The original inhabitants of Chico were the Native American Mechoopda Maidu.

The city was founded in 1860 by John Bidwell, a member of one of the first wagon caravans to reach California in 1843. During the US secession war, Camp Bidwell (named after John Bidwell, who became brigadier general of the California Militia), was set up one mile outside Chico, the Ten. Col. A E. Hooker with a cavalry company and two infantry company on August 26, 1863. In the early 1865, it was referred to as Camp Chico when a place called Camp Bidwell was established in northwest California and then became Fort Bidwell. The city became an independent municipality on January 8, 1872.

Chico was the home of an important American Chinese community when he became independent, but arsonists burned Chico Chinatown in February 1886, pushing the American Chinese out of the city.

Historian W. H. "Old Hutch" Hutchinson identified five events as determinants in Chico's history. They were: The arrival of John Bidwell in 1850, the arrival of Oregon and California Railroad in 1870, the establishment of the northern branch of the State Normal School in 1887, the acquisition 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.

Many other significant events are about Chico more recently. These include: the construction and relocation of Highway 99E in the city in the early 1960s; The 1987 classification of Chico State as the first in the country among the "party schools" and the creation of a "green line" on the boundaries of western cities as the protection of agricultural land.

Position

Chico is located on the north-east edge of the Sacramento Valley, one of the richest agricultural areas in the world. The Sierra Nevada Mountains are to the east, with the limits of the city stretching several kilometers between the hills. In the west, the river Sacramento is located 8 kilometers (five miles) from the edge of the city.

Topography

City Plaza corner, Chico center.

Chico stretches across the lowland of the Sacrament valley to the basins of the Cascade and Sierra Nevada Chain with the Little Chico Creek stream marking the boundary between the Cascade Chain (north of the Little Chico Creek) and the Sierra Nevada (south of the Little Chico Creek). The city's terrain is largely flat, with the beginning of the hilly terrain on the city's eastern edge.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 71.9 km² (27.8 square miles), of which 71.8 km² (27.7 square miles) of land and 0.04% of water covered.

The city is divided into two by Bidwell Park, a park extending 8 kilometers (five miles) from the city center to the Sierra Nevada ridge.

The city is also crossed by two streams and a drainage channel of the rainwater that feeds the river sacramento. They're called Big Chico Creek, Little Chico Creek and Lindo Channel (also known locally as Sandy Gulch).

Road system

The city center of Chico is usually located between Big Chico Creek and Little Chico Creek streams. The center has a grid of 49.75° tilted roads compared to the four Cardinal directions. There are numbered roads and avenues, which normally have a orientation from east-northeast to west-southwest. Isolates are usually numbered in hundreds corresponding to the numbered roads and roads. While roads and roads from east-northeast to west-south-west are numbered, roads from north-north-west to south-south-east usually have names of trees. The street portion of the streets with the names of trees that cross the streets of California State University campus in Chico, with their initials, contains the word "Chico": Chestnut (chestnut), Hazel (core), Ivy (edera), Cherry (cherry) and Orange (orange).

The main road that runs through the city from the northwest to the southeast is the California State Route 99 highway, also known as Highway 99, built in the 1960s. In the past, the Business 99 highway used to cross the city with various names: First, Esplanade, then divided into two streets, now one-way, Main Street (north to south) and Broadway (south to north), and continuing like Park Avenue and then Midway. The streets of the city are designated as "east" or "west" in relation to this old road.

There are numbered streets called streets (short St) and other streets marked as avenues (short Ave) both in an East-West direction. The streets are on the south of the California State University campus, while the avenues are located north of the campus, divided by the Esplanade. From the Esplanade, you cannot turn left on any avenue with odd numbers in both directions except West 11th Avenue.

In numbered roads and avenues and in most other streets intersecting the Esplanade, Main and Park, the addresses to the west are all numbers with the last two digits from 00 to 49, and the addresses to the east are all numbers whose last two digits vary from 50 to 99. There are very few exceptions.

In most streets of Chico the odd addresses are on the southern side of the road.

