Fields Landing, California
Encyclopedia
Fields Landing is a census-designated place
in Humboldt County
, California
. It is located on Humboldt Bay
6 miles (9.7 km) south-southwest of downtown Eureka
, at an elevation of 13 feet (4 m). The ZIP Code
is 95537. The population was 276 at the 2010 census.
was 986.9 people per square mile (381.0/km²). The racial makeup of Fields Landing was 210 (76.1%) White, 6 (2.2%) African American, 13 (4.7%) Native American, 21 (7.6%) Asian, 1 (0.4%) Pacific Islander, 6 (2.2%) from other races
, and 19 (6.9%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 18 persons (6.5%).
The Census reported that 276 people (100% of the population) lived in households, 0 (0%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 0 (0%) were institutionalized.
There were 136 households, out of which 27 (19.9%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 28 (20.6%) were opposite-sex married couples
living together, 13 (9.6%) had a female householder with no husband present, 8 (5.9%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 27 (19.9%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships
, and 2 (1.5%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 59 households (43.4%) were made up of individuals and 5 (3.7%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.03. There were 49 families
(36.0% of all households); the average family size was 2.84.
The population was spread out with 43 people (15.6%) under the age of 18, 35 people (12.7%) aged 18 to 24, 91 people (33.0%) aged 25 to 44, 76 people (27.5%) aged 45 to 64, and 31 people (11.2%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36.8 years. For every 100 females there were 133.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 130.7 males.
There were 143 housing units at an average density of 511.3 per square mile (197.4/km²), of which 43 (31.6%) were owner-occupied, and 93 (68.4%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.3%; the rental vacancy rate was 5.1%. 95 people (34.4% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 181 people (65.6%) lived in rental housing units.
In 2000, Fields Landing was composed of 53.1% males and 46.9% females. The median age of the community was 29.8 years in 2000 as compared to the national average of 35.3 for the same year. The 2000 U.S. Census reports that 16.9% of the population was between the ages of 18 and 24, compared to the national average of 9.6%. The 55 and older age group represented 14.6% of the total population in 2000, while the national average for this age group was 21.1% for the same year.
The 2000 U.S. Census stated that 50% of the population 18 years and older received a high school degree as their highest educational attainment compared to the national average of 28.6%. In the community, 78% received a high school degree or higher, while 10% received a bachelor’s degree or higher. According to the 2000 U.S. Census, zero residents of Fields Landing had received a graduate degree or higher compared to the national average of 7.8% for the same year.
, Karuk
, Chilula
, Whilkut
, and the southern Athabascans occupied specific territories, spoke individual languages, and shared similar, yet distinct cultural systems. Fields Landing is within the original territory of the Wiyot nation. Just as they continue to do today, the Wiyot people utilized the surrounding resources for food, medicine, and basketry, including wildlife, salmon, and roots. Across the Bay is Indian Island, "the center of the Wiyot People’s world" and home of the ancient village of Tuluwat. Beneath the village site is a large clamshell midden that is over 6 acres (2.4 ha) in size and estimated to be 1000 years old. It contains the remains of meals, tools, ceremonies, and burial sites. Today, many of the Wiyot people live on 88 acres (356,123.7 m²) called the Table Bluff Reservation, located 10 miles (16 km) south of Fields Landing.
The first recorded entrance into Humboldt Bay was in 1806 by employees of a Russian-American Company out of Sitka. The Gregg-Wood party arrived by land in 1849 and by 1850 the first ships came to the Bay bringing men looking for gold. As the Gold Rush subsided, the economy shifted to the use of the surrounding natural resources, mainly timber, salmon, and agricultural land. The area was a prime exporter of agricultural products from 1857 to 1900.
Development around the Bay led to the displacement of the Wiyot and increased tension between groups. During the 1860 World Renewal Ceremony on Indian Island, a group of armed settlers paddled to the Island during the night and killed the sleeping Wiyot. Two other village sites were raided that same night. The few remaining Wiyot people were moved to Fort Humboldt for their protection and then on to a series of reservations. The fort was built in 1853 to assist in resolving conflicts between Native Americans and settlers. An Indian Candlelight Vigil is held every February to remember the 200 lives lost in the massacre.
