What makes us special is our people. We are small enough that you are likely to be recognized in the grocery store, but large enough that you will be able to find like-minded people regardless of your interests. Although politically progressive, we know and rely on one another which engenders respect regardless of political affiliation.
We Support Education
Many of our elementary and secondary schools have been recognized as California Distinguished Schools. College of the Redwoods, our local community college offers vocational training including a Registered Nursing program as well as a low-cost option for students to transfer to 4-year colleges. The former Humboldt State University in Arcata is now Cal Poly Humboldt, the third polytechnic university in the California state university system and the only one in Northern California. Along with the name change has come additional funding and a projected 50% increase in enrollment in the next few years. The University has always been known for its focus on environmental studies, but now in addition to offering a full university curriculum it will specialize in Environmental Engineering, Sustainable Energy and Bioengineering.
We Believe In Science
The pandemic has had a dramatic effect on our community, as it has around the world. However, despite living in a rural area, our COVID-19 vaccination rate is higher than the national average and our community has largely supported masking mandates. As of June 2022, our COVID-19 death rate was 11 per 10,000 population which is about one third of the US average death rate. Our residency program has had to make some changes such as adding clinic telemedicine visits to our curriculum. However, there has not been any significant disruption to our training program.
Humboldt County is less racially diverse than much of California. However, in the recent census our Hispanic population was 12% and our Native American population at 6% is one of the highest among California counties. What we lack in racial diversity, we make up in socioeconomic diversity. Our county is not affluent. We have no gated communities. We send our children to public (or parochial) schools where they are in classes with children of healthcare workers, university professors, but also loggers, mill workers, fishermen, cannabis farmers and the homeless. In a small community we know that we must rely on one another which engenders tolerance, respect and understanding.
