Discover
Chico California

Chico California:
Small Town Charm, Big City Attractions

Thanks to its setting and relative isolation, Chico California has managed to maintain that small town charm not usually associated with a city of over 100,000 people.

But at the same time, the presence in downtown Chico of a California State University presents unique opportunities for big city style entertainment venues!

Chico is a wonderfully eclectic mixture of the new and the old.

Year-round the population consists of fourth and fifth generation townies - people whose families have lived in Chico forever.

But from Fall through Spring, the town fills up with out-of-town college students.

Just outside of town, the farmers and ranchers are tending to their nut and fruit orchards - watering and fertilizing, bringing in bees to pollinate, harvesting the fruits and sending them off to market.

While in town theater goers are attending top shelf performances, and locally-owned shops are providing just the right one-of-a-kind item and special customer service to customers they know by name.

Talented artists are blowing glass or putting brush to canvas, while Mother Nature is greening the foothills and spreading carpets of wildflowers over acres of meadowland... Chico offers the perfect balance between nature and nurture.

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Chico California:
Every Hometown, U.S.A.

Further south of town is Butte Creek - all three creeks exist year-round and support Spring-run salmon and trout.

And, while Chico is not the county seat of Butte County - that honor belongs to Oroville - it is the most populous city in the county, it's home to Chico State University, and it's where a lot of the action takes place.

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Chico California was Founded  in 1850
by John Bidwell

Originally known as Rancho Arroyo Chico, Chico has managed to maintain that small town feel, in part because it's never far from its agricultural roots. Just outside the city limits you'll find almond orchards and walnut orchards fill the countryside.

Butte County ranchers also grow pistachio, kiwi, olives, peaches, plums, pecans, strawberries, and acres and acres of rice!

California rice fields also provide habitat and nourishment for about seven million ducks and geese migrating along the Pacific Flyway each year, according to the California Rice Commission - making Butte County on of the best bird watching spots in California.

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But Chico California is More Than Almond Ranches and Rice Paddies!

The performing arts community in Chico is very active, offering everything from belly dancing, to sophisticated comedies, to cutting-edge theater.

With venues like the Blue Room Theater, the Pageant Theater, and Chico Performances at Laxon Auditorium, the performing arts in Chico are alive and well! And the great thing is, you can enjoy it without the big city hassles of traffic, long lines, and long waits!

As for the media arts, Chico brings to mind chichi places like Carmel, Mendocino, and Napa because of the quality and quantity of artists and studios offering their works in a wide variety of media.

Downtown Chico is truly a not-to-be-missed treat! You'll find no chain stores or major chain restaurants here. Everything is one-of-a-kind, only-in-Chico where you'll discover unique shopping, eateries, lodging, and more. Check out Chico's unique and historic Diamond Hotel.

You'll also find CSU Chico and all that having a state university pretty much right in the middle of downtown brings to the community's table.

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There's plenty to entertain you in and around Chico California!

• Downtown Chico
  Pretty near the most unique downtown in all of California!
• Chico Events
  There are SO many things going on in and around Chico!
• Things To Do in Chico
  You'll never have reason to be bored in Chico!
• Chico Farmers Markets
  More farmers markets than people? Not quite, but...
• Day Trips From Chico
  There are some wonderful day trips you can do, using Chico as your home base!

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