About Chico

Chico is located in Butte County, approximately 90 miles North of Sacramento on Highway 99. We are approximately 30 miles east of Interstate 5. Our four distinct seasons make us a beautiful place to be year-round!

Outdoor Recreation

• Chico Outlaws Professional Baseball
• Upper Bidwell Park
• Sacramento River
• Lake Oroville
• Cycling
• Fishing
• Swimming
• Waterskiing

Chico History:
The City of Chico is rich in Native American and Gold Rush history. The first inhabitants of the area were the Maidu Indians who were primarily hunters and gathers. The first recorded Europeans arrived in 1832. That same year, approximately 75% of the Indian population in California died from epidemics of disease brought by the Europeans.

In 1848, General John Bidwell, a member of the first covered wagon trains to California, was among several miners who discovered gold on the Feather River. This event sparked a rush of prospectors into the Butte County area. With his riches, Bidwell bought 28,000 acres in both sides of Chico Creek and opened the first store of the Gold Rush (located on the corner of 1st and Main – now Tres Hombres). The city of Chico was founded in 1860 and later incorporated in 1872.

As a congressman in Washington, Bidwell fell in love with Annie Kennedy, the well-educated daughter of a prominent Washington, D.C. family. They were married in 1868 and soon took up residence in California focusing on completing their home in Chico. Bidwell Mansion would become the center of social and political life in the upper Sacramento Valley.

General Bidwell, active in both agriculture and politics, helped pioneer the development of the Sacramento Valley into a rich farming area. He and Annie also worked on behalf of many causes including educating the Native Americans and women’s suffrage. In an effort to “educate” the Native Americans, Annie taught them how to speak English and how to sew. She also exposed them to Christianity.

The Bidwells took great pride in beautifying the city. Rumor has it that John Bidwell rode through Chico in his carriage occasionally stopping to plant trees for future generations to enjoy. He also had tree seeds shipped in from Europe and South America to add to the diverse agriculture of the land and provide a tree canopy against the summer heat.

To encourage the development of a quality community, Bidwell was willing to donate land to anyone willing to build a house, church or any other public structure. In 1887, when there was a possibility of a new state teachers college, Bidwell sweetened the deal by offering to donate part of his land to secure the schools location in Chico. His plan worked and eventually Chico Normal School evolved into California State University, Chico.

The Bidwell’s generosity did not stop there. In 1905, five years after John Bidwell died, Annie signed a grant deed donating over 1,900 acres to the people of Chico for a public park.  

Things to Do in Chico 

From educational to recreational, cultural to historical, Chico has something to offer everyone. Chico is full of wonderful art, restaurants, trails and events.
-Bidwell Park: Bidwell Park was established in 1905 by Annie Bidwell, wife of Chico’s founding father, John Bidwell. Originally the land was part of the Bidwell’s Rancho del Arroyo Chico, one of the first major agricultural proprietorships in California.

Bidwell Park was donated to the City of Chico via a series of deeds between 1905 and 1911, five years after John Bidwell’s death. The original property was approximately 2,300 acres. However, with subsequent additions and a recent 1,000 acre acquisition, the park now exceeds 3,600 acres, making it one of the largest municipal parks in the United States. 

Farmers Markets: Take advantage of all the wonderful produce grown locally at one of Chico’s Farmers Markets. Every Saturday from 7:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. (rain or shine), you can find venders selling their goods in downtown Chico at 2nd and Wall Street. On Wednesday mornings from June through October, a Farmers Market is held at North Valley Plaza Mall on the corner of East Avenue and Pillsbury Road.
The Thursday Night Market, put on by the Downtown Chico Business Association (DCBA), is held weekly from 6:00-9:00 p.m. during the months of April to October. This market is located on Broadway between 2nd and 5th Street and features local produce, arts and crafts and live entertainment. 

For Much More Information on Chico, please visit our Chamber of Commerce website at: 

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