Chico, California Chico, California City of Chico City Plaza in Chico in 2008 City Plaza in Chico in 2008 Official seal of Chico, California Location of Chico in California Location of Chico in California Chico, California is positioned in the US Chico, California - Chico, California Chico is the most crowded city in Butte County, California, United States.

The town/city is a cultural, economic, and educational center of the northern Sacramento Valley and home to both California State University, Chico and Bidwell Park, the country's 26th biggest municipal park and the 13th biggest municipally-owned park. Bidwell Park makes up over 17% of the city.

Other metros/cities in close adjacency to the Chico Metropolitan Area (population 212,000) include Paradise and Oroville, while small-town suburbs and villages (unincorporated areas) include Durham, Cohasset, Dayton, Nord, and Forest Ranch.

The Chico Metropolitan Area is the 14th biggest Metropolitan Travel Destination in California.

The nickname "City of Roses" appears on the Seal of the City of Chico.

Main article: History of Chico, California The initial inhabitants of the region now known as Chico were the Mechoopda Maidu Native Americans.

The City of Chico was established 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.

By early 1865 it was being referred to as Camp Chico when a post called Camp Bidwell was established in northeast California, later to be Fort Bidwell. The town/city became incorporated January 8, 1872.

Chico was home to a momentous Chinese American improve when it was first incorporated, but arsonists burned Chico's Chinatown in February 1886, driving Chinese Americans out of town. They encompassed the arrival of John Bidwell in 1850, the arrival of the California and Oregon Railroad in 1870, the establishment in 1887 of the Northern Branch of the State Normal School, which later became California State University, Chico (Chico State), the purchase of the Sierra Lumber Company by the Diamond Match Company in 1900, and the evolution of the Army Air Base, which is now the Chico Municipal Airport. These include the assembly and relocation of Route 99 - E through town in the early 1960s, Playboy Magazine naming Chico State the number-one party school in the country in 1987, and the establishment of a "Green Line" on the town/city limits as protection of agricultural lands.

Chico is at the northeast edge of the Sacramento Valley, one of the richest agricultural areas in the world.

The Sierra Nevada mountain peaks lie to the east, with Chico's town/city limits venturing a several miles into the foothills.

City Plaza in Chico Chico sits on the Sacramento Valley floor close to the foothills of the Cascade Range to the north and the Sierra Nevada range to the south.

Big Chico Creek is the demarcation line between the ranges.

The town/city is bisected by Bidwell Park, which runs 5 miles (8 km) from the flat town/city center deep into the foothills.

They are titled Big Chico Creek, Little Chico Creek, and Lindo Channel (also known as Sandy Gulch, locally).

The downtown region of Chico is positioned generally between Big Chico Creek and Little Chico Creek.

The part of the "tree" streets that intersect the Chico State ground spell the word "CHICO" at Chestnut, Hazel, Ivy, Cherry, and Orange streets.

The "streets" are south of the Chico State ground through downtown, while the "avenues" are north of ground through The Esplanade.

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.

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 shifts to The Esplanade and facing north, the odd addresses are on the left.

Many streets in Chico, most prominently Nord Avenue/Walnut Street, change street names after small bridges.

Modern inhabitants of Chico use these streets incessantly, and the name shifts can cause confusion.

Downtown Chico This is the chief commercial precinct in Chico.

It is positioned 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.

The Chico City Plaza is the central point of downtown, between Fourth and Fifth Streets.

"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 business that created a stage line between Chico and Susanville, ultimately dominant to Ruby City, Idaho, and the rich gold strikes there.

South Campus The South Campus neighborhood is the region bounded by West Second Street, Salem Street, West Ninth Street and the town/city limits (which is called "The Green Line").

South Campus is a dynamic residentiary neighborhood consisting overwhelmingly of young renters under thirty-five, and specifically Chico State students.

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

Chapmantown This is a working-class residentiary neighborhood entirely surrounded by region inside the town/city of Chico, but which itself is not a part of the city.

Chapmantown is presently known as the region bounded by Little Chico Creek, Boucher Street, Guill Street and East Sixteenth Street.

Johnson Neighborhood Center, a facility of the Chico Area Recreation District.

The Avenues A mostly new name that refers to the region north of Big Chico Creek historically known as Chico Vecino (Spanish for 'neighbor').

This residentiary neighborhood is adjoining to the northern boundary of Chico State ground and is south of Lindo Channel.

Mansion Park is the high end residentiary neighborhood adjoining to the Bidwell Mansion, and immediately between the northeast corner of the Chico State ground and Chico High School.

This neighborhood is notable for its being a preferred parking zone for inhabitants with permits only, positioned in an region of the town/city with very impacted parking.

Kendall Hall at Chico State Big Chico Creek Estates is a middle class evolution in the southwest region of town, Backed by Big Chico Creek, and very close to Chico's newest elementary school.