If you're standing on the bridge of the Big Chico Creek stream where the Main Street changes its name in Esplanade and you look north, the odd addresses are left (Bidwell Mansion is at 525 Esplanade). This convention applies to all numbered roads. However, if you look south, the odd addresses are still on the left (that is, the rule fades). This convention applies to numbered roads.

Quarters

The Senator Theater (517 Main Street), completed in 1928 (cost $300,000), designed by Timothy L. Pflueger for Michael Naify and the Nasser brothers.

Downtown Chico - This is Chico's main shopping district. It's between Big Chico Creek and Little Chico Creek streams, between Wall Street and Salem Street. The Downtown Chico Business Association represents the interests of the neighborhood in the community. Main Street and Broadway Street are the two main arteries that cross the center. Ringel Park is the triangular area immediately north of the center. City Plaza is the center of Downtown, between Fourth Street and Fifth Street.
The area of West Ninth Street, where Main Street and Oroville Avenue converge is known as The Junction, the southernmost part of the center. The Junction, at the Humboldt Road confluence and the old Shasta Stage Road (now Main Street and Esplanade) took its name in 1864, when John Bidwell and several members formed a company (Humbold Wagon Road Company) that set up a line of care between Chico and Susanville, which eventually reached Ruby City in Idaho, (now a ghost town)) where the gold was found. Here begins the Humboldt Road, which is now called Humboldt Avenue to the junction with Highway 99, the east of which is named after Humboldt Road and continues into the hills. The Junction was for a few years a self-contained business district that provided goods and services to people coming in and out of the due diligence depot.

South Campus - The South Campus neighborhood is the West Second Street, Salem Street, West Ninth Street and the boundaries of the western city (called the Green Line). Historically, this area has been the first residential area in the city. It is currently the most densely populated area. The South Campus Neighborhood Association represents the interests of the neighborhood in the community. South Campus is a dynamic residential neighborhood composed mainly of young tenants under thirty, and in particular students of Chico State. The intersection of Fifth Street and Ivy Street is the commercial core of the neighborhood, sometimes referred to locally as "Five and I." There's a lot of fraternity and sorority sites in the area, and the city has planned a "Brotherhood/Sorority Overlay Zone," mostly adjacent to the quarters. South Campus is home to Craig Hall, a private student dormitory, and Depot Park (an intersection park of the West Fourth Street and Cedar Street).

Barber - Barber neighborhood is a residential neighborhood of the working class south of Little Chico Creek and west of Park Avenue. The Barber Neighborhood Association represents the interests of the neighborhood in the community. This neighborhood was originally built to house employees of the adjacent Diamond Match factory. The neighborhood is named after Ohio Columbus Barber, president of Diamond Match Company. Today, the Diamond Match soil is destined for future developments called Barber Yard.

Chapmantown - This is a working-class residential neighborhood entirely surrounded by an area inside the city of Chico, but legally not part of the city: It is under the jurisdiction of Butte County. Chapmantown is bounded by Little Chico Creek, Boucher Street, Guill Street and East Sixteenth Street. The neighborhood south of East Twentieth Street and east of Fair Street is also marked as part of Chapmantown. Historically, Chapmantown pointed to the whole area east of Mulberry Street, but that is no longer the case. Not being within the limits of the city, there are no sidewalks, sewers, or other citizen services. However, municipal regulations (banning the use of poultry houses, permits to light fireworks, etc.) are not applicable either. The neighborhood is actually Dorothy F. Johnson Neighborhood Center, a Chico Area Recreation District facility. The neighborhood is named after Augustus Chapman.

The Avenues - A relatively new name that refers to the north of the Big Chico Creek stream historically known as Chico Vecino. This area includes numbered avenues intersecting with the Esplanade. This residential neighborhood is adjacent to the northern border of Chico campus and is south of the Lindo Channel. The neighborhood is also home to Enloe Medical Center.

Mansion Park is the luxury residential neighborhood adjacent to the Bidwell Mansion and between the northeastern corner of the Chico State campus and the Chico High School. This neighborhood is known for being a preferential parking zone for residents only with permits. This neighborhood is the seat of Albert E. Warren Reception Center (former Julia Morgan House) and Bidwell Amphitheater. Originally based for the most part as professors and university staff, it is now the home of other professionals and families of the upper middle class.

