Magalia is an unincorporated community and census-designated place in Butte County, California, situated on the Paradise Ridge in the Sierra Nevada foothills, northeast of Chico and immediately north of the town of Paradise. Formerly known as Butte Mills and then Dogtown, it is one of the older settlements on the Ridge, and its mountain setting—pine forest, canyons, and long views—has long defined its character. The 2020 census counted 7,795 residents, down from 11,310 a decade earlier, a decline driven by the 2018 Camp Fire. The Camp Fire is central to Magalia's recent history. The fire, one of the most destructive in California's recorded history, forced the evacuation of Paradise, Magalia, and surrounding communities and destroyed thousands of homes across the Ridge. In Magalia, roughly 60 percent of homes survived, and the years since have brought a steady rebuilding effort, with new construction and affordable-housing projects rising alongside the older mountain housing stock. The community's recovery has become part of its identity. Recreation anchors life on the Ridge. Paradise Lake, a 204-acre recreational area managed by the Paradise Recreation and Park District, offers fishing and boating, while more than 100 miles of trails wind through the surrounding forest. The district serves Paradise, Magalia, and nearby communities, and students attend Paradise Unified School District schools. Chico, the regional center, lies down the hill to the southwest. The community's elevation brings cooler summers and occasional winter snow, a contrast to the Sacramento Valley heat below. For buyers seeking a foothill, forested setting with a strong sense of renewal and lower-cost housing than the valley below, Magalia offers a distinctive Butte County option.