Editing Rio Dell, California

{{Short description|City in California, United States}}
{{About|the city in Humboldt County|the unincorporated community in Sonoma County|Del Rio, Sonoma County, California}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name            = City of Rio Dell
|name                     = Rio Dell, California
|settlement_type          = [[List of municipalities in California|City]]
|image_skyline            = Rio Dell CA Wildwood Drive 2012.jpg
|image_caption            = Wildwood Avenue, Rio Dell
|image_seal               = 
|image_blank_emblem         = City of Rio Dell Logo.png
|image_map                = Humboldt_County_California_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Rio_Dell_Highlighted.svg
|map_caption              = Location in [[Humboldt County, California|Humboldt County]] and the state of [[California]]
|mapsize                  = 250x200px
|image_map1               = 
|mapsize1                 = 
|map_caption1             = 
|pushpin_map              = California#USA
|pushpin_map_caption      = Location in the United States
|pushpin_label           = Rio Dell
|subdivision_type         = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
|subdivision_name         = United States 
|subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
|subdivision_name1        = [[California]]
|subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in California|County]]
|subdivision_name2        = [[Humboldt County, California|Humboldt]]
|government_type          = 
|leader_title             = [[Mayor]]
|leader_name              = Debra Garnes<ref>{{cite web|url=http://cityofriodell.ca.gov/city-council|title=City Council - City of Rio Dell|website=cityofriodell.ca.gov|access-date=December 27, 2019}}</ref>
|established_title        = [[Municipal corporation|Incorporated]]
|established_date         = February 23, 1965<ref>{{Cite web
 |url         = http://www.calafco.org/docs/Cities_by_incorp_date.doc
 |title       = California Cities by Incorporation Date
 |format      = Word
 |publisher   = California Association of [[Local Agency Formation Commission]]s
 |access-date  = April 7, 2013
|url-status     = dead
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20130221091414/http://www.calafco.org/docs/Cities_by_incorp_date.doc
 |archive-date = February 21, 2013
}}</ref>
<!-- Area------------------>
|area_magnitude           = 
| unit_pref               = Imperial
| area_footnotes          = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2019">{{cite web|title=2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2019_Gazetteer/2019_gaz_place_06.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=July 1, 2020}}</ref>
| area_total_sq_mi        = 2.42
| area_land_sq_mi         = 2.28
| area_water_sq_mi        = 0.14
| area_total_km2          = 6.26
| area_land_km2           = 5.91
| area_water_km2          = 0.35
| area_water_percent      = 5.61
| area_note               = 
|elevation_footnotes      = <ref name=gnis/>
|elevation_ft             = 161
|elevation_m              = 49
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_footnotes     = <ref name="US Census Bureau 2020 Rio Dell, CA Population">{{cite web |title=Explore Census Data |url=https://data.census.gov/all?q=Rio+Dell+city;+California |website=data.census.gov |access-date=May 5, 2023}}</ref>
|population_total         = 3379
|population_metro         = 
|population_density_km2   = 566.86
|population_density_sq_mi = 1468.22
|timezone                 = [[Pacific Time Zone|Pacific (PST)]]
|utc_offset               = -8
|coordinates              = {{coord|40|29|57|N|124|06|23|W|region:US-CA|display=inline,title}}
|timezone_DST             = PDT
|utc_offset_DST           = -7
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
|postal_code              = 95562
|area_code                = [[Area code 707|707]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 06-60900
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature IDs
|blank1_info              = {{GNIS 4|277614}}, {{GNIS 4|2410951}}
|footnotes                = 
|website                  = {{URL|http://cityofriodell.ca.gov/}}
|pop_est_as_of            = 2019
|pop_est_footnotes        = <ref name="USCensusEst2019CenPopScriptOnlyDirtyFixDoNotUse"/>
|population_est           = 3349
}}

'''Rio Dell''' ([[Spanish language|Spanish]]: ''Río Dell'',<ref>[[La Opinión]] - [https://laopinion.com/2016/12/05/sismo-de-4-2-sacude-el-norte-de-california/ Sismo de 4.2 sacude el norte de California]</ref> meaning "river," with English "dell," meaning small valley in a woodland)<ref name=CGN /> is a city in [[Humboldt County, California]], United States. It is located on the west bank of the [[Eel River (California)|Eel River]] {{convert|1|mi|km}} north of [[Scotia, California|Scotia]]<ref name=CGN>{{California's Geographic Names|132}}</ref> at an elevation of 161 feet (49 m).<ref name=gnis>{{gnis|277614}}</ref> The population was 3,363 at the 2010 census, up from 3,174 at the 2000 census.

