Madera County (), officially the County of Madera, is a

county A county () is a geographic region of a country used for administrative or other purposesL. Brookes (ed.) '' Chambers Dictionary''. Edinburgh: Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd, 2005. in some nations. The term is derived from the Old French denoti ...

located at the geographic center of the

U.S. state In the United States, a state is a constituent political entity, of which there are 50. Bound together in a political union, each state holds governmental jurisdiction over a separate and defined geographic territory where it shares its so ...

California California () is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States that lies on the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. It borders Oregon to the north, Nevada and Arizona to the east, and shares Mexico–United States border, an ...

. It features a varied landscape, encompassing the eastern

San Joaquin Valley The San Joaquin Valley ( ; Spanish language in California, Spanish: ''Valle de San Joaquín'') is the southern half of California's Central Valley (California), Central Valley. Famed as a major breadbasket, the San Joaquin Valley is an importa ...

and the central

Sierra Nevada The Sierra Nevada ( ) is a mountain range in the Western United States, between the Central Valley of California and the Great Basin. The vast majority of the range lies in the state of California, although the Carson Range spur lies primari ...

, with Madera serving as the

county seat A county seat is an administrative center, seat of government, or capital city of a county or parish (administrative division), civil parish. The term is in use in five countries: Canada, China, Hungary, Romania, and the United States. An equiva ...

. Established in 1893 from part of Fresno County, Madera County reported a population of 156,255 in the 2020 census. "Madera," meaning "wood" in Spanish, signifies the county's historical ties to the lumber industry. With a section of

Yosemite National Park Yosemite National Park ( ) is a List of national parks of the United States, national park of the United States in California. It is bordered on the southeast by Sierra National Forest and on the northwest by Stanislaus National Forest. The p ...

within its borders, Madera County has leveraged tourism as a key economic driver. Additionally, it has established itself as a leading agricultural center, renowned for its substantial production of

almonds The almond (''Prunus amygdalus'', syn. ''Prunus dulcis'') is a species of tree from the genus ''Prunus''. Along with the peach, it is classified in the subgenus ''Amygdalus'', distinguished from the other subgenera by corrugations on the sh ...

grapes A grape is a fruit, botanically a berry, of the deciduous woody vines of the flowering plant genus ''Vitis''. Grapes are a non- climacteric type of fruit, generally occurring in clusters. The cultivation of grapes began approximately 8,0 ...

, and

pistachios The pistachio (, ; ''Pistacia vera'') is a small to medium-sized tree of the Anacardiaceae, cashew family, originating in Iran. The tree produces nut (fruit)#Culinary definition and uses, seeds that are widely consumed as food. In 2022, world ...

. Despite these economic advantages, Madera County encounters socioeconomic challenges, including a median household income that falls below the California average and poverty rates that exceed state averages, underscoring the economic disparities within the county. Madera County is characterized by its diverse population, including a pronounced Native American heritage and a history of immigration and migration dating back to the

California Gold Rush The California gold rush (1848–1855) began on January 24, 1848, when gold was found by James W. Marshall at Sutter's Mill in Coloma, California. The news of gold brought approximately 300,000 people to California from the rest of the U ...

. The county has a 59.6% Hispanic or Latino population and 20.3% of residents are foreign-born, both percentages surpassing the national averages. Additionally, nearly half of Madera County's population speaks a language other than English at home, reflecting its multicultural composition.

Etymology

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.

History

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. 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.

Human History

Native People

The region now known as Madera County was originally the territory of several Native American tribes, notably the Mono, Chukchansi, and

Miwok The Miwok (also spelled Miwuk, Mi-Wuk, or Me-Wuk) are members of four linguistically related Native Americans in the United States, Native American groups indigenous to what is now Northern California, who traditionally spoke one of the Miwok lan ...

