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) is a small city adjacent to the Arcata Bay (northern) portion of Humboldt Bay in Humboldt County, California, United States. In 2006 Arcata's population was estimated to be 17,294. This college town is home to Humboldt State University.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 11.0 square miles (28.6 km²), of which, 9.2 square miles (23.8 km²) of it is land and 1.9 square miles (4.8 km²) of it (16.76%) is water.
There are several neighborhoods, or geophysical areas, that are within Arcata, including Aldergrove, Alliance, Bayside, the "Bottoms", California Heights, Greenview, Northtown, South G Street, Sunny Brae, Valley West, Westwood, and others.