==History==
Rio Dell was founded and named by businessman Lorenzo Painter, who devised the name as a merging of Spanish ''río'' ("river") and English ''dell'' ("small wooded valley").<ref>{{Cite web|title=History of Rio Dell {{!}} City of Rio Dell|url=https://cityofriodell.ca.gov/history-rio-dell|access-date=June 8, 2020|website=cityofriodell.ca.gov}}</ref>

Originally settled on the territories of the [[Wiyot Tribe|Wiyot]], [[Eel River Athapaskan peoples#Nongatl|Nongatl]], and [[Mattole]] tribes, Rio Dell was reportedly first dubbed "Tokemuk" by native inhabitants of the land who were thought to be of multiple regional tribes and who uniquely spoke at least two different regional languages. The native presence was greatly diminished following the [[1860 Wiyot massacre]] on [[Tuluwat Island|Indian Island]] that extended south to the Eel river valley where Rio Dell is located. From there, the area became known as Eagle Prairie and finally as Rio Dell.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Garrison, James R.|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/967394417|title=Scotia and Rio Dell.|date=2015|publisher=Arcadia Publishing Inc|isbn=978-1-4396-5230-5|pages=7–8|oclc=967394417}}</ref>

The first post office at Rio Dell opened in 1876.<ref name=CGN /> Rio Dell was connected to Scotia by a ferry provided by the lumber mill in Scotia.<ref name=torh>{{cite book|last1=Hawk|first1=Diane|title=Touring the old redwood highway : Humboldt County |date=2004|publisher=Hawk Mountaintop 
 |location=Arcata, Calif.|isbn=978-0-9672162-4-9|page=104}}</ref> After the first bridge was destroyed by a flood in 1905, a ferry carried mill workers from Rio Dell upstream to Scotia, and a second ferry carried mill workers downstream to [[Metropolitan, California|Metropolitan]]<ref name=jjr>{{cite book |last=Rovai |first=Julio J. |title =Rio Dell-(Wildwood) as I saw it in the early twenties |publisher =Julio J. Rovai |date =1979 |location =Santa Rosa, California}}</ref> until a suspension bridge was built to Scotia in 1914.<ref name=torh/> Many Italian immigrants lived in what came to be known as Wildwood, south of Rio Dell proper, and known at the time to outsiders as ''Little Italy''.<ref name=jjr/> This part of town became popular with mill workers seeking [[moonshine]], [[gambling]], and [[prostitution]] unavailable in the [[company town]] of Scotia where they were employed. Men came from as far away as [[Eureka, California|Eureka]] to enjoy these illegal entertainments, or to engage in recreational fighting, the downtown very soon becoming known as ''Wildwood''. Rio Dell's main street still carries the name ''Wildwood Avenue''. In 1928 buildings on both sides of this street were engulfed by a fire started by a moonshine [[still]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://humboldt-dspace.calstate.edu/bitstream/handle/10211.3/131776/Garrison_Jim_Barnum_2013_f.pdf?sequence=3 |title=The Company's Town: An Examination of the Longevity and Legacy of Scotia, California |last=Garrison |first=Jim |publisher=Humboldt State University |access-date=August 21, 2019 }}</ref> The fire endangered the bridge to Scotia and prevented the Scotia Fire Department from crossing the bridge to help extinguish the fire.<ref name=jjr/>

Rio Dell became home to the workforce for one of the largest lumber mills in the world, the [[Pacific Lumber Company]]. It was often the first home of immigrants to the United States and Humboldt County, particularly for the young Italian and Portuguese immigrant workforce of the early 20th century. Rio Dell was incorporated in 1965 as a result of changing demographics, a post-war population expansion and the reluctance of the local Sheriff to provide law enforcement services to what was perceived as a dangerous and remote community. The primary benefit of municipal incorporation being a city's ability to create its own armed police department under local control. The department totaled 14 sworn officers shortly after obtaining city status. Following the city's incorporation in 1965 a series of events over the next two decades led to the economic decline of the community, including the opening of a new freeway bypass and the eventual demise of Pacific Lumber Company (Palco) as a significant employer.{{citation needed|date=December 2022}}

Rio Dell was impacted by the [[2022 Ferndale earthquake]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Quezada |first=Jose |last2=Moity |first2=Steven |last3=Hancock |first3=Ollie |date=January 1, 2023 |title=California Town Rattled by Earthquake a Second Time |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/01/us/california-earthquake.html |access-date=January 2, 2023 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|2.4|sqmi|km2}}, of which {{convert|2.3|sqmi|km2}} of it is land and {{convert|0.1|sqmi|km2}} of it, or 5.61%, is water.

