Madera County, California

Template:Short description Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox settlement

Madera County (Template:IPAc-en), officially the County of Madera, is a county located at the geographic center of the U.S. state of California.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It features a varied landscape, encompassing the eastern San Joaquin Valley and the central Sierra Nevada, with Madera serving as the county seat.<ref name="GR6">Template:Cite web</ref> Established in 1893 from part of Fresno County, Madera County reported a population of 156,255 in the 2020 census.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

"Madera," meaning "wood" in Spanish, signifies the county's historical ties to the lumber industry.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> With a section of Yosemite National Park within its borders, Madera County has leveraged tourism as a key economic driver. Additionally, it has established itself as a leading agricultural center, renowned for its substantial production of almonds, grapes, and pistachios. Despite these economic advantages, Madera County encounters socioeconomic challenges, including a median household income that falls below the California average and poverty rates that exceed state averages, underscoring the economic disparities within the county.<ref name="Madera County, California">Template:Cite web</ref>

Madera County is characterized by its diverse population, including a pronounced Native American heritage and a history of immigration and migration dating back to the California Gold Rush. The county has a 59.6% Hispanic or Latino population and 20.3% of residents are foreign-born, both percentages surpassing the national averages. Additionally, nearly half of Madera County's population speaks a language other than English at home, reflecting its multicultural composition.<ref name="Madera County, California"/>

Etymology

File:Betsy1901.jpg

Logging in the Sierra, Madera County, Template:Circa

Madera is the Spanish term for wood.<ref>Madera County, County History Template:Webarchive. Accessed 2009.10.09.</ref> The county derives its name from the town of Madera, named when the California Lumber Company built a log flume to carry lumber to the Central Pacific Railroad there in 1876.<ref name=CGN>Template:California's Geographic Names</ref>

History

Madera County was formed in 1893 from Fresno County during a special election held in Fresno on May 16, 1893. Citizens residing in the area that was to become Madera County voted 1,179 to 358 for separation from Fresno County and the establishment of Madera County.<ref>Madera County GenWeb, Madera County History. Accessed 2017.09.01.</ref>

The Madera County Sheriff's Department employed the first woman in California to die in the line of duty as a sworn law enforcement officer—Tulare native Lucille Helm (1914–1959). For 15 years, the Madera housewife and mother of four worked on call as a "matron" assisting with female transfers.<ref>"Memorial for law agents," The Madera Tribune, May 13, 2014, Pages A1 and A3</ref>

Human History

Native People

File:Photograph with text of a Mono couple living near Northfork, California. This is from a survey report of Fresno and... - NARA - 296289 (cropped).jpg

Mono couple living near Northfork, California, ca. 1920

The region now known as Madera County was originally the territory of several Native American tribes, notably the Mono, Chukchansi, and Miwok. The Mono inhabited the upper San Joaquin River region, encompassing areas around North Fork and Crane Valley. The Chukchansi tribe lived in what are today the communities of Oakhurst, Coarsegold, Ahwahnee, and the lower foothills extending to the San Joaquin Valley. Meanwhile, the Miwok were located in the vicinity of Ahwahnee, Wawona, Mariposa, and the Yosemite Valley.<ref name="Dwight 2001">Template:Cite book</ref>Template:Rp

Following the California Gold Rush, many Native American communities were displaced, a situation exacerbated by the Mariposa War and institutionalized by the Act for the Government and Protection of Indians.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Despite these adversities, several communities persevered in their traditional lifestyles. However, the creation of the Sierra National Forest in 1897 introduced a citizen-only land use permit system, effectively excluding Native Americans until they were granted citizenship in 1924 through the Indian Citizenship Act.<ref name="Dwight 2001"/>Template:Rp

Immigration and Migration

Early United States Era

Since the area was part of Mexico until 1848, it has maintained a significant population of Mexican descent.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> After the California Gold Rush, the region became a vibrant mosaic, drawing individuals from across the United States and beyond.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Chinese laborers played a key role in constructing the Madera Flume and working in the Sugar Pine lumber yards. However, their numbers declined after restrictive immigration laws like the Chinese Exclusion Act and the Immigration Act of 1917 were enacted. This led to Mexican immigrants filling the roles previously held by Chinese workers, signifying a notable change in the area's labor dynamics.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="Johnston 1968">Template:Cite book</ref>Template:Rp

