Madera County, California

Madera County
County of Madera
Official seal of Madera County
Map
Interactive map of Madera County
Location in the state of California
Location in the state of California
CountryUnited States
StateCalifornia
RegionsSan Joaquin Valley, Sierra Nevada
Metropolitan areaMetropolitan Fresno
Incorporated1893
Named forSpanish word meaning "wood"
County seatMadera
Largest cityMadera
Government
 • TypeCouncil–CAO
 • BodyBoard of Supervisors
 • ChairDavid Rogers
 • Chair Pro TemRobert L Poythress
 • Board of Supervisors
Supervisors
  • Jordon Wamhoff
  • David Rogers
  • Robert L Poythress
  • Leticia Gonzalez
  • Robert Macaulay
 • County Administrative OfficerJay Varney
Area
 • Total2,153 sq mi (5,580 km2)
 • Land2,137 sq mi (5,530 km2)
 • Water16 sq mi (40 km2)
Highest elevation13,143 ft (4,006 m)
Population
 • Total156,255
 • Density73/sq mi (28/km2)
Time zoneUTC−8 (Pacific Time Zone)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−7 (Pacific Daylight Time)
FIPS code06-039
GNIS feature ID277284
Congressional districts5th, 13th
Websitewww.maderacounty.com

Madera County (/məˈdɛərə/ ), officially the County of Madera, is a county at the geographic center of the U.S. state of California. As of the 2020 census, the population was 156,255. The county seat is Madera.

Madera County comprises the Madera, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is included in the Fresno-Madera, CA Combined Statistical Area. It is located in the eastern San Joaquin Valley and the central Sierra Nevada.

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

History and etymology

Logging in the Sierra, Madera County, c. 1901

Madera County was formed in 1893 from Fresno County during a special election held in Fresno on May 16, 1893. Citizens residing in the area that was to become Madera County voted 1,179 to 358 for separation from Fresno County and the establishment of Madera County.

Madera is the Spanish term for wood. The county derives its name from the town of Madera, named when the California Lumber Company built a log flume to carry lumber to the Central Pacific Railroad there in 1876.

The Madera County Sheriff's Department employed the first woman in California to die in the line of duty as a sworn law enforcement officer—Tulare native Lucille Helm (1914–1959). For 15 years, the Madera housewife and mother of four worked on call as a "matron" assisting with female transfers.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 2,153 square miles (5,580 km2), of which 2,137 square miles (5,530 km2) is land and 16 square miles (41 km2), or 0.8%, is water.

Madera County is part of the Madera AVA wine region.

National protected areas

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note
19006,364
19108,36831.5%
192012,20345.8%
193017,16440.7%
194023,31435.8%
195036,96458.5%
196040,4689.5%
197041,5192.6%
198063,11652.0%
199088,09039.6%
2000123,10939.8%
2010150,86522.5%
2020156,2553.6%
U.S. Decennial Census
1790–1960 1900–1990
1990–2000 2010 2020

2020 census

Madera County, California - Demographic Profile
(NH = Non-Hispanic)
Race / Ethnicity Pop 2010 Pop 2020 % 2010 % 2020
White alone (NH) 57,380 48,399 38.03% 30.97%
Black or African American alone (NH) 5,009 4,131 3.32% 2.64%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 1,790 1,738 1.19% 1.11%
Asian alone (NH) 2,533 3,581 1.68% 2.29%
Pacific Islander alone (NH) 107 122 0.07% 0.08%
Some Other Race alone (NH) 649 723 0.43% 0.46%
Mixed Race/Multi-Racial (NH) 2,405 4,383 1.59% 2.81%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 80,992 93,178 53.69% 59.63%
Total 150,865 156,255 100.00% 100.00%

Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos can be of any race.

2011

Places by population, race, and income

2010

The 2010 United States Census reported that Madera County had a population of 150,865. The racial makeup of Madera County was 94,456 (62.6%) White, 5,629 (3.7%) African American, 4,136 (2.7%) Native American, 2,802 (1.9%) Asian, 162 (0.1%) Pacific Islander, 37,380 (24.8%) from other races, and 6,300 (4.2%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 80,992 persons (53.7%).

