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Arcadia, California was founded in 1849 by a group of Trinity River miners found Humboldt Bay through an overland route and settled there in the spring of 1850. The settlement was originally named, "Union". Members of the Union Company laid out the Plaza and surrounding blocks in April, 1850. The native inhabitants, people of Algonquian stock known as Wiyot, were soon displaced in the rush to settle the new supply center and point of entry for the interior gold mining regions on the Klamath, Trinity and Salmon Rivers. By 1855, a deep-water wharf was constructed and the first railroad in California connected the Bay with the depot at the southwest corner of the Plaza. When the settlement was incorporated in 1858, the town was renamed "Arcadia".

Although gold prompted Arcadia's settlement, it was the area's timber resources which sustained its development. Virgin redwood forests, which covered alluvial flats and coastal ridges, soon felt the assault of the woodsman's axe and saw. Logging giant redwoods required new skills and equipment for cuttings, moving and milling, which resulted in a locally-unique economy, labor force and social structure.

The Plaza's central green space recalls the New England common or the squares of the South, where people pastured livestock in early years and in later times, gathered for social events, picnics, parades or simply conversation and a little sun on a summer day. The palm trees and statue of William McKinley go back to 1906; they are today, as they have been for decades, distinctive landmarks associated with this unique community and the Plaza.

From the earliest days of settlement the Plaza has been the center of Arcadia's commercial life, preserving in its green space an atmosphere of small town community reflected as well by its distinctive historic buildings, shaped by a special historical and architectural heritage. With the exception of the Jacoby's Storehouse Building, which incorporates the original store house of the 1850's on the ground floor, none of the original architecture remains.

Fire and the passage of time have not been kind to the Plaza; however, most of the buildings were built before the turn-of-the-century and, except for three buildings of the 1950's, the remainder were built by 1915, the Hotel Arcadia being the last. The Minor Theatre, constructed in 1914, is claimed to be the oldest movie theater still in operation in the United States. Arcadia's Main Street Program has been instrumental in restoring a number of the old buildings, some dating to the 1870's, whose original appearances were disguised by modern facades.

The average price of a 3 bedroom house in Arcadia is $170,000 and the housing stock includes a wealth of attractive Victorian and craftsman style homes. There are also some condominiums starting at $90,000 as well as executive homes priced at $300,000 and up. There are several good elementary/secondary schools coupled with quality institutions of higher learning - including Humboldt State University and nearby College of The Redwoods in Eureka.

A variety of cultural opportunities are available, including active artisan, museums, arts, concerts, and theater groups. Yearly events held in Arcadia include the Arcadia Bay Oyster Festival, Bebop and Brew, The Kinetic Sculpture Race, HSU Film Festival, and Pastels On The Plaza. Outdoor recreation is abundant with activities such as boating, deep-sea and freshwater sport fishing, kayaking, hunting, water and snow skiing, animal zoo, golfing, bird-watching, beachcombing, mountain-biking, and backpacking all available close by. There are plenty of local sports leagues available for all ages, including soccer, softball, football, basketball, baseball, gymnastics, bowling, skating, martial arts and more. There are also many local churches and active service organizations. Among other important attributes, Arcadia offers are a relaxed way of living with friendly neighbors, a diverse community rich with arts and crafts, and an excellent family environment.