Chico, CA

Chico, California

Introduction to Chico, California

Chico, California is a city located in Butte County, at the northeast edge of the Sacramento Valley approximately 90 miles north of the state capital of Sacramento. Serviced principally by California State Highways 32 and 99, Chico is also accessible to State Highways 45, 70, 162; and Interstate I-5. The Sierra Nevada Mountains lie to the east of the city and the Sacramento River borders the city to the west.

Originally inhabited by the Mechoopda Maidu Indians, Chico was founded in 1860 by early California pioneer General John Bidwell. Before the end of the 19th century, Chico became the northern terminus of the Sacramento Northern Railroad and was also chosen as the site for the Northern Branch of the State Normal School of California, later to become California State University, Chico. Incorporated in 1872 with a population of approximately 1,000 in an area of 6.6 square miles, Chico has since grown enormously in both size and population. The city today is the economic, cultural, and educational hub of the northern Sacramento Valley.

Things to See and Do in Chico

Chico's 3,670-acre Bidwell Park, one of the largest municipal parks in the nation, caters to many outdoor recreational tastes, including swimming, mountain biking, horseback riding, and hiking. The Stansbury Home, an 1883 symbol of Victorian heritage, offers visitors a taste of Chico's history. The Chico Creek Nature Center is a kid-friendly museum offering interactive displays of the area`s plants, animals and natural history. The Chico Museum, housed in a 1904 library edifice, offers visitors exhibits of varied historical interest. The Chico Air Museum, the city's newest attraction, houses historic aircraft and a wealth of aerial exhibits. Other local sites of interest include the Chico Art Center, the Chico Community Observatory, the Silver Dollar Speedway, and the Coleman Historical Museum. Annual events in town include January's Annual Snow Goose Festival of the Pacific Flyway, the Chico AirFest and "Taste of Chico" events (both held in September), and the Farm City Celebration (November). The city also boasts two professional sports teams: the Chico Outlaws are an independent baseball team which plays in the Golden Baseball League (GBL). The Chico Force is a basketball team which plays in the newly-formed International Basketball League (IBL), a summer league which features teams from the West Coast and the Midwest.

High Points

Chico strengths, compared to Peers (similar size places nationally) or State (other places in California):

Category	Trophy
Walking and Biking to Work (vs. Peers)	Top 2%
Short Commute Times (vs. State)	Top 5%

Comparative Profile of Chico, CA

Comparing Chico to similar size places nationwide (Peers) and to other places in California (State):

Ratings range from (lowest) to (highest).

The People

Characteristic	Compared to Peers	Compared to State
Male Share of the Population
Racial Diversity
Female Share of the Population
Senior Citizens
Children Under 5 Years Old
Well-Paid Single Men
Age of the Population

Families

Characteristic	Compared to Peers	Compared to State
Average Household Size
Portion of People Married

Wealth

Characteristic	Compared to Peers	Compared to State
College Educated Adults
Median Family Income
People in Middle Class or Better
People Above Poverty

Commute & Sprawl

Characteristic	Compared to Peers	Compared to State
Walking and Biking to Work
Short Commute Times
Working at Home
Public Transportation Use

Housing

Characteristic	Compared to Peers	Compared to State
Studio & One-Bedroom Rentals
Housing Recently Built
Affordability of Property Taxes
People Living Alone
Affordability of Rents
Seasonal and Vacation Housing

Crime

Characteristic	Compared to Peers	Compared to State
Low Violent Crime
Low Property Crime

Chico Almanac

Chico Climate

Nearest Weather Stations

• Temp ranges are avg daily min and max for the month
• Precipitation is rainfall (and rainfall equiv of snowfall)

Chico Population (2000)

(From 2000 Census, as reported by individuals)

Neighborhood and Nearby Area Names

According to the US Postal Service, Chico, its neighborhoods, and/or surrounding areas are also referred to as:

Note that not all alternate names are acceptable for use in US Post Office addresses.

Nearby Cities and Towns

Chico Hospitals

ENLOE MEDICAL CENTER
(Voluntary non-profit - Private)
1531 ESPLANADE
(530) 332-7371
Emergency Service: Yes

Starbucks in Chico

Wal-Mart in Chico

Chico High Schools (2004)

CHICO HIGH
901 ESPLANADE
530-891-3026
Serves 2,085 students.
Student/teacher ratio: 23.6

PLEASANT VALLEY HIGH
1475 EAST AVE.
530-879-5100
Serves 1,996 students.
Student/teacher ratio: 23.4

FAIR VIEW HIGH (CONT.)
102 W. 11TH ST.
530-891-3092
A Non-traditional School
Title I eligible, not participating.
Serves 234 students.
Student/teacher ratio: 21.3

OAKDALE
102 W. 11TH ST.
530-895-4129
A Non-traditional School
Serves 131 students.
Student/teacher ratio: 22.6

BUTTE COUNTY COMMUNITY
2491 CARMICHAEL DR. STE 500
530-879-7472
A Non-traditional School
Serves 103 students.
Student/teacher ratio: 17.2

CENTER FOR ALTERNATIVE LEARNING
1051 BROADWAY
530-895-4185
A Non-traditional School
Title I eligible, not participating.
Serves 97 students.
Student/teacher ratio: 12.1

LOMA VISTA
2404 MARIGOLD AVENUE
530-879-7400
Serves 63 students.
Student/teacher ratio: 4.6

SCHOOL OF APPLIED RESOURCES
3935 MORROW LANE
530-891-2808
A Non-traditional School
Serves 10 students.
Student/teacher ratio: 10

Chico Colleges

Click school name for a detailed profile.

California State University-Chico

(List of All California Colleges)

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