Madera, California facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Madera, California
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Aerial view of Madera
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| Nickname(s):
"The Heart of California"
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Location in Madera County and the state of California
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 Madera, California
Location in California
Madera, California
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | California |
| County | Madera |
| Regions | Central Valley Northern California |
| Incorporated | March 27, 1907 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Council and Manager |
| Area | |
| • City | 16.48 sq mi (42.67 km2) |
| • Land | 16.48 sq mi (42.67 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) 0% |
| Elevation | 272 ft (83 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • City | 66,224 |
| • Density | 4,018.4/sq mi (1,552.00/km2) |
| • Metro | 152,465 |
| Demonym(s) | Maderan |
| Time zone | UTC−8 (Pacific) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−7 (PDT) |
| ZIP codes |
93636–93639
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| Area code | 559 |
| FIPS code | 06-45022 |
| GNIS feature IDs | 277552, 2410906 |
Madera is a city in California, located in the San Joaquin Valley. Its name means "Wood" in Spanish. Madera is also the county seat of Madera County. This means it's where the main government offices for the county are located. In 2020, about 66,224 people lived here.
Contents
History of Madera
The city of Madera got its name from the Spanish word for "wood" or "lumber." It was founded in 1876 by the California Lumber Company. They built the town to help move lumber from the mountains.
From 1876 to 1931, a special 63-mile (101 km) water flume was used. This flume carried lumber from the mountains all the way to Madera. Once the lumber arrived, it was then shipped out by train.
Madera's first post office opened in 1877. On May 16, 1893, Madera County officially became a county in California. The town itself became an official city on March 27, 1907. Rev. Naaman N. Haynes was one of the first African Americans to hold an elected office in the city. He was chosen as a school board trustee in the 1960s.
Some important places in Madera include the historic Madera County Courthouse and the famous Madera water tower. The city also has a drive-in movie theater that is still open today.
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Madera celebrates the completion of the "world's longest lumber flume" on October 27, 1900.
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The Madera flume terminus c. 1901
Geography and Climate
Madera is located in California's Central Valley. It is about 23 miles (37 km) northwest of Fresno. The Fresno River flows through the northern part of the city.
Madera is also known for the Madera AVA wine region. This area is great for growing grapes used to make wine.
Madera's Climate
Madera has a steppe climate. This means it's generally dry, but not a desert. Summers are very hot and dry. Winters are mild and wet.
On average, Madera has many hot days. About 108 days each year reach 90 °F (32 °C) or higher. Around 30 days get as hot as 100 °F (38 °C) or more. The hottest day ever recorded was 116 °F (47 °C) in July 1961.
In winter, it can get cold. About 25 mornings each year have temperatures of 32 °F (0 °C) or lower. The coldest day ever recorded was 15 °F (−9 °C) in January 1949.
Madera gets about 10.79 inches (274.1 mm) of rain each year. Most of the rain falls during the winter months. Snowfall is very rare in Madera. However, 4.0 inches (10 cm) of snow did fall in January 1962.
Population and People
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 217 | — | |
| 1890 | 950 | 337.8% | |
| 1910 | 2,404 | — | |
| 1920 | 3,444 | 43.3% | |
| 1930 | 4,665 | 35.5% | |
| 1940 | 6,457 | 38.4% | |
| 1950 | 10,497 | 62.6% | |
| 1960 | 14,430 | 37.5% | |
| 1970 | 16,044 | 11.2% | |
| 1980 | 21,732 | 35.5% | |
| 1990 | 29,281 | 34.7% | |
| 2000 | 43,207 | 47.6% | |
| 2010 | 61,416 | 42.1% | |
| 2020 | 66,224 | 7.8% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
Madera has grown a lot over the years. In 2010, the city had a population of 61,416 people. Most people in Madera live in homes, not in group housing.
The city is very diverse. In 2010, almost half of the people were White. There were also many African American, Native American, and Asian residents. A large part of the population, about 76.7%, identified as Hispanic or Latino.
Many households in Madera have children under 18. The average household had about 3 to 4 people living in it. In 2010, about 34.7% of the population was under 18 years old. The average age in Madera was 26.6 years.
As of July 1, 2019, the estimated population for Madera was 65,860. The median household income was about $42,581.
Education in Madera
Madera has many schools for students of all ages.
- School Districts
- Madera Unified School District (for students from kindergarten to 12th grade)
- High Schools
- Madera High School
- Madera South High School
- Matilda Torres High School
- Alternative Education Schools
- Furman Independent Study
- Mountain Vista High School
- Ripperdan Community Day School
- Madera County Superintendent of Schools
- Endeavor/Voyager
- Madera County Independent Academy
- Pioneer Technical Center
- Private Schools
- Saint Joachim School (pre-kindergarten to 8th grade)
- Crossroads Christian School (pre-kindergarten to 8th grade)
- Higher Education (Colleges)
- Madera Community College
- San Joaquin Valley College Madera
- Public Libraries
- Madera County Public Library
Getting Around Madera
Madera has several ways to get around, both within the city and to other places.
State Route 99 is a major highway that runs through Madera. It goes from the northwest to the southeast. You can also reach State Route 41 and State Route 145 near the city.
For train travel, there is the Madera Amtrak station. There are also plans for a California High-Speed Rail stop in the future. If you prefer buses, there's a Greyhound bus station downtown.
Within Madera, you can use the Madera Metro public bus service. It helps residents travel to shopping centers, schools, and workplaces. For travel to other towns in Madera County, the Madera County Connection provides bus services.
The Madera Municipal Airport is a local airport for smaller planes. It is located on the northwest side of the city. For bigger flights, residents can use the nearby Yosemite International Airport in Fresno.
Famous People from Madera
Many notable people have come from Madera, including:
- Frank Bergon, an author whose novel Jesse's Ghost is set in Madera.
- Connor Brogdon, a pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies baseball team.
- Lee Evans, an Olympic gold medalist in track and field.
- Zoila Frausto Gurgel, a champion in mixed martial arts.
- Jack W. Kelso, who received the Medal of Honor.
- Wally O'Connor, an Olympian in water polo and swimming who won a gold medal in 1924.
- Jeannine Riley, an actress known for Petticoat Junction.
- Martha Baird Rockefeller, a concert pianist and philanthropist.
- La Schelle Tarver, an outfielder for the Boston Red Sox baseball team.
Sister Cities
Madera has one sister city:
Yilan City, Yilan County, Taiwan (since 1994)
See also
In Spanish: Madera (California) para niños
