California

U.S. state

This article is about the U.S. state. For other uses, see California (disambiguation).

State in the United States

California

State

State of California

Flag

Official seal of California

Seal

Nickname:

The Golden State[1]

Motto:

"Eureka"[2]

Anthem: "I Love You, California"

File:"I Love You, California" \- Regional anthem of California.ogg

Map of the United States with California highlighted

Map of the United States with California highlighted

Country| United States
Before statehood| Mexican Cession unorganized territory
Admitted to the Union| September 9, 1850 (31st)
Capital| Sacramento
Largest city| Los Angeles
Largest metro and urban areas| Greater Los Angeles
Government

• Governor| Gavin Newsom (D)
• Lieutenant Governor| Eleni Kounalakis (D)
Legislature| State Legislature
• Upper house| State Senate
• Lower house| State Assembly
Judiciary| Supreme Court of California
U.S. senators| Dianne Feinstein (D)
Alex Padilla (D)
U.S. House delegation|

* 42 Democrats
* 11 Republicans

(list)
Area

• Total| 163,696 sq mi (423,970 km2)
• Land| 155,959 sq mi (403,932 km2)
• Water| 7,737 sq mi (20,047 km2)  4.7%
• Rank| 3rd
Dimensions

• Length| 760 mi (1,220 km)
• Width| 250 mi (400 km)
Elevation

| 2,900 ft (880 m)
Highest elevation

(Mount Whitney[3][4][5][6])

| 14,505 ft (4,421.0 m)
Lowest elevation

(Badwater Basin[7])

| −279 ft (−85.0 m)
Population

(2022)

• Total| Decrease 39,185,605[8]
• Rank| 1st
• Density| 251.3/sq mi (97/km2)
• Rank| 11th
• Median household income

| $78,700[9]
• Income rank

| 5th
Demonym| Californian
Language

• Official language| English
• Spoken language|

* English: 56.1%
* Spanish: 28.3%
* Other: 15.6%[10]

Time zone| UTC−08:00 (PST)
• Summer (DST)| UTC−07:00 (PDT)
USPS abbreviation|

ISO 3166 code| US-CA
Traditional abbreviation| Calif., Cal., Cali.
Latitude| 32°32′ N to 42° N
Longitude| 114°8′ W to 124°26′ W
Website| www.ca.gov
California state symbols

File:Flag of California.svg

Flag of California

File:Great Seal of California.svg
Living insignia
Amphibian| California red-legged frog
Bird| California quail
Fish|

* Fresh water: Golden trout
* Marine: Garibaldi

Flower| California poppy
Grass| Purple needlegrass
Insect| California dogface butterfly
Mammal|

* Land: California grizzly bear (state animal)[2]
* Marine: Gray whale

Reptile| Desert tortoise
Tree| Coast redwood & giant sequoia[11]
Inanimate insignia
Colors| Blue & gold[12]
Dance| West Coast Swing
Folk dance| Square dance
Fossil| Sabre-toothed cat
Gemstone| Benitoite
Mineral| Native gold
Rock| Serpentine
Soil| San Joaquin
Sport| Surfing
Tartan| California state tartan
State route marker
California state route marker
State quarter
California quarter dollar coin

Released in 2005

Lists of United States state symbols

California is a state in the Western United States, located along the Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2 million residents[8] across a total area of approximately 163,696 square miles (423,970 km2), it is the most populous U.S. state and the third-largest by area. It is also the most populated subnational entity in North America and the 34th most populous in the world. The Greater Los Angeles area and the San Francisco Bay Area are the nation's second and fifth most populous urban regions respectively, with the former having more than 18.7 million residents and the latter having over 9.6 million.[13] Sacramento is the state's capital, while Los Angeles is the most populous city in the state and the second most populous city in the country. San Francisco is the second most densely populated major city in the country. Los Angeles County is the country's most populous, while San Bernardino County is the largest county by area in the country. California borders Oregon to the north, Nevada and Arizona to the east, the Mexican state of Baja California to the south; and has a coastline along the Pacific Ocean to the west.

The economy of the state of California is the largest in the United States, with a $3.4 trillion gross state product (GSP) as of 2022[update].[14] It is the largest sub-national economy in the world. If California were a sovereign nation, it would rank as the world's fifth-largest economy as of 2022[update],[15][16] behind Germany and ahead of India, as well as the 37th most populous.[17] The Greater Los Angeles area and the San Francisco Bay Area are the nation's second- and third-largest urban economies ($1.0 trillion and $0.5 trillion respectively as of 2020[update], following the New York metropolitan area at US$1.7 trillion).[18] The San Francisco Bay Area Combined Statistical Area had the nation's highest gross domestic product per capita ($106,757) among large primary statistical areas in 2018,[19] and is home to five of the world's ten largest companies by market capitalization[20] and four of the world's ten richest people.[21]

Prior to European colonization, California was one of the most culturally and linguistically diverse areas in pre-Columbian North America and contained the highest Native American population density north of what is now Mexico. European exploration in the 16th and 17th centuries led to the colonization of California by the Spanish Empire. In 1804, it was included in Alta California province within the Viceroyalty of New Spain. The area became a part of Mexico in 1821, following its successful war for independence, but was ceded to the United States in 1848 after the Mexican–American War. The California Gold Rush started in 1848 and led to dramatic social and demographic changes, including large-scale immigration into California, a worldwide economic boom, and the California genocide of indigenous people. The western portion of Alta California was then organized and admitted as the 31st state on September 9, 1850, following the Compromise of 1850.

Notable contributions to popular culture, for example in entertainment and sports, have their origins in California. The state also has made noteworthy contributions in the fields of communication, information, innovation, environmentalism, economics, and politics.[22][23][24] It is the home of Hollywood, the oldest and one of the largest film industries in the world, which has had a profound influence upon global entertainment. It is considered the origin of the hippie counterculture, beach and car culture,[25] and the personal computer,[26] among other innovations.[27][28] The San Francisco Bay Area and the Greater Los Angeles Area are widely seen as the centers of the global technology and film industries, respectively. California's economy is very diverse: 58% of it is based on finance, government, real estate services, technology, and professional, scientific, and technical business services.[29] Although it accounts for only 1.5% of the state's economy,[29] California's agriculture industry has the highest output of any U.S. state.[30][31][32] California's ports and harbors handle about a third of all U.S. imports, most originating in Pacific Rim international trade.

The state's extremely diverse geography ranges from the Pacific Coast and metropolitan areas in the west to the Sierra Nevada mountains in the east, and from the redwood and Douglas fir forests in the northwest to the Mojave Desert in the southeast. The Central Valley, a major agricultural area, dominates the state's center. Although California is well known for its warm Mediterranean climate and monsoon seasonal weather, the large size of the state results in climates that vary from moist temperate rainforest in the north to arid desert in the interior, as well as snowy alpine in the mountains. All these factors lead to an enormous demand for water. Over time, droughts and wildfires have been increasing in frequency and severity due to climate change and overextraction,[33] becoming less seasonal and more year-round, further straining California's electricity supply[34] and water security[35][36] and having an impact on California business and industry in addition to agriculture.[37]

## Contents

* 1 Etymology
* 2 History
* 2.1 First inhabitants
* 2.2 Spanish period
* 2.3 Mexican period
* 2.4 U.S. Conquest and the California Republic
* 2.5 Early American period
* 2.5.1 California Genocide
* 2.6 1900–present
* 3 Geography
* 3.1 Climate
* 3.2 Ecology
* 3.3 Flora and fauna
* 3.4 Rivers
* 3.5 Regions
* 3.6 Cities and towns
* 4 Demographics
* 4.1 Population
* 4.2 Race and ethnicity
* 4.3 Languages
* 4.4 Religion
* 5 Culture
* 5.1 Media and entertainment
* 5.2 Sports
* 6 Education
* 6.1 Higher education
* 7 Economy
* 7.1 State finances
* 8 Infrastructure
* 8.1 Energy
* 8.2 Transportation
* 8.3 Water
* 9 Government and politics
* 9.1 State government
* 9.2 Judicial branch
* 9.3 Executive branch
* 9.4 Legislative branch
* 9.5 Local government
* 9.5.1 Counties
* 9.5.2 City and town governments
* 9.5.3 School districts and special districts
* 9.6 Federal representation
* 9.7 Armed forces
* 9.8 Ideology
* 9.9 Twinned regions
* 10 See also
* 11 Notes
* 12 References
* 12.1 Citations
* 12.2 Works cited
* 13 Further reading
* 14 External links

## Etymology[edit | edit source]

Main articles: Etymology of California and Island of California

File:Detail of Queen Califia in the "California's Name" mural (Lucile Lloyd, 1937) (cropped).gif

California & its namesake ruler Queen Calafia, originate in the 1510 epic Las Sergas de Esplandián, written by Garci Rodríguez de Montalvo.

The Spaniards gave the name Las Californias to the peninsula of Baja California and to Alta California, the latter region becoming the present-day state of California.

The name likely derived from the mythical island of California in the fictional story of Queen Calafia, as recorded in a 1510 work The Adventures of Esplandián by Garci Rodríguez de Montalvo.[38] This work was the fifth in a popular Spanish chivalric romance series that began with Amadís de Gaula.[39][40][41] Queen Calafia's kingdom was said to be a remote land rich in gold and pearls, inhabited by beautiful Black women who wore gold armor and lived like Amazons, as well as griffins and other strange beasts.[38][42][43] In the fictional paradise, the ruler Queen Calafia fought alongside Muslims and her name may have been chosen to echo the title of a Muslim leader, the Caliph.[38][44]

> Know ye that at the right hand of the Indies there is an island called California, very close to that part of the Terrestrial Paradise, which was inhabited by black women without a single man among them, and they lived in the manner of Amazons. They were robust of body with strong passionate hearts and great virtue. The island itself is one of the wildest in the world on account of the bold and craggy rocks.

> — Chapter CLVII of The Adventures of Esplandián[45]

Shortened forms of the state's name include CA, Cal, Cali, Calif, Califas, and US-CA.

## History[edit | edit source]

Main article: History of California

Further information: History of California before 1900

File:California tribes & languages at contact.png

A map of Indigenous Californian tribes and languages at the time of European contact

### First inhabitants[edit | edit source]

Main article: Indigenous peoples of California

Settled by successive waves of arrivals during at least the last 13,000 years,[46] California was one of the most culturally and linguistically diverse areas in pre-Columbian North America.[47] Various estimates of the native population have ranged from 100,000 to 300,000.[48] The indigenous peoples of California included more than 70 distinct ethnic groups of Native Americans, ranging from large, settled populations living on the coast to groups in the interior. California groups also were diverse in their political organization with bands, tribes, villages, and on the resource-rich coasts, large chiefdoms, such as the Chumash, Pomo and Salinan. Trade, intermarriage and military alliances fostered many social and economic relationships among the diverse groups.

### Spanish period[edit | edit source]

Main articles: Province of Las Californias and Spanish missions in California

File:The landing of Cabrillo on California (detail from mural by Daniel Sayre Groesbeck at the Santa Barbara County Courthouse).tif

Portuguese explorer Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo claiming California for the Spanish Empire in 1542.

The first Europeans to explore the coast of California were the members of a Spanish maritime expedition led by Portuguese captain Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo in 1542. Cabrillo was commissioned by Antonio de Mendoza, the Viceroy of New Spain, to lead an expedition up the Pacific coast in search of trade opportunities; they entered San Diego Bay on September 28, 1542, and reached at least as far north as San Miguel Island.[49] Privateer and explorer Francis Drake explored and claimed an undefined portion of the California coast in 1579, landing north of the future city of San Francisco.[50] Sebastián Vizcaíno explored and mapped the coast of California in 1602 for New Spain, putting ashore in Monterey.[51] Despite the on-the-ground explorations of California in the 16th century, Rodríguez's idea of California as an island persisted. Such depictions appeared on many European maps well into the 18th century.[52]

The Portolá expedition of 1769-70 was a pivotal event in the Spanish colonization of California, resulting in the establishment of numerous missions, presidios, and pueblos. The military and civil contingent of the expedition was led by Gaspar de Portolá, who traveled over land from Sonora into California, while the religious component was headed by Junípero Serra, who came by sea from Baja California. In 1769, Portolá and Serra established Mission San Diego de Alcalá and the Presidio of San Diego, the first religious and military settlements founded by the Spanish in California. By the end of the expedition in 1770, they would establish the Presidio of Monterey and Mission San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo on Monterey Bay.

