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Chowchilla is a city in Madera County, in California's Central Valley, about sixteen miles northwest of the county seat of Madera and at an elevation of roughly 240 feet. State Route 99, the valley's principal north-south highway, passes through the area, linking the city to Fresno to the south and Merced to the north. The city's name is an anglicized spelling of chaushila, the name of the Yokuts people who historically inhabited this part of the valley. Agriculture has always been the community's economic foundation, and the surrounding countryside remains a mix of dairies, row crops, and orchards. Over the twentieth century Chowchilla grew from a small farm settlement into a modest city, its streets and services expanding with the broader growth of the San Joaquin Valley. The city's agricultural base has been supplemented by institutional employment. Two state correctional facilities, the Central California Women's Facility and Valley State Prison, are located at Chowchilla and rank among the area's largest employers. Their presence, along with the farm economy, gives Chowchilla a working, service-oriented character. Chowchilla is also known for the Fossil Discovery Center of Madera County, a museum and research site near the Fairmead fossil beds, one of the largest Middle Pleistocene fossil deposits in California. The center, which opened in 2010, draws school groups and visitors with its exhibits, working laboratory, and mock dig pit. Today Chowchilla functions as a small, self-contained Central Valley city. It offers local schools, shops, and services to residents, while its position on Highway 99 keeps Fresno, Merced, and the broader San Joaquin Valley within easy commuting distance. The city's modest scale and agricultural setting appeal to those seeking a quieter pace within reach of the valley's larger urban centers.

Population 19,039

County Madera County

Active Listings 181

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Frequently Asked Questions

What county is Chowchilla in?

Chowchilla is in Madera County, in California's Central Valley. It lies about sixteen miles northwest of the county seat of Madera along State Route 99, roughly midway between the cities of Fresno and Merced.

What is the Fossil Discovery Center?

The Fossil Discovery Center of Madera County in Chowchilla preserves one of California's largest Middle Pleistocene fossil deposits, discovered at the nearby Fairmead site. The center includes exhibits, a working lab, and a mock dig pit.

What does the name Chowchilla mean?

Chowchilla is an anglicized spelling of chaushila, the name of the Yokuts people who historically inhabited this part of the Central Valley. The city's name reflects the area's Native American heritage and its long indigenous history.

What is Chowchilla's economy based on?

Chowchilla's economy is rooted in agriculture, with dairies and farms across the surrounding area. The city is also the location of two state correctional facilities, the Central California Women's Facility and Valley State Prison, which are major local employers.

City Guide

About Chowchilla

Real Estate & Housing

Chowchilla's housing stock is typical of a small Central Valley city, with modest single-family homes forming the core of the market. Older ranch-style and bungalow homes line the established streets near downtown, while newer subdivisions have developed on the city's edges in recent decades. Lots in the older neighborhoods tend to be compact, and newer construction offers somewhat larger floor plans. Housing is generally oriented toward ownership, and the market reflects the city's agricultural and institutional employment base rather than large-scale suburban development.

Neighborhoods

Chowchilla is organized around its downtown and the State Route 99 corridor. The historic center, with its civic buildings and older commercial storefronts, anchors the community, while residential neighborhoods fan out to the east and west. Newer subdivisions have extended the city outward, particularly along its northern and southern edges. Because the city is compact, most neighborhoods sit within a short drive of downtown shops, schools, and the community's parks. The surrounding farmland is visible from many parts of town, reinforcing its agricultural setting.

Lifestyle in Chowchilla

Chowchilla offers the lifestyle of a small Central Valley farm community. Agriculture shapes the rhythms of daily life, and the city's parks, schools, and civic events center the community. The Fossil Discovery Center is the city's signature cultural attraction, drawing school groups and visitors to its exhibits and dig pit. Local dining and shopping are modest, with residents traveling to Madera, Fresno, or Merced for larger retail and entertainment. The result is a quiet, family-oriented community with a strong connection to the valley's farming heritage.

Schools & Education

Chowchilla's public schools are operated by local elementary and high school districts serving the city and the surrounding farm country. The districts provide K–12 education through the community's elementary, middle, and high schools. For higher education, Madera Community College and the State Center Community College District serve the broader Madera County area, and California State University, Fresno and the University of California, Merced are within commuting distance along the Highway 99 corridor.

Getting Around

Chowchilla sits on State Route 99, the Central Valley's principal north-south highway, providing direct connections to Fresno, Merced, and the wider San Joaquin Valley. State Route 152 to the north links the area toward the Coast Range and Monterey Bay. The city is positioned roughly midway between Fresno and Merced, placing both larger cities and their employment centers within a short drive. Fresno Yosemite International Airport offers the nearest commercial air service to the south.

Parks & Recreation

The Fossil Discovery Center of Madera County is Chowchilla's standout recreational and educational destination, with fossil exhibits, a working laboratory, and a mock dig pit for children, alongside a reconstructed Yokuts lodge. The city maintains neighborhood parks and sports facilities for local recreation. The Sierra Nevada foothills and Yosemite National Park lie to the east within driving distance, and the valley's farm roads and nearby waterways offer additional outdoor opportunities in a region known for its open agricultural landscape.

MARKET SNAPSHOT

The Market at a Glance

How homes have been selling here over the last 90 days.

home_work New This Week 4

Went Under Contract 1

trending_down Price Reductions 0

payments Median Sale Price $385,000 -3.8%

square_foot Price per Sq Ft $223

schedule Avg Days on Market 51

sell Homes Sold 36

percent Sale-to-List Ratio 99.0%

inventory_2 Months of Inventory 9.9

Price & Sales History

Market data reflects closed sales over the last 90 days and is provided for informational purposes.

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