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'''Downtown Chico''' is the main commercial district in Chico. It is located generally between the [[Big Chico Creek]] and The [[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. 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.
'''Downtown Chico''' is the main commercial district in Chico. It is located generally between the [[Big Chico Creek]] and The [[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. 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.


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. 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 [[California State University, Chico|Chico State]] students. The intersection of Fifth and Ivy Streets is a neighborhood commercial core referred to locally as "Five and I."
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. 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 [[California State University, Chico|Chico State]] students. The intersection of Fifth and Ivy Streets is a neighborhood commercial core referred to locally as "Five and I."


The '''Barber''' neighborhood is the residential neighborhood generally south of the [[Little Chico Creek]] and west of Park avenue. This neighborhood was originally built to house the employees of the adjacent Diamond Match Factory. The neighborhood was named after [[O.C. Barber|Ohio Columbus Barber]], President of the Diamond Match Company. Today, the Diamond Match property is designated for a future development called '''Barber Yard'''.
The '''Barber''' neighborhood is residential neighborhood generally south of the [[Little Chico Creek]] and west of Park avenue. This neighborhood was originally built to house the employees of the adjacent Diamond Match Factory. The neighborhood was named after [[O.C. Barber|Ohio Columbus Barber]], President of the Diamond Match Company. Today, the Diamond Match property is designated for a future development called '''Barber Yard'''.


The '''Chapmantown''' neighborhood 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 [[Butte County, California|County of Butte.]] Chapmantown is currently known as the area bounded by The [[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 '''Chapmantown''' neighborhood 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 [[Butte County, California|County of Butte.]] Chapmantown is currently known as the area bounded by The [[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.

Revision as of 04:29, 20 January 2007

City of Chico, California
Rancho del Arroyo Chico
Kendall Hall at California State University, Chico
Kendall Hall at California State University, Chico
Official seal of City of Chico, California
Seal
Nickname(s): 
City of Roses, City of Trees
Location of Chico in California
Location of Chico in California
Country

State

County		United States

California

Butte
Settled1843
Founded1860
Incorporated1872
Founded byJohn Bidwell
Government
 • MayorAndrew Holcombe
 • City CouncilScott Gruendl

Steve Bertagna
Larry Wahl
Ann Schwab
Mary Flynn

Tom Nickell
 • City ManagerGreg Jones
Elevation
75 m (245 ft)
Population
 (most recent annexations)
 • City79,091
 • Urban
100,675
 • Metro
212,968
Time zoneUTC-8 (PST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-7 (PDT)
ZIP Code
95926, 95927, 95928, 95929, 95973
Area code530
Websitehttp://www.chico.ca.us

Chico is the most populous city in Butte County, California, United States. The city is the cultural, economic, and educational center of the northern Sacramento Valley. Chico is home to California State University, Chico and Bidwell Park, one of the largest municipal parks in the country. Other major cities in the Chico Metropolitan Area include Paradise and Oroville.

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 wagontrains 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, and became incorporated in 1872.

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.

In 1877, anti-Chinese riots erupted.

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.

post-Bidwell Era

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. [1]

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. [2]

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 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.

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 the they appointed Bill Johnston to fill the council vacancy, and Rick Keene mayor.

Geography

File:Sat-chico.gif
Google Maps image of the downtown Chico area

Location

Chico is located at 39°44′24″N 121°50′8″W / 39.74000°N 121.83556°W / 39.74000; -121.83556Invalid 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 Sierra Nevada range. 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 the Lindo Channel.

Street system

The downtown area of Chico is located generally in between the Big Chico Creek and the 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 The Esplanade. The Esplanade is the divider where all street names change from "West" to "East." 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 with different names.

There are numbered streets and avenues both of which run east-west. This fact can cause some confusion. The "Streets" run south of the Chico State campus through downtown, while the "Avenues" run 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. This convention holds throughout the numbered streets.

Neighborhoods

Downtown Chico is the main commercial district in Chico. It is located generally between the Big Chico Creek and The 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. 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.

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.

The Barber neighborhood is a working class residential neighborhood generally south of the Little Chico Creek and west of Park avenue. 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.

The Chapmantown neighborhood 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 The 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 the Chico State campus and is south of the 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 class families now also call it home (and park carefree).