Kendall Hall, California State University, Chico.

Doe Mill is the urban district of residential development approximately north of East Twentieth Street and east of Bruce Road.

Nob Hill is a residential neighborhood in development west of Bruce Road and north of Highway 32.

California Park is the developing residential district east of Bruce Road and north of Highway 32. This area contains a small area known as Canyon Oaks.

Aspen Glen is the residential district east of the Esplanade and north of East Shasta avenue. A lot of roads here are called things associated with Colorado.

Cussick Area Neighborhood is an assortment of different housing types in the northwest of the city. It's next to orchards, the Esplanade and East West Avenue. In this quiet corner of the city, the more you penetrate the neighborhood, the larger and more beautiful houses.

Big Chico Creek Estates is an urban area inhabited by the middle class in the southwest part of the city. Next to the beautiful Big Chico Creek and very close to Chico's most recent elementary school.

Little Chico Creek Estates is a small urban area inhabited by the middle class in the southeast Chico area on what was once an olive grove. Situated between Little Chico Creek and a small rain water disposal channel (Butte Creek Diversion Channel), it stretches from Bruce Road on the west side to the mouth of the Stilson Canyon in the east, where it is separated from the canyon dwellings by the fork of the two streams at the height of the diversion dam. Little Chico Creek Estates is very close to Hank Marsh Junior High School and Little Chico Creek Elementary School and a number of shopping centers including Chico Mall.

Connors Neighborhood is a very small narrow neighborhood between East Avenue and Rio Lindo Avenue and between the Esplanade and Highway 99. There's only two roads, Connors Avenue and White Avenue, with a couple of alleys and circular roads. This neighborhood was built in Chico in 2003. The construction of sewers is planned for the 1st quarter of 2011.

Other neighborhoods are: South Park, North Park, Vallombrosa, Baroni Park and Hancock Park.

Chico is also home to several large new urban districts, planned or under construction, including Doe Mill, Barber Yard, Meriam Park and Westside Place.

The neighborhoods mentioned do not include large parts of Chico. Many other areas have unique features and attractions. While some of these areas were, not so long ago, outside the city, they were always part of the Chico community. Most of these areas are well-established with a high proportion of residents who have been present for more than 20 years. In the oldest areas of the suburbs, it is not uncommon to find families that have been there for fifty or more years.

Parks and Creekside Greenways

Parks

Upper Bidwell Park, the name of Bidwell Park to the hills over Manzanita Avenue.

• Verbena Fields: this site is a former quarry that is currently being transformed into a natural park. The project aims to expand and improve seasonal wetlands, increase the width of the flood plain, restore original plantations, establish native Mechoopda culture areas, build a pedestrian ring and improve public education.
• Baroni Park
• Bidwell Park
• Children's Playground
• Depot Park
• DeGarmo Park
• East St 20 in Notre Dame Park (unequipped)
• Hancock Park
• Henshaw Park (unequipped)
• Hooker Oak Recreation Area
• Ceres Park (unequipped)
• Humboldt Park (Humboldt a Willow)
• Nob Hill / Ranch Park Husa
• Peterson Park
• City Plaza
• Ringel Park
• Skateboard Park
• Wildwood Park
• Martin Luther King Park
• Chapman Park
• Oak Park Way
• Rotary Park (Wall Street)
• Rotary Park (Sixteenth and Broadway)

Creekside Greenways

• Little Creek Chico
• Mud Creek
• Sycamore Creek
• Commanche Creek
• Sandy Gulch (Lindo Channel) Greenway
• Bear Hole (Upper Bidwell Park)
• Alligator Hole (Upper Bidwell Park)
• Hole salmon (Upper Bidwell Park)

Climate

Chico and the valley of the sacrament have a Mediterranean climate. Temperatures can rise well above the 40 °C threshold in the summer. Chico is among the first metropolitan areas of the country for a number of quiet days. Winters are rather mild and humid, with most rainfall in January. The annual average rainfall is 661 mm (26,04 inches). The fog is often present during the winter and autumn months.

