Chico (pop. 84,396) is the most populous city in Butte County, California, United States. The city is a cultural, economic, and educational center of the northern Sacramento Valley. Chico is home to California State University, Chico and Bidwell Park, one of the 20 largest municipal parks in the country.[1] Other major cities in the Chico Metropolitan Area include Paradise and Oroville.
City of Chico, California
Rancho del Arroyo Chico | |
|---|---|
| Kendall Hall at California State University, Chico Kendall Hall at California State University, Chico | |
| Nickname(s): City of Roses, City of Trees | |
 Location of Chico in California | |
| Country County | United States Butte |
| Settled | 1843 |
| Founded | 1860 |
| Incorporated | January 8, 1872 |
| Founded by | John Bidwell |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Andrew Holcombe |
| • City Council | Scott Gruendl Steve Bertagna |
| Area | |
| • City | 71.9 km2 (27.8 sq mi) |
| • Land | 71.8 km2 (27.7 sq mi) |
| • Water | 0.036 km2 (> .01 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 74 m (245 ft) |
| Population (2006 City estimate) | |
| • City | 84,396 |
| • Density | 834.5/km2 (2,161.0/sq mi) |
| • Urban | 105,080[1] |
| • Metro | 212,968 |
| Time zone | UTC-8 (PST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-7 (PDT) |
| ZIP Code | 95926, 95927, 95928, 95929, 95973 |
| Area code | 530 |
| Website | http://www.chico.ca.us |
History
The Bidwell Era
The original inhabitants of Chico were the Mechoopda Maidu.
Chico was founded by General John Bidwell, a member of one of the first wagon trains to reach California in 1843. Bidwell first came to the area in that same year as an employee of John Sutter.
In 1844, Arroyo Chico was granted by California Governor Manuel Michetorena under Mexican law, to William Dickey.
In two separate purchases in 1849 and 1851, Bidwell acquired the 28,000 acre Rancho del Arroyo Chico. He filed a claim for the land with the US Lands Commission in 1852, and the claim was confirmed the next year. After a subsequent legal challenge, the claim was confirmed by the US District Court for the Northern District in 1855, and eventually by the US Supreme Court. The title patent was signed by President James Buchanan in 1860.
A treaty of "peace and friendship" was signed on September 18, 1853 between the Mechoopda, and other tribes of the area near Bidwell's Ranch; Indians at Reading's Ranch at Colusa; and tribes along the Consumnes and Yuba rivers. United States Indian Agent O. M. Wozencraft represented the U.S. Government at Bidwell's Ranch.
The Butte Flume and Lumber Co. built a flume from Butte Meadows down Big Chico Creek in 1872, completing it in 1874. This flume would supply the Diamond Match Company with lumber for its operations.
The City of Chico was founded in 1860 by General John Bidwell. That year, Bidwell requested the county send a surveyor to lay out the city street grid.
Chico was the starting point of the Koncow Trail of Tears also called the Nome Cult Trail. On August 28, 1863 all Konkow Maidu were to be at the Bidwell Ranch to be taken to the Round Valley Reservation at Covelo in Mendocino County. Any Indians remaining in the area were to be shot. 435 Maidu were rounded up and marched under guard west out of the Sacramento Valley and through to the Coastal Range. 461 Indians started the trek, 277 finished. They reached Round Valley on September 18, 1863.
The city became incorporated January 8, 1872.
In 1877, anti-Chinese riots erupted.
In 1892, Chico's Founder, John Bidwell, was the Prohibition Party candidate for President of the United States. The Bidwell/Cranfill ticket received 271,058 votes, or 2.3% nationwide. It was the largest total vote and highest percentage of the vote received by any Prohibition Party national ticket. The Madison Bear Garden at Second and Salem Streets was the Prohibition party headquarters. Several streets in Chico are named after prominent prohibitionists such as Neal Dow Avenue, West and East Frances Willard Streets, and Tom Polk avenue.
In 1887, the California legislature established the Northern Branch of the State Normal School of California. Chico was chosen as its site, and Bidwell donated land from his cherry orchard for this purpose. This school would come to be called the Chico Normal School, Chico State College, and finally California State University, Chico.