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.

South Park, North Park, Canyon Oaks, Cussick Area Neighborhood, Little Chico Creek Estates, Big Chico Creek Estates, Vallombrosa, Baroni Park.

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. [3][4] 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. [5]

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

As of the most recent annexations, the city has a total population of 79,091. 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.

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). 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.

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.

Special Population Note: Although the Census Bureau states the 2000 population as 59,954, a large portion of the city population is unaccounted for due to local and county zoning irregularities. 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 73,558 and the population of the adjacent urbanized unincorporated area to be 28,562.

Religious affiliation breaks down as follows: Protestant (56%), Roman Catholic (28%), Jewish (2%), Muslim (1%) [6]

Owing to the influence of California State University, Chico and Butte College the population of Chico is highly transient.

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%). [7]

Top 10 Non-Manufacturing Employers [8] (by Employee Size) *

  1. Enloe Medical Center (2268 employees)
  2. County of Butte (2032)
  3. California State University, Chico (1823 employees)
  4. Chico Unified School District (1400 employees)
  5. TriCounties Bank (700)
  6. Butte-Glenn Community College District (602 employees)
  7. Lifetouch National School Studios, Inc. (500)
  8. Feather Falls Casino (400)
  9. City of Chico (374)
  10. Employment Development Department (350)

Top 10 Manufacturing Employers [9] (by Employee Size) *

  1. Sierra Nevada Brewery (325)
  2. Koret of California (250 employees)
  3. Sungard BiTech Software (200)
  4. Aero Union Corporation (link)(185 employees)
  5. Sunset Moulding Company (145 employees)
  6. Smucker Quality Beverages, Inc. (130 employees)
  7. Lundberg Family Farms (110)
  8. Norfield Industries (110 employees)
  9. JG Brattan (100)
  10. Wrex Products, Inc. of Chico (93 employees)

Government

File:Chico-seal.gif
Official city logo


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 council members each elected at-large. Each member serves 4 years. 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.

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 in the California State Assembly; and as members of California's 4th Senate District, are represented by Sam Aanestad in the California State Senate.

Federal

The citizens of Chico, as members of California's 2nd congressional district, are represented by Wally Herger 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
  • Alternative

Junior High

  • Bidwell Junior High School
  • Chico Junior High School
  • Marsh Junior High School

Secondary Education

Public

Private

Higher Education

Culture

Main article: Culture in Chico, Also see: Chico in Popular Culture.

Points of interest

File:100 0395.JPG
Chico, CA is home to Bidwell Park, one of the largest municipal parks in the United States.

Chico is the site of Bidwell Park, the fourth-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 is home to several large new urban neighborhoods, either planned or under construction, including Doe Mill Neighborhood, Barber Yard, Meriam Park, and Westside Place.

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 / 39.74250; -121.85000.

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 latitude and longitude 39°43′55″N 121°51′10″W / 39.73194°N 121.85278°W / 39.73194; -121.85278.

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, 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.

Sports

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 / 39.72056; -121.72056.

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 Portland and Oakland 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: American Taxi, Yellow Cab of Chico, Liberty Cab, AAA Taxi, Chico Independent Taxi, Checkers Cab, Cabs for Kids, and Taxi Dave.

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

Print

Television

Radio

Sister Cities

United States - Pascagoula, Mississippi (USA) [10]

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.
  • 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.

See also

References

  1. ^ http://www.taugammatheta.com/historyofpweek.htm
  2. ^ http://www.friendsofbidwellpark.org/lydonhistory.html
  3. ^ http://www.csuchico.edu/pub/facts/
  4. ^ http://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/bplive/2006/snapshots/PL0613014.html
  5. ^ http://www.newsreview.com/chico/Content?oid=oid%3A32555
  6. ^ http://www.travel-library.com/north_america/usa/california/chico/
  7. ^ http://www.city-data.com/city/Chico-California.html
  8. ^ http://www.chicochamber.com/filebin/2005_EC_profile_final.pdf Chico's 2005-6 Economic Profile
  9. ^ http://www.chicochamber.com/filebin/2005_EC_profile_final.pdf Chico's 2005-6 Economic Profile
  10. ^ http://www.newsreview.com/chico/Content?oid=oid%3A43367 Chico gets a Southern sister

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