Petrolia, California
Encyclopedia
Petrolia is an unincorporated community
in Humboldt County
, California
. It is located 10 miles (16.1 km) southeast of Cape Mendocino
, at an elevation of 121 feet (37 m). The ZIP Code
is 95558.
Petrolia has an estimated population of 300-500 people. It is located in the Mattole Valley, also known as the Lost Coast
region for its proximity to the Lost Coast Wilderness area, one of the largest wilderness areas and the longest stretch of undeveloped coastline in the continental United States. The Lost Coast is named because of its position on the rocky, treacherous coastline and King Range
of mountains that isolate this area from mainland California and continue to leave the area almost completely undeveloped.
The Mattole River
flows through Petrolia and is one of only a handful of undammed rivers left in the country. Petrolia is five miles (8 km) from the Pacific Ocean, where there is located the start of a 25 miles (40 km) section of beach protected by the King Range National Conservation Area and Sinkyone Wilderness State Park, and the Punta Gorda lighthouse. The Mattole River is home to a variety of California wildlife, including otter
s, Roosevelt elk
, black-tailed deer
, steelhead trout, more than 250 bird species, and an endangered salmon
that was the subject of Totem Salmon, a book about the community's attempts over two decades to preserve the Mattole salmon. It is one of the few remaining areas with virgin old-growth stands of Douglas fir.
The community is inside area code 707
.
.
With the appearance of Western settlers in 1849, including gold rush settlers and miners, the Mattole culture quickly died out. The last remaining descendants of the Mattole live today in Bear River on the Rohnerville Rancheria, but there are no remaining native speakers of the Mattole language. There are estimated to be more than 80 archeological sites of significance in the Lost Coast area.
The white settlers originally called the place New Jerusalem; when the first oil was pumped in 1865, it was renamed Petrolia. It was the site of the first oil well drilled in California. The oil was very fine and ultimately dried up.
The Mattole post office opened in 1863, changed its name to Petrolea in 1865, and to Petrolia later in 1865.
There are only two roads that lead into Petrolia, one from the north from Ferndale, California
and one from the south from Honeydew, California
, leading through scenic redwood forests that were the site for the filming of Jurassic Park
. Both roads are winding, steep and sometimes unpaved that pass large tracts of scenic overlooks and wilderness areas. They are popular routes for visitors (especially mountain bikers and motorcyclists) and have been characterized by the New York Times as leading to "an almost comically steep drop to the sea". The road from Petrolia to Ferndale follows the ocean and has unbroken vistas of rocky ocean coastline and beach. Petrolia is surrounded by large tracts of original homestead ranches and farms. Downtown Petrolia is home to the only Bed and Breakfast in the area, called The Lost Inn, which has one deluxe master suite with two private glassed-in sun porches and a private yard and garden.
, a left-wing journalist and founder of CounterPunch
, Dale Maharidge, a journalist and winner of the Pulitzer Prize, Freeman House, an environmental author, Peter Hannaford, an author and political public relations specialist, and Jim Danisch, a potter and sculptor.
Petrolia has a large population of environmental activists and hosts two environmental organizations, the Mattole Salmon Group and the Mattole Restoration Council, both of which are dedicated to preserving the local wildlife and environment.
farm.
In July of each year, the area hosts a music festival called "Roll on the Mattole". The event takes place at the Mattole Grange, and there is music, food and bands, sponsored by the Honeydew Firefighters. Twice a year, there is an annual barbecue at the Mattole Grange, which attracts families from all over the area. The July 4th
annual barbecue features an enormous barbecue pit of local beef and baked beans cooked in a vintage pot so large that they must be stirred with a canoe paddle. There are horse races in September, cycling tours in May–September, including a cycling/hiking tour of the Redwoods and the Tour of the Unknown Coast, in October of each year. There is a race called the "Rye and Tide" where participants combine bicycling and running from the Yellow Rose in downtown Petrolia down Lighthouse Road to the ocean. There are festivals and other community events throughout the year near the Mattole, including Reggae on the River in Piercy, California
; the Mad River Festival in Blue Lake, California
; and the Humboldt County Fair in Ferndale, California
. Besides the Yellow Rose, the closest restaurants to Petrolia are located in Ferndale and Eureka, approximately 30 miles (48 km) from Petrolia.
