Chico, California
Encyclopedia
Chico is the most populous city in Butte County
, California, United States. The population was 86,187 at the 2010 census, up from 59,954 at the time of the 2000 census. The city is a cultural, economic, and educational center of the northern Sacramento Valley
and home to both Chico State University
and Bidwell Park
, one of the country's 25 largest municipal parks and the 13th largest municipally-owned park.
Other cities in close proximity to the Chico Metropolitan Area (population 212,000) include Paradise
and Oroville
, while local towns and villages (unincorporated areas) include Durham
, Cohasset
, Dayton
, Hamilton City
, Nord
, and Forest Ranch
. The Chico Metropolitan Area is the 14th largest
metropolitan statistical area in California.
The official city nickname is "City of Roses", according to the Seal of the City of Chico, California
. Chico has been designated a Tree City USA
for 27 years by the Arbor Day Foundation.
The original inhabitants of the area now known as Chico were the Mechoopda
Maidu
Native Americans.
The City of Chico was founded in 1860 by John Bidwell
, a member of one of the first wagon trains to reach California in 1843. During the American Civil War
, Camp Bidwell
(named for John Bidwell, by then a Brigadier General
of the California Militia), was established a mile outside Chico, by Lt. Col. A. E. Hooker with a company of cavalry and two of infantry, on August 26, 1863. By early 1865 it was being referred to as Camp Chico when a post called Camp Bidwell was established in northwest California, later to be Fort Bidwell. The city became incorporated January 8, 1872.
Chico was home to a significant Chinese American community when it was first incorporated, but arsonists burned Chico's Chinatown in February 1886, driving Chinese Americans out of town.
Historian W.H. "Old Hutch" Hutchinson identified five events as the most seminal in Chico history. They included the arrival of John Bidwell
in 1850, the arrival of the California and Oregon Railroad in 1870, the establishment of the Northern Branch of the State Normal School
in 1887, the purchase of the Sierra Lumber Company by the Diamond Match Company
in 1900, and the development of the Army Air Base, which is now the Chico Municipal Airport
.
Several other significant events have unfolded in Chico more recently. These include the construction and relocation of Highway 99E through town in the early 1960s, Playboy Magazine naming Chico State
the number-one party school
in the nation in 1987, and the establishment of a "Green Line" on the western city limits as protection of agricultural lands.
, one of the richest agricultural areas in the world. The Sierra Nevada mountains lie to the East, with Chico's city limits venturing several miles into the foothills. To the west, the Sacramento River
lies five miles (8 km) from the city limit.
floor close to the foothills of the Cascade range
and the Sierra Nevada range with Big Chico Creek
being the demarcation line between the Cascade range (to the north) and the Sierra Nevada range (to the south). The city terrain is on the whole very flat with increasingly hilly terrain beginning at the eastern city limits.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 27.8 square miles (72 km²), of which 27.7 square miles (71.7 km²) of it is land and 0.04% is water.
The city is bisected by Bidwell Park
, which runs five miles (8 km) from the city center to the crest of the Sierra Nevada range.
The city is also traversed by two creeks and a flood channel, which feeds the Sacramento River
. They are named Big Chico Creek
, Little Chico Creek, and Lindo Channel (also known as Sandy Gulch, locally).
and Little Chico Creek. The downtown has a street grid offset 49.75° from the four cardinal directions. There are numbered streets and avenues, which generally run ENE-WSW. Blocks are usually addressed in hundreds corresponding to the numbered streets and avenues. While the ENE-WSW streets and avenues are numbered, Streets running NNW-SSE are generally named after trees. The part of the 'tree' streets that intersect the CSUC
campus spell the word "CHICO" at Chestnut, Hazel, Ivy, Cherry, and Orange Streets.
The main thoroughfare running NW-SE through the city is Business 99
, known as Main Street/Broadway (these are one way, SE and NW, respectively, in downtown Chico), Park Avenue, The Esplanade and the Midway. The city streets are designated as "East" or "West" by their relation to this street.
There are numbered streets and avenues both of which flow east-west. This fact can cause some confusion. The "Streets" are situated south of the Chico State campus through downtown, while the "Avenues" are situated north of the Chico State campus through The Esplanade. There are no left turns permitted onto any odd numbered avenue from The Esplanade, in either direction, with the exception of West 11th Ave.
In the numbered streets and avenues and most other streets that intersect The Esplanade, Main, and Park, the west addresses are all numbers whose last two digits are 00 through 49 and the east addresses are all numbers whose last two digits are 50 through 99. There are very few exceptions.
On most Chico streets odd addresses are on the south side of the street.
Standing at the bridge over the Big Chico Creek
—where Main Street changes to The Esplanade— and facing north, the odd addresses are on the left (Bidwell Mansion is 525 The Esplanade). This convention holds for all the numbered avenues. However, while facing south the odd addresses are still on the left (i.e., the convention has switched). This convention holds throughout the numbered streets.
and Little Chico Creek between Wall Street and Salem Street. The Downtown Chico Business Association represents the interests of the downtown to the community. Main Street and Broadway are the two main thoroughfares bisecting the downtown. Ringel Park is the triangular shaped area immediately north of downtown. The Chico City Plaza is the central point of downtown, between Fourth and Fifth Streets. The area of West Ninth Street where Main Street and Oroville Avenue converge is known as The Junction, the southernmost part of the downtown. "The Junction," as the confluence of Humboldt Road and the old Shasta Stage Road (now Main Street and The Esplanade) got its name in the early 1860s when John Bidwell and partners established a company that created a stage line between Chico and Susanville, ultimately leading to Ruby City, Idaho, and the rich gold strikes there. This is the place where Humboldt Road began; it is now called Humboldt Avenue until it reaches the Highway 99 freeway, then regains the Humboldt Road name on the eastern side as it continues into the foothills. "The Junction" was for some years a business district unto itself, providing goods and services to people arriving at and departing from the stage depot.
South Campus – The South Campus neighborhood is the area bounded by West Second Street, Salem Street, West Ninth Street and the western city limits (which is called "The Green Line"). Historically, this area was the first residential area established in the city. Currently, it is the most densely populated area of the city. The South Campus Neighborhood Association represents the interests of the neighborhood to the community. South Campus is a dynamic residential neighborhood consisting overwhelmingly of young renters under thirty-five, and specifically Chico State
students. The intersection of Fifth and Ivy streets is a neighborhood commercial core sometimes referred to locally as "Five and I." There are many fraternity and sorority houses in the area, and the city has designated a "Fraternity/Sorority Overlay Zone", largely contiguous with the neighborhood. South Campus is home of Craig Hall and Depot Park.
Barber – The Barber neighborhood is a working class residential neighborhood generally south of Little Chico Creek and west of Park avenue. The Barber Neighborhood Association represents the interests of the neighborhood to the community. This neighborhood was originally built to house the employees of the adjacent Diamond Match Factory. The neighborhood was named after Ohio Columbus Barber, president of the Diamond Match Company. Today, the Diamond Match property is designated for a future development called Barber Yard.
Chapmantown – This is a working-class residential neighborhood entirely surrounded by area inside the city of Chico, but which itself is not a part of the city. Rather, it is under the jurisdiction of the County of Butte.
Chapmantown is currently known as the area bounded by Little Chico Creek, Boucher Street, Guill Street and East Sixteenth Street. The neighborhood south of East Twentieth Street to the east of Fair street is also referred to as Chapmantown. Historically, Chapmantown referred to everything east of Mulberry street, but that is no longer the case. Due to not being within city limits, there are no sidewalks, sewers, or any other city services. However, there are also none of the regulations associated with the municipality either (prohibition on chicken coops, burn permits, etc.) The neighborhood is home to The Dorothy F. Johnson Neighborhood Center, a facility of the Chico Area Recreation District. The neighborhood is named after Augustus Chapman.
The Avenues – A relatively new name that refers to the area north of Big Chico Creek historically known as Chico Vecino. This area includes the numbered avenues that intersect The Esplanade. This residential neighborhood is adjacent to the northern boundary of Chico State campus and is south of Lindo Channel. The neighborhood also is home to Enloe Medical Center.
Mansion Park is the high end residential neighborhood adjacent to the Bidwell Mansion, and immediately between the northeast corner of the Chico State campus and Chico High School. This neighborhood is notable for its being a preferred parking zone for residents with permits only, located in an area of the city with very impacted parking. This neighborhood is home to the Albert E. Warrens Reception Center (formerly the Julia Morgan House), and the Bidwell Amphitheatre. Originally, home to mostly university professors and staff, other professionals and upper middle class families now also call it home.
Doe Mill is the developing urban residential neighborhood generally north of East Twentieth Street and East of Bruce Road.
Nob Hill is the developing residential neighborhood west of Bruce Road and north of Highway 32
.
California Park is the developing residential neighborhood east of Bruce Road and north of Highway 32. This area contains a smaller area known as Canyon Oaks.
Aspen Glen is the residential neighborhood east of the Esplanade and north of East Shasta avenue. Many streets here are named after things associated with Colorado.
Cussick Area Neighborhood is an assortment of different housing types on the northwest end of town. It is flanked by orchards, the Esplanade, and West East Avenue. The deeper you go into the neighborhood, the larger and more beautiful the houses get in this peaceful backside of town.
Big Chico Creek Estates is a middle class development in the southwest area of town. Backed by the beautiful Big Chico Creek, and very close to Chico's newest elementary school.
Little Chico Creek Estates a small, middle-class development built in southeast Chico on what was at one time an olive orchard. Placed between Little Chico Creek and a small flood-control channel, the development extends from Bruce Road at the western end to the mouth of Stilson Canyon
at the eastern end, where it is separated from the homes in the canyon by the fork in the two waterways at the diversion dam. Little Chico Creek Estates is located very close to Hank Marsh Junior High School as well as Little Chico Creek Elementary School and various shopping centers including the Chico Mall.
Connors Neighborhood is a very small neighborhood squeezed between East East Ave and Rio Lindo and between the Esplanade and Highway 99. Connors Neighborhood is made up of Connors Ave and White Ave, along with a couple of courts and circles. This neighborhood was incorporated into Chico in 2003, the state plans to add sewers in Q1 of 2011.
Other neighborhoods include South Park, North Park, Vallombrosa, Baroni Park, and Hancock Park.
Chico also is home to several large new urbanist
neighborhoods, either planned or under construction, including Doe Mill, Barber Yard, Meriam Park, and Westside Place.
The above mentioned "neighborhoods" do not include large sections of Chico. There are numerous other areas that each have unique characteristics and attractions. While some of these areas were not so long ago outside of city limits, they have always been a part of the Chico community. Most of these areas are well established with a high per centage of residents who have lived there for more than twenty years. In the older areas of the outlying neighborhoods, it is not uncommon to find households that have been there for fifty or even more years.
Parks
Creekside Greenways
have a typically Mediterranean climate
.
Temperatures can rise well above 100 °F (37.8 °C) in the summer. Chico is one of the top metropolitan areas in the nation for number of clear days.
Winters are fairly mild and wet, with the most rainfall coming in January. The average annual rainfall is 26 inches (660.4 mm). Tule fog
is often present during the autumn and winter months.
