Chico

Sister cities

• Pascagoula
• Tamsui District

History

The first known inhabitants of the area now known as Chico—a Spanish word meaning "little", "small", or "boy" — were the Mechoopda Maidu Native Americans. Within the boundaries of modern day Chico, there existed a Maidu village, whose name was recorded as Bah-hahp'-ke, meaning "straight tree". The City of Chico was founded 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. Col. A. E. Hooker with a company of cavalry and two of infantry, on August 26, 1863. 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 city was incorporated on January 8, 1872. Chico was home to a significant Chinese American community when it was first incorporated, but arsonists burned Chico's Chinatown in February 1886, driving Chinese Americans out of town. Historian W.H. "Old Hutch" Hutchinson identified five events as the most seminal in Chico history. They included 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 development of the Army Air Base, which is now the Chico Municipal Airport. Other events include the construction and relocation of Route 99E through town in the early 1960s, the founding of Sierra Nevada Brewing Company in 1979—what would become one of the top breweries in the nation—and…

Geography

Chico is at the Sacramento Valley's northeast edge, one of the richest agricultural areas in the world. The Sierra Nevada mountains lie to the east and south, with Chico's city limits venturing several miles into the foothills. To the west, the Sacramento River lies from the city. 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 east and south. Big Chico Creek is the demarcation line between the ranges. The city's terrain is generally 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 , of which is land and 0.50% is water. The city is bisected by Bidwell Park, which runs from the flat city center deep into the foothills. 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). The city has been designated a Tree City USA for 31 years by the National Arbor Day Foundation. Chico is made up of many districts and neighborhoods, including Downtown Chico, the South Campus neighborhood, and Barber. Chico and the Sacramento Valley have a Mediterranean climate (Köppen Csa), with hot, dry summers and cool, wet winters. Temperatures can rise well above in the summer. Chico is one of the top metropolitan areas in the nation for number of clear days. Winters are cool and wet, with the greatest rainfall occurring in January and February. July is usually the hottest month, with an average high temperature of and an average low temperature of . January is the coolest month, with an average high temperature of and an average low temperature of .…

Race & ethnicity

Most-observed species

• California/Woodhouse's Scrub-Jay

  Aphelocoma californica (Vigors, 1839) · Aves
  7,320
• Oak Titmouse

  Baeolophus inornatus (Gambel, 1845) · Aves
  4,869
• Lesser Goldfinch

  Spinus psaltria (Say, 1822) · Aves
  4,743
• Anna's Hummingbird

  Calypte anna (R.Lesson, 1829) · Aves
  4,649
• Turkey Vulture

  Cathartes aura (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  4,644
• House Finch

  Haemorhous mexicanus (P.L.Statius Müller, 1776) · Aves
  4,607
• European Starling

  Sturnus vulgaris Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  4,179
• Nuttall's Woodpecker

  Dryobates nuttallii (Gambel, 1843) · Aves
  4,138

Largest nearby schools

• Chico High
  High · Chico · 1,905 students · 22.2:1 ratio
• Pleasant Valley High
  High · Chico · 1,840 students · 21.6:1 ratio
• Bidwell Junior High
  Middle · Chico · 990 students · 24.1:1 ratio
• Chico Junior High
  Middle · Chico · 928 students · 24.4:1 ratio
• CORE Butte Charter
  Other · Chico · 848 students · 16.6:1 ratio
• Marsh (Harry M.) Junior High
  Middle · Chico · 732 students · 19.8:1 ratio
• Shasta Elementary
  Elementary · Chico · 646 students · 22.3:1 ratio
• Marigold Elementary
  Elementary · Chico · 568 students · 27:1 ratio

Most recent

• M 3.08 — 2026-06-27
  4 km WSW of Johnsville, CA
• M 2.88 — 2026-06-24
  10 km SW of Manton, CA
• M 3.2 — 2026-06-14
  2 km ESE of Prattville, CA
• M 2.73 — 2026-06-13
  17 km NE of Red Bluff, CA
• M 2.7 — 2026-06-03
  4 km WSW of Red Bluff, CA
• M 2.71 — 2026-05-28
  15 km ENE of Red Bluff, CA