The area is liberal in political culture. Because of its isolation, the Mattole Valley has cultivated a reputation for independence and self-sustainence, including a network of local resources, the maintenance of its own emergency help line (an alternative to 911
), and even its own currency, the petol. A survey conducted in recent years determined that half of the community is located "off the grid" and relies on solar or alternative forms of power, or none at all. The George Lindley Bridge in Petrolia was named after a county supervisor of the 1950s who was a longtime foreman of the county road crew in the Mattole. Mr. Lindley was a big believer in local government, and his favorite expression was reputed to be "Mattole Against the World!"
, where three fault lines meet. It is thus at the center of frequent earthquake activity. The last large earthquake to affect the area was a 7.1 earthquake in 1992
which resulted in a fire that destroyed the Petrolia General Store. The store was rebuilt in a more modern architectural style than the 100 year old landmark that it replaced. Two remaining landmarks in Petrolia are a small wooden church, and the Petrolia Pioneer Cemetery, which has the graves of original residents of Petrolia dating from November 1857.
Early in 2010 two more large quakes hit the area, a 6.5 on January 9 and a 5.9 on February 3; neither caused any deaths, but the January quake was reported to have caused $40 million in damage throughout the area.
The weather in Petrolia is temperate and has the Mediterranean climate
of much of northern California. The town itself is located in a banana belt
that is sheltered from the fog that reaches Eureka and some of the northern towns, such as Arcata
and McKinleyville
. As a result, the summers are dry and sunny, typically in the 70oF's with temperatures occasionally reaching as high as the 90oF's. Winters are rainy from November through April, with temperatures typically in the 50F's and occasionally falling to the high 30oF's or low 40oF's at night. Honeydew, which is located only 14 miles (23 km) south of Petrolia, has a less temperate climate and its summers and winters are more extreme, with one of the highest amounts of winter rainfall.
The Mattole area is popular with visitors, particularly the Lost Coast beaches, which feature tide pools, pristine beaches and relatively deserted hiking trails. At certain times of year, migrating gray whales can be seen from shore, as well as colonies of harbor seals
and sea lions. Local residents use the Mattole River for swimming, rafting, canoeing, kayaking and catch and release fly fishing.
Petrolia is located in the 2nd Senate
District, represented by Democrat
Noreen Evans
, and in the 1st Assembly
District, represented by Democrat Wesley Chesbro
. Federally, Petrolia is located in California's 1st congressional district
, which has a Cook PVI
of D +10 and is represented by Democrat Mike Thompson
.
Unincorporated area
In law, an unincorporated area is a region of land that is not a part of any municipality.To "incorporate" in this context means to form a municipal corporation, a city, town, or village with its own government. An unincorporated community is usually not subject to or taxed by a municipal government...
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 10 miles (16.1 km) southeast of Cape Mendocino
Cape Mendocino
Cape Mendocino located on the Lost Coast entirely within Humboldt County, California, USA, is the westernmost point on the coast of California. It has been a landmark since the 16th century when the Manila Galleons would reach the coast here following the prevailing westerlies all the way across...
, at an elevation of 121 feet (37 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 95558.
Petrolia has an estimated population of 300-500 people. It is located in the Mattole Valley, also known as the Lost Coast
Lost Coast
The Lost Coast is a mostly undeveloped section of the California North Coast in Mendocino and Humboldt Counties, which includes the King Range. It was named the "Lost Coast" after the area experienced depopulation in the 1930s...
region for its proximity to the Lost Coast Wilderness area, one of the largest wilderness areas and the longest stretch of undeveloped coastline in the continental United States. The Lost Coast is named because of its position on the rocky, treacherous coastline and King Range
King Range
King Range may refer to:* King Range : a mountain range in Victoria Land, Antarctica.* King Range : a mountain range in Humboldt County, California, part of the California Coast Ranges....
of mountains that isolate this area from mainland California and continue to leave the area almost completely undeveloped.
Description
Travel magazines have called this area "too lovely to be believed, perhaps too beautiful to last" It has been recognized as the top "still wild" place in California.The Mattole River
Mattole River
The Mattole River is a river on the north coast of California, that flows northerly, then westerly into the Pacific Ocean. A short section of the river flows through upper Mendocino County, but the vast majority of its 62-mile run is through southern Humboldt County...
flows through Petrolia and is one of only a handful of undammed rivers left in the country. Petrolia is five miles (8 km) from the Pacific Ocean, where there is located the start of a 25 miles (40 km) section of beach protected by the King Range National Conservation Area and Sinkyone Wilderness State Park, and the Punta Gorda lighthouse. The Mattole River is home to a variety of California wildlife, including otter
Otter
The Otters are twelve species of semi-aquatic mammals which feed on fish and shellfish, and also other invertebrates, amphibians, birds and small mammals....
s, Roosevelt elk
Roosevelt elk
The Roosevelt elk , also known as Olympic elk, is the largest of the four surviving subspecies of elk in North America...