File:Father Serra Celebrates Mass at Monterey by Léon Trousset.jpg

Junípero Serra conducting the first mass in Monterey Bay in 1770.

After the Portolà expedition, Spanish missionaries led by Father-President Serra set out to establish 21 Spanish missions of California along El Camino Real ("The Royal Road") and along the Californian coast, 16 sites of which having been chosen during the Portolá expedition. Numerous major cities in California grew out of missions, including San Francisco (Mission San Francisco de Asís), San Diego (Mission San Diego de Alcalá), Ventura (Mission San Buenaventura), or Santa Barbara (Mission Santa Barbara), among others.

Juan Bautista de Anza led a similarly important expedition throughout California in 1775–76, which would extend deeper into the interior and north of California. The Anza expedition selected numerous sites for missions, presidios, and pueblos, which subsequently would be established by settlers. Gabriel Moraga, a member of the expedition, would also christen many of California's prominent rivers with their names in 1775–1776, such as the Sacramento River and the San Joaquin River. After the expedition, Gabriel's son, José Joaquín Moraga, would found the pueblo of San Jose in 1777, making it the first civilian-established city in California.

File:San Juan Capistrano, California (c. 1806).jpg

The Spanish founded Mission San Juan Capistrano in 1776, the third to be established of the Californian missions.

During this same period, sailors from the Russian Empire explored along the northern coast of California. In 1812, the Russian-American Company established a trading post and small fortification at Fort Ross on the North Coast.[53][54] Fort Ross was primarily used to supply Russia's Alaskan colonies with food supplies. The settlement did not meet much success, failing to attract settlers or establish long term trade viability, and was abandoned by 1841.

During the War of Mexican Independence, Alta California was largely unaffected and uninvolved in the revolution,[55] though many Californios supported independence from Spain, which many believed had neglected California and limited its development.[56] Spain's trade monopoly on California had limited the trade prospects of Californians. Following Mexican independence, Californian ports were freely able to trade with foreign merchants. Governor Pablo Vicente de Solá presided over the transition from Spanish colonial rule to independent Mexican rule.

### Mexican period[edit | edit source]

Main articles: Alta California and Ranchos of California

File:1836 alvarado flag.webp

The flag used by Californio leader Juan Bautista Alvarado's 1836 Californian independence movement.

In 1821, the Mexican War of Independence gave the Mexican Empire (which included California) independence from Spain. For the next 25 years, Alta California remained a remote, sparsely populated, northwestern administrative district of the newly independent country of Mexico, which shortly after independence became a republic. The missions, which controlled most of the best land in the state, were secularized by 1834 and became the property of the Mexican government.[57] The governor granted many square leagues of land to others with political influence. These huge ranchos or cattle ranches emerged as the dominant institutions of Mexican California. The ranchos developed under ownership by Californios (Hispanics native of California) who traded cowhides and tallow with Boston merchants. Beef did not become a commodity until the 1849 California Gold Rush.

From the 1820s, trappers and settlers from the United States and Canada began to arrive in Northern California. These new arrivals used the Siskiyou Trail, California Trail, Oregon Trail and Old Spanish Trail to cross the rugged mountains and harsh deserts in and surrounding California. The early government of the newly independent Mexico was highly unstable, and in a reflection of this, from 1831 onwards, California also experienced a series of armed disputes, both internal and with the central Mexican government.[58] During this tumultuous political period Juan Bautista Alvarado was able to secure the governorship during 1836–1842.[59] The military action which first brought Alvarado to power had momentarily declared California to be an independent state, and had been aided by Anglo-American residents of California,[60] including Isaac Graham.[61] In 1840, one hundred of those residents who did not have passports were arrested, leading to the Graham Affair, which was resolved in part with the intercession of Royal Navy officials.[60]

File:"General Vallejo Reviewing His Troops in Sonoma, 1846".jpg

General Mariano G. Vallejo reviewing his troops in the Sonoma Plaza, 1846.

One of the largest ranchers in California was John Marsh. After failing to obtain justice against squatters on his land from the Mexican courts, he determined that California should become part of the United States. Marsh conducted a letter-writing campaign espousing the California climate, the soil, and other reasons to settle there, as well as the best route to follow, which became known as "Marsh's route". His letters were read, reread, passed around, and printed in newspapers throughout the country, and started the first wagon trains rolling to California.[62] He invited immigrants to stay on his ranch until they could get settled, and assisted in their obtaining passports.[63]

After ushering in the period of organized emigration to California, Marsh became involved in a military battle between the much-hated Mexican general, Manuel Micheltorena and the California governor he had replaced, Juan Bautista Alvarado. The armies of each met at the Battle of Providencia near Los Angeles. Marsh had been forced against his will to join Micheltorena's army. Ignoring his superiors, during the battle, he signaled the other side for a parley. There were many settlers from the United States fighting on both sides. He convinced these men that they had no reason to be fighting each other. As a result of Marsh's actions, they abandoned the fight, Micheltorena was defeated, and California-born Pio Pico was returned to the governorship. This paved the way to California's ultimate acquisition by the United States.[64][65][66][67][68]

### U.S. Conquest and the California Republic[edit | edit source]

Main articles: Conquest of California and Bear Flag Revolt

File:Fremont Raising the Bear Flag (engraved, c. 1860).jpg

The 1846 Bear Flag Revolt declared the California Republic and prefaced the American conquest of California.

In 1846, a group of American settlers in and around Sonoma rebelled against Mexican rule during the Bear Flag Revolt. Afterward, rebels raised the Bear Flag (featuring a bear, a star, a red stripe and the words "California Republic") at Sonoma. The Republic's only president was William B. Ide,[69] who played a pivotal role during the Bear Flag Revolt. This revolt by American settlers served as a prelude to the later American military invasion of California and was closely coordinated with nearby American military commanders.

The California Republic was short-lived;[70] the same year marked the outbreak of the Mexican–American War (1846–48).[71]

Commodore John D. Sloat of the United States Navy sailed into Monterey Bay in 1846 and began the U.S. military invasion of California, with Northern California capitulating in less than a month to the United States forces.[72] In Southern California, Californios continued to resist American forces. Notable military engagements of the conquest include the Battle of San Pasqual and the Battle of Dominguez Rancho in Southern California, as well as the Battle of Olómpali and the Battle of Santa Clara in Northern California. After a series of defensive battles in the south, the Treaty of Cahuenga was signed by the Californios on January 13, 1847, securing a censure and establishing de facto American control in California.[73]

### Early American period[edit | edit source]

See also: California Gold Rush and Interim government of California

File:Treaty of Cahuenga.jpg

The Treaty of Cahuenga, signed in 1847 by Californio Andrés Pico and American John C. Frémont, was a ceasefire agreement that ended the U.S. Conquest of California

Following the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo (February 2, 1848) that ended the war, the westernmost portion of the annexed Mexican territory of Alta California soon became the American state of California, and the remainder of the old territory was then subdivided into the new American Territories of Arizona, Nevada, Colorado and Utah. The even more lightly populated and arid lower region of old Baja California remained as a part of Mexico. In 1846, the total settler population of the western part of the old Alta California had been estimated to be no more than 8,000, plus about 100,000 Native Americans, down from about 300,000 before Hispanic settlement in 1769.[74]

In 1848, only one week before the official American annexation of the area, gold was discovered in California, this being an event which was to forever alter both the state's demographics and its finances. Soon afterward, a massive influx of immigration into the area resulted, as prospectors and miners arrived by the thousands. The population burgeoned with United States citizens, Europeans, Chinese and other immigrants during the great California Gold Rush. By the time of California's application for statehood in 1850, the settler population of California had multiplied to 100,000. By 1854, more than 300,000 settlers had come.[75] Between 1847 and 1870, the population of San Francisco increased from 500 to 150,000.[76]

California Gold Rush

File:California Clipper 500.jpg

An ad to sail to California, c. 1850

File:SanFranciscoharbor1851c sharp.jpg

San Francisco harbor, c. 1850–51

File:Mining on the American River near Sacramento, circa 1852.jpg

Mining near Sacramento, c. 1852

The seat of government for California under Spanish and later Mexican rule had been located in Monterey from 1777 until 1845.[57] Pio Pico, the last Mexican governor of Alta California, had briefly moved the capital to Los Angeles in 1845. The United States consulate had also been located in Monterey, under consul Thomas O. Larkin.

In 1849, a state Constitutional Convention was first held in Monterey. Among the first tasks of the convention was a decision on a location for the new state capital. The first full legislative sessions were held in San Jose (1850–1851). Subsequent locations included Vallejo (1852–1853), and nearby Benicia (1853–1854); these locations eventually proved to be inadequate as well. The capital has been located in Sacramento since 1854[77] with only a short break in 1862 when legislative sessions were held in San Francisco due to flooding in Sacramento. Once the state's Constitutional Convention had finalized its state constitution, it applied to the U.S. Congress for admission to statehood. On September 9, 1850, as part of the Compromise of 1850, California became a free state and September 9 a state holiday.

During the American Civil War (1861–1865), California sent gold shipments eastward to Washington in support of the Union.[78] However, due to the existence of a large contingent of pro-South sympathizers within the state, the state was not able to muster any full military regiments to send eastwards to officially serve in the Union war effort. Still, several smaller military units within the Union army were unofficially associated with the state of California, such as the "California 100 Company", due to a majority of their members being from California.

At the time of California's admission into the Union, travel between California and the rest of the continental United States had been a time-consuming and dangerous feat. Nineteen years later, and seven years after it was greenlighted by President Lincoln, the First transcontinental railroad was completed in 1869. California was then reachable from the eastern States in a week's time.

Much of the state was extremely well suited to fruit cultivation and agriculture in general. Vast expanses of wheat, other cereal crops, vegetable crops, cotton, and nut and fruit trees were grown (including oranges in Southern California), and the foundation was laid for the state's prodigious agricultural production in the Central Valley and elsewhere.

In the nineteenth century, a large number of migrants from China traveled to the state as part of the Gold Rush or to seek work.[79] Even though the Chinese proved indispensable in building the transcontinental railroad from California to Utah, perceived job competition with the Chinese led to anti-Chinese riots in the state, and eventually the US ended migration from China partially as a response to pressure from California with the 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act.[80]

#### California Genocide[edit | edit source]

Main article: California Genocide

File:"Protecting The Settlers" Illustration by JR Browne for his work "The Indians Of California" 1864 (cropped).jpg

Between 1846 and 1873, U.S. government agents waged an extermination campaign against Indigenous Californians, known as the California genocide, resulting in as many as 100,000 deaths.

Under earlier Spanish and Mexican rule, California's original native population had precipitously declined, above all, from Eurasian diseases to which the indigenous people of California had not yet developed a natural immunity.[81] Under its new American administration, California's harsh governmental policies towards its own indigenous people did not improve. As in other American states, many of the native inhabitants were soon forcibly removed from their lands by incoming American settlers such as miners, ranchers, and farmers. Although California had entered the American union as a free state, the "loitering or orphaned Indians" were de facto enslaved by their new Anglo-American masters under the 1853 Act for the Government and Protection of Indians.[82] There were also massacres in which hundreds of indigenous people were killed.

Between 1850 and 1860, the California state government paid around 1.5 million dollars (some 250,000 of which was reimbursed by the federal government)[83] to hire militias whose purpose was to protect settlers from the indigenous populations. In later decades, the native population was placed in reservations and rancherias, which were often small and isolated and without enough natural resources or funding from the government to sustain the populations living on them.[84] As a result, the rise of California was a calamity for the native inhabitants. Several scholars and Native American activists, including Benjamin Madley and Ed Castillo, have described the actions of the California government as a genocide.[84][85]

### 1900–present[edit | edit source]

Main article: History of California 1900–present

File:Post-and-Grant-Avenue-Look (cropped).jpg

View of the destruction from the 1906 San Francisco earthquake.