20th century

During the 1930s, Madera County became a destination for significant numbers of refugees from the Dust Bowl, primarily originating from Oklahoma and Arkansas.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In the mid-20th century, the Bracero Program, designed to recruit labor from Mexico, played a crucial role in mitigating the agricultural labor shortages that arose during World War II and the Korean War. Advocated by the Madera County Chamber of Commerce, efforts were made to persuade the federal government to prolong the guest worker program beyond its original expiration in 1964.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Despite the program's conclusion, labor migration continued, and by the end of the century, Madera County had become increasingly dependent on a migrant workforce. As of the 1990s, this workforce was predominantly composed of Mixtecs from Oaxaca, Mexico, numbering an estimated 5,000 individuals.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="Mix-1995">Template:Cite journal</ref>

Geography

File:170828-FS-Inyo-PRW-MountRitter (36911169891).jpg

The highest point in Madera county is Mount Ritter standing at Template:Convert.

Madera County is characterized by its diverse landscapes, encompassing the fertile San Joaquin Valley, grasslands and oak woodlands of the foothills, and the rugged Sierra Nevada mountains. A significant part of Yosemite National Park, known for its wilderness and alpine areas, lies within the county. Madera County also hosts important waterways, including parts of the San Joaquin River and several lakes and reservoirs, vital for agriculture, ecosystems, and recreation.

The county experiences a range of climates, from arid in the valley to alpine in the higher Sierra Nevada, creating diverse microclimates and environments across the area.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of Template:Convert, of which Template:Convert is land and Template:Convert, or 0.8%, is water.<ref name="GR1">Template:Cite web</ref>

Madera County is part of the Madera AVA wine region.

National protected areas

Demographics

Template:US Census population

2020 Census

Madera County's demographic composition and economic indicators reveal contrasts with both state and national averages. The county's median household income is reported at $76,920, which is below California's median of $91,551, reflecting economic disparities within the region.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Additionally, Madera County's poverty rate of 24.3% surpasses the state's 12.2% rate, underscoring significant economic challenges, particularly affecting children under 18, with 38.2% living in poverty.<ref name="2022 American Community Survey"/> Comparatively, Madera County's median income slightly exceeds the national median of $69,717. However, its poverty rate of 22.0% also exceeds the national average, indicating a notable income inequality within the county.<ref name="2022 American Community Survey">Template:Cite web</ref>

In terms of housing, Madera County offers relatively more affordable options compared to the rest of California, with a median gross rent of $1,189 against the state's $1,870.<ref name="2022 American Community Survey"/> The homeownership rate in Madera County is 69.0%, which is higher than California's rate of 55.8%.<ref name="2022 American Community Survey"/>

The labor force participation rate in Madera County is 56.4%, which is lower than the national rate. The county has a youthful demographic, with 27.1% under 18 years old, compared to the national figure of 22.4%.<ref name="2022 American Community Survey"/> The percentage of elderly residents in Madera County is slightly below the U.S. average.<ref name="2022 American Community Survey"/>

Madera County is notable for its higher percentage of foreign-born residents at 20.3%, surpassing the national average. This contributes to the county's multicultural identity, with a significant Hispanic or Latino population of 59.6%.<ref name="2022 American Community Survey"/> Linguistic diversity is evident, with 46.5% of residents speaking a language other than English at home.<ref name="2022 American Community Survey"/> An estimated 12,500 to 15,000 people in Madera County are undocumented immigrants.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Educational attainment in Madera County shows that 21.4% of its population holds a Bachelor's degree or higher, which is below the California average.<ref name="2022 American Community Survey"/>

**Madera County, California – Racial and ethnic composition**
Template:Nobold
Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)	Pop 2000<ref name=2000CensusP004>Template:Cite web</ref>	Pop 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2>Template:Cite web</ref>	Template:Partial<ref name=2020CensusP2>Template:Cite web</ref>	% 2000	% 2010	Template:Partial
White alone (NH)	57,391	57,380	48,399	46.62%	38.03%	30.97%
Black or African American alone (NH)	4,710	5,009	4,131	3.83%	3.32%	2.64%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)	1,694	1,790	1,738	1.38%	1.19%	1.11%
Asian alone (NH)	1,480	2,533	3,581	1.20%	1.68%	2.29%
Pacific Islander alone (NH)	160	107	122	0.13%	0.07%	0.08%
Other Race alone (NH)	287	649	723	0.23%	0.43%	0.46%
Mixed Race or Multi-Racial (NH)	2,872	2,405	4,383	2.33%	1.59%	2.81%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	54,515	80,992	93,178	44.28%	53.69%	59.63%
Total	123,109	150,865	156,255	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%

