Madera County, California

Madera County is a place in the middle of California. Its name, Madera, means "wood" in Spanish because the area used to have a lot of lumber work. The main city in the county is called Madera. The county was created in 1893 from a part of Fresno County.

The land in Madera County is very different in many places. Some parts are flat and dry like the eastern side of the San Joaquin Valley, while other parts are hilly and beautiful like the middle of the Sierra Nevada mountains. A bit of Yosemite National Park is even inside the county, which brings many visitors every year.

People in Madera County grow a lot of food, especially almonds, grapes, and pistachios. These crops are very important for the local jobs and money. Even though many people live there, the money that families usually make is a little less than in other places of California, and more people than usual live without enough money.

Etymology

Madera means "wood" in Spanish. The county is named after the town of Madera. This town got its name in 1876 when the California Lumber Company built a special wooden channel, called a log flume, to move lumber to the Central Pacific Railroad.

History

Madera County was formed in 1893 from Fresno County. People living in the area voted to create a new county, and Madera became its own place.

Long ago, the area was home to the Mono, Chukchansi, and Miwok peoples. After the California Gold Rush, many new people came to the area, including workers from China and Mexico. In the 1930s, many families moved to Madera County to escape tough conditions in places like Oklahoma.

During World War II and the Korean War, workers from Mexico came to help with farming jobs through a special program. Even after the program ended, many people from Mexico continued to live and work in the area.

Geography

Madera County includes parts of the San Joaquin Valley, the Sierra Nevada foothills, and the Sierra Nevada mountains. A section of Yosemite National Park is located within the county. Important waterways in the area include parts of the San Joaquin River and several reservoirs.

The county covers a total area of 2,153 square miles (5,580 km²), with 2,137 square miles (5,530 km²) being land and 16 square miles (41 km²) being water. The highest point in the county is Mount Ritter, which stands at 13,149 feet (4,008 m). The climate varies from dry in the valley to colder, alpine conditions in the higher parts of the Sierra Nevada.

Madera County is part of the Madera AVA wine region.

National protected areas

• Devils Postpile National Monument
• Inyo National Forest (part)
• Sierra National Forest (part)
• Yosemite National Park (part)

Demographics

2020 Census

According to the 2020 census, Madera County had 156,255 people. The median age was 35 years. About 27.5% of the people were younger than 18, and 14.7% were 65 or older. For every 100 females, there were 99.4 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.0 males.

The racial makeup was 41.8% White, 2.9% Black or African American, 4.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.5% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 31.6% from some other race, and 16.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people made up 59.6% of the population.

Most people, 61.4%, lived in urban areas, while 38.6% lived in rural areas.

There were 45,607 households. About 42.6% had children under 18 living with them, and 23.5% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. Around 17.2% of households were made up of individuals, and 9.3% had someone living alone who was 65 or older.

There were 49,572 housing units. About 8.0% were vacant. Of the occupied units, 64.0% were owner-occupied, and 36.0% were renter-occupied.

2022 American Community Survey

The 2022 American Community Survey showed the county's median household income was $76,920. This is less than California's $91,551 and the national $69,717. The poverty rate was 24.3%, higher than both the state and national averages.

The homeownership rate was 69.0%, higher than the statewide 55.8%. The median rent was $1,189, below California's $1,870. Educational attainment was lower than the state average, with 21.4% of residents having a bachelor's degree or higher.

In 2022, 59.6% of residents identified as Hispanic or Latino, and 20.3% were foreign-born. About 46.5% spoke a language other than English at home.

Immigration estimates

There are estimated to be between 12,500 and 15,000 undocumented immigrants in the county.

Racial and ethnic composition

The United States Census Bureau reports that 59.6% of Madera County's population is Hispanic or Latino, and 20.3% are foreign-born. Both numbers are above national averages. Nearly half of the county's residents speak a language other than English at home. The area also has a significant Native American population.

Economy

19th and 20th century

Madera County's early economy was shaped by natural resources like minerals and timber. Gold mining began during the California Gold Rush, and when Madera County was formed in 1893 from Fresno County, it included many productive mines along the Sierra Nevada batholith.