In the 1880s, docks were built in Fields Landing for shipping redwood and other timber. When the Northwestern Pacific Railroad
was extended into the Bay area in 1900, it functioned as a dike and allowed the tidal marshes to be converted into agricultural lands. The construction of U.S. Route 101
in 1927 also created more fill, allowing most of the marshes to be drained and diked.
After World War II
, a new Douglas fir and plywood industry brought in many out-of-state loggers and mill workers. From the 1940s to 1951, the last active whaling station in the Western United States on the Pacific Coast operated out of Fields Landing. However, the timber industry continued to dominate life in the community into the 1970s. The next era brought a fresh perspective on resource use, paving the way for a more diverse economy. New groups of people began to arrive, namely Hispanic workers and families and refugees from the Vietnam War.
Humboldt Bay is one of the largest bays on the West Coast. Diking, drainage, and filling reduced the historic 27000 acres (109.3 km²) of Bay and wetlands to around 13000 acres (52.6 km²). The Bay includes a variety of complex habitats that support 95 species of fish, at least 180 species of invertebrates, and thirty species of clams, oysters, and mussels. The economic health of Fields Landing continues to be "tied to the Bay, the resources it provides, and the natural resources around it.
The 2000 U.S. Census indicates that 0% of the employed civilian population 16 years and over worked in the agriculture, forestry, fishing, and hunting industries. This percentage may not be indicative of the actual number of people in these professions as many are self-employed, especially in the fishing industry. A total of 7% worked in arts, entertainment, recreation, and accommodation and food services. Additionally, 8% worked in educational, health, and social services, while 9.9% were employed by the government. The 2000 U.S. Census states that the unemployment rate in 2000 was 22.6% (calculated by dividing the unemployed population by the labor force). For the population 16 years and older, 41.9% were not in the labor force, while 45% were employed.
According to the 2000 U.S. Census, in 1999 the median household income was $35,313 and the per capita income was $14,198. About 24.5% of the population was living below poverty level in 1999. Of the 95 housing units in 2000, 89.5% were occupied and 10.5% were vacant. Of the occupied housing units, 40% were owner occupied, while 60% were renter occupied.
Adele post office opened in 1889. The name commemorated Adele Haughwout, the first European born in the town. The name was changed to Fields Landing in honor of Waterman Field, an early settler.
and Greyhound provide rail and bus service respectively from nearby communities to greater metropolitan areas throughout the country. The major highway that intersects Fields Landing is U.S. Highway 101. Despite common misconceptions to the contrary, it is the only roadway into Fields Landing.
Students attend local elementary, middle, and high schools in the nearby community of Eureka. Although the College of the Redwoods
main campus is technically inside Eureka City Limits, Fields Landing is the nearest community to the college by road. Electricity is provided to community residents by Pacific Gas and Electric. Water and sewer services are supplied by Humboldt Community Services District. The Humboldt County Sheriff Department provides local law enforcement. The closest health care facility, St. Joseph Hospital, is located nearby in Eureka. Fields Landing accommodations include one motel however additional lodging is available in nearby communities.
Fields Landing is located within the Port of Humboldt Bay Harbor, Recreation and Conservation District and the Port of Humboldt. Two shipping terminals are based in Fields Landing. Humboldt Bay Forest Products Docks include one berth with a 600 feet (182.9 m) wooden dock with two approach ramps. Fields Landing Terminal includes one berth with a 900 feet (274.3 m) dock. A public boat ramp provides boating access for smaller craft.
Fields Landing residents owned eight vessels in 2000, all of which participated in the Federally Managed Groundfish fishery. Seven Federally Managed Groundfish fishery permits were held by three Fields Landing residents in 2000.
