Madera, California

Madera, California
Aerial view of Madera
Nickname: 
"The Heart of California"
Location in Madera County and the state of California
Madera, California
Location in California
Madera, California
Madera, California (the United States)
Coordinates: 36°57′41″N 120°03′39″W / 36.96139°N 120.06083°W / 36.96139; -120.06083
CountryUnited States
StateCalifornia
CountyMadera
RegionCentral Valley
Northern California
IncorporatedMarch 27, 1907
Government
 • TypeCouncil–manager
 • City council
  • Mayor Cece Gallegos
    * Rohi Zacharia (D1)
    * Jose Rodriguez (D2)
    * Steve Montes (D3)
    * Anita Evans (D4)
    * Elsa Mejía (D5)
    * Artemio Villegas (D6)
 • City ManagerArnoldo Rodriguez
Area
 • City
16.47 sq mi (42.67 km2)
 • Land16.47 sq mi (42.67 km2)
 • Water0 sq mi (0.00 km2)  0%
Elevation
272 ft (83 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • City
66,224
 • Density4,020/sq mi (1,552/km2)
 • Metro
152,465
DemonymMaderan
Time zoneUTC−8 (Pacific)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−7 (PDT)
ZIP Code
93636–93639
Area code559
FIPS code06-45022
GNIS feature IDs277552, 2410906
Websitewww.madera.gov

Madera (Spanish for "lumber") is a city in, and the county seat of, Madera County, located in the San Joaquin Valley of California. Founded in 1876 as a timber settlement at the terminus of a major log flume, the city grew around the lumber trade before transitioning to an agriculture-based economy during the 20th century. Irrigation from the San Joaquin River and nearby canals transformed the surrounding plains into fertile farmland that now supports vineyards, nut orchards, and row crops.

As of the 2020 United States census, Madera had a population of 66,224.