*Madera County, California - Places by Population, Income, and Employment*
Place	Total Population	Bachelors Degree or Higher (%)	Total Housing Units	Total Households	Median Household Income	Employment Rate (%)	Without Health Care Coverage (%)
Ahwahnee<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	2,296	30.3	1,000	785	$79,250	45.6	2.8
Bass Lake<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	575	59.9	868	139	$145,083	38.8	12.6
Chowchilla<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	23,377	13	5,765	5,399	$69,139	37.7	8.2
Coarsegold<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	4,144	22.7	1,837	1,738	$81,814	49.8	4.9
Fairmead<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	1,235	9.5	374	394	$53,203	45.3	10.1
La Vina<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	637	0	161	157		43.4	2.6
Madera<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	97,838	13.2	27,454	25,497	$70,272	54	8.2
Madera Acres<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	9,162	11.4	2,554	2,599	$80,221	51.3	6.8
Madera Ranchos<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>		24.6		3,010	$82,292	53.1	4.0
Nippinawasse	434	0	188	172	$71,622	44.9	27.6
Oakhurst<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	5,945	29.4	3,134	2,180	$73,333	53.3	6.2
Parksdale<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	3,234	7.4	784	611	$45,281	43.8	8.9
Yosemite Lakes<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	5,022	36.6	2,153	1,909	$99,491	53.6	6.4

Economy

19th and 20th century

File:Typical-log-at-Sugar-Pine-California-1915.jpg

Typical log felled in Sugar Pine, 1915

Madera County's origins are deeply rooted in boom-and-bust cycles, primarily driven by extractive industries. Initially, the county's economy was heavily reliant on mineral extraction and timber harvesting. Over time, agriculture and ag related industries became the predominant employer and economic force.

Gold

Madera County became known for gold mining during the California Gold Rush. Madera County, created in 1893 from a portion of Fresno County, encompassed most of the region's productive gold mines. These mines, located primarily at the junction of the Sierra Nevada batholith with pre-Cretaceous schist and slate, stretched from Grub Gulch to Hildreth.<ref name="Mining History">Template:Cite web</ref>

Grub Gulch, located near the end of Highway 49, was a gold rush town renowned for its easily accessible gold.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Initially, Grub Gulch was a simple shanty town of tents, but it blossomed into a bustling community in the late 1880s, spurred by successful placer mining in nearby streams. At its peak, the town boasted five saloons, a general store, a post office, and a boarding house. Remarkably, out of the $1.35 million worth of gold extracted from Madera County, nearly $1 million originated from Grub Gulch.<ref name="Mining History" />

By the 1950s, gold production had significantly dropped, primarily from dredging operations along the Fresno, Chowchilla, and San Joaquin Rivers with almost no production after 1959.<ref name="Mining History" />

Tungsten

In the mid-20th century, Madera County's High Sierra regions became prominent for their significant tungsten deposits, leading to extensive mining activities near Mammoth Lakes, Central Camp, and Fish Camp. One notable example, the Strawberry Tungsten Mine, was valued at $1 million in 1955 and had the capacity to process 310 metric tons of ore daily by 1981.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

However, tungsten mining in the Sierra Nevada faced challenges due to harsh winter conditions and intense competition from low-cost tungsten imports from China. These challenges were part of a broader decline in the U.S. starting in the 1980s, caused by falling market prices and economic issues, resulting in a major decrease in tungsten mining nationwide. As a result, tungsten mining in Madera County and the rest of the Sierra Nevada has stopped entirely.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Lumber

File:California Lumber Company Log Flume.jpg

The record-breaking Madera log flume was Template:Convert long.

