1959 Map of Ferndale

About this map

Ferndale sits at the foot of Wildcat Ridge in this survey of coastal Humboldt County, where the dairy-rich Eel River valley meets the Pacific shore. The mapping details the transitional landscape from the Sand Dunes at Centerville Beach to the steep, creek-cut hills of the interior. A distinct maritime history is visible along the coast, marked by the Wreck of Northerner Historical Marker and the Naval Oceanography Station. Further inland, the map captures the rural infrastructure of the mid-20th century, including the Island School and the Fairgrounds. The settlement pattern follows the waterways and ridges, with family-named holdings like Fern Cottage, Occidental Ranch, and Bunker Hill Ranch anchoring the landscape. Waterways such as the Salt River and Russ Creek define the drainage of the coastal hills into the tidal sloughs.