city, Butte county, northern California, U.S. Chico lies in the Sacramento River valley, nearly 90 miles (145 km) north of Sacramento. It was founded in 1860 by John Bidwell (Bidwell, John), a state congressman and horticulturist, and developed as an agricultural-processing centre, especially for almonds, rice, and fruit. Manufacturing initially consisted of a match factory established in 1904, and after World War II there was planned diversified industrial expansion. Bidwell Mansion State Historic Park includes the 26-room Victorian home (1868) of John Bidwell. Other attractions include Bidwell Park (one of the country's largest municipal parks), the Chico Museum, which contains a former Taoist temple, and a vintage train station. The city is the seat of California State University, Chico, founded as a normal school (teacher-training college) in 1887. Nearby is Bidwell–Sacramento River State Park. Inc. 1872. Pop. (1990) city, 39,970; Chico-Paradise MSA, 182,120; (2000) city, 59,954; Chico-Paradise MSA, 203,171.