About Madera, California

Madera (Spanish for wood), is a city in California and the county seat of Madera County. According to the most recent estimate by the US Census Bureau in July 1 2019, the City’s total population is 65,860.

The town was named after the Spanish term for lumber. The town was laid out by the California Lumber Company in 1876. From 1876 to 1931, a 63-mile water flume carried lumber from the mountains to Madera where the lumber was shipped by train.

Located in the San Joaquin Valley, Madera is often nicknamed ‘The Heart of California’ as it located close to the geographic center of the state. Visitors from all over the world flock to experience the Madera Wine Trail which winds through some of the area’s most renowned establishments. Other popular things to do in the city include seeing the towering Giant Sequoia trees in Nelder Grove, browsing the extensive collection of artifacts at Madera County Museum, and going out for a night of drinking, dining, and dancing at ApCal. In addition, a number of festivals and events take place in Madera throughout the year, including the Pomegranate Festival and the Madera District Fair.