LOCATION
Madera County is located in the exact center of California, in
the heart of the Central Valley and the Central Sierras. It is
one of the fastest growing counties in California. Fresno County
borders ont he south, Mariposa and Merced counties on the north,
and Mono County to the east.
It is located approximately 20 miles from the Fresno Metropolitan
Area, 166 miles from the Bay Area, 240 miles from Los Angeles,
88 miles from Yosemite, 160 miles from Pacific beaches. The County
is located in the center of state, in an agricultural area. Longitude
- W120 7 degrees and Latitude - N3648 at the Madera Airport.
Advantages: Freeway 99, an all season freeway allowing access
year round; positioned to take advantage of increasing export
trade in Pacific Basin; reasonable proximity to Silicon Valley.
Disadvantages: none significant.
COMMUNITY
Advantages: Receptive to industry; local elected officials likewise.
Adequate housing supply; housing and land costs significantly
lower than Fresno; close proximity to recreational areas.
GEOGRAPHIC AREA
1,374,160 acres; 2,147 square miles. The exact (surveyed) geographical
center of the State of California, stretching from the rich San
Joaquin Valley to the crest of the Sierra Nevada, the highest
mountains in the contiguous United States. Bordered on the north
by the Chowchilla River and on the south by the San Joaquin River,
the County includes some of the richest agricultural land in
the nation.
AGRICULTURE
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Click here to download the 2006 crop report. |
To review previous annual crop reports, click here. |
CITIES
Chowchilla and Madera. Unincorporated communities: Ahwahnee,
Bass Lake, Berenda, Coarsegold, Fairmead, Madera Ranchos, North
Fork, Oakhurst, O'Neals, Raymond, and Rolling Hills.
CLIMATE
Valley climate is warm and dry. Average maximum temperature in
July - 99F, low - 62F. Average maximum in temperature in January
- 48F, low - 33F. Frosts possible December through February.
Hottest day in July, 1979 - 106F. Coldest day in December, 1979
- 26F. Rainfall average 12 inches. Relative humidity at 4 p.m.
varies from 17 to 22% in summer and 50 to 70% in winter. In the
mountain communities winter temperatures average 24F to 30F minimum
and rise to a maximum of 85F to 95F in summer. Snowfall around
3,000 feet averages 7 inches. Above 5,000 feet winters can be
severe with year round snow on the highest ranges. Foggy season,
January through February. Advantage: Flood and storm damage potential,
low. Disadvantage: None significant.
EDUCATION
Three high schools, more than 30 public elementary schools; 35
parochial and private. Nearby colleges: California State University-Fresno,
Fresno City College, Madera City College, Merced College, Fresno
Pacific College, National University and Kings River College
(Madera and Oakhurst extensions).
ELEVATION
Highest point - Mt. Ritter, 13,157 feet. Lowest point - 180 feet.
Chowchilla - 237 feet. Madera - 282 feet.
ECONOMY
& EMPLOYMENT
The 1999 annual average statistics show the civilian labor force
for Madera County to be 52,700 with an unemployment rate of 11.7%.
Agriculturally oriented counties tend to have higher unemployment
rates and greater seasonal variations in unemployment. The state's
unemployment rate is 5.2% for the same year.
Agriculture is the largest industry in the county, accounting
for 29.9% of the employment. Government, another significant
sector, accounts for 19.5% and services makes up 16.8% of the
total.
EMPLOYMENT OUTLOOK
Manufacturing, services, and government are the industries that
will provide most of the jobs in Madera's future economy. Manufacturing
is projected to provide 1,720 new jobs by 2002, a 50% increase
from 1995. Services shows a projected growth of 2,200 new jobs
with most of the job growth in the health services sector. Government
is projected to provide 860 new jobs, a 14% increase, with the
growth occurring at the state and local government level.
GROWTH
Madera County is projected to grow at a rapid pace and the
growing population will need a range of goods and services that
should, ultimately, fuel the regional economy.
GOVERNMENT
Five County Supervisors and one County Administrator. Madera
and Chowchilla have City/Manager governments. County Seat -Madera.
HEALTH
Two general hospitals with 101 bed capacity. 65 physicians, 32
dentists, 15 chiropractors, 16 optometrists, three convalescent
hospitals (253 beds), eight ambulances, and three rest homes.