{{clear}}

===Climate===
This region experiences warm (but not hot) and dry summers, with no average monthly temperatures above {{Convert|71.6|F}}.  According to the [[Köppen Climate Classification]] system, Rio Dell has a [[Mediterranean climate#Warm-summer Mediterranean climate|warm-summer Mediterranean climate]], abbreviated ''Csb'' on climate maps.<ref>[http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather-summary.php3?s=540840&cityname=Rio+Dell%2C+California%2C+United+States+of+America&units= Climate Summary for Rio Dell, California]</ref>

{{Weather box|location = Rio Dell
|single line = Yes
|Jan record high F = 76
|Feb record high F = 82
|Mar record high F = 86
|Apr record high F = 90
|May record high F = 97
|Jun record high F = 98
|Jul record high F = 102
|Aug record high F = 96
|Sep record high F = 98
|Oct record high F = 97
|Nov record high F = 81
|Dec record high F = 73
|year record high F = 102
|Jan high F = 55.3
|Feb high F = 57.4
|Mar high F = 58.5
|Apr high F = 60.3
|May high F = 63.2
|Jun high F = 66.3
|Jul high F = 69.1
|Aug high F = 70.3
|Sep high F = 70.9
|Oct high F = 67.3
|Nov high F = 60.5
|Dec high F = 55.6
|year high F = 62.9
|Jan mean F = 47.8
|Feb mean F = 49.5
|Mar mean F = 50.4
|Apr mean F = 52.3
|May mean F = 55.5
|Jun mean F = 58.7
|Jul mean F = 60.9
|Aug mean F = 61.7
|Sep mean F = 60.9
|Oct mean F = 57.6
|Nov mean F = 52.4
|Dec mean F = 48.3
|year mean F = 54.7
|Jan low F = 40.3
|Feb low F = 41.6
|Mar low F = 42.6
|Apr low F = 44.3
|May low F = 47.7
|Jun low F = 51.1
|Jul low F = 52.8
|Aug low F = 53.1
|Sep low F = 50.9
|Oct low F = 47.8
|Nov low F = 44.2
|Dec low F = 41.1
|year low F = 46.4
|Jan record low F = 20
|Feb record low F = 23
|Mar record low F = 29
|Apr record low F = 32
|May record low F = 33
|Jun record low F = 40
|Jul record low F = 40
|Aug record low F = 41
|Sep record low F = 37
|Oct record low F = 28
|Nov record low F = 27
|Dec record low F = 17
|year record low F = 41
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation inch = 8.8
|Feb precipitation inch = 7.5
|Mar precipitation inch = 6.5
|Apr precipitation inch = 3.5
|May precipitation inch = 1.7
|Jun precipitation inch = 0.6
|Jul precipitation inch = 0.1
|Aug precipitation inch = 0.2
|Sep precipitation inch = 0.6
|Oct precipitation inch = 3.0
|Nov precipitation inch = 6.4
|Dec precipitation inch = 9.2
|year precipitation inch = 48.1
|Jan precipitation days = 16
|Feb precipitation days = 15
|Mar precipitation days = 15
|Apr precipitation days = 12
|May precipitation days = 9
|Jun precipitation days = 5
|Jul precipitation days = 2
|Aug precipitation days = 2
|Sep precipitation days = 3
|Oct precipitation days = 8
|Nov precipitation days = 14
|Dec precipitation days = 16
|year precipitation days = 117
|source 1 = <ref name=Weatherbase.org>{{cite web |url =http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weatherall.php3?s=540840&cityname=Rio-Dell-California-United-States-of-America&units=us |title = Rio Dell, California |access-date = October 3, 2016}}</ref>
}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
| 1890 = 213
| 1950 = 1862
| 1960 = 3222
| 1970 = 2817
| 1980 = 2687
| 1990 = 3012
| 2000 = 3174
| 2010 = 3368
| 2020 = 3379
| estimate = 
| estref = <ref name="USCensusEst2019CenPopScriptOnlyDirtyFixDoNotUse">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/data/tables.2019.html|date=May 24, 2020|title=Population and Housing Unit Estimates|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=May 27, 2020}}</ref>
| footnote = U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015}}</ref>
}}

===2010===
At the [[2010 United States Census|2010 census]] Rio Dell had a population of 3,368. The population density was {{convert|1,393.2|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of Rio Dell was 2,894 (85.9%) White, 13 (0.4%) African American, 125 (3.7%) Native American, 25 (0.7%) Asian, 3 (0.1%) Pacific Islander, 140 (4.2%) from other races, and 168 (5.0%) from two or more races.  Hispanic or Latino of any race were 384 people (11.4%).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.census.gov/2010census/popmap/ipmtext.php?fl=06:0660900|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140715032720/http://www.census.gov/2010census/popmap/ipmtext.php?fl=06:0660900|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 15, 2014|title=2010 Census Interactive Population Search: CA - Rio Dell city|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|access-date=July 12, 2014}}</ref>

The census reported that 3,347 people (99.4% of the population) lived in households, 21 (0.6%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and no one was institutionalized.

