Chowchilla is a city located in Madera County, California, United States. It is situated in the San Joaquin Valley region of Central California. The city is known for its agricultural industry, particularly for growing almonds, grapes, and cotton. The city's population was 19,039 at the 2020 census. It is at an elevation of 240 feet (73 m).
Fossil Discovery Center of Madera County features fossils from the Middle-Pleistocene (780,000 years ago.) Mammoth, Smilodon, Sloth, Dire Wolf, Camel and Horse are just a few of the 15,000 fossils found at Fairmead.