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Chowchilla, CA

Chowchilla is a city in Madera County, California, United States. The city's population was 19,039 at the 2020 census. Chowchilla is located 16 miles (26 km) northwest of Madera, at an elevation of 240 feet (73 m). The city is the location of two prisons: Central California Women's Facility and Valley State Prison. 

The word "Chowchilla" is an anglicized spelling of chaushila, the name of an indigenous Yokuts people who, historically, inhabited the areas in and around Madera County. The first post office at Chowchilla opened in 1912 and the city was incorporated eleven years later, in 1923. Chowchilla made national news on July 15, 1976, when 26 children and their school bus driver were kidnapped and held in a buried moving van at a quarry in Livermore, California. The driver and some of the children were able to escape and notify the quarry guard. All the victims returned unharmed. The quarry owner's son and two friends were convicted and sentenced to life in prison.

Chowchilla is located in California's Central Valley. Via California Route 99, it is 16 miles (26 km) northwest of Madera, the county seat, and 18 miles (29 km) southeast of Merced. It is 39 miles (63 km) northwest of Fresno and 256 miles (412 km) north of Downtown Los Angeles. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 11.1 square miles (29 km2), of which 0.05 square miles (0.13 km2), or 0.41%, are water. Ash Slough, a tributary of the Fresno River, runs along the northern edge of the city. 

Chowchilla gives importance to health and wellness. Explore the parks, facilities, and programs offered by the Chowchilla Recreation and Community Services Department. These spaces provide opportunities for outdoor activities such as walking, jogging, sports, and picnicking. Join local fitness centers and gyms to participate in exercise programs, fitness classes, and strength training. A popular option includes Fitness Peak. 345 Fit is a state-of-the-art facility furnished with a full range of exercise equipment to improve your cardiovascular and muscular fitness. Massage Therapy Center facilitates deep, long-lasting results in a wide range of modalities, peeling away layers of stress, restoring mobility to injured muscle tissue, and easing stiffened joints and hot spots of pain. Discover the walking and biking trails in and around Chowchilla, such as Edward Ray Park and RC Wisener Park. These trails offer opportunities for outdoor exercise and enjoyment of nature.

The top sites in Chowchilla, CA are Devils Postpile National Monument, Rainbow Falls, and Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad.

Area code: 559. Elevation: 240 ft (73 m). ZIP Code: 93610. Area: 11.1 square miles (29 km2). Population: 19,039.

FAQs

What is Chowchilla, CA is known for?

Fun events like the annual Chowchilla Stampede celebrate the town's heritage, featuring a cattle drive down Robertson Blvd. Chowchilla is also the site for the annual County Fair, boasting well-known performers and a lot of fun. Chowchilla's main attraction is the Fossil Discovery Center of Madera. See the preserved remains of animals from 700,000 years ago like Colombian Mammoths, Sabre-toothed cats, and the largest bear to ever walk the Earth, the 12-foot tall Shortfaced Bear.

Is Chowchilla, CA a good place to live?

Living in Chowchilla offers residents a sparse suburban feel and most residents own their homes. In Chowchilla, there are a lot of parks. Residents of Chowchilla tend to have moderate political views.

Is Chowchilla, CA a safe place?

The crime rate in Chowchilla is considerably higher than the national average across all communities in America from the largest to the smallest, although at 18 crimes per one thousand residents, it is not among the communities with the very highest crime rate. The chance of becoming a victim of either violent or property crime in Chowchilla is 1 in 56. Based on FBI crime data, Chowchilla is not one of the safest communities in America. Relative to California, Chowchilla has a crime rate that is higher than 49% of the state's cities and towns of all sizes.

Sources

Wikipedia

City of Chowchilla

Chowchilla Recreation and Community Services Department

Fitness Peak

Edward Ray Park 

RC Wisener Park

345 Fit

Massage Therapy Center

Devils Postpile National Monument

Rainbow Falls

Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad

Visit Chowchilla

Niche

Neighborhoodscout

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