Korbel, Humboldt County, California
Encyclopedia
Korbel is an unincorporated community
in Humboldt County
, California
. It is located 1.5 miles (2.4 km) east-southeast of Blue Lake
, at an elevation of 154 feet (47 m). The ZIP Code
is 95550.
In 1881, the Korbel
brothers of Sonoma County, California
acquired the Arcata and Mad River Railroad
. They extended the railroad up the North Fork Mad River
, where they built the Humboldt Lumber Company sawmill
in 1883 with a company town
for worker housing. The sawmill was the first in Humboldt County to use a kiln
for drying lumber. The town was originally called North Fork, but was renamed Korbel in 1891 with the arrival of the post office. The Korbel family sold their Mad River properties to the Northern Redwood Lumber Company in 1902. Rail passenger service ended in 1931. The sawmill closed in 1933, but was reopened in 1942. In 1956 Simpson Investment Company
of Washington purchased the site. Rail connection with the Northwestern Pacific Railroad
was abandoned in 1985. Sawmill operations have continued into the 21st century, but few residential or commercial structures remain.
Unincorporated area
In law, an unincorporated area is a region of land that is not a part of any municipality.To "incorporate" in this context means to form a municipal corporation, a city, town, or village with its own government. An unincorporated community is usually not subject to or taxed by a municipal government...
in Humboldt County
Humboldt County, California
Humboldt County is a county in the U.S. state of California, located on the far North Coast 200 miles north of San Francisco. According to 2010 Census Data, the county’s population was 134,623...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. It is located 1.5 miles (2.4 km) east-southeast of Blue Lake
Blue Lake, California
Blue Lake is a city in Humboldt County, California, United States. Blue Lake is located on the Mad River northeast of Eureka, at an elevation of 131 feet...
, at an elevation of 154 feet (47 m). The ZIP Code
ZIP Code
ZIP codes are a system of postal codes used by the United States Postal Service since 1963. The term ZIP, an acronym for Zone Improvement Plan, is properly written in capital letters and was chosen to suggest that the mail travels more efficiently, and therefore more quickly, when senders use the...
is 95550.
In 1881, the Korbel
Korbel Champagne Cellars
Korbel Champagne Cellars is a winery based in Guerneville, California. Korbel primarily manufactures sparkling wine and sells the largest volume of premium traditional Méthode Champenoise sparkling wine in the United States. The company is a division of F...
brothers of Sonoma County, California
Sonoma County, California
Sonoma County, located on the northern coast of the U.S. state of California, is the largest and northernmost of the nine San Francisco Bay Area counties. Its population at the 2010 census was 483,878. Its largest city and county seat is Santa Rosa....
acquired the Arcata and Mad River Railroad
Arcata and Mad River Railroad
The Arcata and Mad River Railroad was affectionately known as the "Annie and Mary". AMR's predecessor, the Union Plank Walk, Rail Track, and Wharf Company, was incorporated on December 15, 1854, to provide access over the mud flats near the town of Union to ocean going shipping for a distance of...
. They extended the railroad up the North Fork Mad River
Mad River (California)
The Mad River is a river in upper Northern California. It flows for in a roughly northwest direction through Trinity County and then Humboldt County, draining a watershed into the Pacific Ocean north of the college town of Arcata near Arcata-Eureka Airport in McKinleyville...
, where they built the Humboldt Lumber Company sawmill
Sawmill
A sawmill is a facility where logs are cut into boards.-Sawmill process:A sawmill's basic operation is much like those of hundreds of years ago; a log enters on one end and dimensional lumber exits on the other end....
in 1883 with a company town
Company town
A company town is a town or city in which much or all real estate, buildings , utilities, hospitals, small businesses such as grocery stores and gas stations, and other necessities or luxuries of life within its borders are owned by a single company...
for worker housing. The sawmill was the first in Humboldt County to use a kiln
Kiln
A kiln is a thermally insulated chamber, or oven, in which a controlled temperature regime is produced. Uses include the hardening, burning or drying of materials...
for drying lumber. The town was originally called North Fork, but was renamed Korbel in 1891 with the arrival of the post office. The Korbel family sold their Mad River properties to the Northern Redwood Lumber Company in 1902. Rail passenger service ended in 1931. The sawmill closed in 1933, but was reopened in 1942. In 1956 Simpson Investment Company
Simpson Investment Company
The Simpson Investment Company is a Pacific Northwest based company that specializes in production and manufacture of forest products. Originally founded as a logging company in 1890 by Sol Simpson, the company currently functions as a holding company for its three subsidiaries who deal with...
of Washington purchased the site. Rail connection with the Northwestern Pacific Railroad
Northwestern Pacific Railroad
The Northwestern Pacific Railroad is a regional railroad serving California's North Coast. The railroad currently runs on 62 miles of the 462 mile main line, stretching from Schellville, California to Eureka, California...
was abandoned in 1985. Sawmill operations have continued into the 21st century, but few residential or commercial structures remain.