INDUSTRIAL SITES
Chowchilla and Madera City Industrial Parks offer up to 50 acre
sites priced from $8,000 to $32,000 per acre. Light and heavy
industrially zoned land in the County includes over 2,000 acres
in four large County areas, all with rail access and near highways.
LABOR
The central valley has more than 300,000 people within a 30 minute
drive. Advantages: Low wage base; generally non-union area. Little
strike history. Numerous training programs available, including
OJT. Studies have shown that transition from farm laborer to
industrial worker are favorable.
MANUFACTURING
Over 100 manufacturing and processing plants producing wine,
glass bottles, cardboard boxes, fiberglass insulation, olives,
printing, dairy products, refrigeration, food processing
equipment, plastic and concrete pipe, cotton and cotton
products, construction and building products, machinery,
sprinklers, lumber, corn and grain products, and miscellaneous
food items.
MUSEUMS
Check in advance for visiting hours: Sierra-Mono Indian
Museum (North Fork), Sugar Pine Railroad (Fish Camp), County
Museum (Madera), Old Town (North Fork), and Fresno Flats
Historic Park (Oakhurst). Tours of wineries and industries
by advance arrangements only.
NEWS MEDIA
One daily and four weekly newspapers, three radio stations, cable
TV systems, seven valley UHF TV stations received direct.
POPULATION
Between 1990 and 2000, Madera County's population increased by
39.8%. The State of California's total population growth for
the same period was 13.6%. According to the State of California,
Employment Development Department, Labor Market Information Division,
a projected population of 224,600 persons by the year 2020 will
amount to an impressive increase of 151% over the 1990 population
figure of 89,300. According to the current US Census, the population
of Madera County, as of 2000 is 123,109.
RECREATION
One six screen theater, 15 parks, two golf courses, rodeo grounds,
auto race track, three small theater groups, four community centers,
Bass Lake, Mammoth Pool, Millerton Lake, Eastman Lake, Hensley
Lake, Berenda Reservoir and several smaller lakes. The mountain
area includes part of Yosemite National Park, Devil's Postpile
National Monument, Sierra National Forest, Minarets Wild Area,
John Muir Wilderness and Nelder Grove of giant Redwoods. The
mountain areas contain numerous public and private camping facilities.
Jackass Rock Camp offers permanent facilities for large groups.
Annual events include the County Fair at Chowchilla, the Chowchilla
Stampede and National Roping Championship, 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.
TRANSPORTATION
Highway 99 links the County with the entire State. Highway 41
serves the Southern entrance to Yosemite. Highway 49 (The Golden
Chain) starts at Oakhurst and runs north through the historic
California Gold Rush Country in the Sierra foothills. Highway
152 links Highway 99 and Interstate 5 for a direct route to the
Coast and the San Francisco Bay area. Highway 145 runs south
from Madera to the Morro Bay/Pismo Beach area. Continental Trailways
and Greyhound buses serve the valley. Atchison, Topeka &
Santa Fe and Southern Pacific railroads serve the valley area
and Amtrak stops in Madera. Airline service is available in Fresno.
Madera has local Senior Citizens bus, taxi and Dial-A-Ride services.
There are 27 common carriers and 10 general-haul truck lines.
United Parcel Service is available.
UTILITIES
Electricity and natural gas are supplied by Pacific Gas and Electric
Company. Chowchilla and Madera provide municipal water and sewer
services. Several Maintenance Districts and Mutual Water Companies
supply water and sewer service in the unincorporated areas. Pacific
Bell services the valley and Sierra Telephone Company and Ponderosa
Telephone Company serve the mountain areas.
YOSEMITE SIERRA VISITOR INFORMATION CENTER
OPEN EVERYDAY except Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years
Hours: Monday – Saturday 8:30 am to 5:00 pm
Sunday 9:00 am to 1:00 pm
Address: 41969 Southern Yosemite Highway 41
Oakhurst, CA 93644
Phone: (559) 683 - INFO (4636)
Fax: (559) 683 - 5697
Email:
Web Site: www.YosemiteThisYear.com
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ON LOCAL COMMUNITIES:
Bass Lake Chamber of Commerce 642-3676
Post Office Box 126
Bass Lake, California 93604
Chowchilla District Chamber of Commerce
115 South Second Street
Chowchilla, California 93610
Eastern Madera County Chamber of Commerce 683-7766
49074 Civic Circle Drive
Oakhurst, California 93644
Madera District 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
ALSO SEE 
Latest Census Information | Labor Market Snapshot (pdf file)
