280 miles north of San Francisco, the City of Eureka remains one of California's best kept secrets. The city is bordered on one side by beautiful and functional Humboldt Bay, and on the other by mountains lush with redwoods which offer a reminder of the area's rich logging heritage. The community's roots since the 1850's were in the timber and commercial fishing industries. Eureka is continuing to successfully transition to a broader economic base, and today enjoys its position as the governmental, commercial, industrial and transportation center of the region. The city's 26,128 residents reside within the 17 square miles of the City limits which also serves as the County seat for Humboldt County. Eureka functions more like a city twice its size due to its regional center status and the fact its service area population is about 50,000. Founded in 1856, and proud of its history, Eureka has emerged to become an incomparable combination of big-city sophistication and small town charm. With all of the amenities, but few of the problems, Eureka offers an excellent quality of life. Housing is very affordable by California standards. The average price of a house in Eureka is $213,500 and the housing stock includes a wealth of attractive Victorian homes. There are good elementary/secondary schools coupled with quality institutions of higher learning - College of the Redwoods and Humboldt State University. A variety of cultural opportunities are available, including active artisan, arts, and theater groups. Outdoor recreation is abundant with activities such as boating, sport fishing, hunting and backpacking all available close by. Among other important attributes Eureka offers are a relaxed way of living with friendly neighbors, traditional values, and an excellent family environment.