2000

County government office building

As of the census of 2000, there were 123,109 people in the county, organized into 36,155 households, and 28,598 families. The population density was 58 people per square mile (22 people/km2). There were 40,387 housing units at an average density of 19 per square mile (7.3/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 62.2% White, 4.1% Black or African American, 2.6% Native American, 1.3% Asian, 0.2% Pacific Islander, 24.4% from other races, and 5.2% from two or more races. 44.3% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 8.0% were of German, 5.9% English, 5.4% American and 5.3% Irish ancestry according to Census 2000. 63.6% spoke English and 33.7% Spanish as their first language.

There were 36,155 households, out of which 40.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.9% were married couples living together, 12.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 20.9% were non-families. 16.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.18 and the average family size was 3.52.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 29.6% under the age of 18, 9.9% from 18 to 24, 29.1% from 25 to 44, 20.4% from 45 to 64, and 11.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 91.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.0 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $36,286, and the median income for a family was $39,226. Males had a median income of $33,658 versus $24,415 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,682. 21.4% of the population and 15.9% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 28.6% of those under the age of 18 and 9.0% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.

Economy

19th and 20th Century

Madera County's origins are deeply rooted in boom-and-bust cycles, primarily driven by extractive industries. Initially, the county's economy was heavily reliant on mineral extraction and timber harvesting. Over time, agriculture and ag related industries became the predominant employer and economic force.

Gold

Madera County became known for gold mining during the California Gold Rush. Madera County, created in 1893 from a portion of Fresno County, encompassed most of the region's productive gold mines. These mines, located primarily at the junction of the Sierra Nevada batholith with pre-Cretaceous schist and slate, stretched from Grub Gulch to Hildreth.

Grub Gulch, located near the end of Highway 49, was a gold rush town renowned for its easily accessible gold. Initially, Grub Gulch was a simple shanty town of tents, but it blossomed into a bustling community in the late 1880s, spurred by successful placer mining in nearby streams. At its peak, the town boasted five saloons, a general store, a post office, and a boarding house. Remarkably, out of the $1.35 million worth of gold extracted from Madera County, nearly $1 million originated from Grub Gulch.

By the 1950s, gold production had dwindled, primarily coming from dredging operations along the Fresno, Chowchilla, and San Joaquin Rivers. After 1954, gold mining in the area sharply declined, with no significant production reported in 1959. Madera County's total gold yield through 1959 was 79,281 oz (2,247,579 g) ounces, mostly from placer deposits. However, it's notable that no individual mining districts in the county have been identified as producing over 10,000 oz (283,495 g) of gold.

Tungsten

In the mid-20th century, Madera County's High Sierra regions became prominent for their significant tungsten deposits, leading to extensive mining activities near Mammoth Lakes, Central Camp, and Fish Camp. One notable example, the Strawberry Tungsten Mine, was valued at $1 million in 1955 and had the capacity to process 310 metric tons of ore daily by 1981.

However, tungsten mining in the Sierra Nevada, including key sites like the Strawberry Tungsten Mine, faced challenges due to harsh winter conditions and intense competition from low-cost tungsten imports from China. These local difficulties were part of a wider national decline that began in the 1980s. This downturn, triggered by market price crashes and other economic factors, led to a substantial reduction in tungsten mining throughout the United States. Consequently, tungsten mining in Madera County, along with other parts of the Sierra Nevada, has completely ceased.

Lumber

The record-breaking Madera log flume was 65 mi (105 km) long.

The discovery of gold was quickly followed by a high demand for lumber, which was essential for constructing sluice boxes and building early settlements. The first sawmill in what is now Madera County, originally part of Fresno County, was constructed in 1852 on the east fork of Redwood Creek, north of Oakhurst, in an area currently known as Old Corral. To manage water flow for the mill, a dam was built across the creek, enabling the storage of water overnight and ensuring sufficient water supply for daytime operations. This mill primarily provided lumber to miners and settlers in the Coarsegold and Fresno Flats areas. In 1854, Charles Converse and Bill Chitister purchased the mill and relocated it to Crane Valley, the area now known as Bass Lake.