The discovery of gold was quickly followed by a high demand for lumber, which was essential for constructing sluice boxes and building early settlements. The first sawmill in the county was constructed in 1852 on the east fork of Redwood Creek, north of Oakhurst, in an area currently known as Old Corral. This mill primarily provided lumber to miners and settlers in the Coarsegold and Fresno Flats areas.<ref name="Sawmill History">Template:Cite web</ref> In 1854, Charles Converse and Bill Chitister purchased the mill and relocated it to Crane Valley, the area now known as Bass Lake.<ref name="Sawmill History" />

In 1872, the California Lumber Company initiated the region's first major lumber operation with a steam mill near Nelder Grove. They built a record-setting Template:Convert long log flume to Madera to float finished lumber to market.<ref name="Sawmill History" /> Although it ran out of money in 1874, it was restructured and operated at a profit for the next four decades.<ref name="Coarsegold">Template:Cite book</ref>Template:Rp

During the Great Depression, Madera County's lumber industry and logging railroads ceased operations. In 1941, the industry recovered when a new sawmill in North Fork was built, which used logging trucks and advanced equipment for deeper access into the Sierra National Forest. However, in the early 1990s, tighter government rules reduced forest yields, hurting the mill's profits. This downturn led to the end of Madera County's logging era in February 1994, when the last log was processed.

21st century

Employment

Madera County's employment sectors are a blend of traditional industries like farming and manufacturing, coupled hospitality and service-oriented fields.<ref name="Madera County Economic Forecast 2021">Template:Cite web</ref>Template:Rp Based on the average employment percentages from 2015 to 2022, the employment sectors in Madera County are ranked as follows:

Madera County Employment Sectors<ref name="Madera County Economic Forecast 2021" />Template:Rp
Sector	Employment Share
Government	12.71%
Farm	12.08%
Health & Education	11.08%
Wholesale & Retail Trade	5.45%
Leisure	4.26%
Professional Services	3.63%
Manufacturing	3.31%
Construction	2.14%
Transportation and Utilities	1.44%
Financial Activities	0.71%
Information	0.30%

The sectors that saw the largest decrease in the period were information (-25%), financial activities (-12.50%) and manufacturing (-5.71%). Looking towards the future, Government, Health and Education and Professional Sectors are forecast to be the fastest growing employment sectors.<ref name="Madera County Economic Forecast 2021" />Template:Rp

Agriculture

Madera County is heavily invested in permanent crops, with almonds as the leading commodity, followed by grapes and pistachios.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> This area also places significant emphasis on cattle ranching and pollination services, particularly for almond cultivation, both ranking among the top five local agricultural sectors. In 2022, Madera County's overall gross crop production was valued at $1.9 billion. The county is renowned for its agricultural prowess, holding state rankings of #1 in fig production, #4 in both almonds and nuts, #4 in grape production (specifically the raisin variety), and #4 in pistachios.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Leading Crops of Madera County<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Commodity	2022 Rank	2022 Dollar Value	2021 Rank
Almonds, Nuts & Hulls	1	$570,739,000	1
Milk	2	$454,727,000	2
Grapes	3	$233,893,000	3
Pistachios	4	$227,873,000	4
Pollination	5	$66,880,000	5
Cattle & Calves	6	$62,317,000	6
Mandarins & Tangerines	7	$45,036,000	7
Corn Silage	8	$37,293,000	9
Replacement Heifers	9	$34,255,000	8
Alfalfa, Hay & Silage*	10	$26,845,000	**

In the 1990s Mixtec farmworkers were a large presence in the southern part of the state, and were beginning to filter northwards here along with other Mexican indigenous agricultural laborers to work in the county's farms.<ref name="Mix-1995"/>

Education

Madera County is mostly covered by the State Center Community College District centered on Fresno City College in Fresno. Other districts with territory within Madera County also include the West Hills Community College District and the Merced Community College District.

School districts include:<ref>Template:Cite web - Text list</ref>

Unified: Template:Div col

Chawanakee Unified School District
Firebaugh-Las Deltas Unified School District
Golden Valley Unified School District
Madera Unified School District
Yosemite Unified School District - Includes some sections zoned for K-12 and some for grades 9–12 only

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Secondary:

Chowchilla Union High School District

Elementary: Template:Div col

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Government, policing, and politics

Government

The government of Madera County is mandated by the California Constitution to have a five-member Board of Supervisors elected to staggered four-year terms. The Board of Supervisors: District 1, Brett Frazier; District 2, David Rogers; District 3, Robert Poythress; District 4, Leticia Gonzalez; District 5, Tom Wheeler; and County Administrator, Jay Varney; and staff provide for voter registration and elections, law enforcement, jails, vital records, property records, tax collection, public health, roads, and social services for the entire county. It is the local government for all unincorporated areas. Other elected offices include the Sheriff, Tyson Pogue; District Attorney, Sally Orme Moreno; Assessor, Brian Glover (acting); Auditor-Controller, David Richstone; Treasurer-Tax Collector, Tracy Kennedy; and Clerk/Registrar of Voters-Recorder, Rebecca Martinez.

