"[3] The original Redwoods Community College District was formed in 1964 by a vote of the people of Humboldt County.

[7][8] Beginning with the passage of Proposition 13 by California in 1978, College of the Redwoods and most public institutions in the state have suffered declining revenue.

Measure Q Bond Funds were also used to acquire the Garberville Site in Southern Humboldt County.

[3] College of the Redwoods (CR) has satellite branch campuses; CR Del Norte in Crescent City, Del Norte County[10] and the Klamath-Trinity Instructional Site[11] on the Hoopa Valley Tribe reservation.

It also runs classes at the College of the Redwoods' Certified Organic Farm in Shively, California.