In 1872, the California Lumber Company established a steam mill near Nelder Grove, marking the start of significant lumber operations in the region. Over the following two years, the company constructed a 65 mi (105 km) long v-flume from the mill to the railroad lines in the San Joaquin Valley. This construction was a pioneering effort, representing the first flume to transport lumber directly to the railroad in the San Joaquin Valley. While the company failed in 1874, it was subsequently reorganized, and through its successors, became one of the only lumber companies of the era to show a profit in every year of its operation.: 146 

During the Great Depression, the lumber industry in Madera County, including its logging railroads, came to an abrupt halt. However, a revival occurred in 1941 with the establishment of the Associated Box and Lumber company's new sawmill in North Fork. This move marked the beginning of a new era in logging, characterized by the use of logging trucks and more advanced equipment, allowing deeper penetration into the Sierra National Forest. However, new government regulations in the early 1990s significantly reduced the forest's yield, impacting the mill's profitability. Ultimately, the last log was processed in February 1994, marking the end of an era for the Madera County logging industry.

21st Century

Employment

Madera County's employment sectors are a blend of traditional industries like farming and manufacturing, coupled hospitality and service-oriented fields.: 8  Based on the average employment percentages from 2015 to 2022, the employment sectors in Madera County are ranked as follows:

Madera County Employment Sectors: 8 
Sector Employment Share Description
Government 12.71% Encompassing local, state, and federal jobs.
Farm 12.08% A cornerstone of the county's economy.
Health & Education 11.08% Mirroring increasing demands in these fields.
Wholesale & Retail Trade 5.45% A key component of local commerce.
Leisure 4.26% Includes the hospitality and tourism industries.
Professional Services 3.63% Spanning legal to technical services.
Manufacturing 3.31% Significant in industrial output, notably in food and beverage processing. Predominantly converts agricultural commodities into finished products.
Construction 2.14% Indicative of ongoing development in urban and rural areas.
Transportation and Utilities 1.44% Largely trucking, crucial for intra-county and statewide goods delivery.
Financial Activities 0.71% Covering banking, insurance, and real estate.
Information 0.30% Focused on media, telecommunications, and technology. Dominated by SierraTel in Oakhurst.

The sectors that saw the largest decrease in the period were information (-25%), financial activities (-12.50%) and manufacturing (-5.71%). Looking towards the future, Government, Health and Education and Professional Sectors are forecast to be the fastest growing employment sectors.: 8 

Agriculture

Madera County is heavily invested in permanent crops, with almonds as the leading commodity, followed by grapes and pistachios. This area also places significant emphasis on cattle ranching and pollination services, particularly for almond cultivation, both ranking among the top five local agricultural sectors. In 2022, Madera County's overall gross crop production was valued at $1.9 billion. The county is renowned for its agricultural prowess, holding state rankings of #1 in fig production, #4 in both almonds and nuts, #4 in grape production (specifically the raisin variety), and #4 in pistachios.

Leading Crops of Madera County
Commodity 2022 Rank 2022 Dollar Value 2021 Rank
Almonds, Nuts & Hulls 1 $570,739,000 1
Milk 2 $454,727,000 2
Grapes 3 $233,893,000 3
Pistachios 4 $227,873,000 4
Pollination 5 $66,880,000 5
Cattle & Calves 6 $62,317,000 6
Mandarins & Tangerines 7 $45,036,000 7
Corn Silage 8 $37,293,000 9
Replacement Heifers 9 $34,255,000 8
Alfalfa, Hay & Silage* 10 $26,845,000 **

In 2022, the forest products sector experienced a significant decline compared to historical levels. Timber production amounted to only 324,000 board feet, yielding a market value of merely $1,000. In contrast, the production of firewood was substantially higher, with 6,200 cords produced, generating a market value of $924,000.

In the 1990s Mixtec farmworkers were a large presence in the southern part of the state, and were beginning to filter northwards here along with other Mexican indigenous agricultural laborers to work in the county's farms.