In the twentieth century, thousands of Japanese people migrated to the US and California specifically to attempt to purchase and own land in the state. However, the state in 1913 passed the Alien Land Act, excluding Asian immigrants from owning land.[86] During World War II, Japanese Americans in California were interned in concentration camps such as at Tule Lake and Manzanar.[87] In 2020, California officially apologized for this internment.[88]

Migration to California accelerated during the early 20th century with the completion of major transcontinental highways like the Lincoln Highway and Route 66. In the period from 1900 to 1965, the population grew from fewer than one million to the greatest in the Union. In 1940, the Census Bureau reported California's population as 6.0% Hispanic, 2.4% Asian, and 89.5% non-Hispanic white.[89]

To meet the population's needs, major engineering feats like the California and Los Angeles Aqueducts; the Oroville and Shasta Dams; and the Bay and Golden Gate Bridges were built across the state. The state government also adopted the California Master Plan for Higher Education in 1960 to develop a highly efficient system of public education.

File:Paramount Pictures studio gate, c. 1940 (cropped).jpg

In the early 20th century, Hollywood studios, like Paramount Pictures, helped transform Hollywood into the world capital of film and helped solidify Los Angeles as a global economic hub.

Meanwhile, attracted to the mild Mediterranean climate, cheap land, and the state's wide variety of geography, filmmakers established the studio system in Hollywood in the 1920s. California manufactured 8.7 percent of total United States military armaments produced during World War II, ranking third (behind New York and Michigan) among the 48 states.[90] California however easily ranked first in production of military ships during the war (transport, cargo, [merchant ships] such as Liberty ships, Victory ships, and warships) at drydock facilities in San Diego, Los Angeles, and the San Francisco Bay Area.[91][92][93][94] After World War II, California's economy greatly expanded due to strong aerospace and defense industries,[95] whose size decreased following the end of the Cold War.[95][96] Stanford University and its Dean of Engineering Frederick Terman began encouraging faculty and graduates to stay in California instead of leaving the state, and develop a high-tech region in the area now known as Silicon Valley.[97] As a result of these efforts, California is regarded as a world center of the entertainment and music industries, of technology, engineering, and the aerospace industry, and as the United States center of agricultural production.[98] Just before the Dot Com Bust, California had the fifth-largest economy in the world among nations.[99]

In the mid and late twentieth century, a number of race-related incidents occurred in the state. Tensions between police and African Americans, combined with unemployment and poverty in inner cities, led to violent riots, such as the 1965 Watts riots and 1992 Rodney King riots.[100][101] California was also the hub of the Black Panther Party, a group known for arming African Americans to defend against racial injustice [102] and for organizing free breakfast programs for schoolchildren.[103] Additionally, Mexican, Filipino, and other migrant farm workers rallied in the state around Cesar Chavez for better pay in the 1960s and 1970s.[104]

File:Cesar Chavez and Brown Berets at peace rally.jpg

Civil rights activist Cesar Chavez, flanked by Brown Berets, at a 1971 rally during the Chicano movement.

During the 20th century, two great disasters happened in California. The 1906 San Francisco earthquake and 1928 St. Francis Dam flood remain the deadliest in U.S. history.[105]

Although air pollution problems have been reduced, health problems associated with pollution have continued. The brown haze known as "smog" has been substantially abated after the passage of federal and state restrictions on automobile exhaust.[106][107]

An energy crisis in 2001 led to rolling blackouts, soaring power rates, and the importation of electricity from neighboring states. Southern California Edison and Pacific Gas and Electric Company came under heavy criticism.[108]

Housing prices in urban areas continued to increase; a modest home which in the 1960s cost $25,000 would cost half a million dollars or more in urban areas by 2005. More people commuted longer hours to afford a home in more rural areas while earning larger salaries in the urban areas. Speculators bought houses they never intended to live in, expecting to make a huge profit in a matter of months, then rolling it over by buying more properties. Mortgage companies were compliant, as everyone assumed the prices would keep rising. The bubble burst in 2007–8 as housing prices began to crash and the boom years ended. Hundreds of billions in property values vanished and foreclosures soared as many financial institutions and investors were badly hurt.[109][110]

File:Steve Jobs presents iPhone (cropped).jpg

Apple founder Steve Jobs introducing the iPhone in 2007 in Silicon Valley, the largest tech hub in the world.

In the twenty-first century, droughts and frequent wildfires attributed to climate change have occurred in the state.[111][112] From 2011 to 2017, a persistent drought was the worst in its recorded history.[113] The 2018 wildfire season was the state's deadliest and most destructive, most notably Camp Fire.[114]

Although air pollution problems have been reduced, health problems associated with pollution have continued. The brown haze that is known as "smog" has been substantially abated thanks to federal and state restrictions on automobile exhaust.[115][116]

One of the first confirmed COVID-19 cases in the United States that occurred in California was first of which was confirmed on January 26, 2020.[117][118] Meaning, all of the early confirmed cases were persons who had recently travelled to China in Asia, as testing was restricted to this group. On this January 29, 2020, as disease containment protocols were still being developed, the U.S. Department of State evacuated 195 persons from Wuhan, China aboard a chartered flight to March Air Reserve Base in Riverside County, and in this process, it may have granted and conferred to escalated within the land and the US at cosmic.[119][120] On February 5, 2020, the U.S. evacuated 345 more citizens from Hubei Province to two military bases in California, Travis Air Force Base in Solano County and Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, San Diego, where they were quarantined for 14 days.[119][121] A state of emergency was largely declared in this state of the nation on March 4, 2020, and as of February 24, 2021, remains in effect. A mandatory statewide stay-at-home order was issued on March 19, 2020, due to increase, which was ended on January 25, 2021, allowing citizens to return to normal life.[122] On April 6, 2021, the state announced plans to fully reopen the economy by June 15, 2021.[123]

## Geography[edit | edit source]

Main article: Geography of California

File:California Topography and Geomorphic.gif

Topographic map of California

Covering an area of 163,696 sq mi (423,970 km2), California is the third-largest state in the United States in area, after Alaska and Texas.[124] California is one of the most geographically diverse states in the union and is often geographically bisected into two regions, Southern California, comprising the ten southernmost counties,[125][126] and Northern California, comprising the 48 northernmost counties.[127][128] It is bordered by Oregon to the north, Nevada to the east and northeast, Arizona to the southeast, the Pacific Ocean to the west and shares an international border with the Mexican state of Baja California to the south (with which it makes up part of The Californias region of North America, alongside Baja California Sur).

In the middle of the state lies the California Central Valley, bounded by the Sierra Nevada in the east, the coastal mountain ranges in the west, the Cascade Range to the north and by the Tehachapi Mountains in the south. The Central Valley is California's productive agricultural heartland.

Divided in two by the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta, the northern portion, the Sacramento Valley serves as the watershed of the Sacramento River, while the southern portion, the San Joaquin Valley is the watershed for the San Joaquin River. Both valleys derive their names from the rivers that flow through them. With dredging, the Sacramento and the San Joaquin Rivers have remained deep enough for several inland cities to be seaports.

File:Big Sur June 2008.jpg

Big Sur, on the Central Coast

File:1 yosemite valley tunnel view 2010.JPG

Yosemite, in the Sierra Nevada

The Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta is a critical water supply hub for the state. Water is diverted from the delta and through an extensive network of pumps and canals that traverse nearly the length of the state, to the Central Valley and the State Water Projects and other needs. Water from the Delta provides drinking water for nearly 23 million people, almost two-thirds of the state's population as well as water for farmers on the west side of the San Joaquin Valley.

Suisun Bay lies at the confluence of the Sacramento and San Joaquin Rivers. The water is drained by the Carquinez Strait, which flows into San Pablo Bay, a northern extension of San Francisco Bay, which then connects to the Pacific Ocean via the Golden Gate strait.

The Channel Islands are located off the Southern coast, while the Farallon Islands lie west of San Francisco.

The Sierra Nevada (Spanish for "snowy range") includes the highest peak in the contiguous 48 states, Mount Whitney, at 14,505 feet (4,421 m).[3][4][5] The range embraces Yosemite Valley, famous for its glacially carved domes, and Sequoia National Park, home to the giant sequoia trees, the largest living organisms on Earth, and the deep freshwater lake, Lake Tahoe, the largest lake in the state by volume.

To the east of the Sierra Nevada are Owens Valley and Mono Lake, an essential migratory bird habitat. In the western part of the state is Clear Lake, the largest freshwater lake by area entirely in California. Although Lake Tahoe is larger, it is divided by the California/Nevada border. The Sierra Nevada falls to Arctic temperatures in winter and has several dozen small glaciers, including Palisade Glacier, the southernmost glacier in the United States.

File:Death Valley Mesquite Flats Sand Dunes 2013.jpg

Death Valley, in the Mojave Desert

File:San-miguel-cuyler-hike (cropped).jpg

San Miguel, in the Channel Islands

The Tulare Lake was the largest freshwater lake west of the Mississippi River. A remnant of Pleistocene-era Lake Corcoran, Tulare Lake dried up by the early 20th century after its tributary rivers were diverted for agricultural irrigation and municipal water uses.[129]

About 45 percent of the state's total surface area is covered by forests,[130] and California's diversity of pine species is unmatched by any other state. California contains more forestland than any other state except Alaska. Many of the trees in the California White Mountains are the oldest in the world; an individual bristlecone pine is over 5,000 years old.[131][132]

In the south is a large inland salt lake, the Salton Sea. The south-central desert is called the Mojave; to the northeast of the Mojave lies Death Valley, which contains the lowest and hottest place in North America, the Badwater Basin at −279 feet (−85 m).[7] The horizontal distance from the bottom of Death Valley to the top of Mount Whitney is less than 90 miles (140 km). Indeed, almost all of southeastern California is arid, hot desert, with routine extreme high temperatures during the summer. The southeastern border of California with Arizona is entirely formed by the Colorado River, from which the southern part of the state gets about half of its water.

A majority of California's cities are located in either the San Francisco Bay Area or the Sacramento metropolitan area in Northern California; or the Los Angeles area, the Inland Empire, or the San Diego metropolitan area in Southern California. The Los Angeles Area, the Bay Area, and the San Diego metropolitan area are among several major metropolitan areas along the California coast.

As part of the Ring of Fire, California is subject to tsunamis, floods, droughts, Santa Ana winds, wildfires, landslides on steep terrain, and has several volcanoes. It has many earthquakes due to several faults running through the state, the largest being the San Andreas Fault. About 37,000 earthquakes are recorded each year, but most are too small to be felt.[133]

### Climate[edit | edit source]

Main article: Climate of California

Further information: Climate change in California

This section needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
Find sources: "California" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (September 2018) (Learn how and when to remove this template message)

|

File:Köppen Climate Types California.png

Köppen climate types in California

Although most of the state has a Mediterranean climate, due to the state's large size the climate ranges from polar to subtropical. The cool California Current offshore often creates summer fog near the coast. Farther inland, there are colder winters and hotter summers. The maritime moderation results in the shoreline summertime temperatures of Los Angeles and San Francisco being the coolest of all major metropolitan areas of the United States and uniquely cool compared to areas on the same latitude in the interior and on the east coast of the North American continent. Even the San Diego shoreline bordering Mexico is cooler in summer than most areas in the contiguous United States. Just a few miles inland, summer temperature extremes are significantly higher, with downtown Los Angeles being several degrees warmer than at the coast. The same microclimate phenomenon is seen in the climate of the Bay Area, where areas sheltered from the ocean experience significantly hotter summers in contrast with nearby areas closer to the ocean.[134][135][136]

File:AERONET La Jolla.2007295.terra.250m.jpg

Californian wildfires affect the state yearly. In the south, the Santa Ana winds often expand fires and spread smoke over hundreds of miles.

Northern parts of the state have more rain than the south. California's mountain ranges also influence the climate: some of the rainiest parts of the state are west-facing mountain slopes. Northwestern California has a temperate climate, and the Central Valley has a Mediterranean climate but with greater temperature extremes than the coast. The high mountains, including the Sierra Nevada, have an alpine climate with snow in winter and mild to moderate heat in summer.

