Chico station facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Chico, CA
Chico station in January 2021
Location	450 Orange Street, Chico, California
Coordinates	39°43′24″N 121°50′46″W / 39.7233°N 121.8461°W / 39.7233; -121.8461
Owned by	City of Chico
Platforms	1 side platform
Tracks	1
Bus operators	Greyhound Lines
Construction
Parking	Yes
Bicycle facilities	Yes
Disabled access	Yes
Other information
Station code	CIC
History
Opened	1870 (Southern Pacific) April 25, 1982 (Amtrak)
Closed	1957 (SP)
Rebuilt	1892, 1988
Traffic
Passengers (2017)	12,154  7.53% (Amtrak)
Services
Preceding station Amtrak Following station Sacramento toward Los Angeles Coast Starlight Redding toward Seattle
Former services Preceding station Amtrak Following station Marysville (1982-99) toward Los Angeles Coast Starlight Redding toward Seattle Preceding station Southern Pacific Railroad Following station Durham toward Oakland Pier Shasta Route Via East Side Sacramento Valley Vina toward Portland
Southern Pacific Depot
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
Location	Chico, California, USA
Architectural style	Carpenter Gothic
NRHP reference No.	87000001
Added to NRHP	January 29, 1987

Chico is a train station in the South Campus Neighborhood of Chico, California. It is a stop for Amtrak's Coast Starlight train service. The station is located at West Fifth and Orange streets. It was first built by the Southern Pacific Railroad in 1892.

The station is easy to use for everyone, including those with wheelchairs. It has a comfortable waiting area and public restrooms. You can also find free parking for both short and long visits. The Coast Starlight train runs daily, with one train going north to Seattle, Washington and another going south to Los Angeles, California. The Greyhound bus station is also located right at Fifth and Orange Streets.

History of the Chico Station

Chico station in 1969

The Chico train station we see today was built in 1892. It replaced an even older station that was built in 1870. The Southern Pacific Railroad built both of these stations.

The station has appeared in movies and played a part in history. In 1947, it was shown in the film Magic Town. In this movie, the main character, played by James Stewart, arrives at the station.

A famous moment happened here in 1952. Richard Nixon, who later became president, was a Vice Presidential candidate at the time. He was at the station when he heard important news about a political challenge. This led to his famous 'Checkers speech'.

Train service for passengers stopped in Chico in 1957. But it started again in 1982 when Amtrak brought the Coast Starlight train through Chico. In 1987, the city of Chico and the Chamber of Commerce worked together to save the station building from being torn down. That same year, the station was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it is a special historical building. Today, the building is also home to the Chico Art Center.

Future Plans for Travel

There are plans to improve bus service from Chico to Sacramento. This new bus service would connect to the Chico train station. It would make it easier for people to travel between these cities during the week.

See also

In Spanish: Estación Chico para niños