Samoa

Samoa is a small settlement situated on a narrow peninsula between Humboldt Bay and the Pacific Ocean in California. The area features coastal dunes and beaches along this thin strip of land that separates the bay from open water.

The area was established as a dairy operation in 1865 and originally bore the name of its founder. A name change occurred in the 1890s, coinciding with the rise of logging as the region's main industry.

The Samoa Cookhouse reflects how workers gathered for meals during the logging era, with communal dining at long tables that brought people together. Today visitors experience this tradition firsthand, seeing how meals shaped the social life of the settlement.

The settlement is small and easily explored on foot, with access to beaches and coastal trails. The best season to visit is from May through September when conditions are dry and mild.

A sawmill built in 1892 became the industrial center of the settlement and grew to substantial size under later ownership. Remnants of this facility and related structures still dot the landscape, telling the story of the region's logging boom.

Location: Humboldt County

Elevation above the sea: 7 m

GPS coordinates: 40.81861,-124.18639

Latest update: December 10, 2025 15:52