. The Mono inhabited the upper

San Joaquin River The San Joaquin River ( ; ) is the longest river of Central California. The long river starts in the high Sierra Nevada and flows through the rich agricultural region of the northern San Joaquin Valley before reaching Suisun Bay, San Francis ...

region, encompassing areas around North Fork and Crane Valley. The Chukchansi tribe lived in what are today the communities of Oakhurst, Coarsegold, Ahwahnee, and the lower foothills extending to the

. Meanwhile, the Miwok were located in the vicinity of Ahwahnee, Wawona, Mariposa, and the

Yosemite Valley Yosemite Valley ( ; ''Yosemite'', Miwok for "killer") is a U-shaped valley, glacial valley in Yosemite National Park in the western Sierra Nevada (U.S.), Sierra Nevada mountains of Central California, United States. The valley is about long a ...

. Following the

, many Native American communities were displaced, a situation exacerbated by the

Mariposa War The Mariposa War (December 1850 – June 1851), also known as the Yosemite Indian War, was a conflict between the United States and the Native Americans in the United States, indigenous people of California's Sierra Nevada in the 1850s. The war wa ...

and institutionalized by the

Act for the Government and Protection of Indians The Act for the Government and Protection of Indians (Chapter 133, California Statutes, Cal. Stats., April 22, 1850), nicknamed the Indian Indenture Act was enacted by the first session of the California State Legislature and signed into law by ...

. Despite these adversities, several communities persevered in their traditional lifestyles. However, the creation of the Sierra National Forest in 1897 introduced a citizen-only land use permit system, effectively excluding Native Americans until they were granted citizenship in 1924 through the Indian Citizenship Act.

Immigration and Migration

Early United States Era

Since the area was part of

Mexico Mexico, officially the United Mexican States, is a country in North America. It is the northernmost country in Latin America, and borders the United States to the north, and Guatemala and Belize to the southeast; while having maritime boundar ...

until 1848, it has maintained a significant population of Mexican descent. After the

, the region became a vibrant mosaic, drawing individuals from across the

United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...

and beyond. Chinese laborers played a key role in constructing the Madera Flume and working in the Sugar Pine lumber yards. However, their numbers declined after restrictive immigration laws like the

Chinese Exclusion Act The Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 was a United States Code, United States federal law signed by President Chester A. Arthur on May 6, 1882, prohibiting all immigration of Chinese laborers for 10 years. The law made exceptions for travelers an ...

and the

Immigration Act of 1917 The Immigration Act of 1917 (also known as the Literacy Act or the Burnett Act and less often as the Asiatic Barred Zone Act) was a United States Act that aimed to restrict immigration by imposing literacy tests on immigrants, creating new cate ...

were enacted. This led to Mexican immigrants filling the roles previously held by Chinese workers, signifying a notable change in the area's labor dynamics.

20th century

During the 1930s, Madera County became a destination for significant numbers of refugees from the

Dust Bowl The Dust Bowl was a period of severe dust storms that greatly damaged the ecology and agriculture of the American and Canadian prairies during the 1930s. The phenomenon was caused by a combination of natural factors (severe drought) and hum ...

, primarily originating from Oklahoma and Arkansas. In the mid-20th century, the

Bracero Program The Bracero Program (from the Spanish term ''bracero'' , meaning " manual laborer" or "one who works using his arms") was a temporary labor initiative between the United States and Mexico that allowed Mexican workers to be employed in the U.S. ...

, designed to recruit labor from

, played a crucial role in mitigating the agricultural labor shortages that arose during

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

and the

Korean War The Korean War (25 June 1950 – 27 July 1953) was an armed conflict on the Korean Peninsula fought between North Korea (Democratic People's Republic of Korea; DPRK) and South Korea (Republic of Korea; ROK) and their allies. North Korea was s ...

. Advocated by the Madera County Chamber of Commerce, efforts were made to persuade the federal government to prolong the guest worker program beyond its original expiration in 1964. Despite the program's conclusion, labor migration continued, and by the end of the century, Madera County had become increasingly dependent on a migrant workforce. As of the 1990s, this workforce was predominantly composed of

Mixtec The Mixtecs (), or Mixtecos, are Indigenous Mesoamerican peoples of Mexico inhabiting the region known as La Mixteca of Oaxaca and Puebla as well as La Montaña Region and Costa Chica of Guerrero, Costa Chica Regions of the state of Guerre ...

s from Oaxaca, Mexico, numbering an estimated 5,000 individuals.

