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CACalifornia Fun Facts
California fun facts
- If California were a country, its GDP would rank 4th globally — bigger than the UK, France, or Russia.
- Death Valley once recorded the highest air temperature ever measured on Earth (134°F / 56.7°C in 1913).
- The first McDonald's opened in San Bernardino in 1948; 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.
About these facts: Curated and verified against multiple sources. Updated periodically. If you spot an inaccuracy, email [email protected].
Quick stats
- Population: over 10 million
- Area rank: #3 of 50
- Admitted: 1850
- Capital: Sacramento
- Largest city: Los Angeles
- Time zone: Pacific