Households

According to the 2000 census, there were 59,954 people, 23,476 households and 11,644 families living in the city. The population density was 834.5 people per square kilometer (2,161 people per square mile). There were 24,386 housing units with an average density of 339.4 per square kilometer (879 per square mile). The ethnic composition of the city was: 82.36% white, 2.03% black or African-American, 1.30% Native American, 4.21% Asian, 0.19% Pacific Islands, 5.65% other ethnicities and 4.25% more or more ethnicities. Hispanics or Latins of every ethnic group were 12.26% of the population.

23,476 households were households, 27.1% had children under the age of 18 living together, 34.4% of married couples living together, 11.3% were women with no husband and 50.4% were not families. 29.3% of all households were individuals and 8.1% were individuals aged 65 or over. The average household size was 2.42 people and the average household size was 3.03.

In the cities, the population was distributed by age: 21.1% were under 18, 27.0% were under 18, 24.8% were under 25, 44.2% were under 24.9%, 45.2% were under 18.9%, and 9.9% were under 65 years and above. The average age was 26. The sex ratio was: 100 women/96.4 men. For every 100 women aged 18 and over: 93.9 men.

The average household income was $29,359 and a household's average income was $43,077. Men had an average income of 35,548 dollars, while women had 26,173 dollars. Per capita income in the city was 16,970 dollars. About 12.7% of households and 26.6% of the population were below the poverty line, of which 19.2% were under the age of 18 and 8.2% were under the age of 65 or over.

Much of the local economy is tied to California State University, Chico. The activities providing employment are: education, health and social services (30.3%), retail trade (14.9%), art, entertainment, leisure, housing and restaurant services (12.6%).

In the last two decades, Chico has become the regional branch of retail. The largest business area is centered around the Chico Mall on East 20th Street. In the next two decades since Chico Mall was built, many national retailers have opened nearby stores, including TARGET, Kohl's, Best Buy and Walmart. In January 2008, plans were presented to restructure the Chico Mall shopping center by demolishing the westernmost part (formerly Troutman's Emporium) and building an open-cast shopping center ("lifestyle center") which will connect it with the nearby Kohl's shopping center.

Chico is also the headquarters of the North Valley Plaza Mall, which was the first shopping mall in the city. Its construction began in 1965 and was the largest in the city until the Chico Mall was completed in 1988. For a few years, the "old" shopping center and the "new" shopping center were in competition with each other. At the North Valley Plaza Mall a hard blow was struck when J. C. Penney, one of the landmarks of the old center, moved to the Chico Mall in 1993. The "old" shopping mall fell slowly and the number of abandoned stores increased. After several failed attempts at revitalization, the North Valley Plaza Mall was renovated in 2002, demolishing the central building. Although some large retailers, such as Trader Joe's and Tinseltown Theater, are still present, the North Valley Plaza has become more a local business than a regional business. Mervyn's stood on the west side of the mall, filling the empty space left by J. C. Penney, but went bankrupt in 2008 and liquidated his entire stock by the end of December of that year. The whole chain Mervyn's stopped working just before the end of the year.

The center of Chico is a thriving area of individual and independent retail stores and restaurants. Agricultural markets attract crowds on Saturday morning and Thursday evening. The City Plaza regularly hosts free concerts during the summer. Small and large entertainment venues, bars, cafeterias, libraries and offices help to create a lively and colorful atmosphere.

Agriculture

The city of Chico, being in the valley of the sacrament, has very fertile soils. The region is a leader in agriculture. Almonds are the number one crop in the area, only recently overtaken by rice. Other crops in the area include: kiwi, olives, peaches and plums.

The city is bounded on the west by orchards with thousands of almond trees, and there are still few pockets of orchards remaining within the limits of the city. The trees sprout with pink and white flowers at the end of February or the beginning of March. Millions of bees are brought to pollinate. The walnuts are harvested at the end of August.

The walnuts are also a major agricultural production in the north and west of the city. Unlike almond groves in the area, nuts are not as charming as they do not flourish, but grow much larger and live much longer than almonds. Mandorles and walnuts are harvested in early September.