Census-designated place
A census-designated place is a concentration of population identified by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes. CDPs are delineated for each decennial census as the statistical counterparts of incorporated places such as cities, towns and villages...
in Humboldt County
Humboldt County, California
Humboldt County is a county in the U.S. state of California, located on the far North Coast 200 miles north of San Francisco. According to 2010 Census Data, the county’s population was 134,623...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. It is located on Humboldt Bay
Humboldt Bay
Humboldt Bay is a natural bay and a multi-basin, bar-built coastal lagoon located on the rugged North Coast of California, United States entirely within Humboldt County. The regional center and county seat of Eureka and the college town of Arcata adjoin the bay, which is the second largest enclosed...
6 miles (9.7 km) south-southwest of downtown Eureka
Eureka, California
Eureka is the principal city and the county seat of Humboldt County, California, United States. Its population was 27,191 at the 2010 census, up from 26,128 at the 2000 census....
, at an elevation of 13 feet (4 m). The ZIP Code
ZIP Code
ZIP codes are a system of postal codes used by the United States Postal Service since 1963. The term ZIP, an acronym for Zone Improvement Plan, is properly written in capital letters and was chosen to suggest that the mail travels more efficiently, and therefore more quickly, when senders use the...
is 95537. The population was 276 at the 2010 census.
2010
The 2010 United States Census reported that Fields Landing had a population of 276. The population densityPopulation density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 986.9 people per square mile (381.0/km²). The racial makeup of Fields Landing was 210 (76.1%) White, 6 (2.2%) African American, 13 (4.7%) Native American, 21 (7.6%) Asian, 1 (0.4%) Pacific Islander, 6 (2.2%) from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 19 (6.9%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 18 persons (6.5%).
The Census reported that 276 people (100% of the population) lived in households, 0 (0%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 0 (0%) were institutionalized.
There were 136 households, out of which 27 (19.9%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 28 (20.6%) were opposite-sex married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 13 (9.6%) had a female householder with no husband present, 8 (5.9%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 27 (19.9%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships
POSSLQ
POSSLQ is an abbreviation for "Persons of Opposite Sex Sharing Living Quarters," a term coined in the late 1970s by the United States Census Bureau as part of an effort to more accurately gauge the prevalence of cohabitation in American households....
, and 2 (1.5%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 59 households (43.4%) were made up of individuals and 5 (3.7%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.03. There were 49 families
Family (U.S. Census)
A family or family household is defined by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes as "a householder and one or more other people related to the householder by birth, marriage, or adoption. They do not include same-sex married couples even if the marriage was performed in a state...
(36.0% of all households); the average family size was 2.84.
The population was spread out with 43 people (15.6%) under the age of 18, 35 people (12.7%) aged 18 to 24, 91 people (33.0%) aged 25 to 44, 76 people (27.5%) aged 45 to 64, and 31 people (11.2%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36.8 years. For every 100 females there were 133.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 130.7 males.
There were 143 housing units at an average density of 511.3 per square mile (197.4/km²), of which 43 (31.6%) were owner-occupied, and 93 (68.4%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.3%; the rental vacancy rate was 5.1%. 95 people (34.4% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 181 people (65.6%) lived in rental housing units.
2000
According to the 2000 U.S. Census, Fields Landing had a total population of 213 people. About 83.1% of the inhabitants were White, 1% African American, 4.2% Native American, 2.3% Asian, and 0.5% Pacific Islander. A total of 4.7% identified with some other race and 4.2% with two or more races. Another 15% of the population identified themselves as having Hispanic or Latino origins. According to the 2000 U.S. Census, zero Fields Landing residents were foreign-born.In 2000, Fields Landing was composed of 53.1% males and 46.9% females. The median age of the community was 29.8 years in 2000 as compared to the national average of 35.3 for the same year. The 2000 U.S. Census reports that 16.9% of the population was between the ages of 18 and 24, compared to the national average of 9.6%. The 55 and older age group represented 14.6% of the total population in 2000, while the national average for this age group was 21.1% for the same year.
The 2000 U.S. Census stated that 50% of the population 18 years and older received a high school degree as their highest educational attainment compared to the national average of 28.6%. In the community, 78% received a high school degree or higher, while 10% received a bachelor’s degree or higher. According to the 2000 U.S. Census, zero residents of Fields Landing had received a graduate degree or higher compared to the national average of 7.8% for the same year.
