Record
About Magalia
Magalia is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Butte County, California, United States. The population was 7,795 at the 2020 census, down from 11,310 at the 2010 census.
This is a site record: what public sources say about Magalia, gathered in one place. We haven't written a full guide yet, so history, current access and photos are still to come. Treat the status as unknown until a guide confirms it.
Map
Where Magalia is

Historic maps
9 historic USGS maps cover Magalia
Topographic sheets from the USGS Historical Topographic Map Collection (public domain), oldest first. Older sheets often show the camp, mines and roads while the place was alive. The downloads are large map scans; USGS topoView shows them in the browser.
- 1891 Chico sheet, 1:125,000 · GeoTIFF download
- 1893 Chico sheet, 1:125,000 · GeoTIFF download
- 1895 Chico sheet, 1:125,000 · GeoTIFF download
- 1953 Paradise sheet, 1:62,500 · GeoTIFF download
- 1958 Chico sheet, 1:250,000 · GeoTIFF download
- 1960 Chico sheet, 1:250,000 · GeoTIFF download
- 1980 Paradise East sheet, 1:24,000 · GeoTIFF download
- 1980 Chico sheet, 1:100,000 · GeoTIFF download
- 1994 Paradise East sheet, 1:24,000 · GeoTIFF download
Directions
Getting there
Before you go
- Many ghost town sites are on private land, active mining claims or tribal land. Check land status and ask permission.
- Roads to old townsites are often unmaintained dirt. Map apps may route over closed or impassable tracks.
- Removing artifacts from public land is illegal under federal and most state laws.
Nearby
Other sites near Magalia
Straight-line distance to other mapped sites in our California index.
- Stirling City5.9 mi NE · Butte
- Cherokee13.1 mi S · Butte
- Nord20.2 mi W · Butte
- Bidwell's Bar20.6 mi S · Butte
- Oroville22.1 mi S · Butte
- Hamilton26.3 mi S · Butte
- Forbestown27.6 mi SE · Butte
- Caribou28.3 mi NE · Plumas
Sources
Sources
- ghosttowns.com, "Magalia": county, roads, climate, best time to visit, remains.
- Wikipedia, "Magalia, California": coordinates and summary.
- Wikidata Q1883728.
- USGS GNIS 1659035.
- USGS 3D Elevation Program, elevation at the coordinates.
- USGS The National Map and Historical Topographic Map Collection (public domain).