The City of Chico was founded in 1860 by General John Bidwell, and became incorporated in 1872. Chico is in California's Sacramento Valley, a large and agriculturally rich basin that runs through the northern center of the state.
Visitors can enjoy Chico's natural beauty through outdoor activities such as biking, hiking, fishing, swimming, golfing, horseback riding, tubing, and picnicking. Guests can spend an afternoon strolling through downtown Chico or touring historic sites such as Bidwell Mansion, the Chico Museum and the 1892 vintage train station. Chico is also home to the famed Bidwell Park.
Chico is located in Butte County north of Sacramento between Red Bluff and Oroville along Highway 99 near Black Butte Lake. Chico is part of the Chico-Paradise, California metro area.
