Ukiah, California

Ukiah (Template:IPAc-en Template:Respell; Pomo: Yokáya, meaning "deep valley" or "south valley")<ref name="CGN">Template:California's Geographic Names</ref><ref name="OAC"/> is the county seat and largest city of Mendocino County, in the North Coast region of California. Ukiah had a population of 16,607<ref name="Census 2020"/> at the 2020 census. With its accessible location along the U.S. Route 101 corridor, Ukiah serves as the city center for Mendocino County and much of neighboring Lake County.

History

File:Yokayo-People-at-Ukiah-California-1916.JPG

Yokayo band of Pomo people in Ukiah, 1916

The region has been inhabited by the Pomo for thousands of years.<ref>Lake County - History of Pomo Indians</ref> The modern area of Ukiah derives its name from the Pomo village (band) of Yokáya, meaning "deep valley" or "south valley".<ref name="OAC">Online Archive of California - The ethno-geography of the Pomo and neighboring Indians</ref><ref>JSTOR - The Yokayo Rancheria</ref><ref>Pinoleville Pomo Nation - Our History</ref>

Russian Era

Russian American company led by commander Ross visited Ukiah and the Russian River in 1750, during their exploration of the Alaskan Northwest and Hawaii. Eventually Point Cabrillo was visited and named by the Spanish explorers, although Cabrillo only lived in San Diego and never visited the point. The land was inhabited by Pomo natives who lived as hunter gatherers until the time. Some Chinese explorers visited as well during the early times of Chinatown San Francisco and the building of the railroad lines.

Mexican era

File:Cayetano Juarez.png

Cayetano Juárez was granted Rancho Yokaya by Governor Pío Pico in 1845.

Ukiah is located within Rancho Yokaya, one of several Spanish colonial land grants in what their colonists called Alta California. The Yokaya grant, which covered the majority of the Ukiah valley, was named for the Pomo word meaning "deep valley."Template:Cn The Pomo are the indigenous people who occupied the area at the time of Spanish colonization.

Later European-American settlers adopted "Ukiah" as an anglicized version of this name for the city.<ref>Alfred L. Kroeber, "California Place Names of Indian Origin," Template:Webarchive University of California Publications in American Archaeology and Ethnology, vol. 12, no. 2 (1916), pp. 31-69.</ref>

Cayetano Juárez was granted Ukiah by Alta California. He was known to have a neutral relationship with the local Pomo people. He sold a southern portion of the grant (toward present-day Hopland) to the Burke brothers. The first Anglo settler in the Ukiah area was John Parker, a vaquero who worked for pioneer cattleman James Black.<ref name="Palmer475">Lyman Palmer, History of Mendocino County, California, Comprising Its Geography, Geology, Topography, Climatography, Springs and Timber. San Francisco, CA: Alley, Bowen and Co., 1880; pg. 475.</ref> Black had driven his stock up the Russian River valley and took over a block of grazing land at that locale. A crude blockhouse was constructed for Parker so he could have shelter to protect the herd from the hostile indigenous local people, who resented the squatters on their land.<ref name=Palmer475 /> The blockhouse was located just south of present-day Ukiah on the banks of what was known as Wilson Creek.<ref name=Palmer475 /> Following the U.S. Conquest of California, the region passed from Mexican to American sovereignty.

Early American era

In 1865, Samuel Lowry built a log cabin approximately on the corner of today's East Perkins and North Main streets.<ref name=Palmer475 /> Lowery sold his claim to A.T. Perkins in the spring of 1857, and the latter moved his family into the valley. They were the first Anglo-American pioneer family of the township.<ref name=Palmer475 /> Six others followed to make their home there that same year.<ref name=Palmer475 /> The first United States post office opened in 1858.<ref name=CGN /> By 1859, the population of Ukiah had grown to about 100 people, making it a community sufficient in size to serve as the county seat. Before this, administrative duties for Mendocino County had been handled by Sonoma County.<ref name="Palmer476">Palmer, History of Mendocino County, California, pg. 476.</ref>

Initially visitors could reach town only by stagecoach, or private horses. A short rail line from San Francisco terminated in Petaluma, nearly Template:Convert to the south. In 1870 the remainder of the trip to Ukiah took another two days by horse.<ref name="Purdy">Carl Purdy, "Ukiah, 1870-1890: Interesting Reminiscences; Progress Made; Products of Our Valley," Dispatch-Democrat [Ukiah City], vol. 21, no. 15 (January 10, 1890), pg. 2.</ref> In subsequent years the rail line was extended further northward to Cloverdale. Although the stagecoach portion was reduced to Template:Convert, the community was still relatively isolated and slow to develop.<ref name=Purdy />

Ukiah was incorporated in 1876.<ref name=CGN /> It was not until 1889 that the San Francisco and North Pacific Railroad completed its line from Cloverdale to Ukiah, linking the Mendocino County seat to the national rail network.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

Ukiah has been the hub of an agricultural and business community. Over the decades various commodity crops have been grown in the Ukiah Valley. They include pears, green beans, hops, apricots, and grapes. As part of California's Wine Country, grapes have become the predominant agricultural product.