Chico was the northern terminus of the Sacramento Northern Railroad, an electrified railway which extended south to Sacramento and Oakland in the San Francisco Bay Area.
On July 10, 1905. Annie Bidwell signed a grant deed donating 1,902.88 acres to the people of Chico for a public park. These initial acres were expanded upon several times over the years, resulting in the creation of Bidwell Park, one of the largest municipal parks in the nation.
Pioneer Days
In 1917 the first parade that would later come to be called the Pioneer Day Parade was held on the downtown streets as a celebration of Senior Day. This tradition would continue as a celebration of local heritage under various names on the first Saturday in May each year until 1990. [2]
During WWII the Chico Army Air Field was used to train fighter and bomber pilots. It was also home of the 555th Parachute Infantry Battalion.
In the late fifties and early sixties, the city wrestled with the controversial issue of creating a bypass for Highway 99 through Bidwell Park. The viaduct was built 1963-65. [3]
On April 22, 1970, students celebrating the first Earth Day on the Chico State campus pushed a car into West First Street (which was then Highway 32) blocking traffic. The street was closed temporarily for safety. The incident escalated into a demonstration that lasted into the night. The protesters were arrested on conspiracy charges which were later dropped. The street re-opened the next day, however it was permanently closed over the segment running through campus later that year.
On July 21, 1982, the Butte County Board of Supervisors approved an amendment to the 1979 Butte County Land Use Element of the Butte County General Plan with the purpose of preserving agricultural land. This amendment established a "Green Line" on the west side of Chico beyond which urban development would be restricted. This line is responsible for the continued existence of working orchards relatively close to the core of the growing city.
In 1987 Playboy Magazine named Chico State the "Number One Party School" in the nation. University President Robin Wilson met with city officials including City Manager Fred Davis, and Police Chief, John Bullerjahn with the goal of ending the reputation by ending the parties directly with police force. On April 25, 1987 police riots broke out during the Pioneer Days celebration. President Wilson announced an end to the 70 year old tradition saying, he took Pioneer Days "out back and shot it in the head." The tradition was revived in 1996 and has continued to this day. [4] [5]
In 1996, the Olympic Torch arrived in Chico at the Amtrak station. The torch was carried through the closed streets with thousands of Chicoans celebrating along the path.
In 1996 the recently re-elected council member Ted Hubert died prior to being re-sworn in, and more significantly, before the selection of mayor had occurred. The evenly, and deeply divided council stalemated on the selection. This resulted in a rotating Mayor Pro Tempore system for about six months. The remaining six council members each took turns serving as meeting chair until they appointed Bill Johnston to fill the council vacancy, and Rick Keene mayor.
The Contemporary Era
In the years while the Pioneer Days celebration was cancelled (1990-1996), the Halloween and St. Patrick's Day celebrations grew into much larger events. These holidays had always enjoyed a high rate of participation in Chico, due to its young population. However, with the loss of Pioneer Days, people's energy was redirected so as to make St. Patrick's Day and Halloween look more like Mardi Gras in New Orleans. Mutual aid was invoked by police each year for several years. In 2000 and 2001, the City closed downtown streets to accommodate the thousands of Halloween revelers.
However, in 2002 the streets were no longer closed. The City even conducted a TV ad campaign telling people not to come downtown for Halloween. In response to the incidence of thrown bottles, and broken glass, the City Council has established a "Glass Free Zone" largely contiguous with the downtown and the South Campus Neighborhood. The Council activates the "Glass Free Zone" every Halloween and St. Patrick's Day and from time to time at the request of the police when they believe there will be a large gathering of revelers. Most recently, Cesar Chavez Day was added to the growing list of holidays requiring such a response.
In 1999, the tower supporting the famous Diamond on top of the Senator Theatre at Fifth and Main was discovered to be leaning. It was determined to be at risk of collapse, and was removed. The tower was refurbished and put back in place in 2005.
In 2003, a branch from one of the majestic Siberian Elms trees planted in 1873 by John Bidwell in City Plaza fell and hit a person sitting on a bench. The incident prompted the removal of the trees, some of which had rotting roots. The city embarked on a renovation of City Plaza in 2005, and in November 2006, the newly renovated Chico City Plaza was re-opened.
