Scotia, CA

Set along the banks of the Eel River in southern Humboldt County, Scotia is a quiet town surrounded by towering redwoods. For generations, it was one of the last true company towns in America, built from the ground up by the Pacific Lumber Company. The lumber mill constructed and maintained nearly everything in town, including the rows of redwood Craftsman homes, the school, a hospital, a hotel, and neighborhood churches. In recent years, the houses were sold to individual homeowners, transitioning Scotia into a standard residential community with a distinctive architectural heritage.

ATTRSteve Shook from Moscow, Idaho, USA / CC BY 2.0

Scotia sits right beside Highway 101, just across the river from Rio Dell and a short drive from Fortuna. The neighborhood is tidy and walkable, centered around local spots like the historic Scotia Lodge, the town museum, community parks, and the elementary school. Outdoor recreation is right out the back door, with the Eel River offering great spots for gravel bar swimming and seasonal fishing. It offers a relaxed, small-town pace of life among the redwoods, with easy highway access whenever you need to run errands in neighboring towns.