Chico State began in 1887, when John Bidwell gave eight acres of his cherry orchard to win the northern branch of the State Normal School for Chico. It opened in 1889 with 90 students and five teachers, and became California State University, Chico in 1972.
The Short Version
A teachers' school on Bidwell's orchard grew into a university. The names changed four times: Chico State Normal School, Chico State Teachers College (1921), Chico State College (1935) and California State University, Chico (1972). Cherry trees still mark the corners of the original orchard.
| Year | What happened | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 1887 | John Bidwell donates his eight-acre cherry orchard to secure the northern branch of the State Normal School for Chico. | CSU, Chico |
| 1889 | The campus opens with 90 students and five faculty members. | CSU, Chico |
| 1891 | The first class of teachers graduates in June. | CSU, Chico |
| 1921 | Renamed Chico State Teachers College. | CSU, Chico |
| 1923 | The Normal School buys Bidwell Mansion and uses it as a dormitory. | State Parks brochure |
| 1924 | The college begins granting bachelor's degrees. | CSU, Chico |
| 1927 | Fire destroys the Normal Building; a new administration building, later Kendall Hall, rises on the site two years later. | CSU, Chico |
| 1935 | Becomes Chico State College. | CSU, Chico |
| 1972 | Becomes California State University, Chico. | CSU, Chico |
| 1982 | The campus is dedicated as an arboretum. | CSU, Chico |
The Normal School Years, 1887 to 1920
A normal school trained teachers. The university’s own history page says Bidwell’s orchard gift is what brought the state’s northern branch to Chico, and that “the corner boundaries of his cherry orchard are marked today by a planting of cherry trees, each with a plaque that commemorates this gift.” State Parks’ brochure calls Bidwell “a proponent of higher education” and dates the gift to the 1880s.
Teachers College and State College, 1921 to 1971
As Chico State Teachers College the school added a junior college course and, from 1924, bachelor’s degrees. After the 1927 fire the new administration building went up on the same spot; it is the domed brick building now called Kendall Hall, shown above. In 1935 the legislature turned the teachers colleges into state colleges. In those years, CSU says, chimes went into the Trinity tower, the first biology lab opened at Eagle Lake and the University Farm was dedicated to Paul L. Byrne.
California State University, Chico, 1972 to Today
The university says its campus core covers 132 acres, and it also manages 800 acres of farmland and 4,043 acres of ecological reserves. The sidewalk numbers at the Kendall Hall entrance cover class time capsules; the custom stopped in 1969 and came back in 2000, and capsules are opened during Founders Week.
Chico Legend
The Campus Corners Are Marked by Cherry Trees
People say you can still trace Bidwell's old cherry orchard on campus if you know where to look. Real, or a campus tour line?
Believe it? Make your guess, then open the answer.
Show What Is Actually True
What is actually true: Real. Chico State's own history page says the corner boundaries of Bidwell's cherry orchard “are marked today by a planting of cherry trees, each with a plaque that commemorates this gift.”
Questions People Ask
When Was Chico State Founded?
In 1887, when the northern branch of the State Normal School came to Chico; classes began in 1889 (CSU, Chico).
Who Gave The Land for Chico State?
John Bidwell, who gave eight acres of his cherry orchard.
What Was Chico State Called Before?
Chico State Normal School, then Chico State Teachers College (1921), then Chico State College (1935).
Is Kendall Hall The Original Building?
No. The original Normal Building burned in 1927; the building now called Kendall Hall was built on the site two years later.
Still Unconfirmed
- Not confirmed The exact day the 1887 state act was passed; secondary accounts give different dates, and the CSU page we read gives only the year.
- Not confirmed How much the people of Chico raised to win the school, a figure repeated in local accounts but not on the CSU page we read.
More Chico History
-
Bidwell Mansion: Where Chico Began
The 1868 house, John and Annie Bidwell, the 2024 fire and what you can visit now.
-
Chico History Timeline
Around 50 dated moments from the Mechoopda village to the Reimagine Bidwell Mansion plan.
-
Bidwell Park History and The Robin Hood Story
Annie Bidwell's 1905 gift and the 1937 Hollywood shoot by Big Chico Creek.
-
Chico Legends: True or Tall Tale?
Seven local stories, each checked against the record.
Sources
- California State University, Chico, Our History, read October 29, 2026.
- California State Parks, Bidwell Mansion SHP park brochure (2009, PDF), read October 29, 2026.
Cite this page: It's Chico, “Chico State: From Normal School to University”, itschico.com/history/chico-state-normal-school/ (updated ). By the It's Chico editorial team. Free to quote with attribution and a link to this page; data and tables are licensed CC BY 4.0.