Chico, California

Chico belongs to the Butte County in the state of California. It is one of the most interesting towns to visit in the state. It offers wide range of experiences for individuals and family alike. The place has some nice restaurants and cafes. There are also regular events all throughout the year, as well as different types of entertainment for different ages and tastes. There is also the famous public art which any visitor to the town should see. And since the city is really diverse, visitors should sample the music scene from different bars and venues. Downtown Chico is also busy with activity since it is home to the California State University, Chico. Visitors will experience a leisurely campus stroll.

Chico, CA has its own share of historic places and museums. The famous Bidwell Mansion can be found in Chico. As for the museums, there are several worth visiting, including the Chico Museum and the National Yo Yo Museum. As for those who want outdoor activities, the town has many opportunities for outdoor activities since parks are found through the town and each of them offers their own activities to the public. Downtown Chico is also quite interesting, with the interesting shops, restaurants and cafes and even the night farmer's market that provide a good shopping experience.

Chico is a great place to live in. It has something to appeal to everyone's senses. Many businesses in the city also thrive.

Chico History

The City of Chico was founded by John Bidwell, the owner of the Bidwell Mansion. He was an employee of John Stutter and came with him to the area in 1843. By buying Rancho Arroyo Chico, he was able to claim the land in 1853. And after several court cases, it was signed to him in 1860 by President Buchanan. That same year, he requested a surveyor for future city grid. The remaining Native Americans in the area were forced out to move to Round Valley. Then in 1872, the city was incorporated and its Board of Trustees was created. Its first election was held that same year on February the 5th. Aside from the Native Americans, the city was also home to Chinese American community at that time. However, the Chinese Americans were also forced to move out of Chico like the Native Americans after Chinatown was burned in 1886.

That same year, two companies built flume for Diamond Match Company, the Butte Flume and the Lumber Company. Then flumes were completed in 1874. Then in 1887, the State Normal School of California established its Northern Branch. Bidwell donated part of his land for the school Later the school would be the California State University, Chico.

By the turn of the century, Bidwell's wife Anne donated 1,902.88 acres of land to be used as park for the residents of the city. Over the years, the land expanded, which paved way for the creation of one of the largest municipal parks in America, the Bidwell Park.

In 1921, the city had framed its first City Charter and in three years the Board of Trustees were replaced by a government under City Council and the ward system was abolished. During the Second World War, the Chico became the place were fighter pilots were trained, at the Chico Army Air Field. Then in 1958, the city became the place for a civil defense exercise. Called Operation Chico, about 500 families were evacuated to test evacuation measures in the event of atomic bomb fallout or other major disasters.

During the 60s up to the present, the city had its own share of problems and controversies, including the aircraft hijacking at Chico Municipal Airport, the Earth Day on Chico campus and Chico State being calle the Number One Party School by Playboy Magazine. Of course there were also many triumphs, such as the establishment of the Green Line and the arrival of the Olympic Torch in 1996 and the construction of Highway 99E. Today, the city has several plans for city growth and development.

About Chico, California

Chico is found on the northeast of Sacramento Valley in the state of California. In its east is the Sierra California and to the west is Sacramento River. The city is divided by the Bidwell Park which about five miles from the center of the city down to the Sierra California. It also has two beautiful creeks, the Big Chico Creek and the Little Chico Creek. All these create a very nice and beautiful that that is Chico. The City of Chico's official nickname is City of Roses, although it is also known as City of Trees.

The City of Chico has several neighborhoods and each one is unique and offers their own attraction to visitors and residents. Downtown Chico, which is the major commercial district of the city has some of the best restaurants and shops in the city. Here visitors can also find the Ringel Park, Chico City Plaza and The Junction, the area where people arriving and departing the city finds great goods and excellent services. South Campus neighborhood, which is the first residential area of the city is where one can find fraternity and sorority houses as well as commercial establishments that cater to the students. Its Fifth and Ivy streets are also called Fraternity/Sorority Overlay Zone. Barber neighborhood and Chapmantown are working class a residential neighborhoods. The Avenues, which is known before as Chico Vecino, is where one can find The Esplanade. It is also a residential neighborhood and is where Enloe Medical Center is located. Mansion Park neighborhood, which is adjacent to Bidwel Mansion, is where the most beautiful homes are found. California Park, Doe Mill and Nob Hill neighborhoods are developing residential and urban neighborhoods. Cussick Area Neighborhood and Aspen Glen are where you can find different types of homes. Big Chico Creek Estates and Little Chico Creek Estates are where one can find middle class communities with their own schools, shops and malls. Connors neighborhood is the typical small neighborhood.

The City of Chico is where one can find Bidwell Mansion State Historic Park. The famous mansion was built in 1868 and is one of the most preserved homes of the 19th century. The city is also home of the National Yo-yo Museum which has the largest collection of yo-yo and also offers classes for those who want to learn tricks on playing yo-yo. The Chico Air Museum, an aviation museum, is where one can find different types of aircraft. For those who want to see more educational exhibits, one can go to the Valene L. Smith Museum of Anthropology which is located at the California State University, Chico. There is also the Gateway Science Museum which offers collection of history, resources and other items on Northern California.

About Butte County, California

Chico, CA belongs to Butte County, California, officially nicknamed the Land of Natural Wealth and Beauty. The county has a total area of 1,677.11 sq. m., 1,639.49 sq. m. of it is land while 37.62 sq. m. is water. The cities that belong to the county are Biggs, Chico, Gridley, Oroville and Paradise while its unincorporated communities are Bangor, Cherokee, Cohasset, Concow, Durham, Forest Ranch, Magalia, Oroville East, Palermo, Richville, South Oroville, Stirling City, Thernalito and Yankee Hill. Its neighboring counties are the Yuba County and the Sutter County in the south, Colusa County in the southwest, Glenn County in the west, Tehama County in the north and Plumas County in the East. The majority of the population of the county is White, which is followed by African Americans, Native Americans, Asians, Pacific Islander and other races.

Visitors to the county will find three ghost towns in the county, Hamilton, Bidwell's Bar and Forks Butte. Hamilton was once the county seat of Butte but what remains there now is just an old cemetery. Bidwell's Bar was an old gold mining camp founded by John Bidwell but is now a California Historical Landmark. Butte County also has other several national protected areas, the Butte Sink National Wildlife Refuge, Lassen National Forest, Plumas National Forest and the Sacramento River National Wildlife Refuge.

Going to and from and around the county is easy. It has three major highways, State Route 32, State Route 70 and State Route 99. It is also serviced by several public transportation services. There is the Butte Regional Transit or what is commonly known as the B-Line which services Chico, Biggs, Oroville, Gridley and Paradise. There is also the Glenn Ride which connects Butte to Glenn County. As for the connection with Plumas County, there is the Plumas Transit System. The county has five airports: Chico Municipal Airport, Oroville Municipal Airport, Paradise Airport, Ranchaero Airport and Richvale Airport.

Because of its natural beauty and historical places, the County of Butte has been used in several famous movies, including Gone with the Wind, Ruby Ridge: An American Tragedy, The Outlaw Josey Wales, Magic Town, The Adventures of Robin Hood, Under Wraps and Friendly Persuasion.