Fortuna

History

The settlement was originally called "Slide," for Slide Hill, in 1874, named for the slide that was a fixture on the northeast side of the Eel River and the southwest portion of Christian Ridge just to the northwest, near the edge of town. In 1875, the name was changed to Springville during the construction of the Springville Mill, a lumber mill for the nearby redwood forests, named so because of the numerous springs in the area. The mill's owners were Henry Rohner (namesake of neighboring Rohnerville), Alexander Masson, M. N. Weber and G. F. Gushaw. Springville was originally a company town belonging to the mill, and the few people that resided there all worked at the mill. By the late 1870s Springville had grown enough to warrant a post office, but a town called Springville, California (now part of Camarillo, in Ventura County) already existed in the state. The post office was named Slide on May 24, 1876. In 1884 the residents petitioned the state legislature for the name Fortuna, Spanish for "fortune" and Latin for "chance," and by July 3, 1888, the change was official. The name was chosen when settlers saw the proximity of the forests, the river and its valley, and the Pacific Ocean, as ideal for enjoying a good quality of life, and felt "fortunate" to live there. Electricity came to Fortuna in 1883 when W. J. Swortzel and George W. Williams (of Swortzel & Williams), owners of the Springville Mill Company, built a $4,000 power plant. Some of the local sawmills were already powered by electricity, and by providing power to the mills, Swortzel and Williams saw the opportunity to also provide inexpensive electric lighting to the townspeople. Fortuna became the rail hub for smaller communities like Alton, Fernbridge, Ferndale, Hydesville, Newburg, Port Kenyon,…

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , nearly all land. Fortuna is located from the Pacific coast on the bank of the Eel River. The community is affected by coastal weather patterns with the Pacific Ocean to the west. Fortuna is served by U.S. Route 101, providing direct access to San Francisco to the south, and to Eureka (the county seat) to the north. The western terminus of California State Route 36 intersects U.S. Route 101 just south of the city limits. Fortuna is surrounded by national, state and county redwood parks, and is the gateway to the redwood forests of Northern California. Sequoia sempervirens grow to about and live to be 2,500 years old. The Avenue of the Giants offers views of the area's redwoods, and carries visitors through a number of groves. Stops include Founders Grove, the Visitor Center near Weott and several locations that provide trail access. The area sees summers that are not as foggy as Eureka and Arcata to the north, and run a few degrees warmer. Fortuna has a warm-summer Mediterranean climate (Köppen: Csb) typical of the North Coast that is characterized by warm (but not hot), dry summers, and mild to chilly, rainy winters.

Race & ethnicity

Largest nearby schools

• Fortuna Union High
  High · Fortuna · 830 students · 19.3:1 ratio
• Ferndale Elementary
  Elementary · Ferndale · 344 students · 19.1:1 ratio
• Norman G. Ambrosini Elementary
  Elementary · Fortuna · 323 students · 19:1 ratio
• Linell K. Walker Elementary
  Elementary · Fortuna · 294 students · 19.6:1 ratio
• Toddy Thomas Middle
  Middle · Fortuna · 250 students · 16.7:1 ratio
• Fortuna Middle
  Middle · Fortuna · 237 students · 15.8:1 ratio
• Eagle Prairie Elementary
  Elementary · Rio Dell · 236 students · 23.6:1 ratio
• Redwood Preparatory Charter
  Elementary · Fortuna · 219 students · 24.3:1 ratio