Geography

Madera County is characterized by its diverse landscapes, encompassing the fertile

, grasslands and oak woodlands of the foothills, and the rugged

mountains. A significant part of

, known for its wilderness and alpine areas, lies within the county. Madera County also hosts important waterways, including parts of the

and several lakes and reservoirs, vital for agriculture, ecosystems, and recreation. The county experiences a range of climates, from arid in the valley to alpine in the higher Sierra Nevada, creating diverse microclimates and environments across the area. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and , or 0.8%, is water. Madera County is part of the Madera AVA wine region.

National protected areas

Devils Postpile National Monument A devil is the personification of evil as it is conceived in many and various cultures and religious traditions. Devil or Devils may also refer to: * Satan * Devil in Christianity * Demon * Folk devil Art, entertainment, and media Film and ...

* Inyo National Forest (part) * Sierra National Forest (part) *

(part)

Demographics

2020 Census

Madera County's demographic composition and economic indicators reveal contrasts with both state and national averages. The county's median household income is reported at $76,920, which is below California's median of $91,551, reflecting economic disparities within the region. Additionally, Madera County's poverty rate of 24.3% surpasses the state's 12.2% rate, underscoring significant economic challenges, particularly affecting children under 18, with 38.2% living in poverty. Comparatively, Madera County's median income slightly exceeds the national median of $69,717. However, its poverty rate of 22.0% also exceeds the national average, indicating a notable income inequality within the county. In terms of housing, Madera County offers relatively more affordable options compared to the rest of California, with a median gross rent of $1,189 against the state's $1,870. The homeownership rate in Madera County is 69.0%, which is higher than California's rate of 55.8%. The labor force participation rate in Madera County is 56.4%, which is lower than the national rate. The county has a youthful demographic, with 27.1% under 18 years old, compared to the national figure of 22.4%. The percentage of elderly residents in Madera County is slightly below the U.S. average. Madera County is notable for its higher percentage of foreign-born residents at 20.3%, surpassing the national average. This contributes to the county's multicultural identity, with a significant Hispanic or Latino population of 59.6%. Linguistic diversity is evident, with 46.5% of residents speaking a language other than English at home. An estimated 12,500 to 15,000 people in Madera County are

undocumented immigrants Illegal immigration is the migration of people into a country in violation of that country's immigration laws, or the continuous residence in a country without the legal right to do so. Illegal immigration tends to be financially upward, wi ...

. Educational attainment in Madera County shows that 21.4% of its population holds a Bachelor's degree or higher, which is below the California average.

Economy

19th and 20th century

Typical-log-at-Sugar-Pine-California-1915

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

. 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 The Sierra Nevada Batholith is a large batholith that is approximately 400 miles long and 60-80 miles wide which forms the core of the Sierra Nevada mountain range in California, exposed at the surface as granite. The batholith is composed of ...

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 A gold rush or gold fever is a discovery of gold—sometimes accompanied by other precious metals and rare-earth minerals—that brings an onrush of miners seeking their fortune. Major gold rushes took place in the 19th century in Australia, ...

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 significantly dropped, primarily from dredging operations along the

Fresno Fresno (; ) is a city in the San Joaquin Valley of California, United States. It is the county seat of Fresno County, California, Fresno County and the largest city in the greater Central Valley (California), Central Valley region. It covers a ...

, Chowchilla, and

s with almost no production after 1959.

Tungsten

In the mid-20th century, Madera County's High Sierra regions became prominent for their significant

tungsten Tungsten (also called wolfram) is a chemical element; it has symbol W and atomic number 74. It is a metal found naturally on Earth almost exclusively in compounds with other elements. It was identified as a distinct element in 1781 and first ...

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 faced challenges due to harsh winter conditions and intense competition from low-cost tungsten imports from China. These challenges were part of a broader decline in the U.S. starting in the 1980s, caused by falling market prices and economic issues, resulting in a major decrease in tungsten mining nationwide. As a result, tungsten mining in Madera County and the rest of the Sierra Nevada has stopped entirely.