, and 4,340 (5.0%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 13,315 persons (15.4%).
The Census reported that 83,009 people (96.3% of the population) lived in households, 2,591 (3.0%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 587 (0.7%) were institutionalized.
There were 34,805 households, out of which 9,222 (26.5%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 11,745 (33.7%) were heterosexual
living together, 3,975 (11.4%) had a female householder with no husband present, 1,729 (5.0%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 2,806 (8.1%) unmarried heterosexual partnerships
, and 295 (0.8%) homosexual married couples or partnerships. 10,419 households (29.9%) were made up of individuals and 3,100 (8.9%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.38. There were 17,449 families
(50.1% of all households); the average family size was 2.97.
The population was spread out with 16,771 people (19.5%) under the age of 18, 20,622 people (23.9%) aged 18 to 24, 22,360 people (25.9%) aged 25 to 44, 17,256 people (20.0%) aged 45 to 64, and 9,178 people (10.6%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 28.6 years. For every 100 females there were 98.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over there were 96.8 males.
There were 37,050 housing units at an average density of 1,119.5 per square mile (432.2/km²), of which 14,878 (42.7%) were owner-occupied, and 19,927 (57.3%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.0%; the rental vacancy rate was 5.8%. 36,008 people (41.8% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 47,001 people (54.5%) lived in rental housing units.
, 2.0% Black
or African American
, 1.3% Native American
, 4.2% Asian
, 0.2% Pacific Islander
, 5.7% from other races
, and 4.3% from two or more races. Hispanic
or Latino
of any race were 12.3% of the population.
There were 23,476 households out of which 27.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 34.4% were married couples living together, 11.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 50.4% were non-families. 29.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 3.03.
In the city the population was spread out with 21.1% under the age of 18, 27.0% from 18 to 24, 26.8% from 25 to 44, 15.2% from 45 to 64, and 9.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 26 years. For every 100 females there were 96.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over there were 93.9 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $29,359, and the median income for a family was $43,077. Males had a median income of $35,548 versus $26,173 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,970. About 12.7% of families and 26.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.2% of those under age 18 and 8.2% of those age 65 or over.
. Industries providing employment: educational, health and social services (30.3%), retail trade (14.9%), arts, entertainment, recreation, accommodation and food services (12.6%).
In the last two decades Chico has emerged as a regional retail shopping destination. Chico's largest retail district is focused around the Chico Mall on East 20th Street. In the two decades since the Chico Mall was constructed, many national retailers have located nearby, including Target
, Kohl's
, Best Buy
, and Wal-Mart
. In January 2008, plans were unveiled to remodel the Chico Mall by demolishing the westernmost portion of the mall (previously home to Troutman's) and constructing an open air "lifestyle" shopping center that will connect the mall with the Kohl's shopping center nearby.
Chico is also home to the North Valley Plaza Mall, which was the city's first enclosed shopping center. Construction on this mall began in 1965 and it was the city's largest shopping center until the Chico Mall was completed in 1988. For a few years the "old" mall and the "new" mall competed against one another. The North Valley Plaza Mall was dealt a blow when JCPenney, one of the old mall's anchors, moved to the Chico Mall in 1993. The "old" mall slowly declined with increasing vacancies. After several failed attempts at revitalization, the North Valley Plaza Mall was overhauled in 2002, with the center of the mall demolished. Although several large retailers, such as Trader Joe's
, and Tinseltown Theater, are still operating, there has been an effort to make the North Valley Plaza more of a neighborhood shopping center, rather than a regional one. Mervyn's anchored the mall at the west end, filling the spot vacated by JCPenney, but declared bankruptcy in 2008 and liquidated its entire stock by the end of December of that year. The entire Mervyn's chain ceased operations just before the end of the year.
Chico's downtown is a thriving area for unique, independent retail shops and restaurants. Farmers markets attract crowds on Saturday mornings and Thursday evenings. City Plaza hosts free concerts regularly during the summer. Performance venues large and small, bars, coffee shops, bookstores and city offices contribute to a lively and flavorful experience.
the top employers in the city are:
Additionally, build.com
, with 267 employees, was named in 2011 by Internet Retailer Magazine as number 80 of the top 100 online retailers, surpassing Lowe's, they are now the 2nd largest e-tailer in Home Improvement.
. The City of Chico's administration offices are located at 411 Main Street immediately adjacent to the City Council Chambers. Chico's city council
consists of seven nonpartisan councilmembers each elected at-large
in November of even-numbered years. Their terms begin on the first Tuesday in December and end on the first Tuesday in December four years thereafter. The mayor is chosen by and from among the council members and serves for two years. City council meetings are on the first and third Tuesday of each month.
The City Council appoints members of the Airport Commission, Architecture Review Board, Arts Commission, Bidwell Park and Playground Commission, Human Resources Commission, and Planning Commission.
The current council members are Scott Gruendl, Ann Schwab, Mary Flynn, Andy Holcombe, Jim Walker, Mark Sorensen, and Bob Evans. The council holds a 5–2 liberal/progressive majority. The most recent election November 2, 2010 resulted in Greundl, Flynn being re-elected and Sorensen being elected.
by the District Two Supervisor Larry Wahl and the District Three Supervisor Maureen Kirk.
The Butte County Association of Governments office is located in Chico at 2580 Sierra Sunrise Terrace, Suite 100.
, Linda) in the California State Assembly
; and as members of California's 4th Senate District, are represented by Doug LaMalfa
(R
, Richvale) in the California State Senate
.
(which has a PVI
of R +13) are represented by Wally Herger
(R
, Rio Oso) in the United States House of Representatives
.
In 1998, city voters approved a bond to build a third comprehensive high school that was to be called Canyon View High School. However, after a protracted search for an acceptable site, the school district opted not to build the new high school, a decision based largely on declining enrollment figures. The money from the bond is now planned to be used for improvements at Chico and Pleasant Valley high schools.
The Chico Air Museum is an aviation museum, which opened in 2004. Several aircraft are displayed outdoors, with smaller displays inside a nearby building, one of the few remaining from World War II.
The National Yo-Yo Museum is the country's largest collection of yo-yo
artifacts, which also includes a four-foot-tall yo-yo that is dropped with a crane every few years, the world's largest functional yo-yo. Classes are available as well for those new to yo-yo and those who just want to get better. An art museum, the Chico Art Center is also located in the city.
Two other historical buildings are also museums. Bidwell Mansion is a Victorian house completed in 1868, and the former home of John and Annie Bidwell. Bidwell Mansion is a California State Historical Park. Stansbury House, former home of physician Oscar Stansbury, is a museum of 19th-century life.
The Valene L. Smith Museum of Anthropology on the CSU, Chico campus presents temporary exhibits researched, designed and installed primarily by students. The current exhibition is "Living on Top of the World: Arctic Adaptation, Survival and Stewardship." The museum was renamed November 18, 2009 by the CSU Board of Trustees in honor of professor emerita Valene L. Smith, whose contributions and commitments to the museum have totaled over $4.6 million. The grand opening to celebrate the new exhibition as well as the contributions of Dr. Smith is on January 28, 2010 and the exhibition will run until May 2010. The museum is located across from the main entrance of the Miriam Library, next to the Janet Turner Print Museum.
Construction started on the Gateway Science Museum (formerly the Northern California Natural History Museum) in 2008 and was completed on February 27, 2010. In the works for more than 10 years, the Gateway Science Museum is the leading center for science education and Northern California's
local history, natural resources, seacoast, valley
, and surrounding foothills and mountains.
Chico is the site of Bidwell Park
, the ninth-largest municipally-owned park in the United States, Bidwell Mansion State Historic Park
, the Chico University Arboretum.
Sierra Nevada Brewing Company
, the second-largest craft brewer in the country, is based in Chico. Butte Creek Brewing Company, maker of handcrafted organic ales, is also located in Chico.
Chico has the tallest building north of Sacramento in California: Whitney Hall, a nine-story dormitory on the Chico State
college campus.
The Meriam Library on the CSUC
campus is named
after Ted Meriam. The building has more square footage than any other building in California north of Sacramento
.
The State of California, Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development defines Enloe Medical Center as a General Acute Care Hospital in Chico with a Level II Trauma Center
and Basic emergency care as of August 22, 2006. The facility is located at 1531 The Esplanade at (NAD83) latitude/longitude 39°44′33"N 121°51′00"W.
The Hooker Oak
, formerly the largest Valley Oak
in the world, was located at Hooker Oak Recreation Area in Bidwell Park.
Located in urban Chico, the Mechoopda
Maidu
Indian Tribe of Chico Rancheria is at 125 Mission Ranch Blvd.
Bidwell Municipal Golf Course, United States Department of Agriculture Plant Introduction Garden,
Canyon Oaks Golf Course, Diamond Match Factory, Chico Museum, Chico Municipal Center, Dorothy F. Johnson Neighborhood Center, Veterans Memorial Building, Craig Hall, Stansbury House, Scrappy Dog, Madison Bear Garden, Chico Creek Nature Center, Chico Community Observatory
, Big Chico Creek Ecological Reserve, Chico Area Recreation and Park District, Bidwell Amphitheatre, Honey Run Covered Bridge
, Senator Theatre, A. H. Chapman House, Allen-Sommer-Gage House, Patrick Ranch House, Silberstein Park Building
, Pioneer Days
.
(also called The Net) baseball stadium
on the California State University campus. It is the home field for the CSU Chico Baseball team, the Chico State Wildcats in NCAA Division 2, and the Chico Outlaws
of the Golden Baseball League
.
Chico is also home of the Silver Dollar Speedway, a race track at the Butte County Fairgrounds used for sprint car racing
.
Chico is one of few cities to be home to two championship baseball teams in two different leagues simultaneously. The CSUC Wildcats were champions in both the 1997 and 1999 Division II College World Series. The Chico Heat
were also champions in the Western Baseball League
in 1997.
every April, put on by Chico Velo Cycling Club. The city is in the process of creating a network of bicycle paths, trails and lanes. Some notable bicycle routes include a path leading from The Esplanade to the Chico Airport, a path running from downtown to East Avenue parallel to Hwy 32 along the railroad, a path along Park Avenue continuing down the Midway toward Durham, a path following Little Chico Creek from Bruce Road to Highway 99, and a series of paths throughout Bidwell Park
, and the Steve Harrison Memorial Bike Path, which bypasses Skyway and takes riders out to Honey Run Road.
(Soccer), and the Chico Heat
(Baseball – Western Baseball League
).
, sits amid some of the most fertile soil on earth. The region is an agricultural leader. Almond
s are the number one crop in the area, only recently edging out rice. Other crops in the area include walnut
s, kiwi
s, olive
s, peach
es, and plum
s.
The city is bounded on the west by orchards with thousands of almond trees, and there are still a few pockets of orchards remaining within the contiguous city limits. The trees bloom with a pink/white flower in late February or early March. Millions of bee
s are brought in for the pollination. The nuts are harvested in late August.
