The Cities and communities of Madera County, California *

Ahwahnee, Ahwahnee Estates
Bass Lake, Bass Lake Annex, Berenda, Bonadelle Ranchos-Madera Ranchos, Bonita, Borden
Cascadel Woods, Central Camp, Chowchilla, Coarsegold

*This list of cities may not be complete. The list may contain towns, cities, villages, boroughs, neighborhoods, townships, ghost towns and other populated places.

If you have information about any of these unlinked communities, please send it to us and we will add a page for that community. Some of these places above may only be neighborhoods or local area names and are not listed with the census at all or just included in a larger surrounding designated census area..

Return to top

Information & Facts about Madera County, California

Attractions & other Information - Climate - Economy - Genealogy - Geography -
Government - History - Libraries - Location - Organizations & Groups -
Other Facts & Figures - Population - Schools

Government

Madera County Website
200 West 4th Street
Madera, CA 93637
Phone: 559-675-7703

Madera County Sheriff

Incorporated Cities:
Chowchilla and Madera.
Unincorporated communities:
Ahwahnee, Bass Lake, Berenda, Coarsegold, Fairmead, Madera Ranchos, North Fork, Oakhurst, O'Neals, Raymond, and Rolling Hills.

County Governmemt" Five County Supervisors and one County Administrator.

County Seat: Madera.

Return to Index

Population:

1900 - 6,364
1910 - 8,368
1920 - 12,203
1930 - 17,164
1940 - 23,314
1950 - 36.964
1960 - 40,468
1970 - 41,519
1980 - 63,116
1990 - 89,300
2000 - 123,109
2004 - 138,951
2005 - 142,788

Population Density:
2000 - 58 people per square mile

Median age:
2005 - 31 years

Housing Units:
2000 - 40,387

Return to Index

Location:

Madera County is the exact (surveyed) geographical center of the State of California

Neighboring Counties:

North - Mariposa County
Northwest - Merced County
Northeast - Tuolumne County
Northeast - Mono County
South and West - Fresno County

Madera County is about 20 miles from the Fresno Metropolitan Area, 166 miles from the Bay Area, 240 miles from Los Angeles, 88 miles from Yosemite and 160 miles from Pacific beaches

The southernmost part of Yosemite National Park is located in the county's northeast sector.

Return to Index

Climate:

Average High Temperature:
Summer - 99 degrees F.
Winter - 48 degrees F.

Average Low Temperature:
Summer - 62 degrees F.
Winter - 33 degrees F.

Record High Temperature - 106 degrees F. in July 1979
Record Low Temperature - 26 degrees F. in December 1979

Average Annual Rainfall: 12 inches

Frosts may occur between December and February.

The Valley climate is warm and dry. In the mountain areas, temperature will dip lower in summer and not as high in summer as in the valley areas. Snow may fall as low as 3000 feet above sea level and averages about seven inches per year. At higher elevations, snow may remain on the ground year-round. The area is especially susceptible to dense fog during January and February.

Current weather page for Madera

Return to Index

Other Facts and Figures:

Median Household Income:
2000 - $36,286
2005 - $46,787

Per Capita Income:
2000 - $14,682
2002 - $19,617

Median House Value:
2005 - $285,323

Return to Index

History:

Madera" is the Spanish word for "lumber", the first industry in the County. A large log flume was built here in 1876 by the California Lumber Company to carry the lumber to the railroad. The flume was a great feat for the time. A replica of the flume is on display on the old courthouse in Madera. Madera County was very active during the gold rush of the mid 1800s. Many of those old gold towns are now deserted or even completely gone, but the history lingers with such names as Coarsegold, Finegold, Grub Gulch and Nipinnawassee!

The county was created in 1893 when it was formed from parts of Fresno County.

Here is a history page for Madera County

Towns in Madera County, including many that do not exist anymore. Some information and a few pictures for most towns.

