LOCATION

“The Perfect Location” Madera County is in the “heart” of California; serves as the “Passageway to the Sierras”; and is located in the exact center of California. Madera residents find they have easy access to Yosemite, Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Parks along with access to the Pacific Coast, Bay Area and Southern California. Madera County encompasses 2,147 square miles, with the City of Madera covering approximately 14 square miles. The City of Madera has an elevation of 282 feet.

GROWTH TRENDS

Population (May 2010)

The county of Madera has a population of 153,655 (1.0% change since January 1, 2009)

The city of Madera has a population of 58,243 (1.8% change since January 1, 2009)

The city of Chowchilla has a population of 18,698 (-1.8% change since January 1, 2009)

The balance of the County has a population of 76,714 (1.1% change since January 1, 2009)

Population Projections by County

SOURCE: State of California Department of Finance

For additional population reports on Madera and other Counties and Cities in the State of California please visit the State of California Department of Finance website

EMPLOYMENT

The City of Madera also draws employment from the Fresno metropolitan area, 22 miles south; Chowchilla metropolitan area, 14 miles north; Merced, Oakhurst, Kerman and Firebaugh.

Labor Market Info - State of California Employment Development Department:   MONTHLY LABOR FORCE STATISTICS

Unemployment Rate 2010

For the past several years the unemployment rate in Madera County has been below the average monthly rate for the Central Valley, but above the monthly rate for the State of California.

SOURCE: State of California Department of Finance

For details regarding Employment by Industry and Occupation of Madera County, please visit the State of California Employment Development Department Labor Market Information Division for Madera County.

Madera County Projection Highlights

Madera County Profile

2008-2018 Projections of Employment by Industry and Occupation

SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS FOR MADERA COUNTY (2006-2008)

Average Household Size 3.23

Population 25 Years and over 89,625

High School Graduate or higher 68.10%

Bachelor's Degree or higher 12.6%

SOURCE: U.S. Census Bureau (American Fact Finder)

ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS FOR MADERA COUNTY

Labor Force 59,710

Median Household Income $45,646

Median Family Income $50,201

Per Capita Income $19,479

SOURCE: U.S. Census Bureau (American Fact Finder)

DISTANCES TO MAJOR POINTS OF INTEREST (from the City of Madera)

CLIMATE
One of the most desirable features of Madera is its climate. Madera is typically warm, dry, with relatively low humidity. The average July high temperature is 99.6 with an average high temperature in January of 47.9. Prevailing Winds: NW, Mean Hourly Speed 6.1 mph.

Weather Averages

SOURCE: Weather.com

Madera Weather Facts

July is the average warmest month

The highest recorded temperature was 116 degrees F in 1961

On average, the coolest month is December

The lowest recorded temperature was 15 degrees F in 1949

March is the average wettest month.

REAL ESTATE DATA

Rentals:

Average monthly rent for 3-bedroom home $1282 (February 2011)

Average monthly rent for 2-bedroom apartment $882 (February 2011)

SOURCE: Madera Housing Authority

Home Prices:

As of February 17, 2011, the current average list price is $145,300 with a median of $92,000 (Madera MLS)

As of February 17, 2011, the average sales price is $129,900 with a median of $120,000 (Madera MLS)

The average home sold at 99.01% of the list price in 2010.

SOURCE:  Madera MLS

Median price of Existing Single-Family Homes:  $140,670 (January 2010)

Median price of Existing Single-Family Homes:  $145,150 (January 2011)

SOURCE:  California Association of Realtors

Industrial & Commercial Prices:
For current Industrial and Commercial rates, please contact the Madera County Economic Development Commission at (559) 675-7768 or visit www.maderacountyedc.com

Building Lease/Sales Rates

Industrial Lease $0.23 - 0.72 per sq. ft.

Industrial Sales Price $25.00 - 75.00 per sq. ft. (Build to Suit; Depending on amenities)

Retail - Shopping Center $0.75 - 3.00 per sq. ft.

Retail - Downtown $0.40 - 0.90 per sq. ft.

Office $0.80 - 2.00 per sq. ft.

Land Sales Price/Improved Sites

Industrial $0.75 – 3.50 per sq. ft.

Retail/Commercial Property $2.50 - 5.50 per sq. ft.

Madera County Industrial Base and Vacancy (4th Quarter 2010)

Total Base (Sq. Ft.) – 7,042,114

Vacancy (Sq. Ft.) – 873,638

Vacancy Rate – 12.41%

SOURCE: Madera County Economic Development Commission

TRANSPORTATION

Air:

Fresno Yosemite International Airport offers both passenger and freight service and is located within a half hour’s drive from the city of Madera and is located at 5175 East Clinton Way, Fresno (559) 621-4500

Private air traffic is serviced through Chowchilla Airport or Madera Municipal Airport (MAE). Madera Municipal Airport (General Aviation) offers a 5,544 foot runway and is located at 4020 Aviation Drive (559) 674-6958

Bus:

Regional: Greyhound Bus Lines, 123 North E Street (559) 674-4664

Local: Dial-a-Ride & MAX Transit, 123 North E Street (559) 661-7433 or (559) 661-7435

Local: Madera County Connection, 1920 Modoc Street (559) 661-3040

Trucking Firms:

There are over 100 common carrier companies serving the Madera area and over 10 general-haul truck lines in Madera County.

Express Delivery Firms:

California Overnight (559) 276-6935

DHL Worldwide Express (800) 225-5345

Fed Ex (800) 463-3339

United Parcel Service (800) 742-5877

United States Postal Service - Express Service, 201 South D Street (800) 275-8777

Rail:

Rail service is provided by Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad and Union Pacific Rail-County Team Track in Chowchilla.