Lumber

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 the county was constructed in 1852 on the east fork of Redwood Creek, north of Oakhurst, in an area currently known as Old Corral. 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 initiated the region's first major lumber operation with a steam mill near Nelder Grove. They built a record-setting long log flume to Madera to float finished lumber to market. Although it ran out of money in 1874, it was restructured and operated at a profit for the next four decades. During the

Great Depression The Great Depression was a severe global economic downturn from 1929 to 1939. The period was characterized by high rates of unemployment and poverty, drastic reductions in industrial production and international trade, and widespread bank and ...

, Madera County's lumber industry and logging railroads ceased operations. In 1941, the industry recovered when a new sawmill in North Fork was built, which used

logging truck A logging truck or timber lorry is a large truck used to carry logs. Some have integrated flatbeds, some are discrete tractor units, and some are configured to spread a load between the tractor unit and a dollied trailer pulled behind it. Oft ...

s and advanced equipment for deeper access into the Sierra National Forest. However, in the early 1990s, tighter government rules reduced forest yields, hurting the mill's profits. This downturn led to the end of Madera County's logging era in February 1994, when the last log was processed.

21st century

Employment

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

Agriculture

Madera County is heavily invested in permanent crops, with

almond The almond (''Prunus amygdalus'', Synonym (taxonomy)#Botany, syn. ''Prunus dulcis'') is a species of tree from the genus ''Prunus''. Along with the peach, it is classified in the subgenus ''Amygdalus'', distinguished from the other subgenera ...

s as the leading commodity, followed by

grape A grape is a fruit, botanically a berry, of the deciduous woody vines of the flowering plant genus ''Vitis''. Grapes are a non- climacteric type of fruit, generally occurring in clusters. The cultivation of grapes began approximately 8,0 ...

s and

pistachio The pistachio (, ; ''Pistacia vera'') is a small to medium-sized tree of the Anacardiaceae, cashew family, originating in Iran. The tree produces nut (fruit)#Culinary definition and uses, seeds that are widely consumed as food. In 2022, world ...

s. 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. In the 1990s

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

. 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: * Chawanakee Unified School District * Firebaugh-Las Deltas Unified School District * Golden Valley Unified School District * Madera Unified School District * Yosemite Unified School District - Includes some sections zoned for K-12 and some for grades 9–12 only Secondary: * Chowchilla Union High School District Elementary: * Alview-Dairyland Union Elementary School District * Bass Lake Joint Union Elementary School District * Chowchilla Elementary School District * Raymond-Knowles Union Elementary School District

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.

Correctional Facilities

Madera County has three correctional facilities. The first is the Madera County Jail, managed by the elected Sheriff. The second, Valley State Prison, is a state-run prison located in Chowchilla. The third, the Central California Women's Facility, is also in Chowchilla, across from Valley State Prison. Inmates are counted in the county's census population.

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 James Earl Carter Jr. (October 1, 1924December 29, 2024) was an American politician and humanitarian who served as the 39th president of the United States from 1977 to 1981. A member of the Democratic Party (United States), Democratic Party ...

1976 Events January * January 2 – The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights enters into force. * January 5 – The Pol Pot regime proclaims a new constitution for Democratic Kampuchea. * January 18 – Full diplomatic ...

. Madera is split between the 5th and 13th congressional districts, represented by and , respectively. With respect to the

California State Assembly The California State Assembly is the lower house of the California State Legislature (the upper house being the California State Senate). The Assembly convenes, along with the State Senate, at the California State Capitol in Sacramento, Califor ...

, the county is in . In the

California State Senate The California State Senate is the upper house of the California State Legislature (the lower house being the California State Assembly). The state senate convenes, along with the state assembly, at the California State Capitol in Sacramento. ...

, Madera is split between , and . 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 In criminal justice, particularly in North America, correction, corrections, and correctional, are umbrella terms describing a variety of functions typically carried out by government agencies, and involving the punishment, treatment, and s ...

, pursuant to California Government Code §23013, the Madera County Department of Corrections, along with Napa County and

Santa Clara County Santa Clara County, officially the County of Santa Clara, is the sixth-most populous county in the U.S. state of California, with a population of 1,936,259 as of the 2020 census. Santa Clara County and neighboring San Benito County form the ...

