Fortuna is located on the beautiful and rugged North Coast of California. It is the largest city of southern Humboldt County and is located 250 miles north of San Francisco and 445 miles south of Portland, Oregon. It is the home to over 10,000 residents with a trading area of more than 35,000 people. The City is in the heart of the Eel River Valley and provides a convenient base to stay while exploring the Valley's treasures.


It wasn't just the loggers and lumber barons that first settled in the area. Many Eel River Valley settlers were originally drawn to California by the prospects of gold, but they soon returned to the farming life they had known in the East, settling the rich lands of the valley to raise livestock, grains, and a variety of fruits. The Eel River Valley's lush ground yielded large crops of fruit and vegetables. They were used both locally and shipped to San Francisco. The dairy industry took an early foothold in the area and became the area's premier farming occupation.