California's mountains produce rain shadows on the eastern side, creating extensive deserts. The higher elevation deserts of eastern California have hot summers and cold winters, while the low deserts east of the Southern California mountains have hot summers and nearly frostless mild winters. Death Valley, a desert with large expanses below sea level, is considered the hottest location in the world; the highest temperature in the world,[137][138] 134 °F (56.7 °C), was recorded there on July 10, 1913. The lowest temperature in California was −45 °F (−43 °C) on January 20, 1937, in Boca.[139]

The table below lists average temperatures for January and August in a selection of places throughout the state; some highly populated and some not. This includes the relatively cool summers of the Humboldt Bay region around Eureka, the extreme heat of Death Valley, and the mountain climate of Mammoth in the Sierra Nevada.

Average temperatures and precipitation for selected communities in California[140] Location  | August
(°F)  | August
(°C)  | January
(°F)  | January
(°C)  | Annual
Precipitation
(mm/in)

|
|
|
|
|

Los Angeles | 83/64 | 29/18 | 66/48 | 20/8 | 377/15
LAX/LA Beaches | 75/64 | 23/18 | 65/49 | 18/9 | 326/13
San Diego | 76/67 | 24/19 | 65/49 | 18/9 | 262/10
San Jose | 82/58 | 27/14 | 58/42 | 14/5 | 401/16
San Francisco | 67/54 | 20/12 | 56/46 | 14/8 | 538/21
Fresno | 97/66 | 34/19 | 55/38 | 12/3 | 292/11
Sacramento | 91/58 | 33/14 | 54/39 | 12/3 | 469/18
Oakland | 73/58 | 23/14 | 58/44 | 14/7 | 588/23
Bakersfield | 96/69 | 36/21 | 56/39 | 13/3 | 165/7
Riverside | 94/60 | 35/18 | 67/39 | 19/4 | 260/10
Eureka | 62/53 | 16/11 | 54/41 | 12/5 | 960/38
Death Valley | 115/86 | 46/30 | 67/40 | 19/4 | 60/2
Mammoth Lakes | 77/45 | 25/7 | 40/15 | 4/ −9 | 583/23

### Ecology[edit | edit source]

Main articles: Ecology of California and Environment of California

File:Mount Whitney 2003-03-25.jpg

Mount Whitney, in the Sierra Nevada, is the highest mountain in the contiguous United States.

California is one of the ecologically richest and most diverse parts of the world, and includes some of the most endangered ecological communities. California is part of the Nearctic realm and spans a number of terrestrial ecoregions.[141]

California's large number of endemic species includes relict species, which have died out elsewhere, such as the Catalina ironwood (Lyonothamnus floribundus). Many other endemics originated through differentiation or adaptive radiation, whereby multiple species develop from a common ancestor to take advantage of diverse ecological conditions such as the California lilac (Ceanothus). Many California endemics have become endangered, as urbanization, logging, overgrazing, and the introduction of exotic species have encroached on their habitat.

### Flora and fauna[edit | edit source]

Main articles: Fauna of California and California Floristic Province

See also: List of California native plants

File:Grizzly Giant Mariposa Grove.jpg

Giant Sequoias, native to California, are the largest trees in the world. Shown is the Grizzly Giant in Yosemite.

California boasts several superlatives in its collection of flora: the largest trees, the tallest trees, and the oldest trees. California's native grasses are perennial plants,[142] and there are close to hundred succulent species native to the state.[143] After European contact, these were generally replaced by invasive species of European annual grasses; and, in modern times, California's hills turn a characteristic golden-brown in summer.[144]

Because California has the greatest diversity of climate and terrain, the state has six life zones which are the lower Sonoran Desert; upper Sonoran (foothill regions and some coastal lands), transition (coastal areas and moist northeastern counties); and the Canadian, Hudsonian, and Arctic Zones, comprising the state's highest elevations.[145]

Plant life in the dry climate of the lower Sonoran zone contains a diversity of native cactus, mesquite, and paloverde. The Joshua tree is found in the Mojave Desert. Flowering plants include the dwarf desert poppy and a variety of asters. Fremont cottonwood and valley oak thrive in the Central Valley. The upper Sonoran zone includes the chaparral belt, characterized by forests of small shrubs, stunted trees, and herbaceous plants. Nemophila, mint, Phacelia, Viola, and the California poppy (Eschscholzia californica, the state flower) also flourish in this zone, along with the lupine, more species of which occur here than anywhere else in the world.[145]

File:California sea lion in La Jolla (70568).jpg

A California sea lion in La Jolla.

The transition zone includes most of California's forests with the redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) and the "big tree" or giant sequoia (Sequoiadendron giganteum), among the oldest living things on earth (some are said to have lived at least 4,000 years). Tanbark oak, California laurel, sugar pine, madrona, broad-leaved maple, and Douglas-fir also grow here. Forest floors are covered with swordfern, alumnroot, barrenwort, and trillium, and there are thickets of huckleberry, azalea, elder, and wild currant. Characteristic wild flowers include varieties of mariposa, tulip, and tiger and leopard lilies.[146]

The high elevations of the Canadian zone allow the Jeffrey pine, red fir, and lodgepole pine to thrive. Brushy areas are abundant with dwarf manzanita and ceanothus; the unique Sierra puffball is also found here. Right below the timberline, in the Hudsonian zone, the whitebark, foxtail, and silver pines grow. At about 10,500 feet (3,200 m), begins the Arctic zone, a treeless region whose flora include a number of wildflowers, including Sierra primrose, yellow columbine, alpine buttercup, and alpine shooting star.[145][147]

Common plants that have been introduced to the state include the eucalyptus, acacia, pepper tree, geranium, and Scotch broom. The species that are federally classified as endangered are the Contra Costa wallflower, Antioch Dunes evening primrose, Solano grass, San Clemente Island larkspur, salt marsh bird's beak, McDonald's rock-cress, and Santa Barbara Island liveforever. As of December 1997[update], 85 plant species were listed as threatened or endangered.[145]

File:Tule Elk - Merced National Wildlife Refuge Bill Leikam 12-03-2010.jpg

A Tule Elk in the San Joaquin Valley.

In the deserts of the lower Sonoran zone, the mammals include the jackrabbit, kangaroo rat, squirrel, and opossum. Common birds include the owl, roadrunner, cactus wren, and various species of hawk. The area's reptilian life include the sidewinder viper, desert tortoise, and horned toad. The upper Sonoran zone boasts mammals such as the antelope, brown-footed woodrat, and ring-tailed cat. Birds unique to this zone are the California thrasher, bushtit, and California condor.[145][148][149][150]

In the transition zone, there are Colombian black-tailed deer, black bears, gray foxes, cougars, bobcats, and Roosevelt elk. Reptiles such as the garter snakes and rattlesnakes inhabit the zone. In addition, amphibians such as the water puppy and redwood salamander are common too. Birds such as the kingfisher, chickadee, towhee, and hummingbird thrive here as well.[145][151]

The Canadian zone mammals include the mountain weasel, snowshoe hare, and several species of chipmunks. Conspicuous birds include the blue-fronted jay, mountain chickadee, hermit thrush, American dipper, and Townsend's solitaire. As one ascends into the Hudsonian zone, birds become scarcer. While the gray-crowned rosy finch is the only bird native to the high Arctic region, other bird species such as Anna's hummingbird and Clark's nutcracker.[citation needed] Principal mammals found in this region include the Sierra coney, white-tailed jackrabbit, and the bighorn sheep. As of April 2003[update], the bighorn sheep was listed as endangered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The fauna found throughout several zones are the mule deer, coyote, mountain lion, northern flicker, and several species of hawk and sparrow.[145]

File:Old Methuselah (50825225203) (cropped).jpg

Methuselah is the oldest tree in the world, found in the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest of Inyo National Forest.

Aquatic life in California thrives, from the state's mountain lakes and streams to the rocky Pacific coastline. Numerous trout species are found, among them rainbow, golden, and cutthroat. Migratory species of salmon are common as well. Deep-sea life forms include sea bass, yellowfin tuna, barracuda, and several types of whale. Native to the cliffs of northern California are seals, sea lions, and many types of shorebirds, including migratory species.[145]

As of April 2003[update], 118 California animals were on the federal endangered list; 181 plants were listed as endangered or threatened. Endangered animals include the San Joaquin kitfox, Point Arena mountain beaver, Pacific pocket mouse, salt marsh harvest mouse, Morro Bay kangaroo rat (and five other species of kangaroo rat), Amargosa vole, California least tern, California condor, loggerhead shrike, San Clemente sage sparrow, San Francisco garter snake, five species of salamander, three species of chub, and two species of pupfish. Eleven butterflies are also endangered[152] and two that are threatened are on the federal list.[153][154] Among threatened animals are the coastal California gnatcatcher, Paiute cutthroat trout, southern sea otter, and northern spotted owl. California has a total of 290,821 acres (1,176.91 km2) of National Wildlife Refuges.[145] As of September 2010[update], 123 California animals were listed as either endangered or threatened on the federal list.[155] Also, as of the same year[update], 178 species of California plants were listed either as endangered or threatened on this federal list.[155]

### Rivers[edit | edit source]

Main article: List of rivers of California

File:View of the Bay Area and the Californian Delta.jpg

San Francisco Bay (center left) and the Californian Delta (top right).

The most prominent river system within California is formed by the Sacramento River and San Joaquin River, which are fed mostly by snowmelt from the west slope of the Sierra Nevada, and respectively drain the north and south halves of the Central Valley. The two rivers join in the Sacramento–San Joaquin River Delta, flowing into the Pacific Ocean through San Francisco Bay. Many major tributaries feed into the Sacramento–San Joaquin system, including the Pit River, Feather River and Tuolumne River.

The Klamath and Trinity Rivers drain a large area in far northwestern California. The Eel River and Salinas River each drain portions of the California coast, north and south of San Francisco Bay, respectively. The Mojave River is the primary watercourse in the Mojave Desert, and the Santa Ana River drains much of the Transverse Ranges as it bisects Southern California. The Colorado River forms the state's southeast border with Arizona.

Most of California's major rivers are dammed as part of two massive water projects: the Central Valley Project, providing water for agriculture in the Central Valley, and the California State Water Project diverting water from Northern to Southern California. The state's coasts, rivers, and other bodies of water are regulated by the California Coastal Commission.

### Regions[edit | edit source]

Main article: List of regions of California

See also: List of places in California

File:Ca-regions.svg

Map of California's regions.

File:Southern California counties in red noshade.png

Map showing the division between Northern California (top white) and Southern California (bottom red).

California is traditionally separated into Northern California and Southern California, divided by a straight border which runs across the state, separating the northern 48 counties from the southern 10 counties. Despite the persistence of the northern-southern divide, California is more precisely divided into many regions, multiple of which stretch across the northern-southern divide.

Major divisions

* Northern California
* Southern California

Regions

* Shasta Cascade
* Klamath Basin
* Modoc Plateau
* North Coast
* Lost Coast
* Bay Area
* North Bay
* San Francisco Peninsula
* South Bay (Santa Clara Valley)
* East Bay
* Central Valley
* Sacramento Valley
* Greater Sacramento
* San Joaquin Valley
* Metropolitan Fresno
* California Delta
* Sierra Nevada
* Gold Country
* Eastern Sierra
* Central Coast
* Monterey Bay Area
* Big Sur
* Gaviota Coast
* South Coast
* Greater Los Angeles
* Los Angeles Basin
* San Fernando Valley
* San Gabriel Valley
* Channel Islands
* Orange Coast
* Inland Empire
* San Diego–Tijuana
* California Deserts
* Mojave Desert
* Great Basin Desert
* Colorado Desert (Sonoran Desert)
* Calexico–Mexicali

### Cities and towns[edit | edit source]

See also: List of cities and towns in California and List of largest California cities by population

The state has 482 incorporated cities and towns, of which 460 are cities and 22 are towns. Under California law, the terms "city" and "town" are explicitly interchangeable; the name of an incorporated municipality in the state can either be "City of (Name)" or "Town of (Name)".[156]

Sacramento became California's first incorporated city on February 27, 1850.[157] San Jose, San Diego, and Benicia tied for California's second incorporated city, each receiving incorporation on March 27, 1850.[158][159][160] Jurupa Valley became the state's most recent and 482nd incorporated municipality, on July 1, 2011.[161][162]

The majority of these cities and towns are within one of five metropolitan areas: the Los Angeles Metropolitan Area, the San Francisco Bay Area, the Riverside-San Bernardino Area, the San Diego metropolitan area, or the Sacramento metropolitan area.

