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Madera County
countyMadera County, California
Overview
- Classification
- County
- FIPS Code
- 06-039
- Country
- United States
- County
- Madera County
Geography
- Region
- Central Valley and Sierra Nevada
- Elevation
- 13,149 ft
- Total Area
- 2,153 sq mi
- Land Area
- 2,137 sq mi
- Water Area
- 16 sq mi
- Latitude
- 37.2399
- Longitude
- -120.4034
- Climate
- Climate ranges from arid in the valley to alpine in the higher elevations of the Sierra Nevada.
- Notable Features
- San Joaquin Valley · Sierra Nevada Mountains · Yosemite National Park (portion) · San Joaquin River · Bass Lake · Sierra National Forest
- Neighboring Areas
- Fresno County · Merced County · Mariposa County · Tuolumne County · Mono County
Demographics
- Population (2020)
- 156,255
- Est. Population (2026)
- 169,492
- Median Age
- 34.6
- Median Income
- $75,496
- Poverty Rate
- 15.4%
- Family Households
- 77.2%
- Owner-Occupied
- 65.5%
- Racial & Ethnic Composition
- Hispanic or Latino residents comprise 60.4% of the population, White (Non-Hispanic) 30.9%, Other (Hispanic) 30.1%, Two Races Including Other (Hispanic) 13.8%.
Governance
- Government Type
- Council–CAO
- Governing Body
- Board of Supervisors
- Body Size
- 5 members
- Municipal Services
- Animal Services · Public Works · Parks & Recreation
Economy
- Unemployment Rate
- 7.7%
- Economic Profile
- Agriculture · Manufacturing · Tourism · Distribution
- Employment Sectors
- Agriculture · Health Care and Social Services · Education · Retail · Accommodation and Food Services · Manufacturing
- Major Employers
- Gallo Winery · Ardagh Glass · Baltimore Aircoil · Certainteed Corp · JBT Food Tech · Evapco West · Warnock Foods · Azteca Milling · Oldcastle Enclosure Solutions · Georgia Pacific
Education
- Schools
- 28
- Students
- 20,142
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 11:1
- School Districts
- Madera Unified School District · Chowchilla Union High School District · Golden Valley Unified School District · Yosemite Unified School District · Chawanakee Unified School District · Alview-Dairyland Union Elementary School District · Bass Lake Joint Union Elementary School District · Chowchilla Elementary School District · Madera County Office of Education
- Colleges & Universities
- Madera Community College
Infrastructure
- Transportation
- Interstate 99 · State Route 41 · State Route 145 · Madera Metro fixed-route transit services
- Utilities
- Municipal water · Fiber/broadband
- Major Facilities
- Madera Community Hospital · Madera County Courthouse
Recreation
- Outdoor Access
- Yes
- Major Recreation Areas
- Yosemite National Park (portion) · Bass Lake · Sierra National Forest
- Parks & Trails
- Lions Town & Country Park · Millview Park · Parks and Trails managed by Eastern Madera Recreation and Parks
History
- Founded
- 1893
- Named After
- The Spanish word for 'wood,' referencing the county's early lumber industry.
- Historical Significance
- Madera County's history reflects boom-and-bust cycles tied to extractive industries, followed by a transition to a strong agricultural economy. It also holds historical significance due to its location and access to Yosemite National Park.
- Key Events
- Formed from Fresno County. · Early economy based on lumber and mining. · Significant agricultural development.