Little Chico Creek Estates generally referred to as "Chico Creek Estates", is a middle-class evolution that is bordered to the north by Little Chico Creek, to the west by Bruce Road, to the South by a cyclic flood control channel and Doe Mill neighborhood and bordered to the east by Stilson Canyon.

Prior to its evolution in the late 1980s and early 1990s, Little Chico Creek Estates was an olive orchard.

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, Heritage Oaks and Hancock Park.

Chico also is home to a several large new urbanist neighborhoods, either prepared or under construction, including Doe Mill, Barber Yard, Meriam Park, The Orchard and Westside Place.

The above-mentioned "neighborhoods" do not include large sections of Chico.

While some of these areas were not so long ago outside of town/city limits, they have always been a part of the Chico community.

Little Chico Creek Chico and the Sacramento Valley have a typically Mediterranean climate (Koppen Csa).

Chico is one of the top urbane areas in the country for number of clear days. Winters are fairly mild and wet, with the most rainfall coming in January.

Climate data for Chico, California (1981 2010 normals) The 2010 United States Enumeration reported that Chico had a populace of 86,187.

Much of the small-town economy is driven by the existence of Chico State.

Chico's biggest retail precinct is concentrated around the Chico Mall on East 20th Street.

In the two decades since the Chico Mall was constructed, many nationwide retailers have positioned nearby, including Target, Kohl's, Forever 21, Best Buy, and Walmart.

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 County's biggest shopping center until the Chico Mall was instead of in 1988.

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.

Chico's downtown is a grow region for unique, autonomous retail shops and restaurants.

81 on Internet Retailer Magazine's Top 500 List of online retailers. Additionally, Wanderful Media, the business that acquired Chico based Find n Save opened a fully renovated office downtown in early 2013. Other companies based in Chico include Auctiva, Command - Mac - Parts.com, R.W.

See also: List of mayors of Chico, California The City of Chico is a charter town/city and has a council manager government.

The City of Chico's administration offices are positioned at 411 Main Street immediately adjoining to the City Council Chambers.

Chico's town/city council consists of seven nonpartisan councilmembers each propel at-large in November of even-numbered years.

The Butte County Association of Governments office is positioned in Chico at 2580 Sierra Sunrise Terrace, Suite 100.

The people of Chico, as constituents of California's 3rd Assembly District, are represented by Republican James Gallagher in the California State Assembly, and as members of California's 4th Senate District, are represented by Republican Jim Nielsen in the California State Senate. The people of Chico, as constituents of California's 1st congressional district, are represented by Doug La - Malfa (R Richvale) in the United States House of Representatives. The Chico Unified School District includes all of the greater Chico region including region not inside the town/city limits.

Chico Country Day School (Charter) Little Chico Creek Elementary School Chico Christian School & Preschool Chico Country Day School (Charter) Chico Junior High School Chico High School In 1998, town/city voters allowed a bond to build a third elected high school that was to be called Canyon View High School.

The cash from the bond is now prepared to be used for improvements at Chico and Pleasant Valley high school Chico Oaks Adventist School Chico Christian School and Preschool California State University, Chico (Chico State) The Chico Museum first opened in February 1986 in the former Carnegie Library building in downtown Chico.

In addition, the exhibition has two smaller, permanent arcades displaying the diverse history of Chico.

The Chico Museum is run by the Far West Heritage Association, which also runs the Patrick Ranch Museum.

Chico Air Museum The Chico Air Museum is an aviation exhibition, which opened in 2004.

An art exhibition, the Chico Art Center, is also positioned in the city.

Smith Museum of Anthropology on the Chico State ground presents temporary exhibits researched, designed and installed primarily by students.

The exhibition was retitled November 18, 2009, by the Chico State Board of Trustees with respect to professor emerita Valene L.

About 40 murals and a several arcades can be found in the city, including Chico Paper Company, 1078 Gallery, Avenue 9, The Space, 24-Hour Drive-By and various other arcades.

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 range of entertainment throughout the school year.

In 2003, author John Villani titled Chico one of the top 10 Best Small Art Towns in America. Chico, CA is home to Bidwell Park, one of the biggest municipal parks in the United States.

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.

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 Chico State ground is titled after Ted Meriam.

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.

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.

Chico is home to Nettleton Stadium (also called The Net) baseball stadium on the California State University campus.

It is the home field for the Chico State Wildcats baseball team, in NCAA Division 2.

Chico is also home of the Silver Dollar Speedway, a race track at the Silver Dollar Fairgrounds used for sprint car racing.

Chico is one of several metros/cities to be home to two championship baseball squads in two different leagues simultaneously.

The Chico State 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.

The Chico Outlaws were established with the Golden Baseball League in 2005 where they also won the championship in 2007 and 2010.