Walnut
s are also a major agricultural production in the area north and west of town. Unlike the almond
crops of the area, walnuts do not have the same appeal as they do not bloom but they grow much larger and live much longer than almonds, but similar to the almond
crops, walnut
s are harvested in early September.
There are several Farmers' markets
held in Chico: Wednesday mornings, May through November 7:30 am to Noon at the North Valley Plaza; Thursday night market with a street-fair atmosphere is sponsored by the Downtown Chico Business Association from 6–9 p.m. each Thursday night during warm months in downtown Chico on Broadway, between 2nd and 5th Streets; Chico Certified Farmer's Market every Saturday morning (year-round) from 7 am until 1 pm at the Wall Street public parking lot on 2nd and Wall Streets.
serves the area and is north of the city limits. It is served by United Airlines
' United Express
operated by SkyWest Airlines
(San Francisco). On July 31, 1961, the first-ever aircraft hijacking
on United States soil occurred at the Chico Municipal Airport
. Two men were critically wounded and the hijacker was sentenced to more than 30 years in prison.
From 1962 to 2010, the airport was also home to Aero Union
, a company that refits surplus military aircraft as fire fighting aircraft, until their move to McClellan Airfield
, near Sacramento.
Ranchaero Airport is surrounded by orchards on the west edge of town.
An altitude record for unmanned gas balloons was set in Chico in October 1972 (51.8 km). The record was broken in Japan on May 23, 2002.
operates the Chico Amtrak
station at Fifth and Orange Streets for the Coast Starlight
service. The terminal is partially wheelchair accessible, has an enclosed waiting area, public restrooms, public pay phones, free short-term and long-term parking. Trains run between Seattle and Los Angeles
with a northbound, and a southbound train departing from the station daily. The Greyhound
bus station is also located at Fifth and Orange Streets.
The North Valley Shuttle has five scheduled runs daily to Sacramento International Airport
leaving from Jack's Restaurant at Sixth and Main Streets.
The B-Line (Butte Regional Transit
) serves the Chico Urban area with eight routes operating Monday through Saturday and two shuttle routes for CSU, Chico
students during the academic year. The Chico Clipper serves the Chico urban area with nine modified vans providing transportation for the elderly and the mobility impaired seven days a week. The transit center in Chico is located at Second and Salem Streets.
Chico is a bronze level Bicycle-friendly
community as designated by the League of American Bicyclists
. Chico was also named "America's Best Bike Town" by Bicycle magazine in 1997.
Pedicabs are commonly available downtown during the evenings.
State Route 99
and
State Route 32
intersect in Chico.
Print
after a Civil Defense
exercise named Operation Chico
was deemed a success.
No person shall produce, test, maintain, or store within the city a nuclear weapon
, component of a nuclear weapon, nuclear weapon delivery system, or component of a nuclear weapon delivery system under penalty of Chapter 9.60.030 of the Chico Municipal Code.
Butte County, California
Butte County is a county located in the Central Valley of the US state of California, north of the state capital of Sacramento. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 220,000. The county seat is Oroville. Butte County is the "Land of Natural Wealth and Beauty."Butte County is watered by the...
, California, United States. The population was 86,187 at the 2010 census, up from 59,954 at the time of the 2000 census. The city is a cultural, economic, and educational center of the northern Sacramento Valley
Sacramento Valley
The Sacramento Valley is the portion of the California Central Valley that lies to the north of the San Joaquin-Sacramento Delta in the U.S. state of California. It encompasses all or parts of ten counties.-Geography:...
and home to both Chico State University
California State University, Chico
California State University, Chico is the second-oldest campus in the twenty-three-campus California State University system. It is located in Chico, California, about ninety miles north of Sacramento...
and Bidwell Park
Bidwell Park
Bidwell Park is a municipal park located in Chico, California. The park was established July 10, 1905 through the donation by Annie Bidwell of approximately 2,500 acres of land to the City of Chico...
, one of the country's 25 largest municipal parks and the 13th largest municipally-owned park.
Other cities in close proximity to the Chico Metropolitan Area (population 212,000) include Paradise
Paradise, California
Paradise is an incorporated town in Butte County, in the northwest foothills of California's Central Valley, in the Sierra. The town is considered part of the Chico Metropolitan Area. The population was 26,218 at the 2010 census, down from 26,408 at the 2000 census...
and Oroville
Oroville, California
Oroville is the county seat of Butte County, California. The population was 15,506 at the 2010 census, up from 13,004 at the 2000 census...
, while local towns and villages (unincorporated areas) include Durham
Durham, California
Durham is a census-designated place in Butte County, California, United States. The population was 5,518 at the 2010 census.-Geography:...
, Cohasset
Cohasset, California
Cohasset is a census-designated place in Butte County, California, United States, approximately NNE of Chico, California. Its main street is named Cohasset Road, which comes from the Algonquian Indian language and means "long rocky place"...
, Dayton
Dayton, California
Dayton is a small unincorporated community in Butte County, California. Its zip code is 95926 and its area code is 530. It lies at an elevation of 141 feet .- History :...
, Hamilton City
Hamilton City, California
Hamilton City is a census-designated place in Glenn County, California, United States. The population was 1,759 at the 2010 census, down from 1,903 at the 2000 census. Hamilton City is located east of Orland, and 10 miles west of Chico at an elevation of 151 feet . The default numbers used for...
, Nord
Nord, California
Nord is a census-designated place in Butte County, California. Its zip code is 95926 and its area code is 530. It lies at an elevation of 151 feet...
, and Forest Ranch
Forest Ranch, California
Forest Ranch is a census-designated place in Butte County, California. It includes Forest Ranch Elementary School , its own post office, and a CDF fire station. The community's ZIP code is 95942, and is shared with the community of Butte Meadows. The area code is 530...
. The Chico Metropolitan Area is the 14th largest
California census statistical areas
The United States Census Bureau has defined 4 Combined Statistical Areas , 26 Metropolitan Statistical Areas , and 9 Micropolitan Statistical Areas in the State of California. The following table describes these areas with the following information:#The name of the Combined Statistical Area , if...
metropolitan statistical area in California.
The official city nickname is "City of Roses", according to the Seal of the City of Chico, California
Seal of the City of Chico, California
The Seal of the City of Chico, California is the official seal of the city of Chico which is attached to the relevant section of the Chico Municipal Code and dates from 1872, when Chico was incorporated as a city. The seal features General John Bidwell, one of the first settlers of the Chico area...
. Chico has been designated a Tree City USA
Tree City USA
Tree City USA is a tree planting and tree care program sponsored by the National Arbor Day Foundation for cities and towns in the United States.- Requirements :...
for 27 years by the Arbor Day Foundation.
History
Mechoopda
The Mechoopda is a Native American tribe located in northern California. The tribe speaks a language related to Maidu.The tribe was formerly centered in a village located about 3½ miles south of contemporary Chico, California. The Mechoopda became a federally recognized tribe in 1992....
Maidu
Maidu
The Maidu are a group of Native Americans who live in Northern California. They reside in the central Sierra Nevada, in the drainage area of the Feather and American Rivers...
Native Americans.
The City of Chico was founded in 1860 by John Bidwell
John Bidwell
John Bidwell was known throughout California and across the nation as an important pioneer, farmer, soldier, statesman, politician, prohibitionist and philanthropist...
, a member of one of the first wagon trains to reach California in 1843. During the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, Camp Bidwell
Camp Bidwell
Camp Bidwell, later Camp Chico was a U. S. Army post during the American Civil War. Camp Bidwell was named for John Bidwell, the founder of the nearby town of Chico, California and a that time a Brigadier General of the California Militia. It was established a mile outside Chico, by Lt. Col....
(named for John Bidwell, by then a Brigadier General
Brigadier General
Brigadier general is a senior rank in the armed forces. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries, usually sitting between the ranks of colonel and major general. When appointed to a field command, a brigadier general is typically in command of a brigade consisting of around 4,000...
of the California Militia), was established a mile outside Chico, by Lt. Col. A. E. Hooker with a company of cavalry and two of infantry, on August 26, 1863. By early 1865 it was being referred to as Camp Chico when a post called Camp Bidwell was established in northwest California, later to be Fort Bidwell. The city became incorporated January 8, 1872.
Chico was home to a significant Chinese American community when it was first incorporated, but arsonists burned Chico's Chinatown in February 1886, driving Chinese Americans out of town.
Historian W.H. "Old Hutch" Hutchinson identified five events as the most seminal in Chico history. They included the arrival of John Bidwell
John Bidwell
John Bidwell was known throughout California and across the nation as an important pioneer, farmer, soldier, statesman, politician, prohibitionist and philanthropist...
in 1850, the arrival of the California and Oregon Railroad in 1870, the establishment of the Northern Branch of the State Normal School
California State University, Chico
California State University, Chico is the second-oldest campus in the twenty-three-campus California State University system. It is located in Chico, California, about ninety miles north of Sacramento...
in 1887, the purchase of the Sierra Lumber Company by the Diamond Match Company
Diamond Match Company
The Diamond Match Company was the largest manufacturer of matches in the United States in the late nineteenth century. Jarden is the current owner of the Diamond brand.-History:...
in 1900, and the development of the Army Air Base, which is now the Chico Municipal Airport
Chico Municipal Airport
Chico Municipal Airport , often called CMA, is a public airport located four miles north of the central business district of Chico, a city in Butte County, California, United States. The airport covers 1,475 acres and has two runways and one helipad. It is mostly used for general aviation, but...
.
Several other significant events have unfolded in Chico more recently. These include the construction and relocation of Highway 99E through town in the early 1960s, Playboy Magazine naming Chico State
California State University, Chico
California State University, Chico is the second-oldest campus in the twenty-three-campus California State University system. It is located in Chico, California, about ninety miles north of Sacramento...
the number-one party school
Party school
A party school is a college or university that has a reputation for heavy alcohol and drug use or a general culture of licentiousness. The best-known list of alleged party schools is published annually by The Princeton Review. The magazine Playboy also releases a list of party schools on an...
in the nation in 1987, and the establishment of a "Green Line" on the western city limits as protection of agricultural lands.
Location
Chico is located at the northeast edge of the Sacramento ValleySacramento Valley
The Sacramento Valley is the portion of the California Central Valley that lies to the north of the San Joaquin-Sacramento Delta in the U.S. state of California. It encompasses all or parts of ten counties.-Geography:...
, one of the richest agricultural areas in the world. The Sierra Nevada mountains lie to the East, with Chico's city limits venturing several miles into the foothills. To the west, the Sacramento River
Sacramento River
The Sacramento River is an important watercourse of Northern and Central California in the United States. The largest river in California, it rises on the eastern slopes of the Klamath Mountains, and after a journey south of over , empties into Suisun Bay, an arm of the San Francisco Bay, and...
lies five miles (8 km) from the city limit.