Policing

Madera County Sheriff's Office

The Sheriff's Office and staff provide court protection, jail administration, and coroner service for all of Madera County with its total population of approximately 156,000 residents. The Sheriff provides police patrol and detective services to the unincorporated areas of the county, which contain approximately 70,000 residents, or 45% of Madera County's total population. The Sheriff's main station and offices are in the City of Madera. There are two Sheriff's substations: Oakhurst, population 3,000, and The Madera Ranchos, population 12,000, both on Highway 41 to Yosemite National Park in the Sierras.

Municipal police departments

The municipal police departments within Madera County are Madera, the county seat, population 62,000, and Chowchilla, population 19,600.

Correctional Facilities

Madera County has three correctional facilities. The first is the Madera County Jail, managed by the elected Sheriff. The second, Valley State Prison, is a state-run prison located in Chowchilla.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The third, the Central California Women's Facility, is also in Chowchilla, across from Valley State Prison. Inmates are counted in the county's census population.

Politics

Voter registration

Population and registered voters
Total population<ref name="US-CB-B02001">U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey, 2011 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, Table B02001. U.S. Census website. Retrieved October 26, 2013.</ref>	149,611
Registered voters<ref name="CA-SS">California Secretary of State. February 10, 2013 - Report of Registration Template:Webarchive. Retrieved October 31, 2013.</ref><ref name="PCT-RV" group=note>Percentage of registered voters with respect to total population. Percentages of party members with respect to registered voters follow.</ref>	53,782	35.9%
Democratic<ref name="CA-SS"/>	18,212	33.9%
Republican<ref name="CA-SS"/>	23,858	44.4%
Democratic–Republican spread<ref name="CA-SS"/>	-5,646	-10.5%
Independent<ref name="CA-SS"/>	1,615	3.0%
Green<ref name="CA-SS"/>	208	0.4%
Libertarian<ref name="CA-SS"/>	264	0.5%
Peace and Freedom<ref name="CA-SS"/>	131	0.2%
Americans Elect<ref name="CA-SS"/>	0	0.0%
Other<ref name="CA-SS"/>	191	0.4%
No party preference<ref name="CA-SS"/>	9,303	17.3%

Cities by population and voter registration

Cities by population and voter registration
City	Population<ref name="US-CB-B02001"/>	Registered voters<ref name="CA-SS"/> <ref name="PCT-RV" group=note/>	Democratic<ref name="CA-SS"/>	Republican<ref name="CA-SS"/>	D–R spread<ref name="CA-SS"/>	Other<ref name="CA-SS"/>	No party preference<ref name="CA-SS"/>
Chowchilla	18,465	22.5%	30.8%	45.1%	-14.3%	9.0%	18.8%
Madera	60,221	26.8%	44.9%	33.1%	+11.8%	6.2%	18.4%

Overview

Madera is a strongly Republican county in presidential and congressional elections. The last Democrat to win a majority in the county was Jimmy Carter in 1976.

Madera is split between the 5th and 13th congressional districts,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> represented by Template:Representative and Template:Representative, respectively.<ref>Template:Cite GovTrack</ref>

With respect to the California State Assembly, the county is in Template:Representative.

In the California State Senate, Madera is split between Template:Representative, and Template:Representative.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

On November 4, 2008, Madera County voted 73.4% for Proposition 8, which amended the California Constitution to define marriage as a union between one man and one woman.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

The county is one of three counties in California to establish a separate department to deal with corrections, pursuant to California Government Code §23013, the Madera County Department of Corrections, along with Napa County and Santa Clara County. The officers receive their powers under 831 and 831.5 of the California Penal Code.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Crime

The following table includes the number of incidents reported and the rate per 1,000 persons for each type of offense.

