History of Mendocino County

• Mendocino County was one of California’s original 27 counties (created in 1850).

• Mendocino County derives its name from Cape Mendocino, which lies outside of its northern boundary. Juan Rodriquez Cabrillo, a famous 16th Century Spanish navigator, named Cape Mendocino in 1542 while voyaging along the Pacific Coast. The name he chose is derived from “Don Antonio de Mendoza,” the first Viceroy of New Spain (Mexico), patron of the voyager.

• Over 70 Native American tribes, including the Yuki, the Pomo, the Cahto, and the Wintun, originally lived in the area. They are now collectively known as the Pomo Nation.

• The Spanish influence in the county was minimal, extending to two land grants, Rancho Sanel in 1844 and Rancho Yokaya in 1845. The first permanent non-Spanish settlers to the region made their homes just north of Big River in April of 1852.

• The Gold Rush of 1849 caused the population of the San Francisco Bay Area to expand dramatically. In turn, there was a need for more housing and a greater demand for lumber and other building supplies.

• When the Baltimore schooner Frolic shipwrecked off the Mendocino Coast in 1850, the explorers onboard discovered Mendocino County’s towering redwood forests, and the redwood lumber industry was born, opening a link between the county and the rest of the world.

• Russsian fur traders who had established themselves on the Mendocino/Sonoma Coast in the early 19th century explored what is now known as the “Russian River,” which rises in the Laughlin Range just south of Willits and runs through the county to cross into Sonoma County at Cloverdale.

The Late and Great Nathaniel Smith

No Mendocino County history lesson would be complete without an account of Nathaniel Smith and his sidekick, Portuguese Frank (aka Francisco Faria). Nathaniel Smith was the first non-Pomo to live in the area known as Cuffey’s Cove.

Known as “Nat,” Smith was a well-known and well-liked man. An extensive account of his life can be found in numerous articles from The Mendocino Beacon. For over half a century, Smith lived on the Mendocino coast, hunting grizzly bear and elk, racing horses, and fishing. Known for his grit and perseverance, he outlived his first two wives and two of his six children. Perhaps most importantly, he managed to leave a mid-19th century slave state and come to California, where he could essentially create his own world as a pioneer of the American West. Smith became a legend on the coast during his own lifetime, and was regarded with genuine affection and awe by all that knew him.

Mendocino County Travel Guide

North Coast of California

San Francisco Bay Area

Northern California Travel Guide