California
Golden State · Capital: Sacramento · West (Pacific)
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Bordering states: Oregon, Nevada, Arizona.
About California
California stretches along about 840 miles of Pacific coastline from Mexico to Oregon and borders Nevada and Arizona to the east. Inyo County holds both Mount Whitney, at 14,505 feet the highest point in the contiguous states, and Badwater Basin in Death Valley, 282 feet below sea level, about 85 miles apart. Along the San Andreas Fault the Pacific plate slides northwest by about two inches a year. The Central Valley lies between the Sierra Nevada and the Coast Ranges and is drained by the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers to San Francisco Bay. West of the mountains the climate is Mediterranean, with rain from about October to April, and Sierra snowpack supplies close to a third of the state's water.
About 300,000 people speaking some eighty languages lived here before European contact. Spanish colonization began in 1769 with the mission at San Diego, and Los Angeles was founded in 1781. Mexico ruled from 1821. American settlers raised the Bear Flag at Sonoma in June 1846, and the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo transferred California on February 2, 1848, nine days after James Marshall found gold at Coloma. The gold rush lifted the non-Native population above 250,000 by 1852, while the Native population fell to roughly 30,000 by 1870. California skipped the territorial stage and became the 31st state on September 9, 1850.
The 2020 census counted 39,538,223 Californians, up 6.1% from 2010. It has been the most populous state since 1962 and holds 52 House seats, one fewer than before. Sacramento is the capital and Los Angeles the largest city. California has the largest economy of any state and grows essentially all US almonds, and Silicon Valley grew out of Shockley's 1956 transistor lab, Fairchild Semiconductor and Intel. Richard Nixon of Yorba Linda is the only California-born president.
4 fun facts about California
- If California were a country, its economy would rank among the world's five largest, ahead of the UK and France.
- Death Valley once recorded the highest air temperature ever measured on Earth (134°F / 56.7°C in 1913).
- The McDonald brothers opened their restaurant in San Bernardino in 1940, and the first Apple computer was built in Los Altos in 1976.
- It's the only state with both the highest point in the lower 48 (Mt. Whitney, 14,505 ft) and the lowest point in North America (Badwater Basin, -282 ft), within 85 miles of each other.
More about California
California geography and climate
More fun facts about California
Frequently asked questions about California
Is California a US state?
Yes, California is one of the 50 US states. It was admitted to the Union in 1850, making it the 31st state. Its capital is Sacramento and its largest city is Los Angeles.
What is the capital of California?
The capital of California is Sacramento. Note that the largest city in California is Los Angeles, not the capital, a common point of confusion.
When did California become a state?
California became a US state in 1850. It is the 31st state admitted to the Union.
What is the abbreviation for California?
The 2-letter USPS abbreviation for California is CA.
How big is California?
California ranks #3 of 50 US states by area. With 253.7 residents per square mile in 2020, it was the 11th most densely populated state.
What is the population of California?
California had 39,538,223 residents at the 2020 census, the 1st largest population of the 50 states, up 6.1% since 2010. That count gives it 52 seats in the US House of Representatives.
What region is California in?
California is in the West region of the United States, per the US Census Bureau.
What time zone is California in?
California observes Pacific Time.
Learn more
How to learn the 50 states (full guide)
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