Amtrak’s San Joaquin line provides passenger service to and from Madera.  The Madera Amtrak station is located at 18770 Road 26, Madera 93638.  MAP & DIRECTIONS

For Amtrak Information and Reservations, a San Joaquin Route Timetable is available at the Chamber Office; call Amtrak Toll-Free at (800) 872-7245 or visit Amtrak

Ports:

Port of Stockton, 104 miles to the North

Port of Oakland, 153 miles to the North

Port of Sacramento, 175 miles to the North

Port of Long Beach, 265 miles to the South

Highways:

State Freeway 99 and State Route 145 transect the City of Madera

State Highway 152 is 15 miles to the North

Interstate 5 is 47 miles west via State Route 152 in Chowchilla

PUBLIC SAFETY

Madera City Fire Department
Division HG Station #1
14225 Road 28, Madera CA 93638
(559) 661-5498

Madera City Police Department
330 South C Street, Madera CA 93638
(559) 674-5611

Madera County Fire Department
14225 Road 28, Madera CA 93638
(559) 675-7799

Madera County Sheriff
14143 Road 28, Madera CA 93638
(559) 675-7787

Madera County Sheriff 'Operation Lost & Found'
Bass Lake Substation
(559) 642-3201

California Highway Patrol
3051 Airport Drive, Madera CA 93637
(559) 675-1025

GOVERNMENT

The Board of Supervisors is the legislative and executive governing body of Madera County government. One Supervisor is elected from each of the five supervisory districts of the County, each serving a four-year term.

The City of Madera operates under the Council/Manager form of government. It is governed by a five-member City Council, all of whose members are elected at large, and who serve four-year terms, with the Mayor elected by the City Council, serving for one year.

TAX INFORMATION

Madera County levies the 1% Proposition 13 Tax Rate (i.e. $1 for every $100.00 of Assessed Valuation) plus various voter approved debt service tax rates depending on the particular area within the County.

Retail sales tax rate is 8.75 percent.

ECONOMIC INCENTIVES
The Madera County EDC is responsible for Foreign Trade Zones, Recycling Market Development Zones and a Small Business Revolving Loan Program. For more details information about these programs or to view an Enterprise Zone map, please visit the Madera County Economic Development website or call (559) 675-7768.

Top Manufacturing Employment in Madera County
There are over 100 manufacturing and processing plants in the Madera Area. Major production concentrations are wine, glass bottles, food machinery, farm equipment, air cooling units, corrugated box manufacturing, and plastics.

SOURCE: Madera County Economic Development Commission

Top Non-Manufacturing Employment in Madera County
Significant employers in the Professional Service Industries include:

SOURCE: Madera County Economic Development Commission

This information courtesy of Madera County Economic Development Commission; additional Demographic Information can be found at following websites: City of Madera, Madera County, State of California Labor Market Information Division, State of California Employment Development Department, State of California Department of Finance, and U.S. Census Bureau

DRIVER’S LICENSE AND AUTO LICENSE INFORMATION
In California, you may drive for one year with your valid driver’s license from other states. Upon becoming a permanent resident, you must register for a California Driver’s License within ten days of residency and you must license and register your automobile within twenty days of residency. An international driver’s license is required for those persons from other countries wishing to drive in California. For more information, contact the California Department of Motor Vehicles at 800-777-0133.

SOUTHERN PACIFIC TRAIN DEPOT 'HOME OF THE MADERA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE'
The Madera District Chamber of Commerce currently resides in the former Southern Pacific Madera Train Depot.  The Madera Train Depot closed it's doors in the 1970's when Southern Pacific discontinued passenger service.  The depot lay vacant until 2001, when the Madera Redevelopment Agency funded the Train Station Rehabilitation Project.  The project was dedicated in March 2002 and has been the office of the Chamber of Commerce since that time.

WHAT’S THE STORY BEHIND THE PALM TREE AND THE REDWOOD?
The word “Madera” means “Wood” in Spanish. The City was originally named for its timber-based economy. Drive six miles north of the San Joaquin River on Highway 99 and you’ll notice an odd couple in the center of the highway divider: a palm tree paired up with an evergreen. Legend has it that this marks the divide between Southern California (the palm tree) and Northern California (the evergreen). While no one has been able to verify the origin of the trees, a public outcry went up in the late 1980s, when the trees were nearly bulldozed to make room for Highway 99. Cal-Trans relented, and the trees remain a symbolic reminder of Madera’s place in the center (between north and south) of the State.

The geographical center of the State is located in North Fork (Madera County) where an attractive wooden sign at the intersection of North Fork Road and Auberry Road marks the point. This is about 20 miles from the south entrance of Yosemite National Park.

HOW RURAL ADDRESSES ARE ORGANIZED
Are rural addresses and what the numbers mean a mystery to you? Do the numbers have a meaning or are they just randomly selected? The roads and avenues and the way addresses are assigned follow a very logical and well-thought-out system. These rules apply to all portions of Madera County except incorporated cities and metropolitan areas, which have their own systems.

Roads and Avenues:
“Avenues” run east and west; “Roads” run north and south, boulevards or drives run diagonally or are curved. Roads and avenue numbers originate in southwest Madera County. For example, Road 20 is 20 miles from the western-most Point of Madera County. Avenue 20 is 20 miles from the southern-most Point of Madera County.

Odd and Even Numbers:
House numbers on the north and east side of roads are odd numbers. House numbers on the west and south side of roads are odd numbers. There are 800 numbers per mile running 100 through 899. In mountainous areas where an irregular road pattern occurs, numbers are assigned on the basis of 1000 numbers per road mile.

Reprinted with permission from the 2004 Welcome to Madera Supplement to the Madera Tribune