Topography
Chico sits on the Sacramento ValleySacramento Valley
The Sacramento Valley is the portion of the California Central Valley that lies to the north of the San Joaquin-Sacramento Delta in the U.S. state of California. It encompasses all or parts of ten counties.-Geography:...
floor close to the foothills of the Cascade range
Cascade Range
The Cascade Range is a major mountain range of western North America, extending from southern British Columbia through Washington and Oregon to Northern California. It includes both non-volcanic mountains, such as the North Cascades, and the notable volcanoes known as the High Cascades...
and the Sierra Nevada range with Big Chico Creek
Big Chico Creek
Big Chico Creek originates on Colby Mountain, located in Tehama County, California. The creek flows to its confluence with the Sacramento River in Butte County...
being the demarcation line between the Cascade range (to the north) and the Sierra Nevada range (to the south). The city terrain is on the whole very flat with increasingly hilly terrain beginning at the eastern city limits.
According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 27.8 square miles (72 km²), of which 27.7 square miles (71.7 km²) of it is land and 0.04% is water.
The city is bisected by Bidwell Park
Bidwell Park
Bidwell Park is a municipal park located in Chico, California. The park was established July 10, 1905 through the donation by Annie Bidwell of approximately 2,500 acres of land to the City of Chico...
, which runs five miles (8 km) from the city center to the crest of the Sierra Nevada range.
The city is also traversed by two creeks and a flood channel, which feeds the Sacramento River
Sacramento River
The Sacramento River is an important watercourse of Northern and Central California in the United States. The largest river in California, it rises on the eastern slopes of the Klamath Mountains, and after a journey south of over , empties into Suisun Bay, an arm of the San Francisco Bay, and...
. They are named Big Chico Creek
Big Chico Creek
Big Chico Creek originates on Colby Mountain, located in Tehama County, California. The creek flows to its confluence with the Sacramento River in Butte County...
, Little Chico Creek, and Lindo Channel (also known as Sandy Gulch, locally).
Street system
The downtown area of Chico is located generally between Big Chico CreekBig Chico Creek
Big Chico Creek originates on Colby Mountain, located in Tehama County, California. The creek flows to its confluence with the Sacramento River in Butte County...
and Little Chico Creek. The downtown has a street grid offset 49.75° from the four cardinal directions. There are numbered streets and avenues, which generally run ENE-WSW. Blocks are usually addressed in hundreds corresponding to the numbered streets and avenues. While the ENE-WSW streets and avenues are numbered, Streets running NNW-SSE are generally named after trees. The part of the 'tree' streets that intersect the CSUC
California State University, Chico
California State University, Chico is the second-oldest campus in the twenty-three-campus California State University system. It is located in Chico, California, about ninety miles north of Sacramento...
campus spell the word "CHICO" at Chestnut, Hazel, Ivy, Cherry, and Orange Streets.
The main thoroughfare running NW-SE through the city is Business 99
California State Route 99
California State Route 99 , commonly known as Highway 99 or, simply, as 99 , is a north–south state highway in the U.S. state of California, stretching almost the entire length of the Central Valley...
, known as Main Street/Broadway (these are one way, SE and NW, respectively, in downtown Chico), Park Avenue, The Esplanade and the Midway. The city streets are designated as "East" or "West" by their relation to this street.
There are numbered streets and avenues both of which flow east-west. This fact can cause some confusion. The "Streets" are situated south of the Chico State campus through downtown, while the "Avenues" are situated north of the Chico State campus through The Esplanade. There are no left turns permitted onto any odd numbered avenue from The Esplanade, in either direction, with the exception of West 11th Ave.
In the numbered streets and avenues and most other streets that intersect The Esplanade, Main, and Park, the west addresses are all numbers whose last two digits are 00 through 49 and the east addresses are all numbers whose last two digits are 50 through 99. There are very few exceptions.
On most Chico streets odd addresses are on the south side of the street.
Standing at the bridge over the Big Chico Creek
Big Chico Creek
Big Chico Creek originates on Colby Mountain, located in Tehama County, California. The creek flows to its confluence with the Sacramento River in Butte County...
—where Main Street changes to The Esplanade— and facing north, the odd addresses are on the left (Bidwell Mansion is 525 The Esplanade). This convention holds for all the numbered avenues. However, while facing south the odd addresses are still on the left (i.e., the convention has switched). This convention holds throughout the numbered streets.
Neighborhoods
Downtown Chico – This is the main commercial district in Chico. It is located generally between the Big Chico CreekBig Chico Creek
Big Chico Creek originates on Colby Mountain, located in Tehama County, California. The creek flows to its confluence with the Sacramento River in Butte County...
and Little Chico Creek between Wall Street and Salem Street. The Downtown Chico Business Association represents the interests of the downtown to the community. Main Street and Broadway are the two main thoroughfares bisecting the downtown. Ringel Park is the triangular shaped area immediately north of downtown. The Chico City Plaza is the central point of downtown, between Fourth and Fifth Streets. The area of West Ninth Street where Main Street and Oroville Avenue converge is known as The Junction, the southernmost part of the downtown. "The Junction," as the confluence of Humboldt Road and the old Shasta Stage Road (now Main Street and The Esplanade) got its name in the early 1860s when John Bidwell and partners established a company that created a stage line between Chico and Susanville, ultimately leading to Ruby City, Idaho, and the rich gold strikes there. This is the place where Humboldt Road began; it is now called Humboldt Avenue until it reaches the Highway 99 freeway, then regains the Humboldt Road name on the eastern side as it continues into the foothills. "The Junction" was for some years a business district unto itself, providing goods and services to people arriving at and departing from the stage depot.
South Campus – The South Campus neighborhood is the area bounded by West Second Street, Salem Street, West Ninth Street and the western city limits (which is called "The Green Line"). Historically, this area was the first residential area established in the city. Currently, it is the most densely populated area of the city. The South Campus Neighborhood Association represents the interests of the neighborhood to the community. South Campus is a dynamic residential neighborhood consisting overwhelmingly of young renters under thirty-five, and specifically Chico State
California State University, Chico
California State University, Chico is the second-oldest campus in the twenty-three-campus California State University system. It is located in Chico, California, about ninety miles north of Sacramento...
students. The intersection of Fifth and Ivy streets is a neighborhood commercial core sometimes referred to locally as "Five and I." There are many fraternity and sorority houses in the area, and the city has designated a "Fraternity/Sorority Overlay Zone", largely contiguous with the neighborhood. South Campus is home of Craig Hall and Depot Park.
Barber – The Barber neighborhood is a working class residential neighborhood generally south of Little Chico Creek and west of Park avenue. The Barber Neighborhood Association represents the interests of the neighborhood to the community. This neighborhood was originally built to house the employees of the adjacent Diamond Match Factory. The neighborhood was named after Ohio Columbus Barber, president of the Diamond Match Company. Today, the Diamond Match property is designated for a future development called Barber Yard.
Chapmantown – This is a working-class residential neighborhood entirely surrounded by area inside the city of Chico, but which itself is not a part of the city. Rather, it is under the jurisdiction of the County of Butte.
Butte County, California
Butte County is a county located in the Central Valley of the US state of California, north of the state capital of Sacramento. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 220,000. The county seat is Oroville. Butte County is the "Land of Natural Wealth and Beauty."Butte County is watered by the...
Chapmantown is currently known as the area bounded by Little Chico Creek, Boucher Street, Guill Street and East Sixteenth Street. The neighborhood south of East Twentieth Street to the east of Fair street is also referred to as Chapmantown. Historically, Chapmantown referred to everything east of Mulberry street, but that is no longer the case. Due to not being within city limits, there are no sidewalks, sewers, or any other city services. However, there are also none of the regulations associated with the municipality either (prohibition on chicken coops, burn permits, etc.) The neighborhood is home to The Dorothy F. Johnson Neighborhood Center, a facility of the Chico Area Recreation District. The neighborhood is named after Augustus Chapman.
The Avenues – A relatively new name that refers to the area north of Big Chico Creek historically known as Chico Vecino. This area includes the numbered avenues that intersect The Esplanade. This residential neighborhood is adjacent to the northern boundary of Chico State campus and is south of Lindo Channel. The neighborhood also is home to Enloe Medical Center.
Mansion Park is the high end residential neighborhood adjacent to the Bidwell Mansion, and immediately between the northeast corner of the Chico State campus and Chico High School. This neighborhood is notable for its being a preferred parking zone for residents with permits only, located in an area of the city with very impacted parking. This neighborhood is home to the Albert E. Warrens Reception Center (formerly the Julia Morgan House), and the Bidwell Amphitheatre. Originally, home to mostly university professors and staff, other professionals and upper middle class families now also call it home.
Nob Hill is the developing residential neighborhood west of Bruce Road and north of Highway 32
California State Route 32
State Route 32 is an east–west state highway in the U.S. State of California which is routed from Interstate 5 in Orland, through Chico, through the northern Sierra Nevada, ending at SR 36 and SR 89 in eastern Tehama County.-Route description:...
.
California Park is the developing residential neighborhood east of Bruce Road and north of Highway 32. This area contains a smaller area known as Canyon Oaks.
Aspen Glen is the residential neighborhood east of the Esplanade and north of East Shasta avenue. Many streets here are named after things associated with Colorado.
Cussick Area Neighborhood is an assortment of different housing types on the northwest end of town. It is flanked by orchards, the Esplanade, and West East Avenue. The deeper you go into the neighborhood, the larger and more beautiful the houses get in this peaceful backside of town.
Big Chico Creek Estates is a middle class development in the southwest area of town. Backed by the beautiful Big Chico Creek, and very close to Chico's newest elementary school.
Little Chico Creek Estates a small, middle-class development built in southeast Chico on what was at one time an olive orchard. Placed between Little Chico Creek and a small flood-control channel, the development extends from Bruce Road at the western end to the mouth of Stilson Canyon
Stilson Canyon
Stilson Canyon is a small gorge at the base of the Sierra Nevada in Butte County, California.Little Chico Creek which serves as the dividing line between the Sierra Nevada mountain range and the Cascade Range flows through it and passes by a small community of homes built along a portion of the...
at the eastern end, where it is separated from the homes in the canyon by the fork in the two waterways at the diversion dam. Little Chico Creek Estates is located very close to Hank Marsh Junior High School as well as Little Chico Creek Elementary School and various shopping centers including the Chico Mall.
Connors Neighborhood is a very small neighborhood squeezed between East East Ave and Rio Lindo and between the Esplanade and Highway 99. Connors Neighborhood is made up of Connors Ave and White Ave, along with a couple of courts and circles. This neighborhood was incorporated into Chico in 2003, the state plans to add sewers in Q1 of 2011.
Other neighborhoods include South Park, North Park, Vallombrosa, Baroni Park, and Hancock Park.
Chico also is home to several large new urbanist
New urbanism
New Urbanism is an urban design movement, which promotes walkable neighborhoods that contain a range of housing and job types. It arose in the United States in the early 1980s, and has gradually continued to reform many aspects of real estate development, urban planning, and municipal land-use...
neighborhoods, either planned or under construction, including Doe Mill, Barber Yard, Meriam Park, and Westside Place.
The above mentioned "neighborhoods" do not include large sections of Chico. There are numerous other areas that each have unique characteristics and attractions. While some of these areas were not so long ago outside of city limits, they have always been a part of the Chico community. Most of these areas are well established with a high per centage of residents who have lived there for more than twenty years. In the older areas of the outlying neighborhoods, it is not uncommon to find households that have been there for fifty or even more years.
