Little River, CA

Little River is a small census-designated place in Mendocino County, California, United States. The 2020 census counted 94 residents. Little River lies at an elevation of 66 feet, 3 miles south of Mendocino and running along the Pacific Ocean coast on State Route 1. The town takes its name from the nearby Little River. Little River is home to several boutique inns and bed & breakfasts, making it a popular tourist stop along the Pacific Coast. The Little River area has two state parks, much ocean access and diverse recreational opportunities including ocean kayaking, hiking, and canoeing. In Little River, history and present-day settings sit close enough to belong to the same local picture.

ATTRMissvain / CC BY 4.0

The map tells the story in Little River, where earlier chapters remain visible in current streets, buildings, and gathering places. The town center sits on a scenic bluff overlooking the mouth of the Little River and hosts a grocery store, two gas pumps, a post office, and a restaurant within a single structure. Little River was first settled by three Beall men. They are thought to have arrived between 1852 and 1856 and are listed on the 1860 Mendocino County census, Big River township: Lloyd, Samuel, and Harvey.