There is a market for agricultural products that is held in the downtown streets, closed every Thursday night during the hot months, and one on Saturday morning at the public parking lot on Wall Street.

Municipal

Chico city is a charter city. The city's administrative offices are located at 411 Main Street, immediately adjacent to the municipal council chamber. The Chico City Council is composed of seven independent members elected by the entire community in November of the year of the number of equals. The term of office begins on the first Tuesday in December and ends four years later, the first Tuesday in December. The mayor is chosen by and among the members of the council and remains in office for two years. The meetings of the Council shall be held on the first and third Tuesday of each month.

The Council shall appoint the members of the various committees: Airport Commission, Architecture Review Board, Arts Commission, Bidwell Park and Playground Commission, Human Resources Commission and Planning Commission.

The members of the current [2010] council are Scott Gruendl, Ann Schwab, Mary Flynn, Tom Nickell, Andy Holcombe, Larry Wahl, and Jim Walker. The Council currently has a liberal/progressive majority of six members; One (Wahl) belongs to the conservative minority. The most recent elections (4 November 2008) have led to the RE - election of Schwab, Holcombe and Wahl.

County

The citizens of Chico are represented in the Butte County Board of Supervisors by Jane Dolan (district supervisor 2) and Maureen Kirk (district 3).

The offices of the Butte County Association of Governments are located at 2580 Sierra Sunrise Terrace, Suite 100 in Chico.

Status

The citizens of Chico, as members of the 3rd Assembly District of California, are represented by Dan Logue (Republican, Chico) in California State Assembly and, as members of the 4th Senate District of California, are represented by Sam Aanestad (Republican, Grass Valley) in the Senate of California.

Federal Government

The citizens of Chico, as members of California's 2nd congressional district (which has a Partisan Voting Index, or PVI, of R+13, which is 13 percentage points higher than the Republicans' national average), are represented by Wally Herger (Republican, Rio Oso) in the US House of Representatives.

The Chico Unified School District covers the entire large area of Chico, including the area beyond the limits of the city.

Primary education

Elementary

Blue Oak Charter School, Chapman Elementary School, Chico Country Day 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, Notre Dame Catholic School, Chico Christian School and Preschool, Kings Christian Elementary, Parkview Elementary School, Rosedale Elementary School, Shasta Elementary School, Sierra View Elementary School, Hooker Oak Elementary School.

Junior High

Bidwell Junior High School (Pioneers' House, Pioneers' House), Chico Junior High School (House of Cougars, Puma) and Henry M. "Hank" Marsh Junior High School (Gators Headquarters, alligators) offers the seventh and eighth grade of curriculum.

Secondary education

Publish

• Chico High School (Panthers headquarters, Pantere) - address: 901 The Esplanade
• Pleasant Valley High School (Vikings House, Vikings) - 1475 East Avenue

In 1998, municipal voters approved a bond loan to build a third high school that was to be called Canyon View High School. However, after a long search for a suitable site, the school district chose not to build the new school, a decision largely based on declining enrolment data. The money, which is available, will be used to improve Chico and Pleasant Valley High School.

Educational alternatives

• Academy for Change
• Fair View High School - Continuation School
• Core Butte Charter School

Private

• King's Christian School
• Notre Dame Catholic School
• Champion Christian School
• Chico Oaks Adventist School
• Pleasant Valley Baptist School
• Chico Christian School and Preschool

Higher education

• California State University, Chico (nickname: Chico State)
• Butte College
• Cal Northern School of Law
• University of Phoenix

Museums

The Chico Museum was opened in February 1986 at the former building of the Carnegie library in the center of Chico. The exhibition has an exhibition of honeymoths about the circus, which is unique in the western United States. The museum has two main galleries hosting a wide variety of temporary and traveling exhibitions. In addition, the museum has two little permanent art galleries that illustrate the history of Chico. The Chico Museum is run by the Wild West Heritage Association, which is also responsible for the Patrick Ranch Museum. The museum is free but accepts offers.

The Chico Air Museum is an aviation museum that it opened in 2004 at the Chico Municipal Airport. Several planes are displayed outdoors, showing smaller ones inside a nearby building, one of the few remaining since World War II.