Parks and Creekside Greenways
- Verbena Fields: This site is a former quarry that is currently being restored into a natural park. The project will expand and improve seasonal wetlands, increase the floodplain width, restore native plantings, establish Mechoopda cultural planting areas, construct a walking trail loop, and provide public education.
- Baroni Park
- Bidwell ParkBidwell ParkBidwell Park is a municipal park located in Chico, California. The park was established July 10, 1905 through the donation by Annie Bidwell of approximately 2,500 acres of land to the City of Chico...
- Children's Playground
- Depot Park
- DeGarmo Park
- East 20th St at Notre Dame Park (undeveloped)
- Hancock Park
- Henshaw Park (undeveloped)
- Hooker Oak Recreation Area
- Ceres Park (undeveloped)
- Humboldt Park (Humboldt at Willow)
- Nob Hill/Husa Ranch Park
- Peterson Park
- City Plaza
- Ringel Park
- Skateboard Park
- Wildwood Park
- Martin Luther King Park
- Chapman Park
- Oak Way Park
- Rotary Park (Wall Street)
- Rotary Park (Sixteenth and Broadway)
Creekside Greenways
- Little Chico Creek
- Mud Creek
- Sycamore Creek
- Commanche Creek
- Sandy Gulch (Lindo Channel) Greenway
- Bear Hole (in Upper Bidwell Park)
- Alligator Hole (in Upper Bidwell Park)
- Salmon Hole (in Upper Bidwell Park)
Climate
Chico and the Sacramento ValleySacramento Valley
The Sacramento Valley is the portion of the California Central Valley that lies to the north of the San Joaquin-Sacramento Delta in the U.S. state of California. It encompasses all or parts of ten counties.-Geography:...
have a typically Mediterranean climate
Mediterranean climate
A Mediterranean climate is the climate typical of most of the lands in the Mediterranean Basin, and is a particular variety of subtropical climate...
.
Temperatures can rise well above 100 °F (37.8 °C) in the summer. Chico is one of the top metropolitan areas in the nation for number of clear days.
Winters are fairly mild and wet, with the most rainfall coming in January. The average annual rainfall is 26 inches (660.4 mm). Tule fog
Tule fog
Tule fog is a thick ground fog that settles in the San Joaquin Valley and Sacramento Valley areas of California's Great Central Valley. Tule fog forms during the late fall and winter after the first significant rainfall. The official time frame for tule fog to form is from November 1 to March 31...
is often present during the autumn and winter months.
2010
The 2010 United States Census reported that Chico had a population of 86,187. The population density was 2,604.2 people per square mile (1,005.5/km²). The racial makeup of Chico was 69,606 (80.8%) White, 1,771 (2.1%) African American, 1,167 (1.4%) Native American, 3,656 (4.2%) Asian, 210 (0.2%) Pacific Islander, 5,437 (6.3%) from other racesRace (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 4,340 (5.0%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 13,315 persons (15.4%).
The Census reported that 83,009 people (96.3% of the population) lived in households, 2,591 (3.0%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 587 (0.7%) were institutionalized.
There were 34,805 households, out of which 9,222 (26.5%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 11,745 (33.7%) were heterosexual
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 3,975 (11.4%) had a female householder with no husband present, 1,729 (5.0%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 2,806 (8.1%) unmarried heterosexual partnerships
POSSLQ
POSSLQ is an abbreviation for "Persons of Opposite Sex Sharing Living Quarters," a term coined in the late 1970s by the United States Census Bureau as part of an effort to more accurately gauge the prevalence of cohabitation in American households....
, and 295 (0.8%) homosexual married couples or partnerships. 10,419 households (29.9%) were made up of individuals and 3,100 (8.9%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.38. There were 17,449 families
Family (U.S. Census)
A family or family household is defined by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes as "a householder and one or more other people related to the householder by birth, marriage, or adoption. They do not include same-sex married couples even if the marriage was performed in a state...
(50.1% of all households); the average family size was 2.97.
The population was spread out with 16,771 people (19.5%) under the age of 18, 20,622 people (23.9%) aged 18 to 24, 22,360 people (25.9%) aged 25 to 44, 17,256 people (20.0%) aged 45 to 64, and 9,178 people (10.6%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 28.6 years. For every 100 females there were 98.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over there were 96.8 males.
There were 37,050 housing units at an average density of 1,119.5 per square mile (432.2/km²), of which 14,878 (42.7%) were owner-occupied, and 19,927 (57.3%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.0%; the rental vacancy rate was 5.8%. 36,008 people (41.8% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 47,001 people (54.5%) lived in rental housing units.
2000
As of the census of 2000, there were 59,954 people, 23,476 households, and 11,644 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,161.0 people per square mile (834.5/km²). There were 24,386 housing units at an average density of 879.0 per square mile (339.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 82.4% WhiteRace (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 2.0% Black
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or African American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 1.3% Native American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 4.2% Asian
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.2% Pacific Islander
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 5.7% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 4.3% from two or more races. Hispanic
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or Latino
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
of any race were 12.3% of the population.
There were 23,476 households out of which 27.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 34.4% were married couples living together, 11.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 50.4% were non-families. 29.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 3.03.
In the city the population was spread out with 21.1% under the age of 18, 27.0% from 18 to 24, 26.8% from 25 to 44, 15.2% from 45 to 64, and 9.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 26 years. For every 100 females there were 96.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over there were 93.9 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $29,359, and the median income for a family was $43,077. Males had a median income of $35,548 versus $26,173 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,970. About 12.7% of families and 26.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.2% of those under age 18 and 8.2% of those age 65 or over.
Economy
Much of the local economy is driven by the presence of California State University, ChicoCalifornia State University, Chico
California State University, Chico is the second-oldest campus in the twenty-three-campus California State University system. It is located in Chico, California, about ninety miles north of Sacramento...
. Industries providing employment: educational, health and social services (30.3%), retail trade (14.9%), arts, entertainment, recreation, accommodation and food services (12.6%).
In the last two decades Chico has emerged as a regional retail shopping destination. Chico's largest retail district is focused around the Chico Mall on East 20th Street. In the two decades since the Chico Mall was constructed, many national retailers have located nearby, including Target
Target Corporation
Target Corporation, doing business as Target, is an American retailing company headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It is the second-largest discount retailer in the United States, behind Walmart. The company is ranked at number 33 on the Fortune 500 and is a component of the Standard & Poor's...
, Kohl's
Kohl's
Kohl's Corporation is an American department store chain headquartered in the Milwaukee suburb of Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, operating , 1,089 stores in 49 states. In 1998, it entered the S&P 500 list, and is also listed in the Fortune 500...
, Best Buy
Best Buy
Best Buy Co., Inc. is an American specialty retailer of consumer electronics in the United States, accounting for 19% of the market. It also operates in Mexico, Canada & China. The company's subsidiaries include Geek Squad, CinemaNow, Magnolia Audio Video, Pacific Sales, and, in Canada operates...
, and Wal-Mart
Wal-Mart
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. , branded as Walmart since 2008 and Wal-Mart before then, is an American public multinational corporation that runs chains of large discount department stores and warehouse stores. The company is the world's 18th largest public corporation, according to the Forbes Global 2000...
. In January 2008, plans were unveiled to remodel the Chico Mall by demolishing the westernmost portion of the mall (previously home to Troutman's) and constructing an open air "lifestyle" shopping center that will connect the mall with the Kohl's shopping center nearby.
Chico is also home to the North Valley Plaza Mall, which was the city's first enclosed shopping center. Construction on this mall began in 1965 and it was the city's largest shopping center until the Chico Mall was completed in 1988. For a few years the "old" mall and the "new" mall competed against one another. The North Valley Plaza Mall was dealt a blow when JCPenney, one of the old mall's anchors, moved to the Chico Mall in 1993. The "old" mall slowly declined with increasing vacancies. After several failed attempts at revitalization, the North Valley Plaza Mall was overhauled in 2002, with the center of the mall demolished. Although several large retailers, such as Trader Joe's
Trader Joe's
Trader Joe's is a privately held chain of specialty grocery stores headquartered in Monrovia, California. , Trader Joe's had a total of 365 stores. Approximately half of its stores are in California, with the heaviest concentration in Southern California, but the company also has locations in 30...
, and Tinseltown Theater, are still operating, there has been an effort to make the North Valley Plaza more of a neighborhood shopping center, rather than a regional one. Mervyn's anchored the mall at the west end, filling the spot vacated by JCPenney, but declared bankruptcy in 2008 and liquidated its entire stock by the end of December of that year. The entire Mervyn's chain ceased operations just before the end of the year.
Chico's downtown is a thriving area for unique, independent retail shops and restaurants. Farmers markets attract crowds on Saturday mornings and Thursday evenings. City Plaza hosts free concerts regularly during the summer. Performance venues large and small, bars, coffee shops, bookstores and city offices contribute to a lively and flavorful experience.
Top employers
According to the City's 2010 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report,the top employers in the city are:
| # | Employer | # of employees |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Enloe Medical Center | 2,275 |
| 2 | California State University, Chico California State University, Chico California State University, Chico is the second-oldest campus in the twenty-three-campus California State University system. It is located in Chico, California, about ninety miles north of Sacramento... |
1,825 |
| 3 | Chico Unified School District | 1,400 |
| 4 | City of Chico | 442 |
| 5 | Wal-Mart Wal-Mart Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. , branded as Walmart since 2008 and Wal-Mart before then, is an American public multinational corporation that runs chains of large discount department stores and warehouse stores. The company is the world's 18th largest public corporation, according to the Forbes Global 2000... |
400 |
| 6 | Sierra Nevada Brewing Company Sierra Nevada Brewing Company The Sierra Nevada Brewing Company was established in 1980 by homebrewers Ken Grossman and Paul Camusi.Located in Chico, California, Sierra Nevada Brewing is one of the top craft breweries currently operating in the United States. Sierra Nevada's Pale Ale is the second best-selling craft beer in the... |
325 |
| 7 | Build.com Build.com Build.com is an online home improvement company based in Chico, California.- History :In September 2000, Christian Friedland and David Boctor were working on their Computer Science master’s project at California State University, Chico... |
267 |
| 8 | SunGuard | 200 |
| 9 | Chico Enterprise-Record Chico Enterprise-Record The Chico Enterprise-Record is the daily newspaper of Chico, California. Also known as the E-R, the newspaper was first published in Bidwell Bar, California as the Butte Record in 1853 and is now part of the MediaNews Group corporation, who took control of the paper from Donrey in 1999... |
150 |
| 10 | Smucker's The J.M. Smucker Co. The J. M. Smucker Company is a manufacturer of fruit spreads, ice cream toppings, beverages, shortening, natural peanut butter and other products in North America. Smucker's headquarters are located in Orrville, Ohio.- History :... (Knudsen R.W. Knudsen Family R.W. Knudsen Family is a brand of natural bottled juices. They manufacture over 125 different products, many using organic ingredients.Their most well-known line is a family of natural, non-carbonated juices sold in 32 fl. oz. glass jars, available in the United States at natural food stores and... ) |
125 |
Additionally, build.com
Build.com
Build.com is an online home improvement company based in Chico, California.- History :In September 2000, Christian Friedland and David Boctor were working on their Computer Science master’s project at California State University, Chico...
