Editing Willow Creek, California

{{for|the California wine region|Willow Creek AVA}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
 | name                     = Willow Creek, California
 | settlement_type          = [[Census-designated place]]
 | image_skyline            = Bigfoot Museum Willow Creek.jpg
 | image_caption            = The "Bigfoot Museum" in Willow Creek
 | image_seal               = 
 | image_map                = Humboldt_County_California_Incorporated_and_Unincorporated_areas_Willow_Creek_Highlighted.svg
 | map_caption              = Location in [[Humboldt County, California|Humboldt County]] and the state of [[California]]
 | image_map1               = 
 | map_caption1             = 
 | subdivision_type         = 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             = 
 | leader_name              = 
 | established_date         = 
<!-- Area------------------>
 | area_magnitude           = 
 | unit_pref                = US
 | area_footnotes           = <ref>{{Cite US Gazetteer|2010|places|CA}}</ref>
 | area_total_sq_mi         = 30.610
 | area_land_sq_mi          = 30.310
 | area_water_sq_mi         = 0.300
 | area_total_km2           = 79.281
 | area_land_km2            = 78.504
 | area_water_km2           = 0.777
 | area_water_percent       = 0.98
 | area_note                = 
 | elevation_ft             = 610
 | elevation_m              = 186
 | elevation_footnotes      = <ref name=gnis>{{gnis|1660182}}</ref>
 | population_demonym       = Willow Creeker
 | population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
 | population_footnotes     = <ref name="US Census Bureau 2020 Willow Creek, CA Population">{{cite web |title=Explore Census Data |url=https://data.census.gov/all?q=Willow+Creek+CDP;+California |website=data.census.gov |access-date=6 May 2023}}</ref>
 | population_total         = 1720
 | population_metro         = 
 | population_density_km2   = auto
 | population_density_sq_mi = auto
 | timezone                 = [[Pacific Time Zone|Pacific (PST)]]
 | utc_offset               = &minus;8
 | coordinates              = {{Coord|40|56|22|N|123|37|53|W|region:US-CA_type:city|display=inline,title}}
 | timezone_DST             = PDT
 | utc_offset_DST           = &minus;7
 | postal_code_type         = [[ZIP Code]]
 | postal_code              = 95573
 | area_code                = [[Area code 530|530]]
 | blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
 | blank_info               = 06-85642
 | blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
 | blank1_info              = 1660182
 | footnotes                = {{gnis|1660182}}
 | website                  = 
}}

'''Willow Creek''' (formerly '''China Flat''')<ref name=CGN /> is a [[census-designated place]] (CDP) in [[Humboldt County, California|Humboldt County]], [[California]], United States. The population was 1,710 at the [[2010 United States Census|2010 census]], down from 1,743 at the [[2000 United States Census|2000 census]].  The town is located around {{convert|30|mi|km}} from county seat and harbor city [[Eureka, CA|Eureka]].

Willow Creek sits along the [[Trinity River (California)|Trinity River]]. Willow Creek is described as a "rugged mountain community nestled in the heart of the [[Six Rivers National Forest]]." This area of California is located in the Trinity/Shasta/Cascade Region, near the [[Oregon]] border, and is easily reached via State Routes [[California State Route 299|299]] and [[California State Route 96|96]] (the "Bigfoot Scenic Byway").

The town is approximately {{convert|50|mi}} south of where the [[Patterson-Gimlin film]] was made. Willow Creek calls itself the [[Bigfoot]] capital of the world, has a {{vanchor|Bigfoot Museum}} and holds an annual "Bigfoot Daze" festival in September in honor of the cryptid, followed by various festivities in a local park.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.seecalifornia.com/festivals/big-foot-days-festival.html|title=Big Foot Days Willow Creek California|website=www.seecalifornia.com}}</ref> The roadhead of the Bluff Creek / Fish Lake Road, near which many alleged [[Bigfoot]] sightings and footprint finds occurred, is about {{convert|50|mi}} north, along Route [[California State Route 96|96]].

==History==
The indigenous people from here are part of the [[Tsnungwe]] or South Fork Hupa and are speakers of the Hupa Language.<ref>[https://2075a3e3-b3ae-464a-a7a6-9fbb9755721a.filesusr.com/ugd/089640_47891ce71441427b88e6b0ec214252f1.pdf Tsnungwe Place Names, by Tsnungwe Tribal Elders, 1994]</ref>
Willow Creek's first non-indigenous settlers were Chinese laborers from the mining and lumber camps, which earned the town the name China Flat.<ref name=CGN>{{California's Geographic Names|168}}</ref> The China Flat post office opened in 1878, and changed its name to Willow Creek in 1915.<ref name=CGN />

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the CDP has a total area of {{convert|30.6|sqmi|km2}}, which include {{convert|30.3|sqmi|km2}} of land and {{convert|0.3|sqmi|km2}} of water.

