Arcata is a small city adjacent to the Arcata Bay (northern) portion of
Humboldt Bay in
Humboldt County,
California,
United States. In 2006 Arcata's population was estimated to be 17,294.
[1] This
college town is home to
Humboldt State University.
Arcata is notably progressive in its political makeup, and was the first city in the United States to elect a majority of its city council members from the Green Party, however it is currently made up of a Democratic majority. As a result of the progressive majority, Arcata capped the number of chain restaurants allowed in the city.[2] Arcata was the first city in the nation to pass a resolution in the spirit of nullifying the USA PATRIOT Act in the city.[3] The legality of the resolution has not yet been tested. Arcata was also the first municipality to ban the growth of any type of Genetically Modified Organism within city limits, with exceptions for research and educational purposes.[4]
Arcata is located at 40°52'22?N 124°4'58?W? / ?40.87278°N 124.08278°W? / 40.87278; -124.08278 (40.8728, -124.0828)[5]. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 11.0&_160;square miles (28.6&_160;km²), of which, 9.2&_160;square miles (23.8&_160;km²) of it is land and 1.9&_160;square miles (4.8&_160;km²) of it (16.76%) is water.
There are several neighborhoods, or geophysical areas, that are within Arcata, including Aldergrove, Alliance, Bayside, the "Bottoms", California Heights, Greenview, Northtown, South G Street, Sunny Brae, Valley West, Westwood, and others.
