1948 Map of Chico

About this map

Chico State College and the sprawling Bidwell Park serve as the anchors for this mid-century view of the Butte County landscape. The map captures the city's transition from an agricultural hub to a regional educational and industrial center, dominated by the Diamond Match Factory in the district of Barber. To the south, the community of Durham sits at the junction of the Southern Pacific and Sacramento Northern railroads, highlighting the area's historical reliance on rail for transporting local harvests.