Yreka, a close-knit community, began as a Gold Rush boomtown in 1851
Yreka, a Northern California city of about 8,000, got its start when a mule train packer discovered gold nearby in March 1851. Just a few months later, tents, shanties and cabins with eager miners formed a “boomtown.” The legacy of Yreka’s Gold Rush era lives on in its historic Old Town district, and many residents are actively involved in the town. “We have a good sense of community. We have a lot of active churches and community organizations that put on events for the kids, so it’s a nice place to live,” says Amy Fernandez, a Realtor with Cornerstone Properties who grew up in the town and came back after college. “I don’t know everyone, but when I go to the store, I recognize somebody every time I go.”
A wide range of single-family, mobile and manufactured homes in Yreka
Wide streets, many with sidewalks, make up the residential areas of Yreka, and most homes come with driveways, garages or both. A wide range of housing styles comprises the housing market, including original Arts and Crafts-era homes built between 1900 and 1920, minimal traditional cottages and ranch-style homes from the 1930s through the 1980s as well as more recent constructions from the 1990s and 2000s. Homes in Yreka generally range from $90,000 to $450,000 in price — depending on their condition and lot size — and many come on a fourth to a third of an acre of land. The Oak Ridge Mobile Estates and Oakridge Retirement Estates include manufactured and mobile homes from the 1970s through the 2010s, and the latter is restricted to those 55 and up. These homes range from $20,000 to $90,000, with monthly lot rental rates around $60.
Local restaurants and Old Town Yreka are accessible from Main Street
Many of Yreka’s restaurants are located along Main Street, sometimes referred to as California state Route 263, which runs parallel to Interstate 5. Staples like Jefferson’s Roadhouse, a family-owned restaurant that serves burgers and offers live music, are located along the road. Mine Street branches off the road and leads through Old Town Yreka. “It looks like Main Street USA,” Fernandez says. “There’s a butcher shop and little boutiques.” Colorful, adorned storefronts reference Yreka’s vibrant past, and most are home to contemporary businesses like Strings Italian Cafe, a cozy Italian eatery. Main Street also runs past Yreka’s grocery stores — Grocery Outlet serves the north end of town, while Raley’s and Walmart Supercenter sit to the south.
Community green spaces in Yreka and various trails in Greenhorn Park
Community green spaces are scattered throughout Yreka. The city’s namesake park includes a playground, tennis courts, a baseball diamond and a set of skate ramps. Discovery Park takes on a triangular shape — outlined by deciduous and coniferous trees — containing another playground and a picnic area. On the outskirts of town, hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding trails carve through Greenhorn Reservoir. “It has a cute little lake and all kinds of walking and hiking trails, as well as a play area for the kids,” Fernandez says. A lush forest that changes colors with the seasons surrounds the park’s scenic reservoir, and walking paths take parkgoers past structures and machinery left from the Gold Rush.
The Annual Siskiyou Golden Fair in Yreka
The Siskiyou Golden Fair takes place every summer in southern Yreka. Ticketed events include rodeo shootouts, destruction derbies and live music concerts, while other live performances, exotic animals and farm animal auctions can be enjoyed for free. Petting zoos, bumper cars and amusement rides keep younger children entertained.
Dual enrollment and career technical education at Yreka High School
Children in Yreka may begin their educational journeys at Delphic Elementary School, which serves about 65 students across grades K-8 and scores a B grade from Niche. Afterward, they may move forward to Yreka High School, earning a B-plus grade. Almost 60% of Yreka High graduates complete one of its career technical education programs, which include building and construction trades, hospitality, tourism and recreation as well as health science and medical technology, among others. Dual enrollment courses are offered through Klamath Community College, Southern Oregon University and the College of the Siskiyous, costing between $25 and $50 per course.
Interstate 5 leads to cities like Medford, Redding and Sacramento
Interstate 5 traverses the community from north to south, connecting it to other cities along the West Coast. The highway crosses the Oregon-California border to the north, continuing toward Medford, which is about 51 miles away. It also travels south to Redding — roughly 100 miles away — and Sacramento, which is approximately 258 miles away. California state Route 3 crosses the interstate and leads east to the community of Montague.
All five routes of the Siskiyou Transit and General Express bus system stop in Yreka. The Rogue Valley International-Medford Airport, about 54 miles from Yreka, provides 11 direct flights to cities across the West.
Environmental Factors
Yreka is at an increased risk of wildfire, and local fire districts organize prescribed burns to eliminate dead fuel and mitigate the risk. Homes along Yreka Creek are at a heightened risk of flooding as well. According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the entire region is at a moderate risk of earthquakes.