Education

Madera County is mostly covered by the State Center Community College District centered on Fresno City College in Fresno. Other districts with territory within Madera County also include the West Hills Community College District and the Merced Community College District.

School districts include:

Unified:

Secondary:

Elementary:

Government, policing, and politics

Government

The Government of Madera County is mandated by the California Constitution to have a five-member Board of Supervisors elected to staggered four-year terms. The Board of Supervisors: District 1, Brett Frazier; District 2, David Rogers; District 3, Robert Poythress; District 4, Leticia Gonzalez; District 5, Tom Wheeler; and County Administrator, Jay Varney; and staff provide for voter registration and elections, law enforcement, jails, vital records, property records, tax collection, public health, roads, and social services for the entire county. It is the local government for all unincorporated areas. Other elected offices include the Sheriff, Tyson Pogue; District Attorney, Sally Orme Moreno; Assessor, Brian Glover (acting); Auditor-Controller, David Richstone; Treasurer-Tax Collector, Tracy Kennedy; and Clerk/Registrar of Voters-Recorder, Rebecca Martinez.

Policing

Madera County Sheriff's Office

The Sheriff's Office and staff provide court protection, jail administration, and coroner service for all of Madera County with its total population of approximately 156,000 residents. The Sheriff provides police patrol and detective services to the unincorporated areas of the county, which contain approximately 70,000 residents, or 45% of Madera County's total population. The Sheriff's main station and offices are in the City of Madera. There are two Sheriff's substations: Oakhurst, population 3,000, and The Madera Ranchos, population 12,000, both on Highway 41 to Yosemite National Park in the Sierras.

Municipal police departments

The municipal police departments within Madera County are Madera, the county seat, population 62,000, and Chowchilla, population 19,600.

Politics

Voter registration

Cities by population and voter registration

Overview

Madera is a strongly Republican county in presidential and congressional elections. The last Democrat to win a majority in the county was Jimmy Carter in 1976.

United States presidential election results for Madera County, California
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 29,378 54.68% 23,168 43.12% 1,186 2.21%
2016 23,357 53.69% 17,029 39.14% 3,121 7.17%
2012 22,852 57.23% 16,018 40.11% 1,063 2.66%
2008 23,583 55.52% 17,952 42.27% 939 2.21%
2004 24,871 64.02% 13,481 34.70% 498 1.28%
2000 20,283 60.74% 11,650 34.89% 1,462 4.38%
1996 16,510 53.85% 11,254 36.70% 2,898 9.45%
1992 13,066 43.20% 10,863 35.92% 6,316 20.88%
1988 13,255 54.59% 10,642 43.83% 384 1.58%
1984 13,954 60.04% 8,994 38.70% 293 1.26%
1980 10,599 53.58% 7,783 39.35% 1,398 7.07%
1976 6,844 45.96% 7,625 51.20% 423 2.84%
1972 7,835 52.61% 6,580 44.18% 477 3.20%
1968 6,229 43.55% 6,932 48.47% 1,142 7.98%
1964 4,461 32.18% 9,391 67.75% 10 0.07%
1960 5,869 41.75% 8,126 57.81% 62 0.44%
1956 5,239 42.12% 7,162 57.58% 38 0.31%
1952 6,278 49.67% 6,244 49.40% 118 0.93%
1948 3,416 38.03% 5,226 58.18% 340 3.79%
1944 2,865 39.85% 4,276 59.47% 49 0.68%
1940 2,653 31.20% 5,749 67.61% 101 1.19%
1936 1,387 22.61% 4,646 75.74% 101 1.65%
1932 1,243 25.22% 3,457 70.15% 228 4.63%
1928 2,354 54.88% 1,896 44.21% 39 0.91%
1924 1,518 42.66% 450 12.65% 1,590 44.69%
1920 1,779 55.46% 1,145 35.69% 284 8.85%
1916 1,323 38.01% 1,880 54.01% 278 7.99%
1912 1 0.04% 1,154 47.71% 1,264 52.25%
1908 596 44.85% 574 43.19% 159 11.96%
1904 784 51.85% 610 40.34% 118 7.80%
1900 764 49.58% 737 47.83% 40 2.60%
1896 452 37.32% 739 61.02% 20 1.65%

Madera is split between the 5th and 13th congressional districts, represented by Tom McClintock (RElk Grove) and John Duarte (RModesto), respectively.

