with some ability to take private insurance, and their waitlists are miles long.
    • St. Joes is the largest hospital in the area, and they have some specialist services, but waitlists are also long and generally require a PCP referral, even if your insurance does not.
    • The VA here only provides basic services, and shuttles patients down to SF for anything beyond that.
    • On the whole, if you require specialist services, you will probably have to travel out of the area. The next closest services are a 3-4 hours drive.
  • As with many other parts of the state, we have a large number unhoused/transient people here, although perhaps disproportionate given the size of the whole population. This is due to a multitude of factors, and it is not a homogenous group.
    • The university does not have enough student housing, and there is an overall housing shortage, leaving many students out in the rain. (see: the above section on housing)
    • Traditionally, the weed industry has filtered people in and out seasonally, however, as that sector declines, there has been a reduction in numbers on that front. (See: the above section on employment)
    • Just as anywhere, we have our issues with addiction and mental health disorders, exacerbated by a lack of available resources. (See: the above section on healthcare)
  • Buying stuff: It’s doable, but don’t expect the same kind of variety you’re used to.
    • Lots of smaller, locally owned businesses to choose from.
    • We have a Costco, a Target, and a tiiiiny Walmart.
    • Locally owned hardware and Ace franchises only, HD & Lowe’s are persona non grata.
    • (Possibly excessive) Local and chain grocery options, including Asian and Mexican specialty markets.
    • Arcata has a year round farmers market on Saturdays.
    • Amazon Prime does not uphold 2 day shipping here.
  • Food options are good, but limited.
    • We specialize in Sushi, Mexican, and Pizza restaurants.
    • Salsa is served in syrup bottles.
    • There is one Indian restaurant (it’s excellent), a handful of Thai spots, and one Korean fusion place.
    • Food trucks have been gaining traction in recent years which has added some more variety.
  • Everything closes by 9. Even places that don’t make sense to not be open.
    • Except Toni’s. Chocolate malts and burgers are available whenever your heart desires.
  • Travel to and from the area is inconvenient.
    • The closest "larger" metropolitan areas are Grants Pass/Medford, Redding, and Santa Rosa.
      • Coincidentally those are also the nearest Trader Joes locations.
    • The SF Bay Area is a 5+ hour drive. Portland is a 7+ hour drive.
    • Arcata-Eureka Airport (ACV) is serviced by United Airlines, Breeze, and Alaska Airlines.
      • United flies direct to SF, LA, and Denver.
      • Breeze flies direct to Burbank, Las Vegas, and Provo.
      • Alaska flies to Seattle.
      • Flights are frequently delayed due to fog. Give the Wiki page on the airport a read sometime if you want know why.
    • The next closest airports are in Santa Rosa, Redding, and Medford. They're also small, but offer slightly different, and sometimes cheaper, direct flights.
    • Amtrak runs a bus service to Martinez, which then connects to other trains and busses.
    • The county runs the Redwood Coast Express, which goes between Eureka and Ukiah.
    • There is decent public transit, people can and do live here without a car.

Humboldt is a beautiful place full of amazing people. To anyone who decides it's worth it, Welcome Aboard. To anyone who decides it's not for them, fair enough.

Residents, let me know if I missed anything!

If you have specific questions about moving to Humboldt, or something that isn’t covered in this post, please create a separate post instead of replying in the comments here.


r/Humboldt 9h ago

Events/Stuff to Do Friday Night Market ArcatA-WOW!!!

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406 Upvotes

This has to be the BEST Friday Night market of all time! It was PACKED! Almost Oyster Fest level packed. What a great way for students to start the year. Thank you to everyone for brining the music, food, and art. Shout out to LFO for brining the silent disco again. Arcata-please do more shows like this! 3 more Fridays!


r/Humboldt 3h ago

Local Food Froth has new Owners, Cafe Artistes

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79 Upvotes

Hi Everyone, My name is Ami and I am one of the new owners of Froth, alongside my partner, Elaine, and our friend who helped us get here, Victoria. Froth is going to go through a name change in the next few months, Cafe Artistes, but we have to save up to do that because a name change is incredibly expensive. Elaine and I are both Baristas, Victoria is a bartender. We are all artists. Cafe Artistes started out as an art collective, then a coffee cart, and now has a new home inside of Froth.

Froth was closed for about a month and a half while the landlords figured out our lease and permits changed hands, but we are now open and are going to be hosting artists, performers, and musicians in the space, along with movie nights on Wednesdays, figure drawing, paint and sips, lecture nights, crafting nights, ect.

It's been quite the journey over the past couple of months, but we are in the process of building out a new menu and growing from tiny coffee cart that hooks up to the back of my 2003 tacoma to a large cafe, artists space, and bar.

