Relocation guide

It doesn’t matter whether you’re here for a quick visit or settling in for the rest of your life. You’re welcome to take in these facts about Chico that will help you get to know the place where you’ve just landed. Rest assured, you’ve chosen great surroundings. For those of you who have relocated to Chico, we’ve also included information on health care and schools—you know, the not-so-fun, but oh-so-important stuff. Now, here are the nitty-gritty numbers that describe our town.

Population
The population of the city of Chico, 73,558, is a little misleading. That’s because there are pockets of unincorporated land scattered about. Their residents use county services, can’t vote in city elections and are likely not hooked up to the city sewer system.

The “real” population of what’s called the Greater Chico Urban Area is 102,120 people. That accounts for nearly half of the total Butte County population of 214,119. Chico’s current growth rate is 2.8 percent. Interestingly, while more people are moving here, enrollment in the elementary schools has gone down in recent years, leading to budget problems.

Housing
It’s widely known that there aren’t enough houses to go around in Chico, and rents have gone up in the last five years, too. It’s all relative, though, and what’s pricey in Chico is a bargain by Bay Area or Southern California standards. Expect to pay at least $575 a month to rent a one-bedroom apartment; $750-plus for a two-bedroom in reasonable shape. Houses are at least $1,000 a month. In 2005, the median price for an existing three-bedroom, two-bath home was $339,242, according to city records. Prices have leveled off, but the bubble hasn’t exactly burst.

Demographics
Chico, like most North Valley towns, is predominantly white—77 percent, to be exact. The 2000 census also tallied the city’s population as 12.3 percent Hispanic, 4.1 percent Asian (Chico has a significant Hmong community), 2 percent black and 1 percent Native American. The population of this college town is young: The median age is 24.6.

Weather
Winters are fairly mild, with the most rainfall coming in January. The average annual rainfall is 26.04 inches. If you don’t like hot summers, you’re in for some sufferin’. Temperatures often rise past the 100-degree mark here, but summer has balmy days, too. The hottest month is August.

Economy
Government, services and retail trade continue to be the largest employers in Butte County, but dominant behind the scenes is the $300-million-a-year agriculture industry (almonds and rice in particular).

Much of the local economy is driven by the presence of Chico State University. With more than 2,000 employees and more than 15,000 students, it generates a lot of dollars that turn over in the economy and support a lot of businesses. Another large employer is Enloe Health System, with 2,200 workers. Butte County’s unemployment rate hovers around 7-8 percent and shifts seasonally. The average per-capita income in 2004 was $20,279, the mean household income was $52,035 and the median family income was $29,367. Chico wages aren’t known for being high, but then the cost of living here is lower than in the big city.

Getting around
The transit systems for Chico, Oroville and Butte County merged in July 2005, creating Butte Regional Transit, or “B-Line.” Tickets are $1 for in-town service, 75 cents for students. (Go to www.bcag.org for more information.) The B-Line features routes running every day but Sunday, plus shuttles to Chico State. Seniors and the mobility-impaired may catch a ride from the Chico Clipper (342-8145).

Greyhound and Amtrak leave from the train station at 450 Orange St. For a fee, you can take a shuttle to the Sacramento Airport, or you can just fly out of the Chico Municipal Airport, which is serviced by United’s SkyWest with about six flights a day. (This could change soon with the possible addition of flights to and from Portland, Ore., and Los Angeles.)

For added fun and safety, pedicabs—with drivers paid by tips—run through downtown Chico on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. Oh, when you’re in your car, watch out for one-way streets, mainly Third and Fourth and Main and Broadway downtown. If you’re lost, maybe you were looking for an avenue, farther north. Don’t worry: rookie mistake. See Map of Chico

Being safe
Protecting and serving Chico are the fine folks at the Chico Police Department, located on Humboldt Road and reachable at 895-4981. The Fire Department has both full-timers and volunteers, responding out of six stations around town. 895-4930.Chico has more than 60 churches, a daily newspaper, three weeklies, including the Chico News & Review (check it out each Thursday!), the student newspaper The Orion, about a dozen assorted AM and FM radio stations (including NPR and community radio), a community-access TV station, public television and three network TV affiliates, although two are merged for news.

The Chico Newcomers club welcomes women hoping to meet people through coffees, luncheons and other social events. Call 566-1599 or 892-9650 for more information.

Shopping

The Chico Mall
Located off 20th Street east of Highway 99, the Chico Mall anchors the retail development at the southeast end of town. It’s a retail hub and the largest shopping area north of Sacramento, and it features Gottschalks, Sears and JC Penney, along with many chain, franchise and locally owned shops. Call 343-0696 for more information. Neighboring properties host grocery superstores, chain restaurants and shopping favorites such as Target, Wal-Mart, Pier 1 Imports, Toys ’R’ Us, Old Navy and Best Buy, with new stores popping up seemingly every day.

Whitman Avenue
One of the busiest shopping areas in Chico, this collection of large retailers off East 20th Street just west of Highway 99 hosts Costco, Circuit City, Office Depot, Barnes & Noble, Cost Plus World Market, Ashley Furniture and Bed, Bath and Beyond, among others. In 2007, Whitman Avenue will be renamed Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway.

North Valley Plaza
Located off Cohasset Road in north Chico near the Highway 99 interchange, the North Valley Plaza shopping center has undergone an impressive remodel that has resulted in retail “pads” surrounding what’s left of Chico’s first mall. It’s anchored by Mervyn’s and a movie theater. And if you need to pick up some groceries, there’s a Trader Joe’s there, too. 895-1856.

Movies

Chico is big enough now that most of the blockbuster feature films quickly make it to screens here, and the locally owned Pageant Theatre fills the void for art film lovers. The News & Review has a detailed listing of all showings each week, as well as a selection of film reviews.Presenting art-house films in a casual atmosphere. Get there early for the couches in the front row, and don’t miss out on Cheapskate Mondays: all seats just $2.50. 351 East Sixth St., 343-0663. www.pageantchico.com.Chico’s last big theater, with 14 screens showing first-run films presented by Cinemark. 801 East Ave. (North Valley Plaza), 879-9612. www.cinemark.com.