Population88,122 (2025 est.)
Pacific Headlands and Valleys Beyond the Redwoods
Mendocino County, CaliforniaMendocino County spans a stretch of California’s North Coast and inland valleys, with Ukiah serving as the county seat. The village of Mendocino and its surrounding headlands offer one coastal starting point, while redwood forests and wine-growing areas add other settings. These places are connected by the county map but differ considerably in character. Explore the coast or an inland community first, then build a route that allows time for the landscape between them.
Mendocino County at a Glance
Population88,122 (2025 est.)
County SeatUkiah
Largest cityUkiah
Established1850
ZIP CodesSee postal resources
Total Area, Including Water3,878 sq mi (total)
Major RoutesSee transportation resources
Area CodesVaries by community
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Discover Mendocino County
Mendocino County
Mendocino County was established in 1850 as one of California's original counties, although it did not organize a separate county government until 1859. Before that, Sonoma County administered its affairs. Its name comes from Cape Mendocino, a reminder that place names and present county boundaries do not always align. Along the coast, the Mendocino Headlands and historic Ford House provide a setting for exploring community and landscape together, while Ukiah anchors county government inland.
Mendocino Headlands State Park places coastal scenery beside the village, and the historic Ford House adds interpretation to that setting. Ukiah offers an inland starting point for county services and valley exploration. Fort Bragg, redwood areas and wine-growing communities give the county additional local identities. Choose the part of the county that interests you most, then use the responsible park or community resources to connect nearby places without underestimating the travel between coast and interior.
What Shapes Us
Coastal Headlands
Mendocino Headlands State Park connects the village with its surrounding coastal landscape, while the historic Ford House offers a place to learn about the area.
An Inland Center
Ukiah's role as county seat gives the inland valley a civic focus, providing another perspective on a county often introduced through its Pacific coastline.
Forest and Valley
Redwood forests and wine-growing areas broaden the county's landscape beyond the coast, creating several distinct settings for understanding its communities and the land around them.
Explore the distance between ocean edges and inland valleys.
A Closer Look
Mendocino County
Places and perspectives from Mendocino County
Mendocino County headlines via Google News
Minor mag. 0.7 earthquake - Mendocino County, 29 mi north of Santa Rosa, Sonoma County, California, United States, on Monday, Nov 2, 2026, at 06:38 am (GMT -8) - Volcano Discovery
Minor mag. 0.7 earthquake - Mendocino County, 29 mi north of Santa Rosa, Sonoma County, California, United States,…
Read the Story Nov 2, 2026 • 2 min read
Around Mendocino County
Stories from every corner of Mendocino County.
Minor mag. 0.7 earthquake - Mendocino County, 29 mi north of Santa Rosa, Sonoma County, California, United States, on Monday, Nov 2, 2026, at 06:38 am (GMT -8) - Volcano Discovery
Minor mag. 0.7 earthquake - Mendocino County, 29 mi north of Santa Rosa, Sonoma County, California, United States,…
Nov 2, 2026 • 2 min read
Minor mag. 1.8 earthquake - 15 mi north of Ukiah, Mendocino County, California, United States, on Monday, Nov 2, 2026, at 01:35 am (Universal Time) - Volcano Discovery
Minor mag. 1.8 earthquake - 15 mi north of Ukiah, Mendocino County, California, United States, on Monday, Nov…
Nov 2, 2026 • 2 min read
McNear: Women’s right to vote provoked heated debate in Mendocino County - Local News Matters
McNear: Women’s right to vote provoked heated debate in Mendocino County Local News Matters
Nov 1, 2026 • 2 min read
California is about to overhaul the way it runs K-12 schools. Will it fix a fragmented system? - NewsBreak: Local News & Alerts
California is about to overhaul the way it runs K-12 schools. Will it fix a fragmented system? NewsBreak: Local…
Nov 1, 2026 • 2 min read
Update: Cooley Fire in Mendocino County containment now reaches 100% - Sacramento Bee
Update: Cooley Fire in Mendocino County containment now reaches 100% Sacramento Bee
Nov 1, 2026 • 2 min read
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County Resources
Find the Right Local Connection
Start with the organization responsible for the service you need. Follow its official link for current requirements, office locations and availability.
Government
Start with the county’s public information and department directory for local contacts and service information.
Schools
Public school contacts
Selected local schools from the NCES 2024-2025 directory. Contact the school or district to confirm enrollment, attendance boundaries and current services; this is not a complete school list.
Anderson Valley Elementary – Elementary; grades KG-06. 12300 Anderson Valley Way, Boonville, CA 95415. 707-895-3010.
Arena Elementary – Elementary; grades KG-08. 20 School St., Point Arena, CA 95468. 707-882-2131.
Eel River Charter – Elementary; grades KG-06. 76350 Main St., Covelo, CA 95428. 707-983-6946.
Dana Gray Elementary – Elementary; grades 03-05. 1197 East Chestnut St., Fort Bragg, CA 95437. 707-961-2865.
La Vida Charter – Other; grades KG-12. 16201 North Highway 101, Willits, CA 95490. 707-459-6344.
Laytonville Elementary – Elementary; grades KG-08. 150 Ramsey Rd., Laytonville, CA 95454. 707-984-6123.
Leggett Valley Elementary – Elementary; grades KG-08. 1 School Way, Leggett, CA 95585. 707-925-6285.
Hospitals
Local hospital contacts
Facility contacts from the CMS Hospital General Information directory, updated July 22, 2026. Contact the facility directly to confirm current services and appointment arrangements.
Adventist Health Mendocino Coast – Critical Access Hospitals. 700 River Drive, Fort Bragg, CA 95437. 707-961-1234.
