Fortuna, CA

Fortuna is a Humboldt County city on the northeastern shore of the Eel River. The settlement was first called Slide, after Slide Hill, before becoming Fortuna, a name that better fits its later booster spirit. The surrounding Eel River valley has long supported agriculture, including vegetables, berries, and dairy country, while the city serves as a practical local hub south of Eureka. Fortuna feels like a northern California river town: damp, green, independent, and connected to both redwood country and working farms.