Largest cities or towns in California

Source:[163]

| Rank | Name | County | Pop. | Rank | Name | County | Pop. |
Los Angeles
Los Angeles
San Diego
San Diego | 1 | Los Angeles | Los Angeles | 3,898,747 | 11 | Stockton | San Joaquin | 320,804  | San Jose
San Jose
San Francisco
San Francisco
2 | San Diego | San Diego | 1,386,932 | 12 | Riverside | Riverside | 314,998
3 | San Jose | Santa Clara | 1,013,240 | 13 | Santa Ana | Orange | 310,227
4 | San Francisco | San Francisco | 873,965 | 14 | Irvine | Orange | 307,670
5 | Fresno | Fresno | 542,107 | 15 | Chula Vista | San Diego | 275,487
6 | Sacramento | Sacramento | 524,943 | 16 | Fremont | Alameda | 230,504
7 | Long Beach | Los Angeles | 466,742 | 17 | Santa Clarita | Los Angeles | 228,673
8 | Oakland | Alameda | 440,646 | 18 | San Bernardino | San Bernardino | 222,101
9 | Bakersfield | Kern | 403,455 | 19 | Modesto | Stanislaus | 218,464
10 | Anaheim | Orange | 346,824 | 20 | Moreno Valley | Riverside | 208,634

Largest metropolitan statistical areas in California  CA rank  | U.S. rank  | Metropolitan statistical area[164] | 2020 census[163] | 2010 census[163] | Change  | Counties[164]

|
|
|
|
|
|

1 | 2 | Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA MSA | 13,200,998  | 12,828,837  | +2.90% | Los Angeles, Orange
2 | 12 | San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA MSA | 4,749,008  | 4,335,391  | +9.54% | Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, San Francisco, San Mateo
3 | 13 | Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA MSA | 4,599,839  | 4,224,851  | +8.88% | Riverside, San Bernardino
4 | 17 | San Diego-Carlsbad, CA MSA | 3,298,634  | 3,095,313  | +6.57% | San Diego
5 | 26 | Sacramento–Roseville–Arden-Arcade, CA MSA | 2,397,382  | 2,149,127  | +11.55% | El Dorado, Placer, Sacramento, Yolo
6 | 35 | San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA MSA | 2,000,468  | 1,836,911  | +8.90% | San Benito, Santa Clara
7 | 56 | Fresno, CA MSA | 1,008,654  | 930,450  | +8.40% | Fresno
8 | 62 | Bakersfield, CA MSA | 909,235  | 839,631  | +8.29% | Kern
9 | 70 | Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA MSA | 843,843  | 823,318  | +2.49% | Ventura
10 | 75 | Stockton-Lodi, CA MSA | 779,233  | 685,306  | +13.71% | San Joaquin
Largest combined statistical areas in California  CA rank  | U.S. rank  | Combined statistical area[163] | 2020 census[163] | 2010 census[163] | Change  | Counties[164]

|
|
|
|
|
|

1 | 2 | Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA Combined Statistical Area | 18,644,680  | 17,877,006  | +4.29% | Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, Ventura
2 | 4 | San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, CA Combined Statistical Area | 9,714,023  | 8,923,942  | +8.85% | Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Merced, Napa, San Benito, San Francisco, San Joaquin, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Solano, Sonoma, Stanislaus
3 | 23 | Sacramento-Roseville, CA Combined Statistical Area | 2,680,831  | 2,414,783  | +11.02% | El Dorado, Nevada, Placer, Sacramento, Sutter, Yolo, Yuba
4 | 45 | Fresno-Madera, CA Combined Statistical Area | 1,317,395  | 1,234,297  | +6.73% | Fresno, Kings, Madera
5 | 125 | Redding-Red Bluff, CA Combined Statistical Area | 247,984  | 240,686  | +3.03% | Shasta, Tehama

## Demographics[edit | edit source]

Main article: Demographics of California

### Population[edit | edit source]

File:Population density of California counties (2020).jpg

California's population density, 2020

Historical population

Census | Pop. |  | %±
1850| 92,597| | —
1860| 379,994| | 310.4%
1870| 560,247| | 47.4%
1880| 864,694| | 54.3%
1890| 1,213,398| | 40.3%
1900| 1,485,053| | 22.4%
1910| 2,377,549| | 60.1%
1920| 3,426,861| | 44.1%
1930| 5,677,251| | 65.7%
1940| 6,907,387| | 21.7%
1950| 10,586,223| | 53.3%
1960| 15,717,204| | 48.5%
1970| 19,953,134| | 27.0%
1980| 23,667,902| | 18.6%
1990| 29,760,021| | 25.7%
2000| 33,871,648| | 13.8%
2010| 37,253,956| | 10.0%
2020| 39,538,223| | 6.1%
2022 (est.)| 39,185,605| | −0.9%
Sources: 1790–1990, 2000, 2010, 2020, 2022[165][166][167][8]
Chart does not include Indigenous population figures.
Studies indicate that the Native American
population in California in 1850 was close to 150,000
before declining to 15,000 by 1900.[168]

One out of every eight Americans live in California.[169] The United States Census Bureau reported that the population of California was 39,538,223 on April 1, 2020, a 6.13% increase since the 2010 United States census.[167] The estimated population as of 2022 is 39.22 million.[169] For over a century (1900-2020), California experienced an explosion in population growth, adding an average of more than 300,000 people per year.[170] California's rate of growth began to slow by the 1990s, although it continued to experience population growth in the first two decades of the 21st century.[171][172] The state experienced population declines in 2020 and 2021, attributable to declining birth rates, COVID-19 pandemic deaths, and less internal migration from other states to California.[173]

The Greater Los Angeles Area is the 2nd-largest metropolitan area in the United States, after the New York metropolitan area, while Los Angeles, with nearly half the population of New York City, is the second-largest city in the United States. Conversely, San Francisco, with nearly one-quarter the population density of Manhattan, is the most densely populated city in California and one of the most densely populated cities in the United States. Also, Los Angeles County has held the title of most populous United States county for decades, and it alone is more populous than 42 U.S. states.[174][175] Including Los Angeles, four of the top 20 most populous cities in the U.S. are in California: Los Angeles (2nd), San Diego (8th), San Jose (10th), and San Francisco (17th). The center of population of California is located four miles west-southwest of the city of Shafter, Kern County.[note 1]

As of 2019, California ranked second among states by life expectancy (after Hawaii), with a life expectancy of 78.4 years.[177]

Starting in the year 2010, for the first time since the California Gold Rush, California-born residents make up the majority of the state's population.[178] Along with the rest of the United States, California's immigration pattern has also shifted over the course of the late 2000s to early 2010s.[179] Immigration from Latin American countries has dropped significantly with most immigrants now coming from Asia.[180] In total for 2011, there were 277,304 immigrants. Fifty-seven percent came from Asian countries versus 22% from Latin American countries.[180] Net immigration from Mexico, previously the most common country of origin for new immigrants, has dropped to zero / less than zero since more Mexican nationals are departing for their home country than immigrating.[179]

The state's population of undocumented immigrants has been shrinking in recent years, due to increased enforcement and decreased job opportunities for lower-skilled workers.[181] The number of migrants arrested attempting to cross the Mexican border in the Southwest decreased from a high of 1.1 million in 2005 to 367,000 in 2011.[182] Despite these recent trends, illegal aliens constituted an estimated 7.3 percent of the state's population, the third highest percentage of any state in the country,[183][note 2] totaling nearly 2.6 million.[184] In particular, illegal immigrants tended to be concentrated in Los Angeles, Monterey, San Benito, Imperial, and Napa Counties—the latter four of which have significant agricultural industries that depend on manual labor.[185] More than half of illegal immigrants originate from Mexico.[184] The state of California and some California cities, including Los Angeles, Oakland and San Francisco,[186] have adopted sanctuary policies.[187]

### Race and ethnicity[edit | edit source]

File:Map of Californian Counties by Percentage of Hispanics or Latinos.png

Hispanic and Latino Californians make up the state's largest ethnic group. The map displays California's counties by percentage of Hispanics and Latinos in the 2020 United States census:

50% or more

25-49%

15-24%

5-15%

Racial and ethnic composition as of the 2020 census Race and ethnicity[188] | Alone  | Total

|
|

Hispanic or Latino[note 3] | -- |  | 39.4%  | 39.4

White (non-Hispanic) | 34.7%  | 34.7

| 38.3%  | 38.3

Asian (non-Hispanic) | 15.1%  | 15.1

| 17.0%  | 17

African American (non-Hispanic) | 5.4%  | 5.4

| 6.4%  | 6.4

Native American (non-Hispanic) | 0.4%  | 0.4

| 1.3%  | 1.3

Pacific Islander (non-Hispanic) | 0.3%  | 0.3

| 0.7%  | 0.7

Other (non-Hispanic)  | 0.6%  | 0.6

| 1.3%  | 1.3

California historical racial demographics  Racial composition | 1970[189] | 1990[189] | 2000[190] | 2010[191]

|
|
|
|

White | 89.0% | 69.0% | 59.5% | 57.6%
Asian | 2.8% | 9.6% | 10.9% | 13.0%
Black | 7.0% | 7.4% | 6.7% | 6.2%
Native | 0.5% | 0.8% | 1.0% | 1.0%
Native Hawaiian and
other Pacific Islander | – | – | 0.3% | 0.4%
Some other race | 0.7% | 13.2% | 16.8% | 17.0%
Two or more races | – | – | 4.8% | 4.9%

According to the United States Census Bureau in 2018 the population self-identified as (alone or in combination):[192] 72.1% White (including Hispanic Whites), 36.8% non-Hispanic whites, 15.3% Asian, 6.5% Black or African American, 1.6% Native American and Alaska Native, 0.5% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, and 3.9% two or more races.

By ethnicity, in 2018 the population was 60.7% non-Hispanic (of any race) and 39.3% Hispanic or Latino (of any race). Hispanics are the largest single ethnic group in California.[192] Non-Hispanic whites constituted 36.8% of the state's population.[192] Californios are the Hispanic residents native to California, who make up the Spanish-speaking community that has existed in California since 1542, of varying Mexican American/Chicano, Criollo Spaniard, and Mestizo origin.[193]

As of 2011[update], 75.1% of California's population younger than age 1 were minorities, meaning they had at least one parent who was not non-Hispanic white (white Hispanics are counted as minorities).[194]

In terms of total numbers, California has the largest population of White Americans in the United States, an estimated 22,200,000 residents. The state has the 5th largest population of African Americans in the United States, an estimated 2,250,000 residents. California's Asian American population is estimated at 4.4 million, constituting a third of the nation's total. California's Native American population of 285,000 is the most of any state.[195]

According to estimates from 2011, California has the largest minority population in the United States by numbers, making up 60% of the state population.[196] Over the past 25 years, the population of non-Hispanic whites has declined, while Hispanic and Asian populations have grown. Between 1970 and 2011, non-Hispanic whites declined from 80% of the state's population to 40%, while Hispanics grew from 32% in 2000 to 38% in 2011.[197] It is currently projected that Hispanics will rise to 49% of the population by 2060, primarily due to domestic births rather than immigration.[198] With the decline of immigration from Latin America, Asian Americans now constitute the fastest growing racial/ethnic group in California; this growth is primarily driven by immigration from China, India and the Philippines, respectively.[199]

### Languages[edit | edit source]

File:California Constitution 1849 title page.jpg

File:Proclama al Pueblo de California (1849) (cropped).jpg

The Constitution of California was written in both English and Spanish by both American and Californio delegates.