Gold was mined in places like Grub Gulch and Hildreth. Grub Gulch grew into a busy town with shops and services for miners. Over time, gold mining slowed down.

In the mid-20th century, tungsten was mined near Mammoth Lakes, Central Camp, and Fish Camp. However, tungsten mining stopped in the 1980s because of lower prices and competition from other countries.

The first sawmill in Madera County was built in 1852 near Oakhurst. It provided wood for miners and settlers. Later, a big mill was built near Nelder Grove to make and move lumber. Logging slowed during tough economic times and again in the 1990s because of rules that limited tree cutting. The North Fork Loggers Jamboree celebrates the area's logging history.

21st century

Employment

Madera County's jobs today mix old industries like farming with newer service jobs. Between 2015 and 2022, some areas like information technology and finance saw fewer jobs, but government, health, education, and professional fields are expected to grow.

Agriculture

Farming is very important to Madera County. In 2022, farming brought in about $1.9 billion. The biggest crops were almonds, grapes, and pistachios. The county is best known for growing figs and is a top place for almonds, pistachios, and grapes, especially for making raisins.

Education

Madera County has many schools run by different districts. The main college area is around Fresno City College. Other college districts also serve parts of the county.

Some school districts in Madera County include:

• Golden Valley Unified School District
• Madera Unified School District
• Chowchilla Union High School District
• Alview-Dairyland Union Elementary School District
• Chowchilla Elementary School District
• Raymond-Knowles Union Elementary School District

Government, policing, and politics

Government

Madera County is run by a group of five elected leaders called a board of supervisors. They each serve four-year terms. The board includes leaders from different areas of the county and a county administrator who helps manage daily tasks. The county government handles many important jobs like voting, public safety, health services, and roads. It also serves areas that are not part of any city.

Policing

The sheriff's office is a key part of keeping the county safe. It protects courts, manages jails, and offers police services to areas outside the cities. The sheriff's office has its main office in the city of Madera and smaller offices in Oakhurst and Madera Ranchos to help cover more areas, including parts near Yosemite National Park. There are also police departments in the cities of Madera and Chowchilla.

Correctional facilities

Madera County has three places where people are held while waiting for their court cases or serving short sentences. One is managed by the sheriff, and two others are state-run prisons located in Chowchilla.

Politics

Madera County usually votes for Republican candidates in big elections. The county is split among different areas represented in the state government, with leaders from both political parties. The county also has its own department to handle jail and prison-related matters, which helps manage these services.

Crime

The following table shows the number of reported incidents and the rate per 1,000 people for different types of offenses.

Cities by population and crime rates

Attractions

Transportation

Major highways

• State Route 41
• State Route 49
• State Route 99
• State Route 145
• State Route 152
• State Route 233

Areas inaccessible by road

Eastern Madera County has places like Devils Postpile National Monument and Minaret Summit that you cannot reach by car from the rest of the county. You need to use California State Route 203, which goes into Mono County and connects to Mammoth Lakes. There is a road called Red's Meadow Road that branches off to reach Devils Postpile.

Public transportation

• Madera County Connection offers bus services between the cities of Madera and Chowchilla, with routes going to eastern Madera County too. You can connect to Fresno at Valley Children's Hospital near the county line.
• The cities of Madera and Chowchilla each have their own local bus services called Madera Metro and Chowchilla Area Transit.
• Greyhound buses and Amtrak trains stop in Madera.

Airports

• Madera Municipal Airport and Chowchilla Airport are airports for small planes and private flights.

Communities

Madera County has several places where people live. The main city is Madera, which is also the county seat. Another city in the county is Chowchilla.

There are also many smaller areas called census-designated places, including Ahwahnee, Bass Lake, Coarsegold, and Oakhurst, among others. Some other smaller communities not included in the main lists are Knowles, O'Neals, and Sugar Pine.

The list of populations for these places is based on information from the 2010 census of Madera County.