Hops were once a major crop grown around Ukiah. The beer flavoring agent was first grown there in 1868 when L.F. Long of Largo grew an initial experimental crop.<ref name=Purdy /> The climate proved suitable for the crop and production expanded, peaking in 1885. It declined in the last years of the 1880s as prices dropped.<ref name=Purdy /> Mendocino County remained the third-largest producer of hops in the state of California in 1890, with well over Template:Convert under cultivation.<ref>"Hops," Dispatch-Democrat [Ukiah City], vol. 21, no. 20 (February 14, 1890), pg. 1.</ref> Production continued well into the 20th century. A refurbished hop kiln can be seen at the north end of Ukiah east of Highway 101, where many of the old fields were located.

20th century

Ukiah's 20th-century population developed in relation to the lumber boom of the late 1940s. Logging of redwoods was once a major industry. Activists have worked to preserve areas of redwood forest, which became endangered due to overlogging. Template:Citation needed Young people entered the area from the 1960s, seeking alternative lifestyles and, in some cases, artisan and rural living.

Geography

Ukiah is in southeastern Mendocino County in the valley of the Russian River, a south-flowing river which reaches the Pacific in Sonoma County. Via U.S. Route 101, Ukiah is Template:Convert north of Santa Rosa and Template:Convert south of Eureka. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city covers an area of Template:Convert, of which Template:Convert, or 0.93%, are water.<ref name="CenPopGazetteer2021"/>

Climate

Ukiah has a hot-summer Mediterranean climate (Köppen: Csa). Average rainfall for the area is Template:Convert per year. Measurable precipitation occurs on an average of 77.1 days per year. The greatest monthly precipitation was Template:Convert in January 1909 and the greatest 24-hour precipitation was Template:Convert on December 22, 1964. The wettest "rain year" was from July 1997 to June 1998 with Template:Convert and the driest from July 1976 to June 1977 with Template:Convert. Light snowfall occurs about every other year. The greatest recorded snowfall was Template:Convert on March 2, 1976, while the most in a month was Template:Convert in March 1896 and January 1952. Temperatures reach Template:Convert on an average of 61.0 afternoons annually and Template:Convert on an average of 8.7 afternoons. Due to frequent low humidity, summer temperatures normally drop into the fifties at night. Freezing temperatures occur on an average 33.6 mornings per year. The record high temperature was Template:Convert on September 6, 2022, and July 6, 2024. The record low temperature was Template:Convert on January 12, 1898.<ref name=NOWData></ref>

Demographics

Race and Ethnicity

Racial and ethnic composition	2000<ref name=datacensus2000p2>Template:Cite web</ref>	2010<ref name=datacensus2010p2>Template:Cite web</ref>	2020<ref name=datacensus2020p2>Template:Cite web</ref>
White (non-Hispanic)	72.4%	62.87%	54.04%
Hispanic or Latino (of any race)	19.31%	27.73%	32.78%
Two or more races (non-Hispanic)	2.57%	2.84%	5.56%
Asian (non-Hispanic)	1.64%	2.46%	3.0%
Native American (non-Hispanic)	3.03%	2.75%	2.9%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic)	0.89%	0.98%	1.04%
Other (non-Hispanic)	0.06%	0.19%	0.54%
Pacific Islander (non-Hispanic)	0.09%	0.16%	0.16%

2020

The 2020 United States census reported that Ukiah had a population of 16,607. The population density was Template:Convert. The racial makeup of Ukiah was 58.8% White, 1.1% African American, 4.2% Native American, 3.1% Asian, 0.2% Pacific Islander, 18.1% from other races, and 14.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 32.8% of the population.<ref name=DP1>Template:Cite web</ref>

The census reported that 96.2% of the population lived in households, 1.7% lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 2.1% were institutionalized.<ref name=DP1/>

There were 6,584 households, out of which 30.9% included children under the age of 18, 34.9% were married-couple households, 8.2% were cohabiting couple households, 36.0% had a female householder with no partner present, and 20.9% had a male householder with no partner present. 35.5% of households were one person, and 18.2% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.43.<ref name=DP1/> There were 3,753 families (57.0% of all households).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The age distribution was 23.2% under the age of 18, 8.2% aged 18 to 24, 27.4% aged 25 to 44, 22.6% aged 45 to 64, and 18.7% who were 65Template:Nbspyears of age or older. The median age was 38.2Template:Nbspyears. For every 100 females, there were 93.2 males.<ref name=DP1/>