The National Yo-Yo Museum is the largest collection in the yo-yo country, which also includes a four-foot yo-yo that occasionally falls off a crane. It's believed to be the largest yo-yo in the functioning world. You can also have lessons for those who can't play and for those who want to improve. There is also an art museum in the city, the Chico Art Center.

Two other historic buildings are also museums. The Bidwell Mansion is a Victorian house completed in 1868 and once home of John and Annie Bidwell. The Mansion Bidwell is a California State Historical Park. The Stansbury House, former home of Dr. Oscar Stansbury, is a museum on life in the nineteenth century.

Valene L. Smith Museum of Anthropology, located on the campus of the University of Chico, exhibits temporary exhibitions sought after, designed and installed mostly by students. The current exhibition is "Living on top of the world: Adaptation, survival and protection of the Arctic." The museum was renamed on 18 November 2009 by the founding board of the CSU in honor of the outstanding professor Valene L. Smith, whose contributions and commitments to the museum exceeded $4.6 million. The inauguration to celebrate the new exhibition as well as Dr. Smith's contributions is January 28, 2010, and the exhibition will last until May 2010. The museum is located in front of the main entrance of the Miriam Library, next to the Janet Turner Print Museum.

In 2008, the construction of the Gateway Science Museum, former Northern California Natural History Museum, adjacent to the Bidwell Mansion, began. This museum, which has been underway for more than 10 years, aims to become an important center for scientific education and will focus on the natural history and natural resources of Northern California, the coast, the Sacrament valley and the surrounding hills and mountains. The museum is waiting for the official opening with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on February 27, 2010.

Art and Theater

About 40 murals and various galleries are available in the city, among them: Chico Paper Company, 1078 Gallery, Avenue 9, The Space, 24-Hour Drive-By, Ray Ray. Theaters in Chico include Blue Room Theater, ETC Theater, Chico Cabaret, Chico Performances, Chico Theater Company and Theater on the Ridge. California State University, with the Chico Theater Department, also offers a variety of entertainment throughout the school year.

Bidwell Park, one of the largest municipal parks in the United States.

In Chico, you have the Bidwell Park, the ninth largest park run by a municipality in the United States, the Bidwell Mansion State Historic Park, the Chico University Arboretum.

The Sierra Nevada Brewing Company, one of the largest producers of small-scale beer in the country, is based in Chico. Butte Creek Brewing Company, a brewer of craftsmen organic beer (i.e. with ingredients from organic crops) is also in Chico.

In Chico is the largest building north of Sacramento, California. Whitney Hall, a nine-story dormitory for Chico State University campus.

The Meriam Library on CSUC campus is named after Ted Meriam. The building is one of the largest in California north of Sacramento.

The Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development of the State of California defines Enloe Medical Center as General Acute Care Hospital with a Level II Trauma Center and Basic emergency care since August 22, 2006. The facility is located at 1531 in the Esplanade.

Hooker Oak, formerly the world's largest oak valley, was in the Hooker Oak Recreation Area of Bidwell Park.

Situated in the city of Chico, the Mechoopda 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 Amphitheater, Honey Run Covered Bridge, Senator Theater, A. H. Chapman House, Allen-Sommer-Gage House, Patrick Ranch House, Silberstein Park Building, Pioneer Days.

Chico is the headquarters of Nettleton Stadium (The Net), a baseball stadium on California State University campus. It's the home camp for the Chico CSU baseball team, the Chico State Wildcats in NCAA Division II and the Outlaws Chico of the Golden League Baseball.
It's one of the few cities that's home to two baseball teams in two different championships at the same time. The Wildcats CSUC who were champions in 1997 and 1999, for Division II College World Series. Heat Chico was also champions of the Western League Baseball in 1997.

Chico is also the headquarters of the Silver Dollar speedway, a circuit used for racing at the Butte County Fairgrounds fair in "Sprint car racing" racing.