Population and crime rates
Population<ref name="US-CB-B02001"/>	149,611
Violent crime<ref name="CA-DOJ-T11">Office of the Attorney General, Department of Justice, State of California. Table 11: Crimes – 2009 Template:Webarchive. Retrieved November 14, 2013.</ref>	685	4.58
Homicide<ref name="CA-DOJ-T11"/>	3	0.02
Forcible rape<ref name="CA-DOJ-T11"/>	36	0.24
Robbery<ref name="CA-DOJ-T11"/>	162	1.08
Aggravated assault<ref name="CA-DOJ-T11"/>	484	3.24
Property crime<ref name="CA-DOJ-T11"/>	2,144	14.33
Burglary<ref name="CA-DOJ-T11"/>	1,166	7.79
Larceny-theft<ref name="CA-DOJ-T11"/><ref name="LT-note group=note">Only larceny-theft cases involving property over $400 in value are reported as property crimes.</ref>	1,484	9.92
Motor vehicle theft<ref name="CA-DOJ-T11"/>	520	3.48
Arson<ref name="CA-DOJ-T11"/>	18	0.12

Cities by population and crime rates

Cities by population and crime rates
City	Population<ref name="FBI-UCR-T8">United States Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation. Crime in the United States, 2012, Table 8 (California). Retrieved November 14, 2013.</ref>	Violent crimes<ref name="FBI-UCR-T8"/>	Violent crime rate per 1,000 persons	Property crimes<ref name="FBI-UCR-T8"/>	Property crime rate per 1,000 persons
Chowchilla	19,221	115	5.98	446	23.20
Madera	62,796	466	7.42	1,621	25.81

Attractions

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Transportation

Major highways

Areas Inaccessible by Road

Template:See also

File:Sunset from the Minarets Vista viewpoint near Mammoth Lakes.jpg

Minaret Summit, located on the border between Madera and Mono Counties, is inaccessible by road from the rest of Madera County.

In Madera County, eastern regions such as Devil's Postpile National Monument and part of Minaret Summit are isolated from the rest of the county due to a lack of connecting roads. Access to this area is primarily through Minaret Summit Road, which becomes State Route 203 upon reaching the Mono County border and leads to Mammoth Lakes. Red's Meadow Road is a further extension of this route.

A gap of less than Template:Convert separates the end of Minaret Road in the Western Sierra, which begins in North Fork and extends northeast into the Sierra, and the terminus of Red's Meadow Road in the Eastern Sierra. In the early to mid-20th century, plans were considered for building a highway or tunnel that would link the Eastern Sierra to the San Joaquin Valley through Minaret Summit. To maintain the feasibility of this project, an area southwest of Minaret Summit was intentionally left out of the Wilderness Act of 1964. This exclusion was aimed at keeping the option open for the construction of a Trans-Sierra Highway.

During his tenure as Governor of California, Ronald Reagan embarked on a horse packing trip in this area. Following this experience, Reagan aligned with conservationists to oppose the construction of the road.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> His efforts persisted after his election as President in 1980, culminating in the designation of this area as wilderness under the California Wilderness Act of 1984.

Public transportation

Madera County Connection provides service between the cities of Madera and Chowchilla. Routes also run to eastern Madera County. A connection to Fresno can be made at Valley Children's Hospital near the county line.
The cities of Madera and Chowchilla also have their own local, intracity transit services named Madera Metro and Chowchilla Area Transit, respectively.
Greyhound buses and Amtrak trains stop in Madera

Airports

Madera Municipal Airport and Chowchilla Airport are general aviation airports.

Communities

File:Hensley Lake and Eastman Lake and Madera Lake.jpg

Aerial view from Madera, California, toward the snow-capped Sierras. Eastman Lake (upper left) is on the border of Madera County and Mariposa County. Hensley Lake (upper right) is near the center of Madera County. Madera Lake (lower left) is on the outskirts of Madera.

Cities

Chowchilla
Madera (county seat)

Census-designated places

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Unincorporated communities

Population ranking

The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2010 census of Madera County.<ref>2010 Census</ref>

† county seat

Rank	City/Town/etc.	Municipal type	Population (2010 Census)
1	† Madera	City	61,416
2	Chowchilla	City	18,720
3	Madera Acres	CDP	9,163
4	Bonadelle Ranchos-Madera Ranchos	CDP	8,569
5	Yosemite Lakes	CDP	4,952
6	Oakhurst	CDP	2,829
7	Parksdale	CDP	2,621
8	Parkwood	CDP	2,268
9	Ahwahnee	CDP	2,246
10	Coarsegold	CDP	1,840
11	Fairmead	CDP	1,447
12	Rolling Hills	CDP	742
13	Bass Lake	CDP	527
14	Nipinnawasee	CDP	475
15	La Vina	CDP	279
16	Picayune Rancheria (Chukchansi Indians)<ref>2010 Census Interactive Population Search</ref>	AIAN	69
17	Northfork Rancheria (Mono Indians)<ref>2010 Census Interactive Population Search</ref>	AIAN	60