Geography
Location
Chico is located at 39°44′24″N 121°50′8″W / 39.74000°N 121.83556°WInvalid arguments have been passed to the {{#coordinates:}} function (39.739983, -121.835460)Template:GR.
Chico is located at the northeast edge of the Sacramento Valley, 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 from the city limit.
Topography
Chico sits on the Sacramento Valley floor close to the foothills of the Cascade range and the Sierra Nevada range with Little Chico Creek being the demarcation line between the Cascade range (North of Little Chico Creek) and the Sierra Nevada range (South of Little Chico Creek). 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 71.9 km² (27.8 mi²). 71.8 km² (27.7 mi²) of it is land and 0.04% is water.
The city is bisected by Bidwell Park, which runs five miles 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).
Street system
The downtown area of Chico is located generally between Big Chico Creek and Little Chico Creek. The downtown has a street grid oriented approximately 45° 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. The main thoroughfare running NW-SE through the city is Business 99, known as Main Street, Park Avenue, and The Esplanade. 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 city streets are designated as "East" or "West" by their relation to The Esplanade, Main Street, or Park Avenue which are essentially the same north-south street (the former Business 99) with different names.
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 Esplanade in either direction, with the exception of 11th.
In the numbered streets and avenues and most other streets that intersect 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.
If you stand at the bridge over the Big Chico Creek where Main St. changes to Esplanade and face north, the odd addresses are on the left (Bidwell Mansion is 525 Esplanade). This convention holds for all the numbered avenues. However, if you now face 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 Creek 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, and Oroville Avenue converge is known as The Junction, the southernmost part of the downtown.
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 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" which is 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 refers to 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.
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.
Other neighborhoods: South Park, North Park, Canyon Oaks (located inside Califorinia Park), Cussick Area Neighborhood, Little Chico Creek Estates, Big Chico Creek Estates, Vallombrosa, Baroni Park, & 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.
Parks and Creekside Greenways
Parks
- First & Verbena Park (undeveloped)
- Baroni Park (undeveloped)
- Bidwell Park
- 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 (undeveloped)
- 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
Climate
Chico and the Sacramento Valley have a typically Mediterranean climate. Temperatures often rise past the 100-degree mark in the summer. Chico is one of the top metropolitan areas in the nation for number of clear days. [6][7] Winters are fairly mild, with the most rainfall coming in January. The average annual rainfall is 26.04 inches. Tule fog is often present during the autumn and winter months. [8]
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg high °F (°C) | 54 (12) | 60 (16) | 66 (19) | 73 (23) | 81 (27) | 90 (32) | 97 (36) | 95 (35) | 89 (32) | 79 (26) | 66 (19) | 55 (13) |
| Avg low temperature °F (°C) | 36 (2) | 39 (4) | 41 (5) | 45 (7) | 50 (10) | 56 (13) | 60 (16) | 58 (14) | 54 (12) | 47 (8) | 40 (4) | 36 (2) |
| Avg precipitation inches | 4.9 | 4.1 | 3.1 | 1.9 | 1 | 0.4 | -- | -- | 0.5 | 1.3 | 2.6 | 4.5 |
Demographics
Population
As of the most recent annexations, the city has a total population of 84,396 (according to city estimates). Chico is the 19th largest Metropolitan Statistical area in California and the 194th largest in the United States with a metro population of 212,968.
Special Population Note: Although the Census Bureau states the 2000 population as 59,954, a large portion of the Chico urban area is unincorporated territory. Additionally, the local growth rate in Chico (and the surrounding area) in recent years has been close to 2.5%, increasing the population steadily. As of January 2006, the city government estimates the population of the city to be 84,396 and the population of the urban area (including adjacent unincorporated areas) to be 105,080.
Owing to the influence of California State University, Chico and Butte College, the population of Chico is highly transient.
Households
As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there were 59,954 people, 23,476 households, and 11,644 families residing in the city. The population density was 834.5/km² (2,161.0/mi²). There were 24,386 housing units at an average density of 339.4/km² (879.0/mi²).
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.