, with 267 employees, was named in 2011 by Internet Retailer Magazine as number 80 of the top 100 online retailers, surpassing Lowe's, they are now the 2nd largest e-tailer in Home Improvement.
Municipal
The City of Chico is a charter cityCharter city
A charter city is a city in which the governing system is defined by the city's own charter document rather than by state, provincial, regional or national laws. In locations where city charters are allowed by law, a city can adopt or modify its organizing charter by decision of its administration...
. The City of Chico's administration offices are located at 411 Main Street immediately adjacent to the City Council Chambers. Chico's city council
City council
A city council or town council is the legislative body that governs a city, town, municipality or local government area.-Australia & NZ:Because of the differences in legislation between the States, the exact definition of a City Council varies...
consists of seven nonpartisan councilmembers each elected at-large
At-Large
At-large is a designation for representative members of a governing body who are elected or appointed to represent the whole membership of the body , rather than a subset of that membership...
in November of even-numbered years. Their terms begin on the first Tuesday in December and end on the first Tuesday in December four years thereafter. The mayor is chosen by and from among the council members and serves for two years. City council meetings are on the first and third Tuesday of each month.
The City Council appoints members of the Airport Commission, Architecture Review Board, Arts Commission, Bidwell Park and Playground Commission, Human Resources Commission, and Planning Commission.
The current council members are Scott Gruendl, Ann Schwab, Mary Flynn, Andy Holcombe, Jim Walker, Mark Sorensen, and Bob Evans. The council holds a 5–2 liberal/progressive majority. The most recent election November 2, 2010 resulted in Greundl, Flynn being re-elected and Sorensen being elected.
County
The citizens of Chico are represented in the Butte County Board of SupervisorsButte County Board of Supervisors
The governing body of Butte County, California. The board consists of five members elected by district for four year terms. As of January 3, 2010, the board of supervisors consisted of Bill Connely, Larry Wahl, Maureen Kirk, Steve Lambert, and Kim Yamaguchi....
by the District Two Supervisor Larry Wahl and the District Three Supervisor Maureen Kirk.
The Butte County Association of Governments office is located in Chico at 2580 Sierra Sunrise Terrace, Suite 100.
State
The citizens of Chico, as members of California's 3rd Assembly District, are represented by Dan Logue (RRepublican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
, Linda) in the California State Assembly
California State Assembly
The California State Assembly is the lower house of the California State Legislature. There are 80 members in the Assembly, representing an approximately equal number of constituents, with each district having a population of at least 420,000...
; and as members of California's 4th Senate District, are represented by Doug LaMalfa
Doug LaMalfa
Doug LaMalfa is an American politician currently serving in the California State Senate. He is a Republican representing the 4th district, encompassing Del Norte, Siskiyou, Shasta, Trinity, Tehama, Butte, Glenn, Colusa, Sutter, and Yuba counties, as well as parts of Nevada and Placer counties...
(R
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
, Richvale) in the California State Senate
California State Senate
The California State Senate is the upper house of the California State Legislature. There are 40 state senators. The state legislature meets in the California State Capitol in Sacramento. The Lieutenant Governor is the ex officio President of the Senate and may break a tied vote...
.
Federal
The citizens of Chico, as members of California's 2nd congressional districtCalifornia's 2nd congressional district
California's 2nd congressional district is a congressional district located in the U.S. state of California. The district contains much of the far northern part of the state, north of Sacramento. It is the largest district by area in California...
(which has a PVI
Cook Partisan Voting Index
The Cook Partisan Voting Index , sometimes referred to as simply the Partisan Voting Index , is a measurement of how strongly an American congressional district or state leans toward one political party compared to the nation as a whole...
of R +13) are represented by Wally Herger
Wally Herger
Walter William "Wally" Herger, Jr. , American politician, has been a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives since 1987, representing the California's 2nd congressional district. The second district is physically large...
(R
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
, Rio Oso) in the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
.
Education
The Chico Unified School District includes all of the greater Chico area including area not within the city limits.Elementary
- Blue Oak Charter School
- Chapman Elementary School
- Chico Country Day School
- Citrus Elementary School
- Cohasset Elementary School
- Emma Wilson Elementary School,
- Forest Ranch Elementary School
- Hooker Oak Elementary School
- John A. McManus Elementary School
- Little Chico Creek Elementary School
- Marigold Elementary School
- Neal DowNeal S. DowNeal S. Dow , nicknamed the "Napoleon of Temperance" and the "Father of Prohibition", was mayor of Portland, Maine. He sponsored the "Maine law of 1851", which prohibited the manufacture and sale of liquor...
Elementary School, - Notre Dame Catholic School
- Chico Christian School & Preschool
- Kings Christian Elementary
- Parkview Elementary School
- Rosedale Elementary School
- Shasta Elementary School
- Sherwood Montessori Charter School
- Sierra View Elementary School
Junior high (7th and 8th)
- Chico Country Day School
- Bidwell Junior High School
- Chico Junior High School
- Henry M. "Hank" Marsh Junior High School
- Sherwood Montessori Charter School
Public
- Chico High School
- Pleasant Valley High SchoolPleasant Valley High School (California)Pleasant Valley High School is an American public high school located in Chico, California. It was named a California Distinguished School for 2007....
In 1998, city voters approved a bond to build a third comprehensive high school that was to be called Canyon View High School. However, after a protracted search for an acceptable site, the school district opted not to build the new high school, a decision based largely on declining enrollment figures. The money from the bond is now planned to be used for improvements at Chico and Pleasant Valley high schools.
Alternative education
- Academy For Change—Community Day School
- Fairview High School—Continuation School
- Core Butte Charter School—Charter School
- Blue Oak Charter School—a Waldorf methods public school (includes grades K through 8)
- herwood Montessori Charter School]–a Montessori public school (grades K through 8)
Private
- King's Christian School
- Notre Dame Catholic School
- Champion Christian School
- Chico Oaks Adventist School
- Pleasant Valley Baptist School
- Chico Christian School and Preschool
Higher education
- California State University, ChicoCalifornia State University, ChicoCalifornia State University, Chico is the second-oldest campus in the twenty-three-campus California State University system. It is located in Chico, California, about ninety miles north of Sacramento...
(Chico State) - Butte CollegeButte CollegeButte College is a community college in the Butte - Glenn Community College District which is located in northern California between the towns of Chico, Oroville and Paradise, approximately 80 miles north of the state capital...
- Cal Northern School of LawCal Northern School of LawCal Northern School of Law is a private law school located in Chico, California. It offers a four-year night program aimed at working adults in Northern California....
- University of PhoenixUniversity of PhoenixThe University of Phoenix is a for-profit institution of higher learning. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of Apollo Group Inc. which is publicly traded , an S&P 500 corporation based in Phoenix, Arizona...
Museums
The Chico Museum first opened in February 1986 in the former Carnegie Library building in downtown Chico. It currently features the only circus exhibit of its kind in the Western United States. The museum has two main galleries, which host a variety of temporary and traveling exhibits. In addition, the museum has two smaller, permanent galleries displaying the diverse history of Chico. The Chico Museum is run by the Far West Heritage Association, which also runs the Patrick Ranch Museum. The museum is free and donations are graciously accepted.The Chico Air Museum is an aviation museum, which opened in 2004. Several aircraft are displayed outdoors, with smaller displays inside a nearby building, one of the few remaining from World War II.
The National Yo-Yo Museum is the country's largest collection of yo-yo
Yo-yo
The yo-yo in its simplest form is an object consisting of an axle connected to two disks, and a length of twine looped around the axle, similar to a slender spool...
artifacts, which also includes a four-foot-tall yo-yo that is dropped with a crane every few years, the world's largest functional yo-yo. Classes are available as well for those new to yo-yo and those who just want to get better. An art museum, the Chico Art Center is also located in the city.
Two other historical buildings are also museums. Bidwell Mansion is a Victorian house completed in 1868, and the former home of John and Annie Bidwell. Bidwell Mansion is a California State Historical Park. Stansbury House, former home of physician Oscar Stansbury, is a museum of 19th-century life.
The Valene L. Smith Museum of Anthropology on the CSU, Chico campus presents temporary exhibits researched, designed and installed primarily by students. The current exhibition is "Living on Top of the World: Arctic Adaptation, Survival and Stewardship." The museum was renamed November 18, 2009 by the CSU Board of Trustees in honor of professor emerita Valene L. Smith, whose contributions and commitments to the museum have totaled over $4.6 million. The grand opening to celebrate the new exhibition as well as the contributions of Dr. Smith is on January 28, 2010 and the exhibition will run until May 2010. The museum is located across from the main entrance of the Miriam Library, next to the Janet Turner Print Museum.
Construction started on the Gateway Science Museum (formerly the Northern California Natural History Museum) in 2008 and was completed on February 27, 2010. In the works for more than 10 years, the Gateway Science Museum is the leading center for science education and Northern California's
Northern California
Northern California is the northern portion of the U.S. state of California. The San Francisco Bay Area , and Sacramento as well as its metropolitan area are the main population centers...
local history, natural resources, seacoast, valley
Sacramento Valley
The Sacramento Valley is the portion of the California Central Valley that lies to the north of the San Joaquin-Sacramento Delta in the U.S. state of California. It encompasses all or parts of ten counties.-Geography:...
, and surrounding foothills and mountains.
Art and theatre
About 40 murals and several galleries can be found in the city, including Chico Paper Company, 1078 Gallery, Avenue 9, The Space, 24-Hour Drive-By, Ray Ray and numerous other galleries. The theatres in Chico include Blue Room Theatre, Theatre ETC, Chico Cabaret, Chico Performances, Chico Theater Company, and Theatre on the Ridge. The California State University, Chico Theatre Department also offers a variety of entertainment throughout the school year. In 2003, author John Villani named Chico one of the top 10 Best Small Art Towns in America.Points of interest
Bidwell Park
Bidwell Park is a municipal park located in Chico, California. The park was established July 10, 1905 through the donation by Annie Bidwell of approximately 2,500 acres of land to the City of Chico...
, the ninth-largest municipally-owned park in the United States, Bidwell Mansion State Historic Park
Bidwell Mansion State Historic Park
Bidwell Mansion, located at 525 Esplanade in Chico, California, was the home of General John Bidwell and Annie Bidwell from the late 1868 until 1900, when Gen. Bidwell died. Annie continued to live there until her death in 1918...
, the Chico University Arboretum.
Sierra Nevada Brewing Company
Sierra Nevada Brewing Company
The Sierra Nevada Brewing Company was established in 1980 by homebrewers Ken Grossman and Paul Camusi.Located in Chico, California, Sierra Nevada Brewing is one of the top craft breweries currently operating in the United States. Sierra Nevada's Pale Ale is the second best-selling craft beer in the...
, the second-largest craft brewer in the country, is based in Chico. Butte Creek Brewing Company, maker of handcrafted organic ales, is also located in Chico.