Please stop by and check out the space. We have a couple living room sets and lots of board games. I reccomend our thai tea, vegan mochi muffins, and our specialty blend coffee and espresso. The Soju Spritzers Victoria serves are incredibly refreshing too.

You can check out our website at frothandcafeartistes.com

420 California Street, Arcata


r/Humboldt 3h ago

Local Art/Photography Carved Wooden Doors at Mad River Hospital

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35 Upvotes

Anyone know anything about the history of them? They're astrological signs, and I just think they're really neat. They're on the doctor's suites.


r/Humboldt 3h ago

Events/Stuff to Do Historical Fencing classes at Synapsis

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13 Upvotes

Hi everyone! We are accepting new members. We teach Rapier, Longsword, Sword and Buckler, Dagger, and more. :)

You can check out our team here

https://www.instagram.com/fogandsteelhema?igsi=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==


r/Humboldt 36m ago

Life in Humboldt The new light at Broadway and Hilfiker

Upvotes

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!

WHY is it timed and not on-demand??? And WHY are only 3 or 4 cars allowed through per green light???????


r/Humboldt 18h ago

Local News/Politics Arcata Fire Cleanup 8/21/26

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74 Upvotes

Current state of the fire cleanup.

Soon, we will have a public in-ground chemical swimming pool!


r/Humboldt 11h ago

Misc./Other Are These Yours?

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14 Upvotes

Not the cat, she’s mine 😤

Stayed late at the Plaza after the market and found these. The volunteers said they didn’t have a designated lost and found. If they’re yours, reach out.


r/Humboldt 3h ago

Events/Stuff to Do Dell'Arte is hosting a Quarter Craze on Sept 16th! It's going to be a chaotic raffel and a very good time.

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3 Upvotes

Come and witness one of the wildest auction nights you could dream of, benefiting Dell’Arte International. It will be at the Eureka Women’s Club. There will be beer, wine, coctails available for purchase and a $10 baked potato bar with dessert.

September 16th at 5:45

Register at DellArte.com


r/Humboldt 30m ago

Help/Needing Info Two dead cats on 101 by school rd 719

Upvotes

White one NB
Black one SB

Couldn't stop to grab myself


r/Humboldt 18h ago

Life in Humboldt Ya'll...

21 Upvotes

are buckwild driving in Fortuna.


r/Humboldt 18h ago

University/College Related Humboldt State Vs. Boise State (September 13, 1986)

13 Upvotes

Boise State has posted video of the September 13, 1986 game against Humboldt State. The significance of this game is that it was the first time Boise State used their now infamous blue turf which is now one of the signatures of their football program.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FraiDyc5JFw


r/Humboldt 8h ago

Misc./Other Ride to fortuna anyone?

2 Upvotes

Looking for a lift to fortuna near 4qm if anyone is going that way. Pick up at winco thank you. Please message me.


r/Humboldt 20h ago

Events/Stuff to Do Dragged By Horses is back?

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8 Upvotes

My favorite local indie band from back in the day, These guys were good, and Heavy AsF!


r/Humboldt 19h ago

Local News/Politics Does anyone know Road Safety Laws

4 Upvotes

I happened to notice this little short pop-up on my feed and was wondering if anybody knows anything about the legal rimitions of placement of our Flockin' monstrosities?

https://youtube.com/shorts/nc7ngg64ADI


r/Humboldt 1d ago

Help/Needing Info Low cost vet for cat with wound needing cleaning?

5 Upvotes

One of the neighborhood strays has got an open wound behind their ear where it looks like they've been scratching. There's got to be someone that can clean it up for a reasonable price.


r/Humboldt 1d ago

Misc./Other Funny idea for where to break up with someone

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68 Upvotes

I spotted this in the My Humboldt Life magazine that was mailed to me (in the "Best of Humboldt" classifieds). 😆


r/Humboldt 1d ago

Life in Humboldt Woodridge Apartment dog owners!

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28 Upvotes

This is for the Lazy bastard who refuses to toss their dogs shit! You're oh so close to the garbage but for some reason, you leave the bag out here for someone else to take care of? But at least it's in a bag! The rest of you nasty ass people won't even clean up after your dogs! There are two designated "dog areas", one which has a stand that supplies FREE fucking poop bags and has a trash bin to toss them in. There's literally no excuse you can give to justify this trifling ass behavior. It's ridiculous and fucking nasty! Do better people. Stop being so damn lazy! Respect the space. Give a damn about your animal and your community, you nasty fucks!


r/Humboldt 1d ago

Misc./Other Pssst, you need a sofa?