History
Before the arrival of European settlers, the area now known as Humboldt County was occupied by several diverse nations. The Wiyot, Yurok, HupaHupa
Hupa, also spelled Hoopa, are a Native American tribe in northwestern California. Their autonym is Natinixwe, also spelled Natinookwa, meaning "People of the Place Where the Trails Return." The majority of the tribe is enrolled in the federally recognized Hoopa Valley Tribe; however, some Hupa are...
, Karuk
Karuk
Karuk is an indigenous people of California in the United States.The tribal headquarters, located off State Route 96, is in the town of Happy Camp, California. Currently the tribe has three tribal board meeting places, in Yreka, Happy Camp, and Orleans...
, Chilula
Chilula
The Chilula were an Athapaskan tribe who inhabited the area on or near lower Redwood Creek, in Northern California, some 500 to 600 years before contact with Europeans...
, Whilkut
Whilkut
The Whilkut were an Athapaskan tribe, speaking a dialect similar to the Hupa and Chilula, who inhabited the area on or near the upper Redwood Creek and along the Mad River except near its mouth, up to Iaqua Butte, and some settlement in Grouse Creek in the Trinity River drainage in Northwestern...
, and the southern Athabascans occupied specific territories, spoke individual languages, and shared similar, yet distinct cultural systems. Fields Landing is within the original territory of the Wiyot nation. Just as they continue to do today, the Wiyot people utilized the surrounding resources for food, medicine, and basketry, including wildlife, salmon, and roots. Across the Bay is Indian Island, "the center of the Wiyot People’s world" and home of the ancient village of Tuluwat. Beneath the village site is a large clamshell midden that is over 6 acres (2.4 ha) in size and estimated to be 1000 years old. It contains the remains of meals, tools, ceremonies, and burial sites. Today, many of the Wiyot people live on 88 acres (356,123.7 m²) called the Table Bluff Reservation, located 10 miles (16 km) south of Fields Landing.
The first recorded entrance into Humboldt Bay was in 1806 by employees of a Russian-American Company out of Sitka. The Gregg-Wood party arrived by land in 1849 and by 1850 the first ships came to the Bay bringing men looking for gold. As the Gold Rush subsided, the economy shifted to the use of the surrounding natural resources, mainly timber, salmon, and agricultural land. The area was a prime exporter of agricultural products from 1857 to 1900.
Development around the Bay led to the displacement of the Wiyot and increased tension between groups. During the 1860 World Renewal Ceremony on Indian Island, a group of armed settlers paddled to the Island during the night and killed the sleeping Wiyot. Two other village sites were raided that same night. The few remaining Wiyot people were moved to Fort Humboldt for their protection and then on to a series of reservations. The fort was built in 1853 to assist in resolving conflicts between Native Americans and settlers. An Indian Candlelight Vigil is held every February to remember the 200 lives lost in the massacre.
In the 1880s, docks were built in Fields Landing for shipping redwood and other timber. When the Northwestern Pacific Railroad
Northwestern Pacific Railroad
The Northwestern Pacific Railroad is a regional railroad serving California's North Coast. The railroad currently runs on 62 miles of the 462 mile main line, stretching from Schellville, California to Eureka, California...
was extended into the Bay area in 1900, it functioned as a dike and allowed the tidal marshes to be converted into agricultural lands. The construction of U.S. Route 101
U.S. Route 101
U.S. Route 101, or U.S. Highway 101, is an important north–south U.S. highway that runs through the states of California, Oregon, and Washington, on the West Coast of the United States...
in 1927 also created more fill, allowing most of the marshes to be drained and diked.
After World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, a new Douglas fir and plywood industry brought in many out-of-state loggers and mill workers. From the 1940s to 1951, the last active whaling station in the Western United States on the Pacific Coast operated out of Fields Landing. However, the timber industry continued to dominate life in the community into the 1970s. The next era brought a fresh perspective on resource use, paving the way for a more diverse economy. New groups of people began to arrive, namely Hispanic workers and families and refugees from the Vietnam War.