There were 6,952 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert, of which 6,584 (94.7%) were occupied. Of these, 42.7% were owner-occupied, and 57.3% were occupied by renters.<ref name=DP1/>

2023 estimates

In 2023, the US Census Bureau estimated that 13.3% of the population were foreign-born. Of all people aged 5 or older, 73.9% spoke only English at home, 21.9% spoke Spanish, 1.3% spoke other Indo-European languages, 2.9% spoke Asian or Pacific Islander languages, and 0.0% spoke other languages. Of those aged 25 or older, 84.4% were high school graduates and 22.9% had a bachelor's degree.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The median household income was $67,122, and the per capita income was $36,541. About 10.7% of families and 16.3% of the population were below the poverty line.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Economy

Template:Further Major employers in Ukiah include:<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

• Mendocino County
• Ukiah Valley Medical Center
• Walmart
• Granite Construction
• The Home Depot
• Lucky
• Federal Express

Major products

Template:More citations needed section Ukiah is known for wine production. Some very large production wineries, including Brutocao, Fife, Parducci, Frey, and Bonterra, have become established here since the late 20th century.

Ukiah was previously a major producer of pears. Alex R. Thomas & Company owned hundreds of acres of Bartlett pear orchards on the east side of the Ukiah Valley. For nearly 90 years, many local residents and migrant workers have been employed packing the pears for domestic and foreign consumption. On December 1, 2008, the company announced it would be shutting down major operations at the end of the year due to bankruptcy.<ref name=":0">Template:Cite news</ref> Several acres of orchard have been torn down and replaced with vineyards since the packing shed closed its doors. As of 2011, the main facility was slated to reopen as a composting and trash-sorting facility.<ref name=":0" />

Arts and culture

File:The Sun House.jpg

Grace Hudson's Sun House, designed by Grace and John Hudson Template:Circa in the Craftsman style

Institutions of the arts include:

• SPACE - School of Performing Arts and Cultural Education
• Ukiah Players Theatre
• The Mendocino Ballet
• Ukiah Civic Light Opera
• Grace Hudson Museum
• Ukiah Symphony Orchestra
• Ukiah Community Concert Association
• The Spring House

Recreation

• Alex R. Thomas Plaza
• Gardner Park
• Giorno Park
• Great Redwood Trail<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
• Low Gap Park
• McGarvey Park
• Oak Manor Park
• Observatory Park
• Orchard Park
• Riverside Park
• Todd Grove Park
• Ukiah Skate Park
• Ukiah Sports Complex
• Vinewood Park

Government

File:Mendocino County Main Library-Exterior.jpg

Mendocino County Main Library

Ukiah uses a council–manager form of government in which policy is set by a five-member city council, elected at-large to four-year terms. The council appoints both the mayor and the city manager.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

• Mayor until December 2025 - Douglas Crane <ref name=cc/> (appointed by council based on seniority for a one-year term)
• City council:
  • Susan Sher, Vice Mayor<ref name=cc/>
  • Juan Orozco, Council Member<ref name=cc/>
  • Heather Criss, Council Member<ref name=cc/>
  • Mari Rodin, Council Member<ref name=cc/>
• City Manager - Sage Sangiacomo<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• City Treasurer - Allen Carter<ref name=cc/>
• City Clerk - Kristine Lawler<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> (appointed)
• City Attorney - David Rapport<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In the California State Legislature, Ukiah is in Template:Representative,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and Template:Representative.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In the United States House of Representatives, Ukiah is in Template:Representative.<ref>Template:Cite GovTrack</ref>

The tribal headquarters of both the Pinoleville Pomo Nation and the Potter Valley Tribe are in Ukiah.<ref>California Tribes and Organizations, 500 Nations, retrieved August 3, 2009</ref>

Transportation

The Amtrak Thruway 7 bus provides daily connections to/from Ukiah (with a curbside stop at 397 North Orchard Avenue) and Martinez to the south, to/from Arcata to the north. Additional Amtrak connections are available from Martinez station.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Education

File:Ukiah High School.jpg

Ukiah High School sign

Ukiah Unified School District

• Ukiah High School
• Calpella Elementary School
• Eagle Peak Middle School (Redwood Valley)
• Nokomis Elementary School
• Oak Manor Elementary School
• Pomolita Middle School
• South Valley High School
• Yokayo Elementary School
• Frank Zeek Elementary School
• Tree of Life Montessori Charter School
• Grace Hudson Elementary School
• River Oak Charter School
• Ukiah Independent Study Academy
• Calpella Preschool
• Preschool Village
• Small Wonders State Preschool
• Yokayo State Preschool
• Ukiah Adult School

Other K–12 schools

• Sequoia Career Academy
• Redwood Collegiate Academy
• Deep Valley Christian School
• Ukiah Junior Academy
• Instilling Goodness / Developing Virtue School
• St. Mary of the Angels Catholic School

