Madera County, California

Madera County
County
County of Madera
Images, from top down, left to right: Wassama Round House State Historic Park, Devils Postpile National Monument, Fresno Dome, Banner Peak above Thousand Island Lake, Bass Lake
Seal
Interactive map of Madera County
Location in the state of California
Country	United States
State	California
Regions	San Joaquin Valley, Sierra Nevada
Metropolitan area	Metropolitan Fresno
Incorporated	1893
Named for	Spanish word meaning "wood"
County seat	Madera
Largest city	Madera
Government
• Type	Council–CAO
• Body	Board of Supervisors
• Chair	David Rogers
• Chair Pro Tem	Robert L Poythress
• Board of Supervisors[1]	Supervisors Jordon Wamhoff David Rogers Robert L Poythress Leticia Gonzalez Robert Macaulay
• County Administrative Officer	Jay Varney
Area
• Total	2,153 sq mi (5,580 km2)
• Land	2,137 sq mi (5,530 km2)
• Water	16 sq mi (40 km2)
Highest elevation	13,143 ft (4,006 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	156,255
• Density	73/sq mi (28/km2)
Time zone	UTC−8 (Pacific Time Zone)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−7 (Pacific Daylight Time)
FIPS code	06-039
GNIS feature ID	277284
Congressional districts	5th, 13th
Website	www.maderacounty.com

Madera County (/məˈdɛərə/ ^ⓘ), officially the County of Madera, is located at the geographic center of the U.S. state of California.^[2] It features a varied landscape, encompassing the eastern San Joaquin Valley and the central Sierra Nevada, with Madera serving as the county seat.^[3] Established in 1893 from part of Fresno County, Madera County reported a population of 156,255 in the 2020 census.^[4]

"Madera," meaning "wood" in Spanish, signifies the county's historical ties to the lumber industry.^[5] 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.^[6]

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.^[7]