Chico has the tallest building north of Sacramento in California: Whitney Hall, a nine-story dormitory on the Chico State
California State University, Chico
California State University, Chico is the second-oldest campus in the twenty-three-campus California State University system. It is located in Chico, California, about ninety miles north of Sacramento...
college campus.
The Meriam Library on the CSUC
California State University, Chico
California State University, Chico is the second-oldest campus in the twenty-three-campus California State University system. It is located in Chico, California, about ninety miles north of Sacramento...
campus is named
after Ted Meriam. The building has more square footage than any other building in California north of Sacramento
Sacramento
Sacramento is the capital of the state of California, in the United States of America.Sacramento may also refer to:- United States :*Sacramento County, California*Sacramento, Kentucky*Sacramento – San Joaquin River Delta...
.
The State of California, Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development defines Enloe Medical Center as a General Acute Care Hospital in Chico with a Level II Trauma Center
Trauma center
A trauma center is a hospital equipped to provide comprehensive emergency medical services to patients suffering traumatic injuries. Trauma centers grew into existence out of the realization that traumatic injury is a disease process unto itself requiring specialized and experienced...
and Basic emergency care as of August 22, 2006. The facility is located at 1531 The Esplanade at (NAD83) latitude/longitude 39°44′33"N 121°51′00"W.
The Hooker Oak
Hooker Oak
Hooker Oak was a large valley oak tree in Chico, California. It was named after English botanist and Director of the Royal Botanical Gardens, Sir Joseph Dalton Hooker by Annie Bidwell in 1887...
, formerly the largest Valley Oak
Valley Oak
Quercus lobata, commonly called the Valley oak, grows into the largest of North American oaks. It is endemic to California, growing in the interior valleys and foothills. Mature specimens may attain an age of up to 600 years. This deciduous oak requires year-round access to groundwater.Its thick,...
in the world, was located at Hooker Oak Recreation Area in Bidwell Park.
Located in urban Chico, the Mechoopda
Mechoopda
The Mechoopda is a Native American tribe located in northern California. The tribe speaks a language related to Maidu.The tribe was formerly centered in a village located about 3½ miles south of contemporary Chico, California. The Mechoopda became a federally recognized tribe in 1992....
Maidu
Maidu
The Maidu are a group of Native Americans who live in Northern California. They reside in the central Sierra Nevada, in the drainage area of the Feather and American Rivers...
Indian Tribe of Chico Rancheria is at 125 Mission Ranch Blvd.
Bidwell Municipal Golf Course, United States Department of Agriculture Plant Introduction Garden,
Canyon Oaks Golf Course, Diamond Match Factory, Chico Museum, Chico Municipal Center, Dorothy F. Johnson Neighborhood Center, Veterans Memorial Building, Craig Hall, Stansbury House, Scrappy Dog, Madison Bear Garden, Chico Creek Nature Center, Chico Community Observatory
Chico Community Observatory
Chico Community Observatory is an astronomical observatory owned and operated by Pacific Center for Astronomical Outreach. It is located in Chico, California .-References:# -External links:* Forecasts of observing conditions....
, Big Chico Creek Ecological Reserve, Chico Area Recreation and Park District, Bidwell Amphitheatre, Honey Run Covered Bridge
Honey Run Covered Bridge
Honey Run Bridge is a wooden covered bridge on Honey Run Road located about halfway in between Chico and Paradise in northern California. It is one of the few covered bridges left in California and is the only tri-span bridge in the United States. It was built in 1894 by George Miller. The bridge...
, Senator Theatre, A. H. Chapman House, Allen-Sommer-Gage House, Patrick Ranch House, Silberstein Park Building
Silberstein Park Building
The Silberstein Park Building is a building in downtown Chico, California located across from Chico's City Plaza. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on February 17, 1983....
, Pioneer Days
Pioneer Days (Chico, California)
Pioneer Days is the historical name of an annual community event in Chico, California celebrated the week prior to Pioneer Day, the first Saturday in May...
.
Sports
Chico is home to Nettleton StadiumNettleton Stadium
Nettleton Stadium is a baseball stadium in Chico, California on the campus of California State University, Chico. It is the home field for the CSU Chico Baseball team, the Wildcats, and the Chico Outlaws of the independent Golden League. It holds 4,200 people. The stadium was named for majority...
(also called The Net) baseball stadium
Baseball park
A baseball park, also known as a baseball stadium, ball park, or ballpark is a venue where baseball is played. It consists of the playing field and the surrounding spectator seating...
on the California State University campus. It is the home field for the CSU Chico Baseball team, the Chico State Wildcats in NCAA Division 2, and the Chico Outlaws
Chico Outlaws
The Chico Outlaws are a professional baseball team based in Chico, California, in the United States. The Outlaws are a member of the Western Division of the independent North American League, which is not affiliated with either Major League Baseball or Minor League Baseball...
of the Golden Baseball League
Golden Baseball League
The Golden Baseball League, based in San Ramon, California, was an independent baseball league. It later merged with the Northern League and the United Baseball League to form the North American League in the western United States, western Canada and Mexico....
.
Chico is also home of the Silver Dollar Speedway, a race track at the Butte County Fairgrounds used for sprint car racing
Sprint car racing
Sprint cars are high-powered race cars designed primarily for the purpose of running on short oval or circular dirt or paved tracks. Sprint car racing is popular in the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa....
.
Chico is one of few cities to be home to two championship baseball teams in two different leagues simultaneously. The CSUC Wildcats were champions in both the 1997 and 1999 Division II College World Series. The Chico Heat
Chico Heat
The Chico Heat were a professional independent baseball team operating in Chico, California in the Western Baseball League. They had no operating agreement with any Major League Baseball team. They were created by Chico Heat Professional Baseball LLC, with former supermarket entrepreneur Steve...
were also champions in the Western Baseball League
Western Baseball League
The Western Baseball League was an independent baseball league based in the Western United States and Western Canada. It's member teams were not associated with any Major League Baseball teams. It operated from 1995 to 2002....
in 1997.
Bicycling
Chico has also gained a reputation as being a bicycle-friendly city. In 1997, Chico was ranked as the number-one cycling city in the nation by Bicycle Magazine and also hosts the Wildflower Century, an annual 100 miles (160.9 km) bike ride throughout Butte CountyButte County, California
Butte County is a county located in the Central Valley of the US state of California, north of the state capital of Sacramento. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 220,000. The county seat is Oroville. Butte County is the "Land of Natural Wealth and Beauty."Butte County is watered by the...
every April, put on by Chico Velo Cycling Club. The city is in the process of creating a network of bicycle paths, trails and lanes. Some notable bicycle routes include a path leading from The Esplanade to the Chico Airport, a path running from downtown to East Avenue parallel to Hwy 32 along the railroad, a path along Park Avenue continuing down the Midway toward Durham, a path following Little Chico Creek from Bruce Road to Highway 99, and a series of paths throughout Bidwell Park
Bidwell Park
Bidwell Park is a municipal park located in Chico, California. The park was established July 10, 1905 through the donation by Annie Bidwell of approximately 2,500 acres of land to the City of Chico...
, and the Steve Harrison Memorial Bike Path, which bypasses Skyway and takes riders out to Honey Run Road.
Former sports organizations
Chico is former home of the Chico RooksChico Rooks
The Chico Rooks was an American soccer team, founded in 1993 by Guido Barbero. The team was a member of the National Premier Soccer League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, until 2006...
(Soccer), and the Chico Heat
Chico Heat
The Chico Heat were a professional independent baseball team operating in Chico, California in the Western Baseball League. They had no operating agreement with any Major League Baseball team. They were created by Chico Heat Professional Baseball LLC, with former supermarket entrepreneur Steve...
(Baseball – Western Baseball League
Western Baseball League
The Western Baseball League was an independent baseball league based in the Western United States and Western Canada. It's member teams were not associated with any Major League Baseball teams. It operated from 1995 to 2002....
).
Agriculture
The city of Chico, being in the Sacramento ValleySacramento Valley
The Sacramento Valley is the portion of the California Central Valley that lies to the north of the San Joaquin-Sacramento Delta in the U.S. state of California. It encompasses all or parts of ten counties.-Geography:...
, sits amid some of the most fertile soil on earth. The region is an agricultural leader. Almond
Almond
The almond , is a species of tree native to the Middle East and South Asia. Almond is also the name of the edible and widely cultivated seed of this tree...
s are the number one crop in the area, only recently edging out rice. Other crops in the area include walnut
Walnut
Juglans is a plant genus of the family Juglandaceae, the seeds of which are known as walnuts. They are deciduous trees, 10–40 meters tall , with pinnate leaves 200–900 millimetres long , with 5–25 leaflets; the shoots have chambered pith, a character shared with the wingnuts , but not the hickories...
s, kiwi
Kiwi
Kiwi are flightless birds endemic to New Zealand, in the genus Apteryx and family Apterygidae.At around the size of a domestic chicken, kiwi are by far the smallest living ratites and lay the largest egg in relation to their body size of any species of bird in the world...
s, olive
Olive
The olive , Olea europaea), is a species of a small tree in the family Oleaceae, native to the coastal areas of the eastern Mediterranean Basin as well as northern Iran at the south end of the Caspian Sea.Its fruit, also called the olive, is of major agricultural importance in the...
s, peach
Peach
The peach tree is a deciduous tree growing to tall and 6 in. in diameter, belonging to the subfamily Prunoideae of the family Rosaceae. It bears an edible juicy fruit called a peach...
es, and plum
Plum
A plum or gage is a stone fruit tree in the genus Prunus, subgenus Prunus. The subgenus is distinguished from other subgenera in the shoots having a terminal bud and solitary side buds , the flowers in groups of one to five together on short stems, and the fruit having a groove running down one...
s.
The city is bounded on the west by orchards with thousands of almond trees, and there are still a few pockets of orchards remaining within the contiguous city limits. The trees bloom with a pink/white flower in late February or early March. Millions of bee
Bee
Bees are flying insects closely related to wasps and ants, and are known for their role in pollination and for producing honey and beeswax. Bees are a monophyletic lineage within the superfamily Apoidea, presently classified by the unranked taxon name Anthophila...
s are brought in for the pollination. The nuts are harvested in late August.
Walnut
Walnut
Juglans is a plant genus of the family Juglandaceae, the seeds of which are known as walnuts. They are deciduous trees, 10–40 meters tall , with pinnate leaves 200–900 millimetres long , with 5–25 leaflets; the shoots have chambered pith, a character shared with the wingnuts , but not the hickories...
s are also a major agricultural production in the area north and west of town. Unlike the almond
Almond
The almond , is a species of tree native to the Middle East and South Asia. Almond is also the name of the edible and widely cultivated seed of this tree...
crops of the area, walnuts do not have the same appeal as they do not bloom but they grow much larger and live much longer than almonds, but similar to the almond
Almond
The almond , is a species of tree native to the Middle East and South Asia. Almond is also the name of the edible and widely cultivated seed of this tree...
crops, walnut
Walnut
Juglans is a plant genus of the family Juglandaceae, the seeds of which are known as walnuts. They are deciduous trees, 10–40 meters tall , with pinnate leaves 200–900 millimetres long , with 5–25 leaflets; the shoots have chambered pith, a character shared with the wingnuts , but not the hickories...
s are harvested in early September.
