Chowchilla is a city in Madera County, California, United States.

[4] Chowchilla is located 16 miles (26 km) northwest of Madera,[5] at an elevation of 240 feet (73 m).

The word "Chowchilla" is an anglicized spelling of chaushila, the name of an indigenous Yokuts people who, historically, inhabited the areas in and around Madera County.

[6] The first post office at Chowchilla opened in 1912[5] and the city incorporated eleven years later, in 1923.

[5] Chowchilla made national news on July 15, 1976, when 26 children and their school bus driver were kidnapped and held in a buried moving van at a quarry in Livermore, California.

The quarry owner's son and two friends were convicted and sentenced to life in prison.

[2] Ash Slough, a tributary of the Fresno River, runs along the northern edge of the city.

Chowchilla has dry, hot summers, and mild to cool, rainy winters.

Chowchilla experiences frequent fog from November to March and overcast days are common, especially in January.

[15] Central California Women's houses the state's female death row.

[16] In the California State Legislature, Chowchilla is in the 12th Senate District, represented by Republican Shannon Grove, and in the 5th Assembly District, represented by Republican Joe Patterson.

Alview-Dairyland Union School District (Grades K to 8th) serves nearby rural communities including Dairyland.

[19] Chowchilla Elementary School District is made up of five school campuses and typically enrolls city residents, as well as residents from the nearby community of Fairmead.

There is also a private school, Chowchilla Seventh Day Adventist, serving K-8, located 4 miles (6 km) south of town.

The community is also served by California State Route 233 (Robertson Boulevard), which runs southwest from SR 99 for nearly 4 miles (6.4 km) to end at California State Route 152 (which runs east–west about 2.5 miles [4.0 km] south of Chowchilla).

Chowchilla Wye is planned to be the point where the California High-Speed Rail's main spine splits into two northern branches: one traveling to the San Francisco Bay Area, and the other continuing north to Sacramento.