Weitchpec ( ;
Karuk
The Karuk people ()Andrew Garrett, Susan Gehr, Erik Hans Maier, Line Mikkelsen, Crystal Richardson, and Clare Sandy. (November 2, 2021) ''Karuk; To appear in The Languages and Linguistics of Indigenous North America: A Comprehensive Guide (De G ...
: ''Ansáfriik'';
Yurok
The Yurok people are an Algic-speaking Indigenous people of California that has existed along the or "Health-kick-wer-roy" (now known as the Klamath River) and on the Pacific coast, from Trinidad south of the Klamath’s mouth almost to Cresc ...
: ''Wechpues'', ''Wech'') is an
unincorporated village and
CDP within the Yurok reservation in
Humboldt County,
California
California () is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States that lies on the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. It borders Oregon to the north, Nevada and Arizona to the east, and shares Mexico–United States border, an ...
,
United States
The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...
.
It is located northeast of
Eureka,
at an elevation of 361 feet (110 m).
The
ZIP Code is 95546.
Weitchpec is located in the northwestern part of the state at the confluence of the
Klamath and
Trinity Rivers, and the junction of State Highways
96 and
169.
History
Weitchpec is an ancestral Yurok village that long predates European contact. It was originally known as Weitspus, and was considered a major settlement of the Yurok people. Temporary Euro-American names for the settlement in the 19th century were Durkee's Ferry and Weitchpec Bar.
Durkee's Ferry recalls Clark W. Durkee, who operated a ferry at the place in 1851.
In 1855, a temporary Federal post called Camp Strowbridge was established at Weitchpec, it was later called Fort Wool. The settlement was first within the bounds of
Trinity County, then in 1851
Klamath County and after 1874, Humboldt County. A post office operated at Weitchpec from 1858 to 1860 and from 1891 to 1962.
Today Weitchpec features a small store/gas station owned by the tribe (formerly Pierson's Grocery); the Yurok Tribal Office and Community Center; and Weitchpec Elementary School. As of 2010, evening classes were available in Weitchpec in the
Yurok language
Yurok (also Chillula, Mita, Pekwan, Rikwa, Sugon, Weitspek, Weitspekan) is an Algic language. It is the traditional language of the Yurok people of Del Norte County and Humboldt County on the far north coast of California, most of whom now ...
.
2012 earthquake
A 5.6 earthquake with an epicenter near Weitchpec occurred on February 13, 2012.
Demographics
Weitchpec first appeared as a
census designated place
A census-designated place (CDP) is a Place (United States Census Bureau), concentration of population defined by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes only.
CDPs have been used in each decennial census since 1980 as the counte ...
in the
2020 U.S. Census.
2020 Census
See also
*
References
Unincorporated communities in Humboldt County, California
Yurok villages
Former Native American populated places in California
Klamath River
Settlements formerly in Klamath County, California
Unincorporated communities in California
{{HumboldtCountyCA-geo-stub