There were 1,367 households, 440 (32.2%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 560 (41.0%) were [[marriage|opposite-sex married couples]] living together, 199 (14.6%) had a female householder with no husband present, 85 (6.2%) had a male householder with no wife present.  There were 131 (9.6%) [[POSSLQ|unmarried opposite-sex partnerships]], and 13 (1.0%) [[same-sex partnerships|same-sex married couples or partnerships]]. 409 households (29.9%) were one person and 139 (10.2%) had someone living alone who was 65 or older. The average household size was 2.45.  There were 844 families (61.7% of households); the average family size was 2.99.

The age distribution was 803 people (23.8%) under the age of 18, 309 people (9.2%) aged 18 to 24, 824 people (24.5%) aged 25 to 44, 989 people (29.4%) aged 45 to 64, and 443 people (13.2%) who were 65 or older.  The median age was 38.3 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.7 males.  For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.7 males.

There were 1,442 housing units at an average density of {{convert|596.5|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}, of which 1,367 were occupied, 774 (56.6%) by the owners and 593 (43.4%) by renters.  The homeowner vacancy rate was 0.6%; the rental vacancy rate was 2.8%.  1,952 people (58.0% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 1,395 people (41.4%) lived in rental housing units.

===2000===
At the [[2000 United States Census|2000 census]] there were 3,174 people in 1,221 households, including 830 families, in the city. The population density was {{convert|1,684.2|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 1,434 housing units at an average density of {{convert|760.9|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}.  The [[Race and ethnicity in the United States Census#2000 census|racial makeup]] of the city was 85.63% White, 0.16% Black or African American, 3.88% Native American, 0.38% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 5.73% from other races, and 4.19% from two or more races. 10.81% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=January 31, 2008|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref>
Of the 1,221 households 34.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.1% were married couples living together, 13.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.0% were non-families. 25.0% of households were one person and 10.4% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 3.08.

The age distribution was 28.3% under the age of 18, 9.3% from 18 to 24, 26.5% from 25 to 44, 22.3% from 45 to 64, and 13.6% 65 or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.8 males.

The median [[income]] for a household in the city was $29,254, and the median family income  was $36,464. Males had a median income of $30,410 versus $19,688 for females. The per capita income for the city was $12,569. About 18.5% of families and 23.1% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 31.1% of those under age 18 and 12.1% of those age 65 or over.

==Government==
===Local government ===
Rio Dell has a [[Council–manager government|council–manager]] form of government. The City Council sets policy, while the City Manager carries out the day-to-day business of the city. The Mayor is selected by the City Council and serves as the presiding officer at city council meetings, and as the official head of the city for legislative and ceremonial purposes.

As of 2019, the Rio Dell City Council consisted of Mayor Debra Garnes, Gordon Johnson, Amanda Carter, Frank Wilson, and Julie Woodall. The City Manager is Kyle Knopp.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://cityofriodell.ca.gov.com|title=The Warm Hearted City|publisher=City of Rio Dell|access-date=November 1, 2019}}</ref>

===State and federal representation===
In the [[California State Legislature|state legislature]], Rio Dell is in {{Representative|casd|2|fmt=sdistrict}},<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://senate.ca.gov/senators |title=Senators |access-date=March 10, 2013 |publisher=State of California}}</ref> and {{Representative|caad|2|fmt=adistrict}}.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://assembly.ca.gov/assemblymembers |title=Members Assembly |access-date=March 2, 2013 |publisher=State of California}}</ref>

Federally, Rio Dell is in {{Representative|cacd|2|fmt=district}}.<ref>{{Cite GovTrack|CA|2|accessdate=March 1, 2013}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Rio Dell, California}}
*{{Official website|http://cityofriodell.ca.gov/}}

{{Cities of Humboldt County, California}}
{{Eel River}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Incorporated cities and towns in California]]
[[Category:Cities in Humboldt County, California]]