# Leggett, California

Leggett (formerly Leggett Valley) is a census-designated place in Mendocino County, California, United States. It is located on the South Fork of the Eel River, 21 miles (34 km) by road northwest of Laytonville, at an elevation of 984 ft (300 m). It is home to some of the largest trees in the world. The nearby Smithe Redwoods State Natural Reserve and Standish-Hickey State Recreation Area are noted for their forests of coastal redwoods. The population of Leggett was 77 at the 2020 census, down from 122 at the 2010 census.
The community is served by California's State Route 1, whose northern terminus with U.S. Route 101 is just outside the center of town.
The town of Leggett includes a single gas station, United States Post Office, 1-12 school, a small grocery store, restaurant, full-service mechanic (ask a local), fire station and the Drive-Thru Tree.
The Leggett post office was dedicated in 1969.

## Geography

Leggett is in northwestern Mendocino County, in the valley of the South Fork Eel River. U.S. Route 101 leads north from Leggett 22 miles (35 km) to Garberville and 90 miles (140 km) to Eureka, while to the south it leads 67 miles (108 km) to Ukiah, the Mendocino county seat. California State Route 1 has its northern terminus at US 101 in Leggett and leads southwest 27 miles (43 km) to Westport on the Pacific Ocean.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the Leggett CDP covers an area of 2.7 square miles (7.0 km$^2$), all of it land.
South Leggett is an unincorporated community along U.S. Route 101, 1 mile (1.6 km) south-southeast of Leggett, at an elevation of 1,112 feet (339 m).

## Climate

The region experiences warm (but not hot) and dry summers, with no average monthly temperatures above 71.6 °F (22.0 °C) and cool, very wet winters receiving abundant rainfall, due to its location in the coastal ranges and proximity to the ocean, allowing the collection of heavy amounts of moisture. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Leggett has a warm-summer Mediterranean climate, abbreviated "Csb" on climate maps.
Climate data for Legett, California, 39°51′57″N 123°42′51″W﻿ / ﻿39.8658°N 123.7142°W﻿ / 39.8658; -123.7142, Elevation: 896 ft (273 m) :
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 53.1 (11.7) | 56.2 (13.4) | 59.1 (15.1) | 62.6 (17.0) | 69.1 (20.6) | 75.8 (24.3) | 83.3 (28.5) | 83.5 (28.6) | 82.0 (27.8) | 70.8 (21.6) | 59.6 (15.3) | 51.9 (11.1) | 67.3 (19.6) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 45.0 (7.2) | 46.7 (8.2) | 48.9 (9.4) | 51.4 (10.8) | 56.7 (13.7) | 62.1 (16.7) | 67.4 (19.7) | 67.3 (19.6) | 65.1 (18.4) | 56.9 (13.8) | 49.5 (9.7) | 44.2 (6.8) | 55.1 (12.8) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 37.0 (2.8) | 37.3 (2.9) | 38.6 (3.7) | 40.2 (4.6) | 44.3 (6.8) | 48.4 (9.1) | 51.5 (10.8) | 51.1 (10.6) | 48.3 (9.1) | 43.1 (6.2) | 39.5 (4.2) | 36.4 (2.4) | 43.0 (6.1) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 12.77 (324) | 10.00 (254) | 8.82 (224) | 4.69 (119) | 2.09 (53) | 0.84 (21) | 0.07 (1.8) | 0.12 (3.0) | 0.62 (16) | 3.62 (92) | 8.54 (217) | 12.46 (316) | 64.64 (1,640.8) |
| Source: PRISM (spatially interpolated, 1991-2020 normals) ||||||||||||||

## Demographics

The 2010 United States Census reported that Leggett had a population of 122. The population density was 45.1 inhabitants per square mile (17.4/km$^2$). The racial makeup of Leggett was 101 (82.8%) White, 0 (0.0%) African American, 3 (2.5%) Native American, 0 (0.0%) Asian, 0 (0.0%) Pacific Islander, 0 (0.0%) from other races, and 18 (14.8%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4 persons (3.3%).
The Census reported that 122 people (100% of the population) lived in households, 0 (0%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 0 (0%) were institutionalized.
There were 55 households, out of which 18 (32.7%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 10 (18.2%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 9 (16.4%) had a female householder with no husband present, 3 (5.5%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 8 (14.5%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 0 (0%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 28 households (50.9%) were made up of individuals, and 10 (18.2%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.22. There were 22 families (40.0% of all households); the average family size was 3.64.
The population was spread out, with 29 people (23.8%) under the age of 18, 19 people (15.6%) aged 18 to 24, 29 people (23.8%) aged 25 to 44, 33 people (27.0%) aged 45 to 64, and 12 people (9.8%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33.0 years. For every 100 females, there were 106.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.9 males.
There were 78 housing units at an average density of 28.8 per square mile (11.1/km$^2$), of which 23 (41.8%) were owner-occupied, and 32 (58.2%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 0%; the rental vacancy rate was 0%. 59 people (48.4% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 63 people (51.6%) lived in rental housing units.

## Transportation

The Amtrak Thruway 7 bus provides daily connections to/from Leggett (with a curbside stop at 69501 Highway 101 North), Martinez to the south, and Arcata to the north. Additional Amtrak connections are available from Martinez station.

## Politics

In the state legislature, Leggett is in the 2nd Senate District, represented by Democrat Mike McGuire, and the 2nd Assembly District, represented by Democrat Chris Rogers.
Federally, Leggett is in California's 2nd congressional district, represented by Democrat Jared Huffman.