Arcata, California

About Arcata

Arcata, CA is a close-knit town located in northwestern California with an estimated population of 18,748.

Officially, Arcata is an incorporated city with its own municipal government. The community covers 9.42 square miles, giving it a balanced suburban layout with room to breathe at roughly 1,990 residents per square mile.

📰 Arcata News Today

• Jaimen Foster Obituary The Press Democrat · Aug 13
• September is Coastal Cleanup Month Northcoast Environmental Center · Aug 7
• Arcata Air Quality Index (AQI) and USA Air Pollution IQAir · Jun 23
• Roberta Davis Obituary Jul 29, 2026 Legacy obituary · Aug 14
• Lorna June Denman Obituary - Arcata, CA (1947-2026) - Times-Standard Times-Standard · Jun 30

Live headlines via Google News — updates through the day.

What Makes Arcata Unique

• The only place in America named Arcata — a truly one-of-a-kind name among 32,000+ US communities.
• Positioned in northwestern California, convenient to the region's corridors and crossings.
• Part of the fabric of California — one of 1,618 recognized communities statewide.

Why People Love It Here

• The sweet spot: real amenities without big-city congestion.
• Local businesses and schools anchored by a stable resident base of 18,748.
• Well connected: 3+ neighboring communities within 5 miles.

🍽️ Where to Eat in Arcata

• Arcata Pizza & Deli — american
• Cafe Brio — coffee shop
• Cafe Phoenix — farm-to-table (café)
• Campground Steakhouse — steak house
• Dutch Bros. Coffee — coffee shop (café)
• El Chipotle — mexican
• Jitter Bean Coffee Co. (café)
• Mia Bella Cupcakes — dessert
• Northtown Coffee — coffee shop (café)
• Oriental Buffet — chinese

Local spots mapped by the OpenStreetMap community.

🎡 Fun Things to Do

• Arcata Artisans · Art gallery
• Natural History Museum · Museum
• Arcata Marsh Interpretive Center · Museum
• Moon Cycles · Art gallery
• Phillips House Museum · Museum

Attractions mapped by the OpenStreetMap community.

🏞️ Parks & Outdoors in Arcata

• Arcata Community Forest · Nature reserve reviews ★
• Bloomfield Park reviews ★
• Arcata Community Forest - Sunny Brae Tract · Nature reserve reviews ★
• Arcata Community Park & Sports Complex reviews ★
• Arcata Marsh and Wildlife Sanctuary · Nature reserve reviews ★
• Arcata Plaza reviews ★
• Cahill Park reviews ★
• Chevret-Vaissade Park reviews ★
• D Street Linear Park reviews ★
• Ennes Park reviews ★
• Greenview Park reviews ★
• Janes Creek Meadows Park reviews ★

Parks mapped by the OpenStreetMap community · "reviews" opens each park's live Google reviews.

🏫 Schools in Arcata

• Arcata Elementary
• Arcata High
• Coastal Grove Charter
• Fuente Nueva Charter
• Jacoby Creek
• Laurel Tree Charter
• Northcoast Preparatory and Performing Arts Academy
• Pacific Coast High (Continuation)
• Pacific Union Elementary
• Six Rivers Charter High
• Sunny Brae Middle
• Trillium Charter
• Union Street Charter

Public schools, U.S. Dept. of Education (NCES) 2023–24 directory.

🏥 Hospitals & Healthcare

• Mad River Community Hospital ★ (1/5 CMS rating) · 24/7 ER

Medicare-registered hospitals with official CMS star ratings.

⚡ Quick Facts

🗺️ Map of Arcata

🏘️ Nearby Communities