Small-town living on California’s misty North Coast
The outdoors take center stage in McKinleyville, a small, seaside community on the Pacific coast of Northern California. Misty beaches, coastal wetlands, winding rivers and redwood forests surround this town of 17,000 residents, making it a prime spot for outdoor adventurers and nature lovers. It sits just north of Humboldt County’s largest cities, Arcata and Eureka, where many people commute to work, and just south of the seaside village of Trinidad, a picturesque vacation destination. “McKinleyville has put a lot of effort into making new trails and new parks,” says Realtor Belia Stephens of Coldwell Banker Sellers Realty, a longtime area resident. “You can walk or bike the Hammond Trail all the way to Arcata without setting foot on a road.”
The city is named after the William McKinley, the country's 25th president. It occupies the northwest edge of Humboldt County, a sprawling region known for its mountainous terrain and towering redwood forests. The area was once a mecca for the logging and timber, but the industry was curtailed in the 1970s to protect the region’s natural habitats. Today, the county’s major employers are California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt, Redwoods Community College, local governments and large retailers like Costco.
Westhaven-Moonstone is surrounded with beauty and magical sunrises a short drive from McKinleyville.
McKinleyville neighborhood, Westhaven-Moonstone, offers many beaches to launch your boat from including Pocket Beach.
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Forests, beaches, trails and massive redwood trees
McKinleyville boasts a wide array of parks, while also within a short drive of sprawling state and national reserves. The city’s largest is McKinleyville Community Forest, a 599-acre tract of forestland where residents can hike, bike and horseback ride through rugged woodlands full of redwoods, Douglas firs and spruce trees. To the west are Pacific beaches where rolling sand dunes and wetlands meet the rocky shoreline. There’s also the Hammond Trail, a popular 5-mile trail that winds from McKinleyville to Arcata. The region experiences foggy, chilly coastal weather, with temperatures rarely dropping below 40 degrees in the winter and occasionally rising above 70 degrees in the summer.
Your dog will love playing frisbee with you in McKinleyville at Carlson Park.
Valley West bikers head up the Pacific Coast through McKinleyville on Hammond Trail.
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Shopping, dining and grocers on Central Avenue
McKinleyville’s shops, restaurants and grocery stores can be found on Central Avenue, which runs north to south through the center of town. “It’s got everything you need in a small-town setting,” Stephens says. There are three grocery stores on Central Avenue, in addition to hardware stores, garden centers, pet supply shops, pharmacies and auto shops.
McKinleyville shopping includes Harbor Freight in Valley West.
Oriental Buffet offers a lot of food on a budget in Valley West near McKinleyville.
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Eclectic suburban homes near the coast
McKinleyville has an array of homes that span styles and generations. Prospective homebuyers will find everything from midcentury ranch styles and split levels to Modern Traditional homes built in the 1980s, 90s and 2000s. The community’s residential streets have a suburban feel with plenty of manicured front yards, one- and two-car garages, narrow sidewalks and quiet cul-de-sacs. The median home price is $499,000, putting it well below the statewide average of $900,000.
Ranch-style homes are the primary dwelling near McKinleyville in the Valley West neighborhood.
McKinleyville ranch-style homes come with character in Valley West.
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Highly rated public schools
The McKinleyville Union Elementary School District earns a B-plus rating from Niche and has two elementary schools and a middle school. Students move on to McKinleyville High, known locally as Mack High. The high school earns a B-plus and features a variety of technical education courses, including an agricultural program, metal shop and carpentry. “It has extensive clubs, extracurricular programs and sports offerings,” Stephens adds. California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt, the only major university in the region, is about 5 miles south of McKinleyville.
McKinleyville Middle School prepare students for their future.
McKinleyville High School is a highly rated school in Humboldt.
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Easy access to the Pacific Coast Highway
State Route 101, also known as the Pacific Coast Highway, runs along the western edge of the McKinleyville. In addition to its scenic views, this regional commuter corridor also connects with cities like Eureka, Arcata and Fortuna. The community is served by the Humboldt Transit Authority’s Redwood Transit System, which operates bus lines that stretch from Trinidad to as far south as Scotia. McKinleyville is just a few miles from the California Redwood Coast-Humboldt County Airport, the region’s only major airport. The nearest medical center is Providence St. Joseph Hospital, which is 14 miles south in Eureka.
Low crime rates
McKinleyville falls under the purview of the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office and does not have its own police force. Humboldt County’s violent and property crime rates are slightly lower than the statewide average and have been steadily falling over the past five years, according to FBI data.
Rich has been a resident of Shasta County since 1976 and has enjoyed all that the North State has to offer from its lakes and rivers to the endless community support for one another. Rich and his wife have raised 3 beautiful children here and look forward to sharing this wonderful area with their growing families. As a home owner and rental property investor, he has a vested interest in the community ensuring it's a safe and nourishing environment not only for the people that live here but for the business's as well. Rich is a full time Realtor with advanced designations as an Accredited Buyers Representative and a certified Pricing Strategist Advisors, all to better serve you and protect your best interests. It's his personal mission to provide you with exceptional personal service that you deserve and should expect through a very important event.
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