Chico California - City Of Roses, City Of Trees

The state of California has many towns that are important to the economy and culture of the state. Situated in the Sacramento Valley of Butte County, Chico California is an important industrial and educational center. The Sierra Nevada Brewery is just one of the companies based here and the city is also the site for the California State University. The University is famous for its arboretum on campus, which contains trees and plant species from all over the world.

Nicknamed the 'City of Roses, City of Trees'; it is surrounded by scenic highpoints, including the Sierra Nevada Mountains to its eastern side. Founded in 1860, Chico California is often voted very high on polls for the best places to reside in the United States. The city combines commerce with open spaces and cultural pursuits. There are many parks, including a skateboard park and several golf courses. Sports are popular here and the city has basketball, football, soccer and baseball teams. It also hosts the more unusual National Yo-Yo contest and boasts that the city houses the largest yo-yo in working order in the country.

Art is actively encouraged here and there are many galleries, wall murals and public space sculptures. There are theatres too and Shakespeare in the Park performances. The Senator Theatre is a 1,500 seat venue for music and it's a very attractive building, originating from 1927 when it began as a vaudeville theatre. Chico California has several museums, including the Chico Museum, which has permanent and traveling exhibits about the local history of the county. There are displays of photographs and artifacts, including items from the Chinese Tao Temple, a result of the city's large Chinese population at the beginning of the 20th century. Science too is represented here with the Chico Community Observatory, a planetarium that puts on shows with real time images from their telescopes.

The largest of the parks is Bidwell Park, the fourth largest municipal park in the USA. Its 3,670 acres are a favorite spot for residents and visitors and it offers a great day out for the family. There are interesting rock formations, golf courses, a children's playground, picnic area and several pools and creeks in which to swim.

The annual Chico World Music Festival has gained an international reputation and put Chico California on the map for performers from all over the world. Artists, who have appeared, include Taj Mahal, Robert Cray, the Blind Boys of Alabama, Richie Havens and the Chieftains from Ireland.