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Chico is a city in Butte County, California, United States. As of the most recent annexations, the city has a total population of 79,091, with the adjacent unurbanized and unincorporated areas reaching 103,625. Chico is home to California State University, Chico.
Geography
Chico is located at (39.739983, -121.835460).
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.
Chico is located at the north-east 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 sits 5 miles from the city limits.
The city is bisected by Bidwell Park, which runs five miles from the city center to the eastern foothills.
The city is also bisected by two creeks and a flood channel which feed the Sacramento River. They are named Big Chico Creek, Little Chico Creek, and Lindo Channel.
History
Chico was founded in 1860 by General John Bidwell, and became incorporated in 1872.
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.
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 59,954 people, 23,476 households, and 11,644 families residing in the city. The population density was 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.
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.
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.
Government
Chico's city council consists of seven councilmembers. Each member serves 4 years. The mayor is chosen by the councilmembers and serve for two years. City council meeting are on the first and third Tuesday of each month. The councilmembers are:
- Scott Gruendl - mayor
- Maureen Kirk - vice mayor
- Steve Bertagna
- Dan Herbert
- Andy Holcombe
- Ann Schwab
- Larry Wahl
Rick Keene, California assembly-member was a former Chico city council member.
Points of interest
Chico is the site of Bidwell Park, the seventh-largest municipal park in the United States, Bidwell Mansion State Historic Park, the Chico University Arboretum, and home to the tallest building between Sacramento and Portland, Oregon.
Sierra Nevada Brewing Company, the second-largest craft brewer in the country, is based in Chico. Butte Creek Brewing Company, maker of hand-crafted organic ales, is also located in Chico.
Chico is home to several large new urbanist 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, On the Chico State college campus one Residents hall stands 9 stories tall. The skyscraper of Chico
Sports
- Chico Outlaws (Baseball - Golden Baseball League)
- Chico Heat (old baseball team - Western Baseball League)
- Chico Rooks (Soccer)
- Chico Force (International Basketball League)
- Chico is also home to the National Yo-Yo Contest.
Chico is also the birthplace of many sports figures.
- Aaron Rodgers, 2005 NFL player (Green Bay Packers)
- Kyle Lohse, 2005 Major League Baseball player (Minnesota Twins)
- Garth Archibald, College football player (New Mexico Lobos)
- Matt Benson, College basketball player (UC Riverside Highlanders)
- Thomas Wilson, College football player (New Mexico Lobos)
Agriculture
Chico is bordered on the west by thousands of acres of almond trees. Almonds are a major crop in the area. 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 the do not bloom but they grow much larger and live much longer than almonds, but similar to the almond crops, walnuts are harvested in harvested in early September.
Hollywood Connections
There have been many theatrical and television movies made in or near Chico throughout the years.
- The Folly of a Life of Crime (1915)
- Wells Fargo (1937)
- The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938)
- The Great Waltz (1938)
- Gone with the Wind (1939)
- Another Thin Man (1939)
- Stand Up and Fight (1939)
- Waterloo Bridge (1940)
- Salute to the Marines (1943)
- Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo (1944)
- Magic Town (1947)
- The Red Badge of Courage (1951)
- The Purple Mask (1955)
- Friendly Persuasion (1956)
- The Chase (1966)
- Snafu (1984)
- Sticks & Stones (1985)
- Stolen Innocence (1995; TV) - This marks Amanda Detmer's acting debut.
- The Siege at Ruby Ridge (1996)
- Under Wraps (1997) (TV)
- George B. (1997)
- Tweeker (1999)
- American Beer (2004)
- The Bike Ride (2004)
- Buckle Brothers (2005)
- Waning Solstice (2005) (V)
Chico is also the birthplace of several actors and crew members, and even one porn star.
- Bill Ahern (actor, other crew member)
- Kane Black (actor, other crew member)
- Jonathan Coder (actor, director, writer, editor, producer, other crew member, casting director, set decorator)
- Russell Hayden (actor, composer, director, writer, producer)
- Pat Mastelotto (actor, composer)
- Donovan Scott (I) (actor, director)
- Bill Wattenburg (actor)
- Amanda Detmer (actress, Final Destination)
- Fawne Harriman (actress)
- Honey (X) (porn actress)
- Malisia Petropoulos (actress)
- Kathryn Stiefvater (actress)
- Mary Alexandra Stiefvater (actress, other crew member, visual effects department member)
- Doris Anderson (writer)
- Sara Bernstein (I) (writer)
- Jennifer Langel (other crew member)
Chico is also the home of successful national music acts.
- Scapegoat Wax (Marty James)
- Mother Hips
External links
Cities in California | Butte County, California | University towns | Chico (Kalifornien) | Chico (Californie) | Chico (Califórnia) | Chico (California)
"Chico, California"