Chapter 1

Crescent City is located in northern California, approximately 20 miles from the California and Oregon border. It is a very small place, only 1.6  square miles, but has a lot to offer. It is located in the region known as the North Pacific Coast. It is home to the site of the Redwood National Park Headquarters, as well as, Pelican Bay State Prison.

(Source: http://pics2.city-data.com/city/maps/fr6974.png)

 

 

 (source: http://www.allamericanpatriots.com/files/images/2008-04-redwood-trees.jpg photo by Marc Soller)

 

 

 

With a population slightly over 7,500, Crescent City is considered a nonmetropolitan area even though within the last 10 years there has been significant growth. This growth is contributed to the need of employees at the prison as well as expansion of businesses in the city.

 

Battery Point Lighthouse(Source: http://www.wunderground.com/data/wximagenew/s/sunnyana/164.jpg)

 

 

Many of the residents utilize the beautiful surrounds in the area not only for pleasure, but also as a way of making a living. The initial draw that people had to the area was appetite to find gold. Once the desire for gold played its course, many fell into the industries of agriculture and lumbering. Being situated on the Pacific Ocean not only provides the people access to a great food source, but it has also brought on major disaster. A tsunamis hit the city on March 27, 1964 causing major damage. This tsunamis did not stop people from living in the beautiful area, and they still every now and then are evacuated due to tsunamis warnings. This does not occur often enough to deter people from living there though.

 1964 Tsunamis (source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8pitAGlz5x0)

Majority of the residents are middle class caucasians and roughly 35% of residents are below the poverty line. The cultural background is very unique and has added to the distinct character of the town. The Yurok tribe and the Tolowa tribe were living off the land in the area for many years before the white settlers came and to this day they still live in the area. With many Native Americans living in or within the areas surrounding Crescent city, their ways of life have rubbed off on the others and has created a unique culture.

(Source: http://www.quehubo.info/erika/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/OR_CA-6.jpg)