Bicycle

Chico city has earned its reputation as a bicycle-friendly city. In 1997, Chico was ranked number one in the town cycling nation by the Bicycle Magazine It hosts the Wildflower Century, an annual 160 kilometer (100 miles) tour through Butte County, organized by the Chico Velo Cycling Club. The city is in the process of creating a network of bicycle paths, paths and reserved lanes. Between the runways reserved for the two wheels: A lane from the Esplanade to Chico airport, a path along Park Avenue along the Midway to Durham, a runway next to the Little Chico Creek stream from Bruce Road to Highway 99 and a series of paths all over Bidwell Park and Steve Harrison Memorial Bike Path that go side the Skyway road and lead to Honey Run Road.

Past sporting organizations

Chico was the seat of the Chico Rooks (Football) and the Chico Heat (Baseball - Western Baseball League).

Airports

The Chico Municipal Airport is north by the city. It was served by United Airlines’ United Express with support from SkyWest (San Francisco).
The airport is also the headquarters of Aero Union, a company which converts military aircraft disused in fire-fighting aircraft.
On 31 July 1961, the first aerial hijacking on US soil took place at the Chico Municipal Airport. Two men were seriously injured and the hijacker was sentenced to more than 30 years in prison.

A second, smaller airport, Ranchaero Airport is west, on the edges of the city, surrounded by orchards.

Surface transport

Amtrak operates the Chico Amtrak station at the intersection between 5th Street and Orange Street and is part of the Coast Starlight service. The terminal is partially accessible to disabled people, has an indoor waiting room, public toilets, pay - as - you - go telephones, parking, free for short stops. Trains depart between Seattle and Los Angeles in the north direction and a train departing south from the daily train station. The Greyhound Lines bus station is also at the Chico Amtrak station.

The North Valley Shuttle has five daily runs to the Sacramento International Airport from Jack's Restaurant to 6th Street and Main Street.

The Butte Regional Transit (B-Line) serves the urban area of Chico with eight operational routes from Monday to Saturday and two shuttle lines for students on the campus during the academic year. The Chico Clipper serves the Chico urban area with nine vans modified to transport elderly and disabled people seven days a week. The reference point for the Butte Regional Transit in Chico is three on 2th Street and Salem Street.

There are at least nine taxi companies in Chico: Yellow Cab of Chico, American Taxi, Chico Cab, Liberty Cab, Chico Independent Taxi, Checkers Taxi, Eco Cab, Taxi Dave and Taxi Premier.

Chico received the bronze medal from the League of American Bicyclists in 2004 (and renewed in 2007) for infrastructure that facilitates cycling. Chico was called "America's Best Bike Town" by the Bicycle magazine in 1997.

rickshaw is commonly available in the center at night.

Main motorways

State Route 99 and State Route 32 intersect in Chico.

Print

• Chico Enterprise-Record, Daily
• Chico News and Review
• InsideOut Magazine
• The Orion (California State University, Chico), a student magazine
• Synthesis (magazine)
• Synthesis (weekly)
• Upstate Business Journal
• Videomaker Magazine
• Growing Up Chico Magazine
• Butte College Roadrunner
• Community Seeds Magazine

Internet

• Chico Wiki - The Wiki of the Chico Community

Twinning

Chico is twinned with:

• Danshui, Taipei, Taiwan
• Pascagoula, United States

• An altitude record for unmanned balloons was established in Chico in October 1972 (51.8 km). The record was exceeded in Japan on May 23, 2002.
• Chico was classified #1 in the Forbes Magazine "Best Places in America" (May 2000).
• Chico ranked 13th in Money.Com "Best Places to Live" investigation in 1999.
• Vote No 16 on the list of healthy cities, from Organic Style magazine, September/October 2003.
• Chico has been classified # 17 in Farmers Insurance List of Safest Cities (2006) for cities under 150,000.
• Chico has been designated as the capital of California, in the event of a disaster involving evacuation of Sacramento, after a Civil Protection exercise called Operation Chico that was considered a success.
• No one can produce, test, maintain or hold in the city a nuclear weapon, a nuclear weapon component, a nuclear weapon delivery system, or a component of a nuclear weapon launch system under Chapter 9.60.030 of the Code of the municipality of Chico.