Peanut, California
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Peanut, California | |
|---|---|
  Peanut, California  Peanut, California | |
| Coordinates: 40°28′05″N 123°10′07″W / 40.46806°N 123.16861°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | California |
| County | Trinity |
| Elevation | 2,500 ft (762 m) |
| Time zone | UTC−8 (Pacific (PST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−7 (PDT) |
| Area code | 530 |
| GNIS feature ID | 264592[1] |
Peanut is an unincorporated area in Trinity County, California, United States. Previously called Salt Creek,[2][3] it is located on Highway 3, south of Hayfork,[4] at an elevation of 2,500 feet (760 m).[5]
As many as 100 people once lived there.[6] In 2018, KQED reported that there were "just a few old horse barns and a few dozen residents nearby".[3]
Origins of name
Prior to the arrival of settlers, the place that became known as Peanut was inhabited by the Wintu tribe.[7]
In the late 19th century, the area was referred to as Salt Creek.[2][6] It was a stopping point on the trail from nearby Weaverville to the California coast, offering fresh water and a natural spring.[3] With its cool, mountainous climate, the area is inhospitable to growing peanuts.[4]
The town used to be on Highway 36 until the highway was adjusted, straightening and improving the quality of its route – this was done to provide shorter travels between Red Bluff and the coast, and eliminate a detour into Eureka from Fortuna to Route 299.[8]
In 1898, settlers in Salt Creek, which had a general store called Cuff's, decided to apply for a post office.[9] At the time, the nearest post office was in Hayfork, a seven-mile journey by horse.[2] The name "Salt Creek" was deemed unsuitable because of a United States Board on Geographic Names rule which required single-word town names.[7]
According to California Place Names, the petitioners originally considered naming the town after Mrs. Cuff.[9] When they discussed their application with the postmaster at Weaverville, A. L. Paulsen, he suggested the name "Peanut" instead because it was unique; no other post office in the directory had its name.[6][9] The postmaster's own fondness of peanuts is also often cited as the reason for his choice.[6][9][10] According to the memoir of Salt Creek schoolteacher Joe McKnight, Paulsen was eating peanuts when he suggested the name.[2]
The petitioners added Peanut to their application as one of their choices.[9] The United States Post Office Department approved the name Peanut on January 20, 1900.[9]