Starting in the summer of 2016, the Chico Heat will return as a part of the Great West League, a collegiate summer wood-bat league. The Chico State Women's Rugby Club won the Collegiate Division I National Championship in 2001.

The Chico Rugby Club senior men's team won the Division III National Championship in 2002.

Chico has also attained a reputation as being a bicycle-friendly city.

In 1997, Chico was ranked as the number-one cycling town/city in the country by Bicycle Magazine and also hosts the Wildflower Century, an annual 100-mile (160 km) bike ride throughout Butte County every April, put on by Chico Velo Cycling Club.

Some notable bicycle routes include a path dominant from The Esplanade to the Chico Airport, a path running from downtown to East Avenue alongside to Hwy 32 along the barns , a path along Park Avenue closing down the Midway toward Durham, a path following Little Chico Creek from Bruce Road to Route 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.

Chico is former home of the Chico Rooks (Soccer), the Chico Heat (Baseball Western Baseball League), and Chico Outlaws (Baseball - Golden Baseball League).

Almonds are the number one crop in Chico and the encircling area, only recently edging out rice.

Thursday evening market with a street-fair atmosphere is sponsored by the Downtown Chico Business Association from 6 9 p.m.

Each Thursday evening amid 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 enhance parking lot on 2nd and Wall Streets.

In June 2014, the Thursday evening Chico farmers market was titled one of the top 9 farmers markets to eat at in Northern California.` Chico Municipal Airport serves the region and is north of the town/city limits.

The town/city administration is trying to restore air service which would be provided by alternate airlines. On July 31, 1961, the first-ever airplane hijacking on United States soil occurred at the Chico Municipal Airport.

In the early 1980s, the airport was the home base and command posts for Pacific Express, a scheduled passenger airline that served Chico with British Aircraft Corporation BAC One-Eleven twin jets.

Another small-town airfield is Ranchaero Airport which is surrounded by orchards on the west edge of Chico.

Amtrak operates the Chico Amtrak station at Fifth and Orange Streets for the Coast Starlight service.

The B-Line (Butte Regional Transit) serves the Chico Urban region with eight routes operating Monday through Saturday and two shuttle routes for Chico State students amid the academic year.

It also serves the Chico urban region with nine modified vans providing transit for the elderly and the mobility impaired seven days a week.

The transit center in Chico is positioned at Second and Salem Streets.

Chico is a silver level bicycle-friendly improve as designated by the League of American Bicyclists. Chico was also titled "America's Best Bike Town" by Bicycle periodical in 1997.

California 99.svg State Route 99 and California 32.svg State Route 32 intersect in Chico.

Chico was designated to be the provisional capital of California, in the event that a disaster occurred that would cause evacuation of Sacramento after a Civil Defense exercise titled Operation Chico was deemed a success. No person shall produce, test, maintain, or store inside the town/city a nuclear weapon, component of a nuclear weapon, nuclear weapon bringy system, or component of a nuclear weapon bringy fitness under penalty of Chapter 9.60.030 of the Chico Municipal Code. John Bidwell, pioneer and founder of Chico Joseph Hilbe, Chico State University graduate, author, professor, statistician City of Chico.

City of Chico, CA.

City of Chico.

"Chico (city) Quick - Facts".

Chico: A 20th century Pictoral History (1995) "Chico Facts".

California State University, Chico.

"Chico, CA".

"All about Chico: Facts and figures for where you are".

"CHICO EXPERIMENT STN, CALIFORNIA".

"2010 Enumeration Interactive Population Search: CA - Chico city".

"Chico, California".

Chico Christian School and Preschool Museums & Historic Buildings Chico town/city website Archived January 21, 2010, at the Wayback Machine.

California State University, Chico.

City of Chico.

Chico Municipal Airport official website Chico: A 20th century Pictorial History skyjacking attempt was in Chico, 45 years ago".

"Chico considers establishing permanent sister town/city guidelines".

Chico News & Review.

News From Our Past, Chico ER, Dec 6, 2008 "Bench marks: The town/city of Chico's latest public-art projects combine form and function".

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Chico, California.

Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Chico, California.

Wikisource has the text of the 1921 Collier's Encyclopedia article Chico.

101 Things To Do In Chico California Downtown Chico Business Association Chico Chamber of Commerce City-data.com info on Chico Chico Wiki The Community Wiki for Chico California State University, Chico Chico, California Radio stations in the Chico, California market

Categories:
Chico, California - Cities in Butte County, California - Former county seats in California - Geography of the Sacramento Valley - Incorporated metros/cities and suburbs in California - Populated places on the Sacramento River - Nuclear-weapon-free zones - Shasta Cascade - University suburbs in the United States - Populated places established in 1872 - 1872 establishments in California