History

history “The Friendly City”

Fortuna is nestled inside Humboldt County which boasts a scenic 110-mile coastline, more than 160,000 acres of majestic redwoods, and an unspoiled terrain of valleys and rolling hills. Fortuna is approximately 254 miles north of San Francisco and 425 miles south of Portland, OR. The Pacifi c Ocean is just seven miles away at Centerville Beach in nearby Ferndale.

Early settlers started fi shing, farming, and raising livestock in the fertile Eel River Valley in the 1800s. Not long after, the Springville Mill and the Newburg Lumber Company set up shop in Fortuna’s early incarnation, Springville. The town became a hub of the local timber industry and offi cially changed its name to Fortuna, meaning “fortune,” in 1888. In the years following, the completion of a rail line from San Francisco to Eureka boosted Fortuna’s growth, opening it to commerce and a steady stream of loggers, who found good paying jobs and a safe place for their families to live.

Many of Fortuna’s early industries continue to defi ne the city, as fi shing, farming, and lumber are still mainstays for the community. Now, the city of Fortuna is one of the fastest growing incorporated areas in Humboldt County. It provides a diversity of goods, entertainment, health care, banking, community facilities, and professional services, and combines a moderate climate with a rural lifestyle for those looking to settle down.

If this is your fi rst visit, we hope it won’t be your last. We hope each new visit brings another enjoyable experience that will make Fortuna one of your favorite places to Eat, Shop, and Stay!

Fortuna, circa 1907. Downtown Fortuna on Main Street, circa 1890s. Photo courtesy of Fortuna Depot Museum.