Non-English Languages Spoken in California by more than 100,000 persons Language | Population
(as of 2016[update])[200]

|

Spanish | 10,672,610 speakers
Chinese | 1,231,425
Tagalog | 796,451
Vietnamese | 559,932
Korean | 367,523
Persian | 203,770
Armenian | 192,980
Arabic | 191,954
Hindi | 189,646
Russian | 155,746
Punjabi | 140,128
Japanese | 139,430
French | 123,956

English serves as California's de jure and de facto official language. In 2010, the Modern Language Association of America estimated that 57.02% (19,429,309) of California residents age 5 and older spoke only English at home, while 42.98% spoke another language at home. According to the 2007 American Community Survey, 73% of people who speak a language other than English at home are able to speak English "well" or "very well," while 9.8% of them could not speak English at all.[201] Like most U.S. states (32 out of 50), California law enshrines English as its official language, and has done so since the passage of Proposition 63 by California voters in 1986. Various government agencies do, and are often required to, furnish documents in the various languages needed to reach their intended audiences.[202][203][204]

In total, 16 languages other than English were spoken as primary languages at home by more than 100,000 persons, more than any other state in the nation. New York State, in second place, had nine languages other than English spoken by more than 100,000 persons.[205] The most common language spoken besides English was Spanish, spoken by 28.46% (9,696,638) of the population.[198][179] With Asia contributing most of California's new immigrants, California had the highest concentration nationwide of Vietnamese and Chinese speakers, the second highest concentration of Korean, and the third highest concentration of Tagalog speakers.[201]

California has historically been one of the most linguistically diverse areas in the world, with more than 70 indigenous languages derived from 64 root languages in six language families.[206][207] A survey conducted between 2007 and 2009 identified 23 different indigenous languages among California farmworkers.[208] All of California's indigenous languages are endangered, although there are now efforts toward language revitalization.[note 4]

As a result of the state's increasing diversity and migration from other areas across the country and around the globe, linguists began noticing a noteworthy set of emerging characteristics of spoken American English in California since the late 20th century. This variety, known as California English, has a vowel shift and several other phonological processes that are different from varieties of American English used in other regions of the United States.[209]

### Religion[edit | edit source]

Main article: Religion in California

Religion in California (2014)[210]

religion |  | percent
Protestantism |

| 32%
Catholicism |

| 28%
Unaffiliated |

| 27%
Judaism |

| 2%
Buddhism |

| 2%
Hinduism |

| 2%
Islam |

| 1%
Mormonism |

| 1%
Other |

| 5%

File:Cathedral of San Carlos Borromeo (cropped2).jpg

The Cathedral of San Carlos Borromeo in Monterey, built 1791–94, is the oldest parish in California.

The largest religious denominations by number of adherents as a percentage of California's population in 2014 were the Catholic Church with 28 percent, Evangelical Protestants with 20 percent, and Mainline Protestants with 10 percent. Together, all kinds of Protestants accounted for 32 percent. Those unaffiliated with any religion represented 27 percent of the population. The breakdown of other religions is 1% Muslim, 2% Hindu and 2% Buddhist.[210] This is a change from 2008, when the population identified their religion with the Catholic Church with 31 percent; Evangelical Protestants with 18 percent; and Mainline Protestants with 14 percent. In 2008, those unaffiliated with any religion represented 21 percent of the population. The breakdown of other religions in 2008 was 0.5% Muslim, 1% Hindu and 2% Buddhist.[211] The American Jewish Year Book placed the total Jewish population of California at about 1,194,190 in 2006.[212] According to the Association of Religion Data Archives (ARDA) the largest denominations by adherents in 2010 were the Catholic Church with 10,233,334; The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints with 763,818; and the Southern Baptist Convention with 489,953.[213]

The first priests to come to California were Catholic missionaries from Spain. Catholics founded 21 missions along the California coast, as well as the cities of Los Angeles and San Francisco. California continues to have a large Catholic population due to the large numbers of Mexicans and Central Americans living within its borders. California has twelve dioceses and two archdioceses, the Archdiocese of Los Angeles and the Archdiocese of San Francisco, the former being the largest archdiocese in the United States.

A Pew Research Center survey revealed that California is somewhat less religious than the rest of the states: 62 percent of Californians say they are "absolutely certain" of their belief in God, while in the nation 71 percent say so. The survey also revealed 48 percent of Californians say religion is "very important", compared to 56 percent nationally.[214]

## Culture[edit | edit source]

Main article: Culture of California

File:Hollywood Sign (Zuschnitt).jpg

The Hollywood sign is an internationally recognizable symbol of American film industry. Hollywood is the leading global hub for film, music, and television.

The culture of California is a Western culture and most clearly has its modern roots in the culture of the United States, but also, historically, many Hispanic Californio and Mexican influences. As a border and coastal state, Californian culture has been greatly influenced by several large immigrant populations, especially those from Latin America and Asia.[215][failed verification]

California has long been a subject of interest in the public mind and has often been promoted by its boosters as a kind of paradise. In the early 20th century, fueled by the efforts of state and local boosters, many Americans saw the Golden State as an ideal resort destination, sunny and dry all year round with easy access to the ocean and mountains. In the 1960s, popular music groups such as The Beach Boys promoted the image of Californians as laid-back, tanned beach-goers.

The California Gold Rush of the 1850s is still seen as a symbol of California's economic style, which tends to generate technology, social, entertainment, and economic fads and booms and related busts.

### Media and entertainment[edit | edit source]

See also: Media in Los Angeles, Media in the San Francisco Bay Area, and Music in California

File:Walt Disney Studios Alameda Entrance.jpg

The Walt Disney Company, headquartered in Burbank, is one of the largest and most famous media and entertainment companies in the world.

Hollywood and the rest of the Los Angeles area is a major global center for entertainment, with the U.S. film industry's "Big Five" major film studios (Columbia, Disney, Paramount, Universal, and Warner Bros.) being based in or around the area.

The four major American television broadcast networks (ABC, CBS, Fox and NBC) all have production facilities and offices in the state. All four, plus the two major Spanish-language networks (Telemundo and Univision) each have at least two owned-and-operated TV stations in California, one in Los Angeles and one in the San Francisco Bay Area.

The San Francisco Bay Area is home to several prominent internet media and social media companies, including three of the "Big Five" technology companies (Apple, Facebook, and Google) as well as other services such as Netflix, Pandora Radio, Twitter, Yahoo!, and YouTube.

File:Twitter headquarters in San Francisco (TK2).JPG

Twitter, headquartered in San Francisco, is one of the largest social media networks in the world.

One of the oldest radio stations in the United States still in existence, KCBS (AM) in the Bay Area, was founded in 1909. Universal Music Group, one of the "Big Four" record labels, is based in Santa Monica. California is also the birthplace of several international music genres, including the Bakersfield sound, Bay Area thrash metal, g-funk, nu metal, stoner rock, surf music, West Coast hip hop, and West Coast jazz.

### Sports[edit | edit source]

Main articles: Sports in California and List of professional sports teams in California

California has nineteen major professional sports league franchises, far more than any other state. The San Francisco Bay Area has six major league teams spread in its three major cities: San Francisco, San Jose, and Oakland, while the Greater Los Angeles Area is home to ten major league franchises. San Diego and Sacramento each have one major league team. The NFL Super Bowl has been hosted in California 12 times at five different stadiums: Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, the Rose Bowl, Stanford Stadium, Levi's Stadium, and San Diego's Qualcomm Stadium. A thirteenth, Super Bowl LVI, was held at Sofi Stadium in Inglewood on February 13, 2022.[216]

California has long had many respected collegiate sports programs. California is home to the oldest college bowl game, the annual Rose Bowl, among others.

California is the only U.S. state to have hosted both the Summer and Winter Olympics. The 1932 and 1984 summer games were held in Los Angeles. Squaw Valley Ski Resort in the Lake Tahoe region hosted the 1960 Winter Olympics. Los Angeles will host the 2028 Summer Olympics, marking the fourth time that California will have hosted the Olympic Games.[217] Multiple games during the 1994 FIFA World Cup took place in California, with the Rose Bowl hosting eight matches (including the final), while Stanford Stadium hosted six matches.

File:The "Olympic Gateway" arch and male and female statues at the entrance to the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, California LCCN2013631630.tif

Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum hosted the 1932 Summer Olympics and 1984 Summer Olympics and will host the 2028 Summer Olympics.

Team  | Sport  | League

|
|

Los Angeles Rams | American football | National Football League (NFL)
Los Angeles Chargers | American football  | National Football League
San Francisco 49ers | American football  | National Football League
Los Angeles Dodgers | Baseball | Major League Baseball (MLB)
Los Angeles Angels | Baseball  | Major League Baseball
Oakland Athletics | Baseball  | Major League Baseball
San Diego Padres | Baseball  | Major League Baseball
San Francisco Giants | Baseball  | Major League Baseball
Golden State Warriors | Basketball | National Basketball Association (NBA)
Los Angeles Clippers | Basketball  | National Basketball Association
Los Angeles Lakers | Basketball  | National Basketball Association
Sacramento Kings | Basketball  | National Basketball Association
Los Angeles Sparks | Basketball  | Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA)
Anaheim Ducks | Ice hockey | National Hockey League (NHL)
Los Angeles Kings | Ice hockey  | National Hockey League
San Jose Sharks | Ice hockey  | National Hockey League
Los Angeles Galaxy | Soccer | Major League Soccer (MLS)
San Jose Earthquakes | Soccer  | Major League Soccer
Los Angeles Football Club | Soccer  | Major League Soccer
LA Giltinis | Rugby union | Major League Rugby (MLR)
San Diego Legion | Rugby union  | Major League Rugby

## Education[edit | edit source]

Main article: Education in California

See also: Spanish bilingual education in California

File:Santa Barbara Senior High School (cropped).jpg

Santa Barbara High School, one of the oldest high schools in continuous use in Southern California

California has the most school students in the country, with over 6.2 million in the 2005–06 school year, giving California more students in school than 36 states have in total population and one of the highest projected enrollments in the country.[218]

Public secondary education consists of high schools that teach elective courses in trades, languages, and liberal arts with tracks for gifted, college-bound and industrial arts students. California's public educational system is supported by a unique constitutional amendment that requires a minimum annual funding level for grades K–12 and community colleges that grows with the economy and student enrollment figures.[219]

In 2016, California's K–12 public school per-pupil spending was ranked 22nd in the nation ($11,500 per student vs. $11,800 for the U.S. average).[220]

For 2012, California's K–12 public schools ranked 48th in the number of employees per student, at 0.102 (the U.S. average was 0.137), while paying the 7th most per employee, $49,000 (the U.S. average was $39,000).[221][222][223]

A 2007 study concluded that California's public school system was "broken" in that it suffered from overregulation.[224]

### Higher education[edit | edit source]

Main article: List of colleges and universities in California

File:Berkeley glade afternoon.jpg

The UC Berkeley is the oldest University of California campus.

File:Stanford University Main Quad - 7 June 2009.jpg

Stanford University is one of the top ranked universities in the world.

California public postsecondary education is organized into three separate systems:

* The state's public research university system is the University of California (UC). As of fall 2011, the University of California had a combined student body of 234,464 students.[225] There are ten UC campuses. Nine are general campuses offering both undergraduate and graduate programs which culminate in the award of bachelor's degrees, master's degrees, and doctorates. There is one specialized campus, UC San Francisco, which is entirely dedicated to graduate education in health care, and is home to the UCSF Medical Center, the highest ranked hospital in California.[226] The system was originally intended to accept the top one-eighth of California high school students, but several of the campuses have become even more selective.[227][228][229] The UC system historically held exclusive authority to award the doctorate, but this has since changed and CSU now has limited statutory authorization to award a handful of types of doctoral degrees independently of UC.
* The California State University (CSU) system has almost 430,000 students. The CSU (which takes the definite article in its abbreviated form, while UC does not) was originally intended to accept the top one-third of California high school students, but several of the campuses have become much more selective.[229][230] The CSU was originally authorized to award only bachelor's and master's degrees, and could award the doctorate only as part of joint programs with UC or private universities. Since then, CSU has been granted the authority to independently award several doctoral degrees (in specific academic fields that do not intrude upon UC's traditional jurisdiction).
* The California Community Colleges system provides lower-division coursework culminating in the associate degree, as well as basic skills and workforce training culminating in various kinds of certificates. (Fifteen California community colleges now award four-year bachelor's degrees in disciplines which are in high demand in their geographical area.[231]) It is the largest network of higher education in the U.S., composed of 112 colleges serving a student population of over 2.6 million.

California is also home to such notable private universities as Stanford University, the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), the University of Southern California, the Claremont Colleges, Santa Clara University, Loyola Marymount University, the University of San Diego, the University of San Francisco, Chapman University, Pepperdine University, Occidental College, and University of the Pacific, among numerous other private colleges and universities, including many religious and special-purpose institutions. California has a particularly high density of arts colleges, including the California College of the Arts, California Institute of the Arts, San Francisco Art Institute, Art Center College of Design, and Academy of Art University, among others.