. 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

* Bass Lake * The Balls * Chukchansi Gold Resort & Casino * Corlieu Falls * Ducey's Bass Lake Lodge * The Forks Resort * Fresno Dome * Hensley Lake * Mammoth Pool Reservoir * Madera AVA * Nelder Grove * The Pines Resort * Mount Ritter * Shuteye Peak * Sierra Vista Scenic Byway * Willow Creek *

Transportation

Major highways

State Route 41 * California 49

State Route 49 * California 99

State Route 99 * California 145

State Route 145 * California 152

State Route 152 * California 233

State Route 233

Areas Inaccessible by Road

Sunset from the Minarets Vista viewpoint near Mammoth Lakes

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 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

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 The governor of California is the head of government of the U.S. state of California. The Governor (United States), governor is the commander-in-chief of the California National Guard and the California State Guard. Established in the Constit ...

Ronald Reagan Ronald Wilson Reagan (February 6, 1911 – June 5, 2004) was an American politician and actor who served as the 40th president of the United States from 1981 to 1989. He was a member of the Republican Party (United States), Republican Party a ...

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 President most commonly refers to: *President (corporate title) * President (education), a leader of a college or university *President (government title) President may also refer to: Arts and entertainment Film and television *'' Præsident ...

in 1980, culminating in the designation of this area as

wilderness Wilderness or wildlands (usually in the plurale tantum, plural) are Earth, Earth's natural environments that have not been significantly modified by human impact on the environment, human activity, or any urbanization, nonurbanized land not u ...

under the California Wilderness Act of 1984.

Public transportation

* Madera County Connection provides service between the cities of Madera and Chowchilla. Routes also run to eastern Madera County. A connection to Fresno can be made at Valley Children's Hospital near the county line. * The cities of Madera and Chowchilla also have their own local, intracity transit services named Madera Metro and Chowchilla Area Transit, respectively. *

Greyhound The English Greyhound, or simply the Greyhound, is a dog breed, breed of dog, a sighthound which has been bred for coursing, greyhound racing and hunting. Some are kept as show dogs or pets. Greyhounds are defined as a tall, muscular, smooth-c ...

buses and

Amtrak The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, Trade name, doing business as Amtrak (; ), is the national Passenger train, passenger railroad company of the United States. It operates intercity rail service in 46 of the 48 contiguous United Stat ...

trains stop in Madera

Airports

* Madera Municipal Airport and Chowchilla Airport are general aviation airports.

Communities

Hensley Lake and Eastman Lake and Madera Lake

Cities

* Chowchilla * Madera (county seat)

Census-designated places

* Ahwahnee * Bass Lake * Bonadelle Ranchos * Coarsegold * Fairmead * La Vina * Madera Acres * Madera Ranchos * Nipinnawasee * North Fork * Oakhurst * Parksdale * Parkwood * Rolling Hills * Yosemite Lakes

Unincorporated communities

* Knowles * O'Neals *

Raymond Raymond is a male given name of Germanic origin. It was borrowed into English from French (older French spellings were Reimund and Raimund, whereas the modern English and French spellings are identical). It originated as the Germanic ᚱᚨᚷ� ...

* Ripperdan *

Sugar Pine ''Pinus lambertiana'' (commonly known as the sugar pine or sugar cone pine) is the tallest and most massive pine tree and has the longest Conifer cone, cones of any conifer. It is native to coastal and inland mountain areas along the Pacific coa ...

* Sumner Hill

Population ranking

The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2010 census of Madera County.2010 Census
/ref> † ''county seat''

Notes

References

External links

*
Madera County GenWeb - Genealogy

��Transcription of 1933 document on the county's history
Oakhurst Area Chamber of Commerce

Yosemite Sierra Visitors Bureau
*
Madera Tribune
', newspaper for the western half of the county founded March 31, 1892
Superior Court of Madera County

Madera County Library

Madera Community Hospital

Madera Values Quarterly Magazine
{{Coord, 37.22, -119.77, display=title, type:adm2nd_region:US-CA_source:UScensus1990 California counties San Joaquin Valley 1893 establishments in California Populated places established in 1893 Majority-minority counties in California