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Madera County, California

Coordinates: 37°13′N 119°46′W / 37.22°N 119.77°W / 37.22; -119.77
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Madera County
County
Official seal of Madera County
Seal
Map of California highlighting Madera County
Location within the U.S. state of California
Map of the United States highlighting California
California's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 37°13′N 119°46′W / 37.22°N 119.77°W / 37.22; -119.77
Country United States
State California
Founded1893
SeatMadera
Area
 • Total2,153 sq mi (5,580 km2)
 • Land2,136 sq mi (5,530 km2)
 • Water17 sq mi (40 km2)  0.81%
Population
 • Estimate 
(2009)
152,465
 • Density60/sq mi (22/km2)
Websitewww.madera-county.com
Logging in the Sierra, Madera County, about 1901

Madera County is a county of the U.S. state of California, located in the Central Valley and the Sierra Nevada north of Fresno County. It comprises the Madera-Chowchilla, CA Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2008 census the population was 152,465. The county seat is Madera.

The southernmost part of Yosemite National Park is located in the county's northeast.

History

Madera County was formed in 1893. It was divided out of Fresno County.[1]

Madera is the Spanish term for "wood".[2] 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 railroad there in 1876.[citation needed]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 2,153 square miles (5,577 km²), of which, 2,136 square miles (5,532 km²) of it is land and 17 square miles (45 km²) of it is water. The total area is 0.81% water.

Cities and towns

Adjacent counties

National protected areas

Transportation infrastructure

Major highways

Public transportation

Airports

Demographics

County government office building.

As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there are 123,109 people in the county, organized into 36,155 households, and 28,598 families. The population density is 58 people per square mile (22/km²). There are 40,387 housing units at an average density of 19 per square mile (7/km²). The racial makeup of the county is 62.23% White, 4.12% Black or African American, 2.61% Native American, 1.27% Asian, 0.17% Pacific Islander, 24.35% from other races, and 5.25% from two or more races. 44.28% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race. 8.0% were of German, 5.9% English, 5.4% American and 5.3% Irish ancestry according to Census 2000. 63.6% spoke English and 33.7% Spanish as their first language.

There are 36,155 households out of which 40.2% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.9% are married couples living together, 12.2% have a female householder with no husband present, and 20.9% are non-families. 16.5% of all households are made up of individuals and 7.7% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 3.18 and the average family size is 3.52.

In the county the population is spread out with 29.6% under the age of 18, 9.9% from 18 to 24, 29.1% from 25 to 44, 20.4% from 45 to 64, and 11.0% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 33 years. For every 100 females there are 91.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 86.0 males.

The median income for a household in the county is $36,286, and the median income for a family is $39,226. Males have a median income of $33,658 versus $24,415 for females. The per capita income for the county is $14,682. 21.4% of the population and 15.9% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 28.6% of those under the age of 18 and 9.0% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.

Government and politics

Presidential election results
Year GOP DEM Others
2008 56.4% 20,251 41.8% 14,997 1.8% 652
2004 64.0% 24,871 34.7% 13,481 1.3% 498
2000 60.7% 20,283 34.9% 11,650 4.4% 1,462
1996 53.8% 16,510 36.7% 11,254 9.5% 2,898
1992 43.2% 13,066 35.9% 10,863 20.9% 6,316
1988 54.6% 13,255 43.8% 10,642 1.6% 384
1984 60.0% 13,954 38.7% 8,994 1.3% 293
1980 53.6% 10,599 39.3% 7,783 7.1% 1,398
1976 46.0% 6,844 51.2% 7,625 2.8% 423
1972 52.6% 7,835 44.2% 6,580 3.2% 477
1968 43.5% 6,229 48.5% 6,932 8.0% 1,142
1964 32.2% 4,461 67.7% 9,391 0.1% 10
1960 41.8% 5,869 57.8% 8,126 0.4% 62

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.

The vast majority of Madera is part of California's 19th congressional district, which is held by Republican George Radanovich; a tiny part of Madera is in the 18th district, which is held by Democrat Dennis Cardoza. In the State Assembly, most of Madera is in the 25th district with a small part in the 19th district. Both districts are held by Republicans, Tom Berryhill and Michael Villines respectively. In the State Senate, Madera is part of the 12th and 14th districts, which are held by Republicans Jeff Denham and Dave Cogdill respectively.

On Nov. 4, 2008 Madera County voted 73.4 % for Proposition 8 which amended the California Constitution to ban same-sex marriages.

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.

See also

References

  1. ^ Madera County GenWeb, Madera County History. Accessed 2009.10.09.
  2. ^ Madera County, County History. Accessed 2009.10.09.

37°13′N 119°46′W / 37.22°N 119.77°W / 37.22; -119.77

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