, black-tailed deer
Black-tailed Deer
Two forms of black-tailed deer or blacktail deer occupying coastal temperate rainforest on North America's Pacific coast are subspecies of the mule deer. They have sometimes been treated as a species, but virtually all recent authorities maintain they are subspecies...
, steelhead trout, more than 250 bird species, and an endangered salmon
Salmon
Salmon is the common name for several species of fish in the family Salmonidae. Several other fish in the same family are called trout; the difference is often said to be that salmon migrate and trout are resident, but this distinction does not strictly hold true...
that was the subject of Totem Salmon, a book about the community's attempts over two decades to preserve the Mattole salmon. It is one of the few remaining areas with virgin old-growth stands of Douglas fir.
The community is inside area code 707
Area code 707
North American area code 707 is a Californian telephone area code which covers Napa, Sebastopol, Vallejo, Benicia, Fairfield, Santa Rosa, Petaluma, Fort Bragg, Crescent City, Eureka, Clearlake, Vacaville, Ukiah, and northwestern California. It was split from area code 415 on March 1, 1959...
.
History
The place was originally settled by the Mattole or Pacific Coast Athapaskan Indians, who arrived at the Pacific Coast late in the first millennium from what is now CanadaCanada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
.
With the appearance of Western settlers in 1849, including gold rush settlers and miners, the Mattole culture quickly died out. The last remaining descendants of the Mattole live today in Bear River on the Rohnerville Rancheria, but there are no remaining native speakers of the Mattole language. There are estimated to be more than 80 archeological sites of significance in the Lost Coast area.
The white settlers originally called the place New Jerusalem; when the first oil was pumped in 1865, it was renamed Petrolia. It was the site of the first oil well drilled in California. The oil was very fine and ultimately dried up.
The Mattole post office opened in 1863, changed its name to Petrolea in 1865, and to Petrolia later in 1865.
Facilities
Petrolia has a small downtown area with a local general store with delicatessen, groceries and selection of movies available for rental. It has a post office, a single pump gas station and volunteer fire department. Petrolia has its own elementary school, the Mattole Elementary School. The school bell is the original bell from the 1862 Mattole School. There are two community centers, the Mattole Valley Community Center, originally a structure from 1862 located near the downtown, that hosts community cabaret and gatherings, and the Mattole Grange, an indoor and outdoor gathering area approximately five miles south of Petrolia that hosts a monthly pancake breakfast and farmers' market. There is only one restaurant currently open in Petrolia, the Yellow Rose. There is a community garden, various community clubs, and a medical clinic, Evergreen Clinic.There are only two roads that lead into Petrolia, one from the north from Ferndale, California
Ferndale, California
Ferndale is a city in Humboldt County, California, United States. Known for its well-preserved Victorian buildings, the city's population was 1,371 at the 2010 census, down from 1,382 at the 2000 census...
and one from the south from Honeydew, California
Honeydew, California
Honeydew is an unincorporated community in Humboldt County, California. It is located south of Scotia, at an elevation of 322 feet ....
, leading through scenic redwood forests that were the site for the filming of Jurassic Park
Jurassic Park (film)
Jurassic Park is a 1993 American science fiction adventure film directed by Steven Spielberg. The film is based on the novel of the same name by Michael Crichton. It stars Sam Neill, Laura Dern, Jeff Goldblum, Richard Attenborough, Martin Ferrero, and Bob Peck...
. Both roads are winding, steep and sometimes unpaved that pass large tracts of scenic overlooks and wilderness areas. They are popular routes for visitors (especially mountain bikers and motorcyclists) and have been characterized by the New York Times as leading to "an almost comically steep drop to the sea". The road from Petrolia to Ferndale follows the ocean and has unbroken vistas of rocky ocean coastline and beach. Petrolia is surrounded by large tracts of original homestead ranches and farms. Downtown Petrolia is home to the only Bed and Breakfast in the area, called The Lost Inn, which has one deluxe master suite with two private glassed-in sun porches and a private yard and garden.
Inhabitants
Petrolia is home to a number of writers and artists, including Alexander CockburnAlexander Cockburn
Alexander Claud Cockburn is an American political journalist. Cockburn was brought up in Ireland but has lived and worked in the United States since 1972. Together with Jeffrey St. Clair, he edits the political newsletter CounterPunch...