The CDP in 2000, according to the [[United States Census Bureau]], was larger with a total area of {{convert|204.5|sqmi|km2}}, which included {{convert|204.4|sqmi|km2}} of land and {{convert|0.2|sqmi|km2}} of water.

===Climate===
This region experiences much warmer summers than locations near the coast, such as county seat [[Eureka, California#Climate|Eureka]], but retains high winter rainfall associated with coastal locations. Daytime highs in summer represent areas with hot-summer-Mediterranean climates but are moderated by cool nights, causing high [[diurnal temperature variation]]. On climate maps, Willow Creek has a [[Mediterranean climate#Hot-summer Mediterranean climate|hot-summer Mediterranean climate]] (Csa).<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather-summary.php3?s=496940&cityname=Willow+Creek,+California,+United+States+of+America&units=|title=Willow Creek, California Koppen Climate Classification (Weatherbase)|website=Weatherbase}}</ref> Summer highs are extremely hot compared to areas of the county affected by coastal fog. At the same time, winters are considerably colder, with light snowfall not unusual a few times per season.

{{Weather box
|location = Willow Creek, 1981–2010 normals, extremes 1968–present
|single line = Yes

|Jan record high F = 70
|Feb record high F = 76
|Mar record high F = 85
|Apr record high F = 96
|May record high F = 105
|Jun record high F = 112
|Jul record high F = 119
|Aug record high F = 115
|Sep record high F = 108
|Oct record high F = 99
|Nov record high F = 80
|Dec record high F = 65
|year record high F =

|Jan avg record high F = 59.6
|Feb avg record high F = 67.1
|Mar avg record high F = 76.6
|Apr avg record high F = 86.1
|May avg record high F = 93.7
|Jun avg record high F = 100.1
|Jul avg record high F = 105.6
|Aug avg record high F = 105.0
|Sep avg record high F = 99.9
|Oct avg record high F = 86.2
|Nov avg record high F = 69.3
|Dec avg record high F = 58.8
|year avg record high F = 107.8

|Jan high F = 53.5
|Feb high F = 57.0
|Mar high F = 63.0
|Apr high F = 69.9
|May high F = 77.6
|Jun high F = 86.2
|Jul high F = 95.2
|Aug high F = 94.5
|Sep high F = 87.9
|Oct high F = 74.6
|Nov high F = 58.8
|Dec high F = 50.4
|year high F =

|Jan mean F = 44.3
|Feb mean F = 46.3
|Mar mean F = 50.4
|Apr mean F = 55.1
|May mean F = 60.9
|Jun mean F = 67.6
|Jul mean F = 74.0
|Aug mean F = 73.3
|Sep mean F = 67.7
|Oct mean F = 58.5
|Nov mean F = 49.1
|Dec mean F = 43.3
|year mean F =

|Jan low F = 35.0
|Feb low F = 35.5
|Mar low F = 37.8
|Apr low F = 40.3
|May low F = 44.1
|Jun low F = 49.0
|Jul low F = 52.7
|Aug low F = 52.0
|Sep low F = 47.4
|Oct low F = 42.4
|Nov low F = 39.3
|Dec low F = 36.1
|year low F =

|Jan avg record low F = 29.0
|Feb avg record low F = 28.9
|Mar avg record low F = 31.1
|Apr avg record low F = 33.2
|May avg record low F = 37.2
|Jun avg record low F = 41.5
|Jul avg record low F = 46.6
|Aug avg record low F = 46.3
|Sep avg record low F = 42.2
|Oct avg record low F = 34.1
|Nov avg record low F = 31.0
|Dec avg record low F = 28.3
|year avg record low F = 24.6

|Jan record low F = 17
|Feb record low F = 13
|Mar record low F = 22
|Apr record low F = 24
|May record low F = 27
|Jun record low F = 29
|Jul record low F = 34
|Aug record low F = 39
|Sep record low F = 32
|Oct record low F = 22
|Nov record low F = 19
|Dec record low F = 5
|year record low F =

|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation inch = 10.16
|Feb precipitation inch = 7.75
|Mar precipitation inch = 7.02
|Apr precipitation inch = 3.81
|May precipitation inch = 2.50
|Jun precipitation inch = 0.94
|Jul precipitation inch = 0.22
|Aug precipitation inch = 0.31
|Sep precipitation inch = 0.69
|Oct precipitation inch = 2.86
|Nov precipitation inch = 7.46
|Dec precipitation inch = 11.76
|year precipitation inch =

|source 1 = NOAA<ref name = NOAA>
{{cite web
|url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly&stations=USC00049694&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL
|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
|title = U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access – Station: Willow Creek 1NW, CA
|access-date = November 27, 2022
}}
</ref>
|source 2 = National Weather Service (mean maxima/minima 1991&ndash;2020)<ref name = NOWData>
{{cite web
|url = https://www.weather.gov/wrh/climate?wfo=eka
|publisher = National Weather Service
|title = NOAA Online Weather Data – NWS Eureka
|access-date = November 27, 2022
}}
</ref>
}}

==Demographics==
[[File:2022 08 09-09.22.18.255-CDT.jpg|thumb|Downtown Willow Creek in 2022.]]

