Northtown Books

Northtown Books has been the intellectual center of Humboldt County since 1968, anchoring the Arcata town plaza with a collection that reflects the fiercely independent spirit of this remote Northern California community. Surrounded by some of the last old-growth redwood forests on Earth, the store naturally features one of the finest ecology and environmental science sections in the state, with titles on forest ecology, watershed restoration, and climate science that draw Cal Poly Humboldt students and faculty as well as the many environmental activists who call this region home. The progressive politics section runs deep, reflecting Arcata's reputation as one of the most politically engaged small towns in America. Cannabis culture is addressed with the same seriousness as any other subject, acknowledging the plant's enormous impact on the region's economy and culture. The literary fiction section is curated with care, and the store's events draw authors who make the considerable journey to Arcata because they know the audience will be among the most engaged they will encounter anywhere.