Race and Religion
The racial makeup of the city was 82.36% White, 2.03% Black or African American, 1.30% Native American, 4.21% Asian, 0.19% Pacific Islander, 5.65% from other races, and 4.25% from two or more races. 12.26% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
- Part of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Sacramento
- Part of the Episcopal Diocese of Northern California
Age and Sex
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.
Economy
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.
Much of the local economy is driven by the presence of California State University, Chico. Industries providing employment: Educational, health and social services (30.3%), Retail trade (14.9%), Arts, entertainment, recreation, accommodation and food services (12.6%). [9]
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Top 10 Non-Manufacturing Employers [10] (by Employee Size) *
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Top 10 Manufacturing Employers [11] (by Employee Size) *
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Government
Municipal
The City of Chico is a charter city. 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.
County
The citizens of Chico are represented in the Butte County Board of Supervisors by the District Two Supervisor Jane Dolan and the District Three Supervisor Maureen Kirk.
The Butte County Association of Governments office is located in Chico at 965 Fir Street.
State
The citizens of Chico, as members of California's 3rd Assembly District, are represented by Rick Keene (R, Chico) in the California State Assembly; and as members of California's 4th Senate District, are represented by Sam Aanestad (R, Grass Valley) in the California State Senate.
Federal
The citizens of Chico, as members of California's 2nd congressional district, are represented by Wally Herger (R, Rio Oso) in the United States House of Representatives.
Education
The Chico Unified School District includes all of the greater Chico area including area not within the city limits.
Primary Education
Elementary
Chapman Elementary School, Citrus Elementary School, Cohasset Elementary School, Emma Wilson Elementary School, Forest Ranch Elementary School, John A. McManus Elementary School, Little Chico Creek Elementary School, Marigold Elementary School, Neal Dow Elementary School, Parkview Elementary School, Rosedale Elementary School, Shasta Elementary School, Sierra View Elementary School, Hooker Oak Elementary School.
Junior High
Bidwell Junior High School and Chico Junior High School, Marsh Junior High School all are 6th, 7th and 8th.
Secondary Education
Public
- Chico High School — 901 Esplanade
- Pleasant Valley High School — 1475 East Avenue
Private
Champion Christian School — 1184 East Avenue, Pleasant Valley Baptist School — 13539 Garner Lane
Higher Education
California State University, Chico, Butte College, Cal Northern School of Law, University of Phoenix, Chico Beauty College.
Culture
Museums
The Chico Air Museum is an aviation museum which opened in 2004. The Chico Museum is a museum of history, opened in 1986. The National Yo-Yo Museum is the country's largest collection of yo-yo artifacts. An art museum, the Chico Art Center is also located in the city.
Two other historic buildings are also museums. Bidwell Mansion is a Victorian house from the 1860s, and the former home of John and Annie Bidwell. Bidwell Mansion is a California State Historic Park. Stansbury House, former home of physician Oscar Stansbury is a museum of 19th century life.[12]
Art and theatre
About 40 murals and several galleries can be found in the city. The theatres in Chico include Blue Room Theatre, Chico Cabaret, Chico Performances, Chico Theater Company, and Theatre on the Ridge. [13]
Points of interest
Chico is the site of Bidwell Park, the ninth-largest municipal 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 floor area 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 08/22/2006. The facility is located on The Esplanade at (NAD83) latitude/longitude 39°44′33″N 121°51′00″W / 39.74250°N 121.85000°W.
The Hooker Oak formerly the largest Valley Oak in the world was located at Hooker Oak Park in Chico.
Located in urban Chico, the Mechoopda Maidu Indian Tribe of Chico Rancheria is at 125 Mission Ranch Blvd. (latitude and longitude 39°43′55″N 121°51′10″W / 39.73194°N 121.85278°W).
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.
Sports
In its July/August 2006 journal, the group American Whitewater named Chico one of the top five US whitewater cities along with Johnstown, Pennsylvania; Asheville, NC; Boise, Idaho and Washington, DC. [14]
- Chico Outlaws (Baseball - Golden Baseball League)
- Chico Heat (old baseball team - Western Baseball League)
- Chico Rooks (Soccer)
- Chico Force (International Basketball League)
- Chico Vandals possible expansion team of the Minor League Football Association
- Chico is also home to the National Yo-Yo Contest.
