Fortuna (Spanish for "Fortune"; Wiyot: Vutsuwitk Da'l)[6] is a city on the northeast shore of the Eel River, approximately 9 miles (14 km) from where it enters the Pacific Ocean, and is on U.S. Route 101 in west-central Humboldt County, California, United States.

The mill's owners were Henry Rohner (namesake of neighboring Rohnerville), Alexander Masson, M. N. Weber and G. F. Gushaw.

[7][8] In 1884 the residents petitioned the state legislature for the name Fortuna, Spanish for "fortune" and Latin for "chance," and by July 3, 1888, the change was official.

[7][9] The name was chosen when settlers saw the proximity of the forests, the river and its valley, and the Pacific Ocean, as ideal for enjoying a good quality of life, and felt "fortunate" to live there.

[9] It is believed that a local minister and real estate agent, desiring to sell lots to newcomers, devised the name as a marketing tool.

[12] Fortuna became the rail hub for smaller communities like Alton, Fernbridge, Ferndale, Hydesville, Newburg, Port Kenyon, Rohnerville, and Waddington.

Fortuna was the location of one of two secondary mills of the storied Pacific Lumber Company, headquartered ten miles (16 km) south in Scotia.

"[13] According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 4.8 square miles (12 km2), all of it land.

Fortuna is located 7 miles (11 km) from the Pacific coast on the bank of the Eel River.

The 33-mile (53 km) Avenue of the Giants offers views of the area's redwoods, and carries visitors through a number of groves.

Stops include Founders Grove, the Visitor Center near Weott and several locations that provide trail access.

The area sees summers that are not as foggy as Eureka and Arcata to the north, and run a few degrees warmer.

Fortuna has a warm-summer Mediterranean climate (Köppen: Csb) typical of the North Coast that is characterized by warm (but not hot), dry summers, and mild to chilly, rainy winters.

There were 4,991 housing units at an average density of 1,030.1 per square mile (397.7/km2), of which 4,688 were occupied, 2,747 (58.6%) by the owners and 1,941 (41.4%) by renters.

[21] Federally, Fortuna is in California's 2nd congressional district, represented by Democrat Jared Huffman.

[22] The city has a large number of events and festivals, including the Daffodil Festival, Art & Wine in the Park, the Annual Fortuna Rodeo, the Redwood AutoXpo, the Logging Competition, Civil War Days, and Apple Harvest, the Hops in Humboldt festival, the Fortuna Concert Series and holiday events including concerts and parades with performances by Scotia Band Brass Choir and Saxophone Quartet.