Мадера округы: Калифорния штатының географиясы, тарихы және халқы

County in California, United States

Madera County (/m//ə/'/d//ɛər//ə//audio=En us madera. ogg/), officially the County of Madera, is located at the geographic center of the U. S. state of California. It features a varied landscape, encompassing the eastern San Joaquin Valley and the central Sierra Nevada, with Madera serving as the county seat. Established in 1893 from part of Fresno County, Madera County reported a population of 156,255 in the 2020 census. "Madera," meaning "wood" in Spanish, signifies the county's historical ties to the lumber industry. 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. 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.

Madera is the Spanish term for wood. 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 Central Pacific Railroad there in 1876.

Madera County was formed in 1893 from Fresno County during a special election held in Fresno on May 16, 1893. Citizens residing in the area that was to become Madera County voted 1,179 to 358 for separation from Fresno County and the establishment of Madera County. The Madera County Sheriff's Department employed the first woman in California to die in the line of duty as a sworn law enforcement officer—Tulare native Lucille Helm (1914–1959). For 15 years, the Madera housewife and mother of four worked on call as a "matron" assisting with female transfers.

The region now known as Madera County was originally the territory of several Native American tribes, notably the Mono, Chukchansi, and Miwok. The Mono inhabited the upper San Joaquin River region, encompassing areas around North Fork and Crane Valley. The Chukchansi tribe lived in what are today the communities of Oakhurst, Coarsegold, Ahwahnee, and the lower foothills extending to the San Joaquin Valley. Meanwhile, the Miwok were located in the vicinity of Ahwahnee, Wawona, Mariposa, and the Yosemite Valley. Following the California Gold Rush, many Native American communities were displaced, a situation exacerbated by the Mariposa War and institutionalized by the Act for the Government and Protection of Indians. Despite these adversities, several communities persevered in their traditional lifestyles. However, the creation of the Sierra National Forest in 1897 introduced a citizen only land use permit system, effectively excluding Native Americans until they were granted citizenship in 1924 through the Indian Citizenship Act. After the California Gold Rush, the region became a vibrant mosaic, drawing individuals from across the United States and beyond. Chinese laborers played a key role in constructing the Madera Flume and working in the Sugar Pine lumber yards. However, their numbers declined after restrictive immigration laws like the Chinese Exclusion Act and the Immigration Act of 1917 were enacted. This led to Mexican immigrants filling the roles previously held by Chinese workers, signifying a notable change in the area's labor dynamics.

During the 1930s, Madera County became a destination for significant numbers of refugees from the Dust Bowl, primarily originating from Oklahoma and Arkansas. In the mid 20th century, the Bracero Program, designed to recruit labor from Mexico, played a crucial role in mitigating the agricultural labor shortages that arose during World War II and the Korean War. Advocated by the Madera County Chamber of Commerce, efforts were made to persuade the federal government to prolong the guest worker program beyond its original expiration in 1964. Despite the program's conclusion, labor migration continued, and by the end of the century, Madera County had become increasingly dependent on a migrant workforce. As of the 1990s, this workforce was predominantly composed of Mixtecs from Oaxaca, Mexico, numbering an estimated 5,000 individuals.

Madera County is characterized by its diverse landscapes, encompassing the fertile San Joaquin Valley, grasslands and oak woodlands of the foothills, and the rugged Sierra Nevada mountains. A significant part of Yosemite National Park, known for its wilderness and alpine areas, lies within the county. Madera County also hosts important waterways, including parts of the San Joaquin River and several lakes and reservoirs, vital for agriculture, ecosystems, and recreation. The county experiences a range of climates, from arid in the valley to alpine in the higher Sierra Nevada, creating diverse microclimates and environments across the area. According to the U. S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 2153 square miles (5,576 km2), of which 2137 square miles (5,535 km2) is land and 16 square miles (41 km2), or 0.8%, is water. Madera County is part of the Madera AVA wine region.