## Economy[edit | edit source]

Main article: Economy of California

See also: California locations by per capita income

File:SJ skyline at night horizontal.jpg

Silicon Valley is the largest tech hub in the world and home to Big Tech companies like Apple, Google, Facebook, Netflix, Twitter, and more.

California's economy ranks among the largest in the world. As of 2021[update], the gross state product (GSP) was $3.3 trillion ($85,500 per capita), the largest in the United States.[232] California is responsible for one seventh of the nation's gross domestic product (GDP).[233] As of 2018[update], California's nominal GDP is larger than all but four countries (the United States, China, Japan, and Germany).[234] In terms of Purchasing power parity (PPP),[235] it is larger than all but eight countries (the United States, China, India, Japan, Germany, Russia, Brazil, and Indonesia).[236] California's economy is larger than Africa and Australia and is almost as large as South America.[237] The state recorded total, non-farm employment of 16,677,800[238] as of September 2021[update] among 966,224 employer establishments[239] (as of 2019[update]).

The five largest sectors of employment in California are trade, transportation, and utilities; government; professional and business services; education and health services; and leisure and hospitality. In output, the five largest sectors are financial services, followed by trade, transportation, and utilities; education and health services; government; and manufacturing.[240] California has an unemployment rate of 3.9% as of September 2022[update].[238]

File:Hearst Castle (cropped).jpg

California is the most visited state in the country.[241] Hearst Castle in San Simeon is a major tourist destination.

California's economy is dependent on trade and international related commerce accounts for about one-quarter of the state's economy. In 2008, California exported $144 billion worth of goods, up from $134 billion in 2007 and $127 billion in 2006.[242] Computers and electronic products are California's top export, accounting for 42 percent of all the state's exports in 2008.[242]

Agriculture is an important sector in California's economy. Farming-related sales more than quadrupled over the past three decades, from $7.3 billion in 1974 to nearly $31 billion in 2004.[243] This increase has occurred despite a 15 percent decline in acreage devoted to farming during the period, and water supply suffering from chronic instability. Factors contributing to the growth in sales-per-acre include more intensive use of active farmlands and technological improvements in crop production.[243] In 2008, California's 81,500 farms and ranches generated $36.2 billion products revenue.[244] In 2011, that number grew to $43.5 billion products revenue.[245] The Agriculture sector accounts for two percent of the state's GDP and employs around three percent of its total workforce.[246] According to the USDA in 2011, the three largest California agricultural products by value were milk and cream, shelled almonds, and grapes.[247]

File:California Orange Grove2.jpg

Orange grove in Santa Paula. The agricultural industry in California is the largest in the United States.

Per capita GDP in 2007 was $38,956, ranking eleventh in the nation.[248] Per capita income varies widely by geographic region and profession. The Central Valley is the most impoverished, with migrant farm workers making less than minimum wage. According to a 2005 report by the Congressional Research Service, the San Joaquin Valley was characterized as one of the most economically depressed regions in the United States, on par with the region of Appalachia.[249] Using the supplemental poverty measure, California has a poverty rate of 23.5%, the highest of any state in the country.[250] However, using the official measure the poverty rate was only 13.3% as of 2017.[251] Many coastal cities include some of the wealthiest per-capita areas in the United States. The high-technology sectors in Northern California, specifically Silicon Valley, in Santa Clara and San Mateo counties, have emerged from the economic downturn caused by the dot-com bust.

In 2019, there were 1,042,027 millionaire households in the state, more than any other state in the nation.[252] In 2010, California residents were ranked first among the states with the best average credit score of 754.[253]

* California Product Exports (2020).svg

Californian exports by proportion in 2020

* USA-World Nominal GDP.PNG

If California was an independent country, its gross domestic product (nominal) would rank fifth in the world (2021).[254]

### State finances[edit | edit source]

Main articles: California state finances and 2008–12 California budget crisis

File:California economic regions map (labeled and colored).svg

Californian economic regions

State spending increased from $56 billion in 1998 to $127 billion in 2011.[255][256] California has the third highest per capita spending on welfare among the states, as well as the highest spending on welfare at $6.67 billion.[257] In January 2011, California's total debt was at least $265 billion.[258] On June 27, 2013, Governor Jerry Brown signed a balanced budget (no deficit) for the state, its first in decades; however the state's debt remains at $132 billion.[259][260]

With the passage of Proposition 30 in 2012 and Proposition 55 in 2016, California now levies a 13.3% maximum marginal income tax rate with ten tax brackets, ranging from 1% at the bottom tax bracket of $0 annual individual income to 13.3% for annual individual income over $1,000,000 (though the top brackets are only temporary until Proposition 55 expires at the end of 2030). While Proposition 30 also enacted a minimum state sales tax of 7.5%, this sales tax increase was not extended by Proposition 55 and reverted to a previous minimum state sales tax rate of 7.25% in 2017. Local governments can and do levy additional sales taxes in addition to this minimum rate.[261]

All real property is taxable annually; the ad valorem tax is based on the property's fair market value at the time of purchase or the value of new construction. Property tax increases are capped at 2% annually or the rate of inflation (whichever is lower), per Proposition 13.

## Infrastructure[edit | edit source]

### Energy[edit | edit source]

Main article: Energy in California

File:Moss Landing Power Plant p1270026.jpg

Moss Landing Power Plant, located on the coast of Monterey Bay.

Because it is the most populous state in the United States, California is one of the country's largest users of energy. However, because of its high energy rates, conservation mandates, mild weather in the largest population centers and strong environmental movement, its per capita energy use is one of the smallest of any state in the United States.[262] Due to the high electricity demand, California imports more electricity than any other state, primarily hydroelectric power from states in the Pacific Northwest (via Path 15 and Path 66) and coal- and natural gas-fired production from the desert Southwest via Path 46.[263]

The state's crude oil and natural gas deposits are located in the Central Valley and along the coast, including the large Midway-Sunset Oil Field. Natural gas-fired power plants typically account for more than one-half of state electricity generation.

File:Ho 000155 170593 515241 4578 (35974057893) (cropped).jpg

Ivanpah Solar Power Facility, located in the Mojave Desert.

As a result of the state's strong environmental movement, California has some of the most aggressive renewable energy goals in the United States, with a target for California to obtain a third of its electricity from renewables by 2020.[264] Currently, several solar power plants such as the Solar Energy Generating Systems facility are located in the Mojave Desert. California's wind farms include Altamont Pass, San Gorgonio Pass, and Tehachapi Pass. The Tehachapi area is also where the Tehachapi Energy Storage Project is located.[265] Several dams across the state provide hydro-electric power. It would be possible to convert the total supply to 100% renewable energy, including heating, cooling and mobility, by 2050.[266]

California is also home to two major nuclear power plants: Diablo Canyon and San Onofre, the latter having been shut down in 2013. More than 1,700 tons of radioactive waste are stored at San Onofre,[267] which sits in an area where there is a record of past tsunamis.[268] Voters banned the approval of new nuclear power plants since the late 1970s because of concerns over radioactive waste disposal.[269][note 5] In addition, several cities such as Oakland, Berkeley and Davis have declared themselves as nuclear-free zones.

### Transportation[edit | edit source]

Main article: Transportation in California

File:GoldenGateBridge-001.jpg

The Golden Gate Bridge in the San Francisco Bay Area, built 1933–37.

California's vast terrain is connected by an extensive system of controlled-access highways ('freeways'), limited-access roads ('expressways'), and highways. California is known for its car culture, giving California's cities a reputation for severe traffic congestion. Construction and maintenance of state roads and statewide transportation planning are primarily the responsibility of the California Department of Transportation, nicknamed "Caltrans". The rapidly growing population of the state is straining all of its transportation networks, and California has some of the worst roads in the United States.[271][272] The Reason Foundation's 19th Annual Report on the Performance of State Highway Systems ranked California's highways the third-worst of any state, with Alaska second, and Rhode Island first.[273]

File:San Francisco Bay Ferry Hydrus May 2017 (cropped).jpg

San Francisco Bay Ferry is a public water taxi system serving the Bay Area.

The state has been a pioneer in road construction. One of the state's more visible landmarks, the Golden Gate Bridge, was the longest suspension bridge main span in the world at 4,200 feet (1,300 m) between 1937 (when it opened) and 1964. With its orange paint and panoramic views of the bay, this highway bridge is a popular tourist attraction and also accommodates pedestrians and bicyclists. The San Francisco–Oakland Bay Bridge (often abbreviated the "Bay Bridge"), completed in 1936, transports about 280,000 vehicles per day on two-decks. Its two sections meet at Yerba Buena Island through the world's largest diameter transportation bore tunnel, at 76 feet (23 m) wide by 58 feet (18 m) high.[274] The Arroyo Seco Parkway, connecting Los Angeles and Pasadena, opened in 1940 as the first freeway in the Western United States.[275] It was later extended south to the Four Level Interchange in downtown Los Angeles, regarded as the first stack interchange ever built.[276]

Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), the 4th busiest airport in the world in 2018, and San Francisco International Airport (SFO), the 25th busiest airport in the world in 2018, are major hubs for trans-Pacific and transcontinental traffic. There are about a dozen important commercial airports and many more general aviation airports throughout the state.

File:TheThemeBuildingLosAngeles (cropped2).jpg

Los Angeles Intl. Airport (LAX) is the 4th busiest airport in the world.

California also has several major seaports. The Port of Los Angeles and the Port of Long Beach in Southern California are the largest and second-largest seaports in the U.S., respectively, by volume of container cargo handled; as of 2018, collectively they handle 31.9% of all TEUs in the United States.[277] The Port of Oakland and Port of Hueneme are the 10th and 26th largest seaports in the U.S., respectively, by number of TEUs handled.[277]

The California Highway Patrol is the largest statewide police agency in the United States in employment with more than 10,000 employees. They are responsible for providing any police-sanctioned service to anyone on California's state-maintained highways and on state property.

By the end of 2021, 30,610,058 people in California held a California Department of Motor Vehicles-issued driver's licenses or state identification card, and there were 36,229,205 registered vehicles, including 25,643,076 automobiles, 853,368 motorcycles, 8,981,787 trucks and trailers, and 121,716 miscellaneous vehicles (including historical vehicles and farm equipment).[278]

File:Pacific Surfliner @ San Clemente CA..jpg

Amtrak California's Pacific Surfliner in San Clemente, on the Orange Coast.

Inter-city rail travel is provided by Amtrak California; the three routes, the Capitol Corridor, Pacific Surfliner, and San Joaquin, are funded by Caltrans. These services are the busiest intercity rail lines in the United States outside the Northeast Corridor and ridership is continuing to set records. The routes are becoming increasingly popular over flying, especially on the LAX-SFO route.[279] Integrated subway and light rail networks are found in Los Angeles (Metro Rail) and San Francisco (MUNI Metro). Light rail systems are also found in San Jose (VTA), San Diego (San Diego Trolley), Sacramento (RT Light Rail), and Northern San Diego County (Sprinter). Furthermore, commuter rail networks serve the San Francisco Bay Area (ACE, BART, Caltrain, SMART), Greater Los Angeles (Metrolink), and San Diego County (Coaster).

The California High-Speed Rail Authority was created in 1996 by the state to implement an extensive 800-mile (1,300 km) rail system. Construction was approved by the voters during the November 2008 general election,[280] with the first phase of construction estimated to cost $64.2 billion.[281]

Nearly all counties operate bus lines, and many cities operate their own city bus lines as well. Intercity bus travel is provided by Greyhound, Megabus, and Amtrak Thruway Motorcoach.

### Water[edit | edit source]

Main article: Water in California

File:Aerial view - Shasta Dam CA.jpg

Lake Shasta, in the Shasta Cascade region, is California's largest reservoir.

California's interconnected water system is the world's largest, managing over 40,000,000 acre-feet (49 km3) of water per year, centered on six main systems of aqueducts and infrastructure projects.[282] Water use and conservation in California is a politically divisive issue, as the state experiences periodic droughts and has to balance the demands of its large agricultural and urban sectors, especially in the arid southern portion of the state. The state's widespread redistribution of water also invites the frequent scorn of environmentalists.