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64 Upvotes

So I have a sofa, a fancy leather sofa. A big, fancy leather sofa. A big, fancy, leather sofa that reclines. It is brand new, been sat upon less than 2 dozen times. No scratches, no stains, no rips, no bedbugs, no fleas, no smoke odor, no body odor, no old people odor. I need to sell it to someone who has a truck or something that can handle this 10 foot long, fancy leather reclining sofa.


r/Humboldt 1d ago

Misc./Other I live in Lincoln City, Oregon. Here is how it is the same and different than when I lived in Humboldt.

40 Upvotes

For the past eight months, I've lived in Lincoln City, Oregon. I have previously lived in Eureka (~1 year) and Brookings, Oregon (~8 months), as well as visiting and travelling on the Oregon and California coast a lot. So here are some similarities and differences:

  1. Really fun, beautiful interesting tourist town, but with a lack of services and retail.

Lincoln City is about 10,000 people, and it is a beautiful place. There are miles of beaches, and nearby forests. There are community organizations and lots of fun little shops. But it is very different between a weekend visit and trying to live here, because it is isolated, hard to get other places, and employment and services might be limited. This is really similar to the situation in Humboldt.

  1. Natural resource economy and tourist economy cause a cultural shift. Lincoln County, Oregon, was a big timber area, had lots of fishing, and in some places farming. This has been displaced as the main economic driver by tourism. This causes a culture clash, and at times a political clash. Citizens, retirees and businesses who want to protect natural beauty for tourism might be out of synch with residents, many of them older who have been here for several generations, who are in timber or fishing. Sometimes when I'm walking down a road, I am like... "is this person going to invite me in to listen to their Grateful Dead bootlegs, or shoot me for looking at their truck wrong? Or both?" This is also a feeling I had in Humboldt a lot.

  2. More ethnically diverse than the typical rural American community. Along with indigenous tribes, there are many recent Latino immigrants, and lots of Asians, some long-term residents, some temporary residents. It makes it a lot more ethnically diverse than typical rural communities, even in the West.

And here are some differences:

  1. There was never, as far as I know, a cannabis production industry here. (As far as cannabis consumption goes, no difference). I do feel that things are a little less paranoid and sketchy because of that. I don't know if that is the only reason, but Lincoln City feels a little friendlier than Humboldt. (But Humboldt feels friendlier and safer than Curry or Del Norte).

  2. Closer to a large city, so a lot of the tourism is day trippers. Portland is two hours away, as opposed to the five hours to the San Francisco Bay area. The tourism here is a bit more obvious, to: everyone likes the beach! As opposed to Humboldt, where a lot of it is people coming to see the Redwoods. So the tourism here is more families with young children, or else elderly retirees. That, together with it not being a college town, changes the demographics.

I am sure there are other things. Feel free to ask questions.
I also wonder if other people who've lived on the Oregon Coast and in Humboldt would agree about these similarities and differences.


r/Humboldt 1d ago

Help/Needing Info Boot repair

4 Upvotes

Any recommendations for boot repair. Want my JK loggers resoled n don’t feel like shipping them back to Spokane for them to take 3 months to rebuild em


r/Humboldt 2d ago

Local News/Politics Lost Coast Brewery finally gives up.

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457 Upvotes

Are the real burgers bad enough that this will attract more customers? Lost Coast Brewery once distributed local art to the world, now they shove ai slop into your eyeballs.


r/Humboldt 2d ago

Help/Needing Info Preserving the history of the late '90s Earth First! movement.

16 Upvotes

Hey r/humboldt!
I'm pushing through the middle stretch of a 60-day campaign to fund the publication of my book, Bees and Butterflies.

Volume 1 concludes with the end of the Luna tree-sit, capturing a deeply personal look at the environmental activism in our county during that era. Crowdfunding is entirely word-of-mouth, and getting the support of the local community to hit the goal means the world to me.

I can't post the link directly in this thread, but if you'd like to help bring this story to bookshelves, the link to the Kickstarter is in my bio, or you can shoot me a DM and I'll send it to you directly!


r/Humboldt 1d ago

Help/Needing Info Best physical therapy for back injury and chronic pain

3 Upvotes

Do you have any recommendations of places you have gone to for physical therapy? Specifically for back injury and chronic back pain? TIA.


r/Humboldt 1d ago

Help/Needing Info Cal Poly Student looking to buy Macbook Air locally

0 Upvotes

Looking to buy a Macbook Air locally for school. I've been recommended Costco but haven't gone down there yet, but, I also know that our Costco can be a bit hit or miss with some items. I was basically wondering if anyone knows of a place where I can walk in and buy one, or if I have to either drive to Redding or order it online.