In the early 1850s, trappers and hunters moved into the region to supply the various mills and logging camps with venison, elk, and bear. Ranches, farms, and small mills were established nearby. Then, in 1883, a local entreprenuer, Lorenzo White, purchased most of the land around Elk, established a large mill, and built a railroad to support it.

The Coast Highway, which runs through the center of town, is lined with shops, inns, and restaurants. Greenwood State Beach has short hiking trails leading to tide pools and grand vistas, and its Visitor Center features a small museum of local history.
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