Humboldt Bay is one of the largest bays on the West Coast. Diking, drainage, and filling reduced the historic 27000 acres (109.3 km²) of Bay and wetlands to around 13000 acres (52.6 km²). The Bay includes a variety of complex habitats that support 95 species of fish, at least 180 species of invertebrates, and thirty species of clams, oysters, and mussels. The economic health of Fields Landing continues to be "tied to the Bay, the resources it provides, and the natural resources around it.
Current Economy
The economic base of Fields Landing was originally founded on fishing and timber. The commercial fishing industry experienced a downsizing in recent years and, today, the major industries are tourism and timber. One of the main employers of the area is Humboldt Bay Forest Products, which owns one of the two shipping terminals in Fields Landing.The 2000 U.S. Census indicates that 0% of the employed civilian population 16 years and over worked in the agriculture, forestry, fishing, and hunting industries. This percentage may not be indicative of the actual number of people in these professions as many are self-employed, especially in the fishing industry. A total of 7% worked in arts, entertainment, recreation, and accommodation and food services. Additionally, 8% worked in educational, health, and social services, while 9.9% were employed by the government. The 2000 U.S. Census states that the unemployment rate in 2000 was 22.6% (calculated by dividing the unemployed population by the labor force). For the population 16 years and older, 41.9% were not in the labor force, while 45% were employed.
According to the 2000 U.S. Census, in 1999 the median household income was $35,313 and the per capita income was $14,198. About 24.5% of the population was living below poverty level in 1999. Of the 95 housing units in 2000, 89.5% were occupied and 10.5% were vacant. Of the occupied housing units, 40% were owner occupied, while 60% were renter occupied.
Adele post office opened in 1889. The name commemorated Adele Haughwout, the first European born in the town. The name was changed to Fields Landing in honor of Waterman Field, an early settler.
Facilities
Fields Landing is accessible by a number of transportation options. AmtrakAmtrak
The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak , is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971, to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States. "Amtrak" is a portmanteau of the words "America" and "track". It is headquartered at Union...
and Greyhound provide rail and bus service respectively from nearby communities to greater metropolitan areas throughout the country. The major highway that intersects Fields Landing is U.S. Highway 101. Despite common misconceptions to the contrary, it is the only roadway into Fields Landing.
Students attend local elementary, middle, and high schools in the nearby community of Eureka. Although the College of the Redwoods
College of the Redwoods
College of the Redwoods is a public two-year community college whose main campus, comprising , is located on the southernmost edge of Eureka in Humboldt County, California. This sprawling site is spacious and distinctive in its modernistic use of massive, exposed wooden support beams in each...
main campus is technically inside Eureka City Limits, Fields Landing is the nearest community to the college by road. Electricity is provided to community residents by Pacific Gas and Electric. Water and sewer services are supplied by Humboldt Community Services District. The Humboldt County Sheriff Department provides local law enforcement. The closest health care facility, St. Joseph Hospital, is located nearby in Eureka. Fields Landing accommodations include one motel however additional lodging is available in nearby communities.
Fields Landing is located within the Port of Humboldt Bay Harbor, Recreation and Conservation District and the Port of Humboldt. Two shipping terminals are based in Fields Landing. Humboldt Bay Forest Products Docks include one berth with a 600 feet (182.9 m) wooden dock with two approach ramps. Fields Landing Terminal includes one berth with a 900 feet (274.3 m) dock. A public boat ramp provides boating access for smaller craft.
Commercial Fishing
In 2000, of the 42 vessels that delivered landings to Fields Landing, all were commercially registered. The community had at least one processor plant in 2000. Landings in the community were included $182,000 of crab and over $1.5 miliion of groundfish.Fields Landing residents owned eight vessels in 2000, all of which participated in the Federally Managed Groundfish fishery. Seven Federally Managed Groundfish fishery permits were held by three Fields Landing residents in 2000.