With respect to the California State Assembly, the county is in the 5th Assembly District, represented by Republican Joe Patterson.

In the California State Senate, Madera is split between the 8th Senate District, represented by Democrat Angelique Ashby, and the 12th Senate District, represented by Republican Shannon Grove.

On November 4, 2008, Madera County voted 73.4% for Proposition 8, which amended the California Constitution to define marriage as a union between one man and one woman.

The county is one of three counties in California to establish a separate department to deal with corrections, pursuant to California Government Code §23013, the Madera County Department of Corrections, along with Napa County and Santa Clara County. The officers receive their powers under 831 and 831.5 of the California Penal Code.

Crime

The following table includes the number of incidents reported and the rate per 1,000 persons for each type of offense.

Cities by population and crime rates

Attractions

The Chowchilla/Madera County Fairgrounds hosts the Chowchilla Junior Fair, founded in 1946, and the Chowchilla Western Stampede. It also houses the Chowchilla Speedway, a 1/3 mile dirt track, and the Associated Feed Pavilion, a covered arena. The venue hosts numerous horse events and auctions, a Spring Festival barbecue, and other public and private events.

Transportation

Major highways

Areas Inaccessible by Road

Minaret Summit, located on the border between Madera and Mono Counties, is inaccessible by road from the rest of Madera County.

In Madera County, eastern regions such as Devil's Postpile National Monument and part of Minaret Summit are isolated from the rest of the county due to a lack of connecting roads. Access to this area is primarily through Minaret Summit Road, which becomes State Route 203 upon reaching the Mono County border and leads to Mammoth Lakes. Red's Meadow Road is a further extension of this route.

A gap of less than 10 miles (16 km) separates the end of Minaret Road in the Western Sierra, which begins in North Fork and extends northeast into the Sierra, and the terminus of Red's Meadow Road in the Eastern Sierra. In the early to mid-20th century, plans were considered for building a highway or tunnel that would link the Eastern Sierra to the San Joaquin Valley through Minaret Summit. To maintain the feasibility of this project, an area southwest of Minaret Summit was intentionally left out of the Wilderness Act of 1964. This exclusion was aimed at keeping the option open for the construction of a Trans-Sierra Highway.

During his tenure as Governor of California, Ronald Reagan embarked on a horse packing trip in this area. Following this experience, Reagan aligned with conservationists to oppose the construction of the road. His efforts persisted after his election as President in 1980, culminating in the designation of this area as wilderness under the California Wilderness Act of 1984.

Public transportation

Airports

Communities

Aerial view from Madera, California, toward the snow-capped Sierras. Eastman Lake (upper left) is on the border of Madera County and Mariposa County. Hensley Lake (upper right) is near the center of Madera County. Madera Lake (lower left) is on the outskirts of Madera.

Cities

Census-designated places

Unincorporated communities

Population ranking

The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2010 census of Madera County.

county seat

Rank City/Town/etc. Municipal type Population (2010 Census)
1 Madera City 61,416
2 Chowchilla City 18,720
3 Madera Acres CDP 9,163
4 Bonadelle Ranchos-Madera Ranchos CDP 8,569
5 Yosemite Lakes CDP 4,952
6 Oakhurst CDP 2,829
7 Parksdale CDP 2,621
8 Parkwood CDP 2,268
9 Ahwahnee CDP 2,246
10 Coarsegold CDP 1,840
11 Fairmead CDP 1,447
12 Rolling Hills CDP 742
13 Bass Lake CDP 527
14 Nipinnawasee CDP 475
15 La Vina CDP 279
16 Picayune Rancheria (Chukchansi Indians) AIAN 69
17 Northfork Rancheria (Mono Indians) AIAN 60

See also

37°13′N 119°46′W / 37.22°N 119.77°W / 37.22; -119.77


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