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Ukiah, CA

Frequently asked questions

Ukiah, CA

Ukiah (Yokaya, meaning "deep valley") is the county seat and largest city of Mendocino County, California, with a population of 16,607 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.

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." 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.

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. 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. The blockhouse was located just south of present-day Ukiah on the banks of what was known as Wilson Creek.

The next Anglo settler was Samuel Lowry; in 1856 he built a log cabin approximately on the corner of today's East Perkins and North Main streets. 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. Six others followed to make their home there that same year. The first United States post office opened in 1858. 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.

Ukiah is in southeastern Mendocino County in the valley of the Russian River, a south-flowing river that reaches the Pacific in Sonoma County. Via U.S. Route 101, Ukiah is 60 miles (97 km) north of Santa Rosa and 158 miles (254 km) south of Eureka. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city covers an area of 4.8 square miles (12 km2), of which 0.05 square miles (0.13 km2), or 0.93%, are water.

Ukiah emphasizes health and wellness. Explore the parks, facilities, and programs the Ukiah Recreation and Community Services Department offers. These spaces provide opportunities for outdoor activities such as walking, jogging, sports, and picnicking. Join local fitness centers and gyms to participate in exercise programs, fitness classes, and strength training. Some popular options include Anytime Fitness, Ukiah Valley Athletic Club, and Crossfit FireFly. Discover the walking and biking trails in and around Ukiah, such as the Great Redwood Trail and the Upper City View Trail. These trails offer opportunities for outdoor exercise and enjoyment of nature.

The top sites in Ukiah, CA are Grace Hudson Museum & Sun House, Todd Grove Park, and Low Gap Park.

ZIP Code: 95482. Area code: 707. Population (2020): 16,607. Elevation: 633 ft (193 m). Area: 4.83 sq mi (12.5 km2).

FAQs

What is the history of Ukiah, CA?

Ukiah Valley was first settled by the Pomo Indians, and its name is a corruption of the Pomo word “yokoyo,” which means “deep valley.” The area’s first non-Indian settlers were A.T. Perkins and family, who arrived in April 1857 and purchased 160 acres of land and a log cabin from Samuel Lowry. While Mendocino County was formed in 1850 along with the state of California, it did not have its own county seat, Ukiah, until 1859. By 1860 the town was surveyed, mapped, and finally incorporated in 1876.

Is Ukiah, CA a good place to live?

Living in Ukiah offers residents a dense suburban feel and most residents own their homes. In Ukiah, there are a lot of restaurants, coffee shops, and parks. Many families and young professionals live in Ukiah and residents tend to be liberal. The public schools in Ukiah are above average.

Is Ukiah, CA safe?

The crime rate in Ukiah is considerably higher than the national average across all communities in America from the largest to the smallest, although at 23 crimes per one thousand residents, it is not among the communities with the very highest crime rate. The chance of becoming a victim of either violent or property crime in Ukiah is 1 in 44. Based on FBI crime data, Ukiah is not one of the safest communities in America. Relative to California, Ukiah has a crime rate that is higher than 66% of the state's cities and towns of all sizes.

Sources

Wikipedia

City of Ukiah

Ukiah Recreation and Community Services Department 

Anytime Fitness

Ukiah Valley Athletic Club 

Crossfit FireFly

The Great Redwood Trail

Upper City View Trail

Grace Hudson Museum & Sun House

Todd Grove Park

Low Gap Park

Achp.gov

Niche

Neighborhoodscout

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