Notable Chicoans
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Agriculture
The city of Chico, being in the Sacramento Valley, sits amid some of the most fertile soil on earth. The region is an agricultural leader. Almonds are the number one crop in the area, only recently edging out rice. Other crops in the area include: kiwis, olives, peaches, and plums.
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 bees are brought in for the pollination. The nuts are harvested in late August.
Walnuts 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, walnuts are harvested in early September.
There is a Farmers' Market held on closed downtown streets each Thursday night during warm months, as well as one on Saturday mornings at the Wall Street public parking lot.
Transportation
Airports
Chico Municipal Airport is the major airport facility serving this area and is north of the city limits. CMA is served by United Airlines' United Express operated by SkyWest (San Francisco) The airport is also home to Aero Union, a company that refits surplus military aircraft as fire fighting aircraft.
Ranchaero Airport, a general aviation field with an FAA identifier of O23, is surrounded by orchards on the west edge of town at 39°43′14″N 121°43′14″W / 39.72056°N 121.72056°W.
Surface Transportation
Amtrak 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 payphones, 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.
There are at least eight taxi companies in Chico: Yellow Cab of Chico, American Taxi, Liberty Cab, Chico Independent Taxi, Checkers Cab, Eco Cab, Taxi Dave, and Premier Taxi.
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.
Major highways
California State Route 99 and 
California State Route 32 intersect in Chico.
Media
- Chico Enterprise-Record
- Chico News and Review
- The Chico Beat
- InsideOut Magazine
- Orion (newspaper)
- Synthesis (magazine)
- Synthesis (weekly)
- Upstate Business Journal
- Videomaker
- Growing Up Chico Magazine
- Butte College Roadrunner
Television
Radio
Sister Cities
Trivia
- An altitude record for unmanned gas balloons was set in Chico in October 1972 (51.8km). The record was broken in Japan on May 23, 2002.
- Home of the world's largest working yo-yo.
- Former home to a Titan I missile base.
- Chico was ranked #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.
- Lenny Bruce was confined at a State Rehabilitation Center in Chico for treatment of his drug addiction by court order.
- Chico was ranked #17 in Farmers Insurance list of Most Secure Cities (2006) for cities under 150,000.
- Keystone (beer brand) was first introduced in Chico.
- Chico was proposed to be the designated provisional capital of California, in the event that a disaster occurred that would cause evacuation of Sacramento. However Auburn was chosen instead due to a partisan reaction in the legislature to some local criticism of the greater issue of nuclear proliferation from a Chico State professor.
- 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.
- One of few cities to be home to two championship baseball teams in two different leauges 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.
See also
References
- ^ "The 100 Largest City Parks" (PDF). The Trust for Public Land.
- ^ http://www.taugammatheta.com/historyofpweek.htm
- ^ http://www.friendsofbidwellpark.org/lydonhistory.html
- ^ http://www.pioneerdayparade.com/history.php
- ^ http://www.csuchico.edu/lspr/bits.htm
- ^ http://www.csuchico.edu/pub/facts/
- ^ http://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/bplive/2006/snapshots/PL0613014.html
- ^ http://www.newsreview.com/chico/Content?oid=oid%3A32555
- ^ http://www.city-data.com/city/Chico-California.html
- ^ http://www.chicochamber.com/filebin/2005_EC_profile_final.pdf Chico's 2005-6 Economic Profile
- ^ http://www.chicochamber.com/filebin/2005_EC_profile_final.pdf Chico's 2005-6 Economic Profile
- ^ Museums & Historic Buildings Chico city website
- ^ Art, Theatre and Music Chico city website
- ^ American Whitewater Journal July/August 2006 (not published on the web yet)
- ^ http://www.newsreview.com/chico/Content?oid=oid%3A43367 Chico gets a Southern sister
External links
- City of Chico — The Official City Web Site
- Downtown Chico Business Association
- Chico Chamber of Commerce
- City-data.com info on Chico
- Chico Wiki — The Community Wiki for Chico
- Search Chico — A Chico Community Search Engine
- Bidwell Park
- California State University, Chico