, a left-wing journalist and founder of CounterPunch
Counterpunch
Counterpunch can refer to:* Counterpunch , a punch in boxing* CounterPunch, a bi-weekly political newsletter* Counterpunch , a type of punch used in traditional typography* Punch-Counterpunch, a Transformers character...
, Dale Maharidge, a journalist and winner of the Pulitzer Prize, Freeman House, an environmental author, Peter Hannaford, an author and political public relations specialist, and Jim Danisch, a potter and sculptor.
Petrolia has a large population of environmental activists and hosts two environmental organizations, the Mattole Salmon Group and the Mattole Restoration Council, both of which are dedicated to preserving the local wildlife and environment.
Economy
Petrolia has a local gourmet coffee company, Gold Rush Coffee, that imports and roasts coffee in a converted barn on a hillside overlooking the ocean. There is an organic vineyard and winery in Petrolia called Lost Coast Vineyard, and Lost Coast Blueberries, an organic pick-it-yourself blueberryBlueberry
Blueberries are flowering plants of the genus Vaccinium with dark-blue berries and are perennial...
farm.
Culture
The Mattole Valley Historical Society holds quarterly meetings in Petrolia and conducts community walking tours, slideshows and talks about the history of the area and its founders.In July of each year, the area hosts a music festival called "Roll on the Mattole". The event takes place at the Mattole Grange, and there is music, food and bands, sponsored by the Honeydew Firefighters. Twice a year, there is an annual barbecue at the Mattole Grange, which attracts families from all over the area. The July 4th
Independence Day (United States)
Independence Day, commonly known as the Fourth of July, is a federal holiday in the United States commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, declaring independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain...
annual barbecue features an enormous barbecue pit of local beef and baked beans cooked in a vintage pot so large that they must be stirred with a canoe paddle. There are horse races in September, cycling tours in May–September, including a cycling/hiking tour of the Redwoods and the Tour of the Unknown Coast, in October of each year. There is a race called the "Rye and Tide" where participants combine bicycling and running from the Yellow Rose in downtown Petrolia down Lighthouse Road to the ocean. There are festivals and other community events throughout the year near the Mattole, including Reggae on the River in Piercy, California
Piercy, California
Piercy is an unincorporated community in Mendocino County, California. It is located on the South Fork of the Eel River north-northwest of Leggett, at an elevation of 794 feet ....
; the Mad River Festival in Blue Lake, California
Blue Lake, California
Blue Lake is a city in Humboldt County, California, United States. Blue Lake is located on the Mad River northeast of Eureka, at an elevation of 131 feet...
; and the Humboldt County Fair in Ferndale, California
Ferndale, California
Ferndale is a city in Humboldt County, California, United States. Known for its well-preserved Victorian buildings, the city's population was 1,371 at the 2010 census, down from 1,382 at the 2000 census...
. Besides the Yellow Rose, the closest restaurants to Petrolia are located in Ferndale and Eureka, approximately 30 miles (48 km) from Petrolia.
The area is liberal in political culture. Because of its isolation, the Mattole Valley has cultivated a reputation for independence and self-sustainence, including a network of local resources, the maintenance of its own emergency help line (an alternative to 911
911
Year 911 was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Julian calendar.-Africa:* Rebellion of the Kutama Berbers against the Fatimid Caliphate...
), and even its own currency, the petol. A survey conducted in recent years determined that half of the community is located "off the grid" and relies on solar or alternative forms of power, or none at all. The George Lindley Bridge in Petrolia was named after a county supervisor of the 1950s who was a longtime foreman of the county road crew in the Mattole. Mr. Lindley was a big believer in local government, and his favorite expression was reputed to be "Mattole Against the World!"
Geography and climate
Petrolia is located near the Mendocino Triple JunctionMendocino Triple Junction
The Mendocino Triple Junction is a geologic triple junction where the San Andreas Fault meets the Mendocino Fault and the Cascadia subduction zone, separating three tectonic plates: the Pacific Plate, the North American Plate and the Gorda Plate...
, where three fault lines meet. It is thus at the center of frequent earthquake activity. The last large earthquake to affect the area was a 7.1 earthquake in 1992
1992 Cape Mendocino earthquakes
The 1992 Cape Mendocino earthquakes were a series of three earthquakes that occurred off the coast of Cape Mendocino, California on April 25 and 26, 1992. They consisted of a 7.2-magnitude main shock and two strong aftershocks that spawned a series of smaller aftershocks that ranged in magnitude...
which resulted in a fire that destroyed the Petrolia General Store. The store was rebuilt in a more modern architectural style than the 100 year old landmark that it replaced. Two remaining landmarks in Petrolia are a small wooden church, and the Petrolia Pioneer Cemetery, which has the graves of original residents of Petrolia dating from November 1857.
