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The Avenues (popularly known as The Aves, historically known as Chico Vecino) is a portion of Central Chico including the numbered avenues that intersect the Esplanade. The neighborhood is bounded by the North side of Big Chico Creek, the South side of Lindo Channel, the West side of Mangrove Avenue and the East side of the Union Pacific Railroad tracks, within the City of Chico. The interests of the neighborhood are represented to the city by the Chico Avenues Neighborhood Association.

It is mostly a residential neighborhood, with restaurants, businesses and office space along either side of the Esplande. Enloe Medical Center's main facility is located right in the middle of the Aves and has been expanding through the years. The area is a mixture of families and students, depending on proximity to Chico State, as it does cover a rather large geographical area.

When John Bidwell first settled the area, there was no development of the area south of Big Chico Creek until 1860, when the street grid was surveyed. All improvements to the land up to that point were on Bidwell's Ranch, north of the Creek. The area south of the creek was called "Chico", while the area north of the creek was called "Vecino." (Spanish for 'neighbor')

Driving in Chico can be very confusing because there are numbered Avenues as well as Streets. Newcomers to Chico can often get lost when trying to find a location in the Aves because they do not know about this.

Restaurants

  • Big Al's
  • Red Tavern
  • Nash's

Schools

  • Citrus Elementary
  • Chico Jr. High
  • Chico High
  • California State University, Chico

Places of Interest

  • Bidwell Mansion
  • Gateway Science Museum 
  • Veteran's Hall
  • Chico Nut Company
  • Chico Cemetery

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Comments

2009-09-12 14:11:45   I have lived here my entire life and prefer the term Chico Vecino over the urban term the avenues-Thats for city folks —63.207.238.230

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