===2010===
The [[2010 United States Census]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.census.gov/2010census/popmap/ipmtext.php?fl=06:0685642|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140715033937/http://www.census.gov/2010census/popmap/ipmtext.php?fl=06:0685642|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 15, 2014|title=2010 Census Interactive Population Search: CA - Willow Creek CDP|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|access-date=July 12, 2014}}</ref> reported that Willow Creek had a population of 1,710. The population density was {{convert|55.9|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of Willow Creek was 1,375 (80.4%) [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 6 (0.4%) [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 167 (9.8%) [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 14 (0.8%) [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 6 (0.4%) [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 29 (1.7%) from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 113 (6.6%) from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 108 persons (6.3%).

The Census reported that 1,699 people (99.4% of the population) lived in households, 11 (0.6%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 0 (0%) were institutionalized.

There were 812 households, out of which 161 (19.8%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 353 (43.5%) were [[marriage|opposite-sex married couples]] living together, 63 (7.8%) had a female householder with no husband present, 32 (3.9%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 75 (9.2%) [[POSSLQ|unmarried opposite-sex partnerships]], and 7 (0.9%) [[same-sex partnerships|same-sex married couples or partnerships]]; 283 households (34.9%) were made up of individuals, and 94 (11.6%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.09. There were 448 [[family (U.S. Census)|families]] (55.2% of all households); the average family size was 2.65.

The population was spread out, with 287 people (16.8%) under the age of 18, 100 people (5.8%) aged 18 to 24, 366 people (21.4%) aged 25 to 44, 642 people (37.5%) aged 45 to 64, and 315 people (18.4%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 49.5 years. For every 100 females, there were 101.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 102.1 males.

There were 1,108 housing units at an average density of {{convert|36.2|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}, of which 812 were occupied, of which 525 (64.7%) were owner-occupied, and 287 (35.3%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.7%; the rental vacancy rate was 5.2%. 1,087 people (63.6% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 612 people (35.8%) lived in rental housing units.

===2000===
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=2008-01-31|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref> of 2000, there were 1,743 people, 772 households, and 481 families residing in the CDP. The [[population density]] was {{convert|8.5|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people&nbsp;|people|}}. There were 1,099 housing units at an average density of {{convert|5.4|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}. The racial makeup of the CDP was 81.81% [[Race (United States Census)|White]], 0.52% [[Race (United States Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 9.52% [[Race (United States Census)|Native American]], 0.57% [[Race (United States Census)|Asian]], 0.34% [[Race (United States Census)|Pacific Islander]], 1.43% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 5.79% from two or more races. 5.57% of the population were [[Race (United States Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (United States Census)|Latino]] of any race.

There were 772 households, out of which 24.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.9% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 8.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.6% were non-families. Of all households, 31.6% were made up of individuals, and 11.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.26 and the average family size was 2.81.

In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 22.5% under the age of 18, 5.8% from 18 to 24, 21.8% from 25 to 44, 30.1% from 45 to 64, and 19.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45 years. For every 100 females, there were 101.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 104.4 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $27,276, and the median income for a family was $35,720. Males had a median income of $33,375 versus $27,955 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the CDP was $18,664. About 10.3% of families and 14.4% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 19.8% of those under age 18 and 2.3% of those age 65 or over.

==Government==

===Politics===
In the [[California State Legislature|state legislature]], Willow Creek 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, Willow Creek is in {{Representative|cacd|2|fmt=district}}.<ref>{{Cite GovTrack|CA|2|access-date=March 1, 2013}}</ref>

==Media==
Willow Creek was served for many decades by the weekly ''Klamity Kourier'' newspaper, which closed in 2006 and was quickly replaced by the ''Bigfoot Valley News''.<ref>[http://www.harvestmccampbell.com/BigfootValleyNews.html ''Bigfoot Valley News'']</ref> The ''Bigfoot Valley News'' has since closed, but the regional newspaper, ''Two Rivers Tribune'' (www.tworiverstribune.com), opened in 1994 and is still going strong.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Two Rivers Tribune |url=https://www.facebook.com/TwoRiversTribune |website=Facebook}}</ref>{{When|date=April 2024}} Its news coverage area is from [[Burnt Ranch, California|Burnt Ranch]] to [[Happy Camp, CA|Happy Camp]], {{convert|97.5|mi}} <ref>Per Google Maps</ref>{{Better source needed|date=April 2024}} (by Routes 299 and 96) to the north.

==See also==
* {{Portal-inline|California}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{Commons category-inline}}

{{Humboldt County, California}}
{{authority control}}

[[Category:1878 establishments in California]]
[[Category:Bigfoot]]
[[Category:Census-designated places in Humboldt County, California]]
[[Category:Census-designated places in California]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1878]]