Scotia is a census-designated place in Humboldt County, California. It is located on the Eel River along U.S. Route 101, 8.5 miles south-east of Fortuna and 244 miles north of San Francisco. Scotia has a population of 850.Scotia is a company town founded by the Pacific Lumber Company, formerly known as Forestville until 1888, to house workers for the lumber industry. The town was entirely owned by PALCO until 2008, following the corporation's declaration of bankruptcy. While it is home to hundreds of past or present lumber mill employees and their dependents, a process is underway to divide the homes into lots for sale.