Historical Landmarks in Madera County

Return to Index

Geography:

Total land area: 2,136 Square Miles
Total water area: 17 Square Miles
Total Area: 2,153 Square Miles

Geographic Coordinates at the Madera Airport:
Longitude - W120 7 degrees and
Latitude - N3648

Highest point - Mt. Ritter, 13,157 feet
Lowest point - 180 feet

Elevation 272 feet above sea level

Return to Index

Genealogy:

Madera County GenWeb Project page

Madera County Genealogy and History
Cemeteries of Madera County
Kindred Trails Genealogy page for the county
Linkpendium Genealogy page for Madera County

Return to Index

Libraries:

Madera County County Library

Return to Index

Schools:

Madera Unified School District
1902 Howard Road
Madera, CA 93637
Phone: 559-675-4500

Madera High School Coyotes

Madera County Office of Education
28123 Ave. 14
Madera, CA 93638
Phone: 559-673-6051

Madera State Center Community College
30277 Avenue 12
Madera, CA 93638
Phone: 559-675-4800

Return to Index

Economy:

In 2000, Agriculture was the largest industry in the county, with 29.9% of the employment.
The government sector has 19.5% of the employment and services makes up 16.8% of the total.

Madera County Economic Development Commission

Return to Index

Organizations & Groups

Bass Lake Chamber of Commerce
Post Office Box 126
Bass Lake, California 93604
Phone: 559-642-3676

Chowchilla District Chamber of Commerce
228 Trinity Avenue
Chowchilla, California 93610
Phone: 559-665-5603

Eastern Madera County Chamber of Commerce - Oakhurst Area
49074 Civic Circle Drive
Oakhurst, California 93644
Phone: 559-683-7766

Madera Chamber of Commerce
673-3563
120 North E Street
Madera, CA 93637

North Fork Chamber of Commerce
877-2410
Post Office Box 426
North Fork, California 93643

Madera County Historical Society
at the old Court House
210 W. Yosemite
Madera, CA, 93639.
Open Saturday and Sunday from 1:00pm to 4:00pm.
Phone (559) 673-0291

Coarsegold Historical Society
P.O. Box 117
Coarsegold, Ca 93614
Phone: 559-642-4448
Hours vary by season, so call first.

Sierra Historic Sites Association
P.O. Box 451,
Oakhurst, CA 93644
Phone: 559-683-6570

Madera County Farm Bureau
1102 South Pine Street
Madera, CA 93637
Phone: 559-674-8871

Madera County Arts Council
1653 N. Schnoor Ave., Suite 113
Madera, Ca 93637
Phone: 559-661-7005

Return to Index

Attractions & Other Information

Sierra-Mono Indian Museum
33103 Road 228
North Fork, CA 93643
Phone: 559-877-2115

Sugar Pine Railroad
56001 Hwy 41
Fish Camp, CA 93623
Phone: 559-683-7273

Madera County Museum
210 Yosemite
PO Box 478
Madera, California 93637
Phone: 209-673-0291

Annual events include the County Fair at Chowchilla, the Chowchilla Stampede , Coarsegold Rodeo, Madera District Fair, Old Timers Day, North Fork Loggers Jamboree, Oakhurst Mountaineer Days, Oakhurst Flea Markets, Squirrel Cage Theater in North Fork, Golden Chain Melodrama in Oakhurst and numerous Bass Lake boating events, plus, 4th of July fireworks.

Yosemite Sierra Visitors Bureau
Open every day except Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years
41969 Southern Yosemite Highway 41
Oakhurst, CA 93644
Phone: (559) 683 - INFO (4636)

Butterflies and Moths of Madera County

Fresno Flats Museum
Post Office Box 451,
Oakhurst, 93644-0451
Telephone: (559) 683-6570

Madera District Fairs
1850 West Cleveland Avenue
Madera, CA 93637
Phone: 559-674-8511

Madera Tribune Newspaper

Return to top
Return toFacts Index

Search Key to the City Custom Search

or Search anywhere on the Web Custom Search

Return to the California Counties page
Return to the California Page
Return to the Top USA City Directory and US City Resource Guide - Key to the City
Thanks for visiting Key to the City. We hope you will visit again soon. We'll leave the light on for you!!

This page was created on 26 January 2008 and last updated on 19 April 2010 at 3:28 pm