There are several Farmers' markets
Farmers' market
A farmers' market consists of individual vendors—mostly farmers—who set up booths, tables or stands, outdoors or indoors, to sell produce, meat products, fruits and sometimes prepared foods and beverages...
held in Chico: Wednesday mornings, May through November 7:30 am to Noon at the North Valley Plaza; Thursday night market with a street-fair atmosphere is sponsored by the Downtown Chico Business Association from 6–9 p.m. each Thursday night during warm months in downtown Chico on Broadway, between 2nd and 5th Streets; Chico Certified Farmer's Market every Saturday morning (year-round) from 7 am until 1 pm at the Wall Street public parking lot on 2nd and Wall Streets.
Air
Chico Municipal AirportChico Municipal Airport
Chico Municipal Airport , often called CMA, is a public airport located four miles north of the central business district of Chico, a city in Butte County, California, United States. The airport covers 1,475 acres and has two runways and one helipad. It is mostly used for general aviation, but...
serves the area and is north of the city limits. It is served by United Airlines
United Airlines
United Air Lines, Inc., is the world's largest airline with 86,852 employees United Air Lines, Inc., is the world's largest airline with 86,852 employees United Air Lines, Inc., is the world's largest airline with 86,852 employees (which includes the entire holding company United Continental...
' United Express
United Express
United Express is a brand name under which eight regional airlines operate feeder flights for United Airlines. They primarily connect smaller cities with United's domestic hub airports and “focus cities,” although they offer some point-to-point service such as Sacramento to Eureka.As of Sept...
operated by SkyWest Airlines
Skywest Airlines
Skywest Airlines Pty Ltd is a regional airline company based in Perth, Western Australia, Australia; servicing key towns in the state of Western Australia, Darwin, Northern Territory and Melbourne, Victoria; as well as charter flights to Bali, Indonesia....
(San Francisco). On July 31, 1961, the first-ever aircraft hijacking
Aircraft hijacking
Aircraft hijacking is the unlawful seizure of an aircraft by an individual or a group. In most cases, the pilot is forced to fly according to the orders of the hijackers. Occasionally, however, the hijackers have flown the aircraft themselves, such as the September 11 attacks of 2001...
on United States soil occurred at the Chico Municipal Airport
Chico Municipal Airport
Chico Municipal Airport , often called CMA, is a public airport located four miles north of the central business district of Chico, a city in Butte County, California, United States. The airport covers 1,475 acres and has two runways and one helipad. It is mostly used for general aviation, but...
. Two men were critically wounded and the hijacker was sentenced to more than 30 years in prison.
From 1962 to 2010, the airport was also home to Aero Union
Aero Union
For the Mexico City based cargo Airline see AeroUnionAero Union Corporation is an aircraft operation & maintenance company based in Chico, California, United States...
, a company that refits surplus military aircraft as fire fighting aircraft, until their move to McClellan Airfield
McClellan Airfield
McClellan Airfield , known officially as McClellan Airport, is a county-owned public-use airport located six miles northeast of the central business district of Sacramento, a city in Sacramento County, California, United States....
, near Sacramento.
Ranchaero Airport is surrounded by orchards on the west edge of town.
An altitude record for unmanned gas balloons was set in Chico in October 1972 (51.8 km). The record was broken in Japan on May 23, 2002.
Land
AmtrakAmtrak
The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak , is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971, to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States. "Amtrak" is a portmanteau of the words "America" and "track". It is headquartered at Union...
operates the Chico Amtrak
Chico (Amtrak station)
The Chico Amtrak station is a passenger station in Chico, California served by Amtrak. Formerly a Southern Pacific Railroad depot, it is located at Fifth and Orange Streets and is used by Amtrak's Coast Starlight service....
station at Fifth and Orange Streets for the Coast Starlight
Coast Starlight
The Coast Starlight is a passenger train operated by Amtrak on the West Coast of the United States. It runs from King Street Station in Seattle, Washington, to Union Station in Los Angeles, California. The train's name was formed as a merging of two of Southern Pacific's train names, the Coast...
service. The terminal is partially wheelchair accessible, has an enclosed waiting area, public restrooms, public pay phones, free short-term and long-term parking. Trains run between Seattle and Los Angeles
Union Station (Los Angeles)
Los Angeles Union Station is the main railway station in Los Angeles, California. The station has rail services by Amtrak and Amtrak California and Metrolink; light rail/subways are the Metro Rail Red Line, Purple Line, Gold Line. Bus rapid transport runs on the Silver Line...
with a northbound, and a southbound train departing from the station daily. The Greyhound
Greyhound Lines
Greyhound Lines, Inc., based in Dallas, Texas, is an intercity common carrier of passengers by bus serving over 3,700 destinations in the United States, Canada and Mexico, operating under the well-known logo of a leaping greyhound. It was founded in Hibbing, Minnesota, USA, in 1914 and...
bus station is also located at Fifth and Orange Streets.
The North Valley Shuttle has five scheduled runs daily to Sacramento International Airport
Sacramento International Airport
Sacramento International Airport is a public airport located 10 miles northwest of the central business district of Sacramento, in Sacramento County, California, USA. It is run by Sacramento County...
leaving from Jack's Restaurant at Sixth and Main Streets.
The B-Line (Butte Regional Transit
Butte Regional Transit
Butte Regional Transit is a public transit system which provides bus service in the communities of Biggs, Chico, Gridley, Magalia, Oroville, Palermo, Paradise and across Butte County, California. B-Line is the consolidation of CATS in Chico, OATS in Oroville and BCT in Butte County.-Butte Regional...
) serves the Chico Urban area with eight routes operating Monday through Saturday and two shuttle routes for CSU, Chico
California State University, Chico
California State University, Chico is the second-oldest campus in the twenty-three-campus California State University system. It is located in Chico, California, about ninety miles north of Sacramento...
students during the academic year. The Chico Clipper serves the Chico urban area with nine modified vans providing transportation for the elderly and the mobility impaired seven days a week. The transit center in Chico is located at Second and Salem Streets.
Chico is a bronze level Bicycle-friendly
Bicycle-friendly
The term bicycle-friendly describes policies and practices which may help some people feel more comfortable about traveling by bicycle with other traffic...
community as designated by the League of American Bicyclists
League of American Bicyclists
The League of American Bicyclists is a non-profit membership organization which promotes cycling for fun, fitness and transportation through advocacy and education....
. Chico was also named "America's Best Bike Town" by Bicycle magazine in 1997.
Pedicabs are commonly available downtown during the evenings.
Major highways
State Route 99California State Route 99
California State Route 99 , commonly known as Highway 99 or, simply, as 99 , is a north–south state highway in the U.S. state of California, stretching almost the entire length of the Central Valley...
and
State Route 32California State Route 32
State Route 32 is an east–west state highway in the U.S. State of California which is routed from Interstate 5 in Orland, through Chico, through the northern Sierra Nevada, ending at SR 36 and SR 89 in eastern Tehama County.-Route description:...
intersect in Chico.
- Chico Enterprise-RecordChico Enterprise-RecordThe Chico Enterprise-Record is the daily newspaper of Chico, California. Also known as the E-R, the newspaper was first published in Bidwell Bar, California as the Butte Record in 1853 and is now part of the MediaNews Group corporation, who took control of the paper from Donrey in 1999...
- Chico News & ReviewNews and ReviewThe News & Review is a group of free alternative weekly newspapers published by Chico Community Publishing, Inc. of Chico, California...
- InsideOut Magazine
- The OrionThe Orion (California State University, Chico)The Orion is the student newspaper of California State University, Chico and produces 32 issues every year, 16 each semester. Its offices are in the basement of Plumas Hall on the Chico State campus. It has won numerous state and national awards, including several National Pacemakers...
- Synthesis (weekly magazine)
- Upstate Business Journal
- Videomaker MagazineVideomaker MagazineVideomaker is a magazine publication dedicated to video production. The magazine's publisher/editor, Matthew York, founded the publication with his wife Patrice York, Associate Publisher, to "empower people to make video and to democratize and enrich television."-Overview :When Videomaker started...
- Growing Up Chico Magazine
- Butte College Roadrunner
- Community Seeds Magazine
- Edible Shasta-Butte (quarterly magazine)
Rankings
- Chico was ranked No. 1 in Forbes Magazine's "Best Places in America" (May 2000).
- Chico was ranked 13th in Money.Com's "Best Places to Live" survey in 1999.
- Rated No. 16 on Healthy Cities list, by Organic Style magazine, September/October 2003.
- Chico was ranked No. 17 in Farmers Insurance list of Most Secure Cities (2006) for cities under 150,000.
Defense
Chico was designated to be the provisional capital of California, in the event that a disaster occurred that would cause evacuation of SacramentoSacramento
Sacramento is the capital of the state of California, in the United States of America.Sacramento may also refer to:- United States :*Sacramento County, California*Sacramento, Kentucky*Sacramento – San Joaquin River Delta...
after a Civil Defense
Civil defense
Civil defense, civil defence or civil protection is an effort to protect the citizens of a state from military attack. It uses the principles of emergency operations: prevention, mitigation, preparation, response, or emergency evacuation, and recovery...
exercise named Operation Chico
Operation Chico
Operation Chico was a Civil Defense exercise conducted December 6-7, 1958 which consisted of a strategic evacuation of approximately 500 families from Solano County, California to the city of Chico, California and overnight care for the evacuees...
was deemed a success.
No person shall produce, test, maintain, or store within the city a nuclear weapon
Nuclear weapon
A nuclear weapon is an explosive device that derives its destructive force from nuclear reactions, either fission or a combination of fission and fusion. Both reactions release vast quantities of energy from relatively small amounts of matter. The first fission bomb test released the same amount...
, component of a nuclear weapon, nuclear weapon delivery system, or component of a nuclear weapon delivery system under penalty of Chapter 9.60.030 of the Chico Municipal Code.
Notable residents
See also
- Bidwell ParkBidwell ParkBidwell Park is a municipal park located in Chico, California. The park was established July 10, 1905 through the donation by Annie Bidwell of approximately 2,500 acres of land to the City of Chico...
- California State University, ChicoCalifornia State University, ChicoCalifornia State University, Chico is the second-oldest campus in the twenty-three-campus California State University system. It is located in Chico, California, about ninety miles north of Sacramento...
- College townCollege townA college town or university town is a community which is dominated by its university population...
- Butte CountyButte County, CaliforniaButte County is a county located in the Central Valley of the US state of California, north of the state capital of Sacramento. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 220,000. The county seat is Oroville. Butte County is the "Land of Natural Wealth and Beauty."Butte County is watered by the...
- Operation ChicoOperation ChicoOperation Chico was a Civil Defense exercise conducted December 6-7, 1958 which consisted of a strategic evacuation of approximately 500 families from Solano County, California to the city of Chico, California and overnight care for the evacuees...