Early in 2010 two more large quakes hit the area, a 6.5 on January 9 and a 5.9 on February 3; neither caused any deaths, but the January quake was reported to have caused $40 million in damage throughout the area.
The weather in Petrolia is temperate and has the Mediterranean climate
Mediterranean climate
A Mediterranean climate is the climate typical of most of the lands in the Mediterranean Basin, and is a particular variety of subtropical climate...
of much of northern California. The town itself is located in a banana belt
Banana belt
"Banana belt" is an informal geographic term used to describe a segment of a larger geographic region which enjoys warmer weather conditions than the region as a whole, especially in the wintertime...
that is sheltered from the fog that reaches Eureka and some of the northern towns, such as Arcata
Arcata, California
-Demographics:-2010 Census data:The 2010 United States Census reported that Arcata had a population of 17,231. The population density was 1,567.4 people per square mile...
and McKinleyville
McKinleyville, California
McKinleyville is a census-designated place in Humboldt County, California, United States. McKinleyville is located north of Arcata, at an elevation of . The population was 15,177 at the 2010 census, up from 13,599 at the 2000 census. This unincorporated community is the third largest community,...
. As a result, the summers are dry and sunny, typically in the 70oF's with temperatures occasionally reaching as high as the 90oF's. Winters are rainy from November through April, with temperatures typically in the 50F's and occasionally falling to the high 30oF's or low 40oF's at night. Honeydew, which is located only 14 miles (23 km) south of Petrolia, has a less temperate climate and its summers and winters are more extreme, with one of the highest amounts of winter rainfall.
The Mattole area is popular with visitors, particularly the Lost Coast beaches, which feature tide pools, pristine beaches and relatively deserted hiking trails. At certain times of year, migrating gray whales can be seen from shore, as well as colonies of harbor seals
Pinniped
Pinnipeds or fin-footed mammals are a widely distributed and diverse group of semiaquatic marine mammals comprising the families Odobenidae , Otariidae , and Phocidae .-Overview: Pinnipeds are typically sleek-bodied and barrel-shaped...
and sea lions. Local residents use the Mattole River for swimming, rafting, canoeing, kayaking and catch and release fly fishing.
Politics
In the state legislatureCalifornia State Legislature
The California State Legislature is the state legislature of the U.S. state of California. It is a bicameral body consisting of the lower house, the California State Assembly, with 80 members, and the upper house, the California State Senate, with 40 members...
Petrolia is located in the 2nd Senate
California State Senate
The California State Senate is the upper house of the California State Legislature. There are 40 state senators. The state legislature meets in the California State Capitol in Sacramento. The Lieutenant Governor is the ex officio President of the Senate and may break a tied vote...
District, represented by Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
Noreen Evans
Noreen Evans
Noreen Evans is an American politician in the California State Senate. She is a Democrat representing the 2nd district, encompassing Humboldt, Mendocino, Lake, and Napa counties, as well as parts of Sonoma and Solano counties....
, and in the 1st Assembly
California State Assembly
The California State Assembly is the lower house of the California State Legislature. There are 80 members in the Assembly, representing an approximately equal number of constituents, with each district having a population of at least 420,000...
District, represented by Democrat Wesley Chesbro
Wesley Chesbro
Wesley P. Chesbro is a Democratic politician from California. He is currently the Assembly member for the 1st Assembly district in California. Previously, Chesbro served as a State Senator from California's 2nd district from 1998 until 2006...
. Federally, Petrolia is located in California's 1st congressional district
California's 1st congressional district
California's 1st congressional district is a congressional district located in the U.S. state of California and presently consists of the northern coastline and includes Del Norte, Humboldt, Lake, Mendocino and Napa counties and parts of Sonoma and Yolo counties.The district is currently...
, which has a Cook PVI
Cook Partisan Voting Index
The Cook Partisan Voting Index , sometimes referred to as simply the Partisan Voting Index , is a measurement of how strongly an American congressional district or state leans toward one political party compared to the nation as a whole...
of D +10 and is represented by Democrat Mike Thompson
Mike Thompson
Michael C. Thompson , is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1999. He is a member of the Democratic Party. The district includes Napa, Lake, Mendocino, Humboldt and Del Norte Counties as well as parts of Yolo and Sonoma Counties....
.