Stirling City is a census-designated place in Butte County, California, located on Paradise Ridge in the western foothills of the Sierra Nevada. Contrary to its name, Stirling City is not a city. Its ZIP Code is 95978 and area code 530. It lies at an elevation of 3570 feet. Stirling City had a population of 295 at the 2010 census. Stirling City is located at 39°54′28″N 121°31′41″W, around 32 miles northeast of Chico, California.