Arcata, California
Arcata is a commonly referred to as a "hippie college town" in the Northern County. It is home to Humboldt State University a California State University that has nearly 8000 students. The average population in Arcata is 15,000 so it more than half college students. This accounts for some but not all of it's extremely progressive and leftist residents.
Arcata is also famous for its central gathering spot the Arcata Plaza. Many annual festivals like the Oyster Festival, The North Country Fair, the 4th of July Celebrations and the Kinetic Sculpture Race are held on the plaza. It's weekly farmer's market is also widely considered the best in the county with it's array of produce vendors, music and beautiful crowds.
Arcata has many other attractions in and around the town - many of which the locals prefer to keep private. In addition to natural attractions like the Mad River Park and the Redwood Community Forest it is considered to have one of the best disc golf courses in the nation, the Redwood Curtain. There is also a community ran skate park on Sunset Avenue. With the presense of HSU and a liberal population there are progressive clubs like Humboldt State's Center for Appropriate Technology or CCAT, the Humboldt Electrical Vehicle Association, closeby Manila based Friends of the Dunes, the NorthCoast Environmental Center and more.