Adventist Health Ukiah Valley – Acute Care Hospitals. 275 Hospital Drive, Ukiah, CA 95482. 707-462-3111.
Adventist Health Howard Memorial – Critical Access Hospitals. 1 Marcela Dr, Willits, CA 95490. 707-456-3031.
Public Safety
Start with the county’s public information and department directory for local contacts and service information.
Emergency Services
Start with the county’s public information and department directory for local contacts and service information.
Parks & Public Lands
Start with the county’s public information and department directory for local contacts and service information.
Trails
Start with the county’s public information and department directory for local contacts and service information.
Utilities
Start with the county’s public information and department directory for local contacts and service information.
Libraries
Local library contacts
Locations and public phone numbers are from the IMLS FY2024 Public Libraries Survey. Call the branch to confirm current hours and services before visiting.
Ukiah Branch Library – 105 N. Main St., Ukiah, CA 95482. 707-463-4490.
Round Valley Public Library – 23925 Howard Street, Covelo, CA 95428. 707-983-6736.
Fort Bragg Branch Library – 499 Laurel St., Ft Bragg, CA 95437. 707-964-2020.
Laytonville Branch – 44960 N. Hwy 101, Suite D, Laytonville, CA 95454. 707-234-6390.
Coast Community Library – 225 Main St., Point Arena, CA 95468. 707-882-3114.
Willits Branch Library – 390 E. Commercial St., Willits, CA 95490. 707-459-5908.
Courts
Start with the county’s public information and department directory for local contacts and service information.
DMV
California — Locations & Hours
California — Renew Registration
Transportation
Start with the county’s public information and department directory for local contacts and service information.
Postal Services
USPS location finder — Search by street address, city or ZIP Code for nearby post offices, collection boxes and available services.
USPS ZIP Code lookup — Find the mailing ZIP Code for a specific street address.
USPS Hold Mail — Arrange a temporary mail hold and review identity-verification requirements.
USPS change of address and forwarding — Review forwarding options and submit an address-change request through USPS.
USPS package pickup — Check pickup availability for your address and schedule eligible shipments.
Veterans
National services available to local residents
VA accredited representatives — Find help with VA claims and benefit applications.
VA health care applications — Review application options and supporting information.
VA disability claims — Find the official steps for submitting a disability claim.
GI Bill and education benefits — Review how to apply for VA education benefits.
Veteran career and employment support — Explore VA employment, training and career assistance.
Employment
National services available to local residents
USAJOBS federal employment — Search federal openings by location and occupation.
Apprenticeship Finder — Search apprenticeship opportunities by location and occupation.
My Next Move career exploration — Explore occupations, industries and career interests.
Government job-training resources — Find routes to state training programs and support for different job seekers.
Unemployment benefit guidance — Find your state program and its application and eligibility information.
Get to Know Mendocino County
Useful answers for residents, visitors and anyone planning their next step.
Local Questions
Mendocino County Questions, Answered
Explore practical details about the county and the organizations that serve it.
88,122 (July 1, 2025 Census estimate). This is a dated Census Bureau estimate, rather than a live resident count.
3,878.154 square miles, including water (2020 Census geography). The total combines land and water area.
No. Ukiah is the county seat and lies inland. The village of Mendocino is a separate coastal destination. Mendocino County background.
The historic Ford House provides interpretation in the Mendocino Headlands setting. California State Parks identifies the house and offers visitor information for the surrounding park. Mendocino Headlands State Park.
Start with these official California resources: Renew DL/ID; Locations & Hours; Renew Registration. Choose the page for the service you need, then check its office or online instructions before making a trip. These links cover state services; they do not establish that every transaction is available at a county office.
Use USPS ZIP Code Lookup for the mailing ZIP Code of a specific street address. Use the USPS location finder to search for nearby postal facilities and available services. An address lookup is more useful for mailing than assuming the entire county shares one ZIP Code.
The VA explains how to find and appoint an accredited representative for benefit claims. Contact a representative to confirm availability before appointing them. For education benefits, use the GI Bill application guidance. These are national VA services available to eligible local residents, rather than a listing of county offices.
Search USAJOBS for federal positions and the Apprenticeship Finder for apprenticeship opportunities, using location filters to narrow the results. USAGov job-training guidance points to training programs and state resources. Check each listing for current availability, eligibility and application instructions; a search result does not guarantee an opening in the county.
Mendocino County was established in 1850 as one of California's original counties, although it did not organize a separate county government until 1859. Before that, Sonoma County administered its affairs. Its name comes from Cape Mendocino, a reminder that place names and present county boundaries do not always align. Along the coast, the Mendocino Headlands and historic Ford House provide a setting for exploring community and landscape together, while Ukiah anchors county government inland.
Mendocino Headlands State Park places coastal scenery beside the village, and the historic Ford House adds interpretation to that setting. Ukiah offers an inland starting point for county services and valley exploration. Fort Bragg, redwood areas and wine-growing communities give the county additional local identities. Choose the part of the county that interests you most, then use the responsible park or community resources to connect nearby places without underestimating the travel between coast and interior.
The 2020 Census geography figures record 3,506.824 square miles of land and 371.330 square miles of water in Mendocino County. The county’s total area includes both. These are geographic measurements for that Census vintage, not a measurement of current water levels or public recreation access.
Shop - Dine - Discover
Meet Local Businesses
Support the businesses that help make our communities thrive. From family-owned shops and restaurants to trusted local services, discover businesses worth visiting throughout the county.
My Local Guide
Local Businesses
Businesses Serving Mendocino CountyExplore the businesses listed for this county.
Businesses serving Mendocino County
Additional county facts: county overview and references.
Connect with local businesses.Mendocino County