Richvale, California

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Richvale is a small farming community (estimated population 250) in Butte County, California, USA, south of Chico and west of Oroville. The primary crop grown in the area surrounding Richvale is rice, irrigated from the Oroville Dam on the Feather River. Several farmers in the area are known for organic farming. Rice is among the crops grown.

Richvale is located at 39° 29' 46" North, 121° 44' 49" West (39.496, -121.747), 100 feet above sea level.

[edit] History

Legend says that the name "Richvale" (meaning "fertile valley") was coined by con men to sell worthless plots of land to Dust Bowl farmers during the Great Depression. Farmers in the Midwest were shown lush pictures of California's San Joaquin Valley and Central Valley and sold land at outrageous prices. The soil near Richvale is nothing like the fertile soil of the San Joaquin Valley, being comprised mostly of clay instead of loam. The locals call the soil "adobe" due to its high clay content. The land is unsuitable for vineyards, orchards, and most other crops. Some buyers took one look at the soil and returned to the Midwest.

Many stayed and tried farming the land. Due to the soil's ability to retain water and remain flooded (due to its high clay content), the ground makes a near-ideal rice paddy, and rice has become the primary crop of the area. Irrigation is provided by surface water from the plentiful Feather River.