Former K–12 schools

• Trinity School for Children (closed as of July 31, 2009)<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Colleges

• Mendocino College
• Dharma Realm Buddhist University

Notable people

• AFI lead vocalist Davey Havok, guitarist Jade Puget, drummer Adam Carson, and tour managers Jake MacLachlan and Smith Puget were all raised in Ukiah,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> as were original-lineup guitarist Mark Stopholese and bassist Vic Chalker.
• Phoebe Bridgers, three-time Grammy-nominated singer, spent part of her childhood in Ukiah.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Ed Burke, U.S. Olympic hammer thrower<ref>Edward Burke, SR/Olympic Athletes, 2013</ref>
• Aurelius O. Carpenter, photographer
• Melissa Chaty, beauty queen, Miss California in 2008<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
• McKenna Faith, singer-songwriter<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
• Shiloh Fernandez, actor, born and raised in Ukiah<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
• Robben Ford, blues guitarist, raised in Ukiah<ref name="Russell1997">Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Vintage Guitar magazine interview, April 29, 2001</ref>
• Casey Frey, social media comedian and dancer, born and raised in Ukiah
• Sally Miller Gearhart, feminist and lesbian author and activist, died in Ukiah<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Grace Hudson, museum founder, collector of Pomo artifacts, commercial portrait photographer<ref name="Boynton1978">Template:Cite book</ref> The Grace Hudson Museum in Ukiah is named for her and houses her collections.<ref>Our Story Template:Webarchive, Grace Hudson Museum, 2013</ref>
• Leonard Lake, serial killer, lived near Ukiah in the early 1980s<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
• Mary McNair Mathews (1834–1903), Nevada historian, died in Ukiah<ref name="Watson2011">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="Glotfelty2008">Template:Cite book</ref>
• Darrell McClure, cartoonist of Little Annie Rooney and illustrator, born in Ukiah to painter Ethel Jameson Docker<ref>Darrel McClure Biography, Ask Art, 2013</ref>
• Don Mossi, Major League Baseball pitcher for several teams
• Holly Near, singer-songwriter, born in Ukiah
• Nick 13, lead singer of Tiger Army, raised in Ukiah<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Hal Perry, professional basketball player and civil-rights lawyer, raised in Ukiah<ref name="USFOB">Harold Leonard Perry Sr., Inside Bay Area from May 3–4, 2009, accessed October 10, 2013</ref>
• Bay Raitt, animator and video game designer known for developing Gollum's facial modeling in the Lord of the Rings films and various other works<ref name="CartoonBrew">Template:Cite web</ref>
• Aaron Rodgers, National Football League quarterback, spent four years of his childhood in Ukiah<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Carl Sassenrath, architect of operating systems and computer languages, created the Amiga computer operating system in 1985, later worked at Apple, subsequently moved to and runs his own company at his Ukiah ranch<ref>Jeudy, Sébastien, Interview with Carl Sassenrath, Obligement, May 2007, accessed October 10, 2013</ref>
• William Harrison Standley, Chief of Naval Operations and later U.S. Ambassador to the Soviet Union, born in Ukiah
• Gary Scott Thompson, television and film screenwriter and producer, graduated from Ukiah High School in 1977<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Rick Warren, pastor, author and Ukiah High School graduate<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="Mair2005">Template:Cite book</ref>

In popular culture

• "Ukiah" is the name and subject of a song on the 1973 Doobie Brothers album The Captain and Me.
• "Ukiah" is the name and subject of the fifth song from Robert Francis' album Heaven.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• Ukiah is featured prominently in C.D. Payne's novel Youth in Revolt.
• Ukiah is one of six original locations of an International Latitude Observatory.
• Competing in the men's Division III club level bracket, the Mendocino Steam Donkeys Rugby Football Club rugby union team, based in the Ukiah area, are the first official NCRFU team in the county.
• Ukiah was the initial home in California of Peoples Temple.
• Ukiah's newspaper is the Ukiah Daily Journal.
• Ukiah was named in the 1987 Dragnet film as being where Frank Smith, Joe Friday's partner, moved to after quitting the force and buying a goat farm.

See also

• Pomo people
• First Baptist Church (Ukiah, California)

Further reading

• Aurelius O. Carpenter and Percy H. Millberry, History of Mendocino and Lake Counties, California: With Biographical Sketches of the Leading Men and Women of the Counties Who Have Been Identified with their Growth and Development from the Early Days to the Present. Los Angeles, CA: Historic Record Co., 1914.
• Lyman Palmer, History of Mendocino County, California, Comprising Its Geography, Geology, Topography, Climatography, Springs and Timber. San Francisco, CA: Alley, Bowen and Co., 1880.

External links

• Template:Official website