The California Water Wars, a conflict between Los Angeles and the Owens Valley over water rights, is one of the most well-known examples of the struggle to secure adequate water supplies.[283] Former California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger said: "We've been in crisis for quite some time because we're now 38 million people and not anymore 18 million people like we were in the late 60s. So it developed into a battle between environmentalists and farmers and between the south and the north and between rural and urban. And everyone has been fighting for the last four decades about water."[284]

## Government and politics[edit | edit source]

File:Sacramento, California State Capitol.jpg

The California Capitol in Sacramento, seat of the Californian government, hosts the California Legislature and the Governor of California.

### State government[edit | edit source]

Main article: Government of California

The capital city of California is Sacramento.[285] The state is organized into three branches of government—the executive branch consisting of the governor[286] and the other independently elected constitutional officers; the legislative branch consisting of the Assembly and Senate;[287] and the judicial branch consisting of the Supreme Court of California and lower courts.[288] The state also allows ballot propositions: direct participation of the electorate by initiative, referendum, recall, and ratification.[289] Before the passage of California Proposition 14 (2010), California allowed each political party to choose whether to have a closed primary or a primary where only party members and independents vote. After June 8, 2010, when Proposition 14 was approved, excepting only the United States president and county central committee offices,[290] all candidates in the primary elections are listed on the ballot with their preferred party affiliation, but they are not the official nominee of that party.[291] At the primary election, the two candidates with the top votes will advance to the general election regardless of party affiliation.[291] If at a special primary election, one candidate receives more than 50% of all the votes cast, they are elected to fill the vacancy and no special general election will be held.[291]

### Judicial branch[edit | edit source]

Main article: Judiciary of California

File:Supremecourtofcaliforniamaincourthouse (cropped).jpg

The Supreme Court of California primarily sits in San Francisco, but also meets in Sacramento and Los Angeles.

California's legal system is explicitly based upon English common law[292] but carries many features from Spanish civil law, such as community property. California's prison population grew from 25,000 in 1980 to over 170,000 in 2007.[293] Capital punishment is a legal form of punishment and the state has the largest "Death Row" population in the country (though Oklahoma and Texas are far more active in carrying out executions).[294][295] California has performed 13 executions since 1976, with the last being in 2006.[296]

California's judiciary system is the largest in the United States with a total of 1,600 judges (the federal system has only about 840). At the apex is the seven-member Supreme Court of California, while the California Courts of Appeal serve as the primary appellate courts and the California Superior Courts serve as the primary trial courts. Justices of the Supreme Court and Courts of Appeal are appointed by the governor, but are subject to retention by the electorate every 12 years.

The administration of the state's court system is controlled by the Judicial Council, composed of the chief justice of the California Supreme Court, 14 judicial officers, four representatives from the State Bar of California, and one member from each house of the state legislature.

In fiscal year 2020–21, the state judiciary's 2,000 judicial officers and 18,000 judicial branch employees processed approximately 4.4 million cases.[297]

### Executive branch[edit | edit source]

Main articles: California executive branch and Governor of California

File:Stanford Mansion (Sacramento, California).jpg

The Stanford Mansion is the official reception center for the Californian government and one of the workplaces of the Governor of California.

The California executive branch consists of the governor and seven other elected constitutional officers: lieutenant governor, attorney general, secretary of state, state controller, state treasurer, insurance commissioner, and state superintendent of public instruction. They serve four-year terms and may be re-elected only once.[298]

### Legislative branch[edit | edit source]

Main article: California Legislature

The California State Legislature consists of a 40-member Senate and 80-member Assembly. Senators serve four-year terms and Assembly members two. Members of the Assembly are subject to term limits of six terms, and members of the Senate are subject to term limits of three terms.

### Local government[edit | edit source]

Main article: Local government in California

File:San Francisco City Hall 2.JPG

San Francisco City Hall is the seat of government of the consolidated City and County of San Francisco.

California has an extensive system of local government that manages public functions throughout the state. Like most states, California is divided into counties, of which there are 58 (including San Francisco) covering the entire state. Most urbanized areas are incorporated as cities, School districts, which are independent of cities and counties, handle public education. Many other functions, especially in unincorporated areas, are handled by special districts

#### Counties[edit | edit source]

See also: List of counties in California

California is divided into 58 counties. Per Article 11, Section 1, of the Constitution of California, they are the legal subdivisions of the state. The county government provides countywide services such as law enforcement, jails, elections and voter registration, vital records, property assessment and records, tax collection, public health, health care, social services, libraries, flood control, fire protection, animal control, agricultural regulations, building inspections, ambulance services, and education departments in charge of maintaining statewide standards.[299][300] In addition, the county serves as the local government for all unincorporated areas. Each county is governed by an elected board of supervisors.[301]

#### City and town governments[edit | edit source]

See also: List of municipalities in California

File:Los Angeles City Hall 01 (cropped).jpg

Los Angeles City Hall, seat of the Government of Los Angeles.

Incorporated cities and towns in California are either charter or general-law municipalities.[156] General-law municipalities owe their existence to state law and are consequently governed by it; charter municipalities are governed by their own city or town charters. Municipalities incorporated in the 19th century tend to be charter municipalities. All ten of the state's most populous cities are charter cities. Most small cities have a council–manager form of government, where the elected city council appoints a city manager to supervise the operations of the city. Some larger cities have a directly elected mayor who oversees the city government. In many council-manager cities, the city council selects one of its members as a mayor, sometimes rotating through the council membership—but this type of mayoral position is primarily ceremonial. The Government of San Francisco is the only consolidated city-county in California, where both the city and county governments have been merged into one unified jurisdiction.

#### School districts and special districts[edit | edit source]

See also: List of school districts in California

File:LAUSD HQ Bldg.jpg

Los Angeles Unified School District is the second largest school district in the United States by enrollment.

About 1,102 school districts, independent of cities and counties, handle California's public education.[302] California school districts may be organized as elementary districts, high school districts, unified school districts combining elementary and high school grades, or community college districts.[302]

There are about 3,400 special districts in California.[303] A special district, defined by California Government Code § 16271(d) as "any agency of the state for the local performance of governmental or proprietary functions within limited boundaries", provides a limited range of services within a defined geographic area. The geographic area of a special district can spread across multiple cities or counties, or could consist of only a portion of one. Most of California's special districts are single-purpose districts, and provide one service.

### Federal representation[edit | edit source]

Main article: United States congressional delegations from California

See also: California's congressional districts

File:California Congressional Delegation honoring Pete Stark.jpg

Members of the Californian Congressional Delegation in 2020.

The state of California sends 53 members to the House of Representatives,[304] the nation's largest congressional state delegation. Consequently, California also has the largest number of electoral votes in national presidential elections, with 55. The current speaker of the House of Representatives is the representative of California's 12th district, Nancy Pelosi;[305] Kevin McCarthy, representing the state's 23rd district, is the House Minority Leader.[305]

California is represented by U.S. senators Dianne Feinstein, a native and former mayor of San Francisco, and Alex Padilla, a native and former secretary of state of California. Former U.S. senator Kamala Harris, a native, former district attorney from San Francisco, former attorney general of California, resigned on January 18, 2021, to assume her role as the current Vice President of the United States. In the 1992 U.S. Senate election, California became the first state to elect a Senate delegation entirely composed of women, due to the victories of Feinstein and Barbara Boxer.[306] Set to follow the Vice President-Elect, Gov. Newsom appointed Secretary of State Alex Padilla to finish the rest of Harris's term which ends in 2022, Padilla has vowed to run for the full term in that election cycle. Padilla was sworn in on January 20, 2021, the same day as the Inauguration of President-Elect Joe Biden as well as Harris.[307][308]

### Armed forces[edit | edit source]

File:USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70), USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76) and USS John C. Stennis (CVN-74) at NAS North Island in June 2015 (cropped).JPG

View of NAS North Island at Naval Base Coronado in San Diego.

In California, as of 2009[update], the U.S. Department of Defense had a total of 117,806 active duty servicemembers of which 88,370 were Sailors or Marines, 18,339 were Airmen, and 11,097 were Soldiers, with 61,365 Department of Defense civilian employees. Additionally, there were a total of 57,792 Reservists and Guardsman in California.[309]

In 2010, Los Angeles County was the largest origin of military recruits in the United States by county, with 1,437 individuals enlisting in the military.[310] However, as of 2002[update], Californians were relatively under-represented in the military as a proportion to its population.[311]

In 2000, California, had 2,569,340 veterans of United States military service: 504,010 served in World War II, 301,034 in the Korean War, 754,682 during the Vietnam War, and 278,003 during 1990–2000 (including the Persian Gulf War).[312] As of 2010[update], there were 1,942,775 veterans living in California, of which 1,457,875 served during a period of armed conflict, and just over four thousand served before World War II (the largest population of this group of any state).[313]

California's military forces consist of the Army and Air National Guard, the naval and state military reserve (militia), and the California Cadet Corps.

On August 5, 1950, a nuclear-capable United States Air Force Boeing B-29 Superfortress bomber carrying a nuclear bomb crashed shortly after takeoff from Fairfield-Suisun Air Force Base. Brigadier General Robert F. Travis, command pilot of the bomber, was among the dead.[314]

### Ideology[edit | edit source]

Main articles: Politics of California and Elections in California

California registered voters as of May 23, 2022[update][315] Party  | Number of Voters  | Percentage  | File:California party registration by county.svg

Party registration by county
(October 2018):

Democrat >=30%

Democrat >=40%

Democrat >=50%

Republican >=30%

Republican >=40%

|
|
|

| Democratic | 10,261,984  | 46.77%
| Republican | 5,249,974  | 23.93%
| No Party Preference | 4,983,013  | 22.71%
| American Independent | 749,556  | 3.42%
| Libertarian | 224,931  | 1.03%
| Peace and Freedom | 117,314  | 0.53%
| Green | 92,570  | 0.42%
Other  | 148,686  | 0.68%
Total  | 21,941,212  | 100%

California has an idiosyncratic political culture compared to the rest of the country, and is sometimes regarded as a trendsetter.[316] In socio-cultural mores and national politics, Californians are perceived as more liberal than other Americans, especially those who live in the inland states. In the 2016 United States presidential election, California had the third highest percentage of Democratic votes behind the District of Columbia and Hawaii.[317] In the 2020 United States presidential election, it had the 6th highest behind the District of Columbia, Vermont, Massachusetts, Maryland, and Hawaii. According to the Cook Political Report, California contains five of the 15 most Democratic congressional districts in the United States.

Among the political idiosyncrasies, California was the second state to recall their state governor (the first state being North Dakota in 1921), the second state to legalize abortion, and the only state to ban marriage for gay couples twice by vote (including Proposition 8 in 2008). Voters also passed Proposition 71 in 2004 to fund stem cell research, making California the second state to legalize stem cell research after New Jersey, and Proposition 14 in 2010 to completely change the state's primary election process. California has also experienced disputes over water rights; and a tax revolt, culminating with the passage of Proposition 13 in 1978, limiting state property taxes. California voters have rejected affirmative action on multiple occasions, most recently in November 2020.

The state's trend towards the Democratic Party and away from the Republican Party can be seen in state elections. From 1899 to 1939, California had Republican governors. Since 1990, California has generally elected Democratic candidates to federal, state and local offices, including current Governor Gavin Newsom; however, the state has elected Republican Governors, though many of its Republican Governors, such as Arnold Schwarzenegger, tend to be considered moderate Republicans and more centrist than the national party.

File:Code Pink and pro-Marine protesters.jpg

Anti-war protesters in Berkeley.

Several political movements have advocated for Californian independence. The California National Party and the California Freedom Coalition both advocate for Californian independence along the lines of progressivism and civic nationalism.[318] The Yes California movement attempted to organize an independence referendum via ballot initiative for 2019, which was then postponed.[319]

The Democrats also now hold a supermajority in both houses of the state legislature. There are 60 Democrats and 20 Republicans in the Assembly; and 29 Democrats and 11 Republicans in the Senate.

The trend towards the Democratic Party is most obvious in presidential elections. From 1952 through 1988, California was a Republican leaning state, with the party carrying the state's electoral votes in nine of ten elections, with 1964 as the exception. Southern California Republicans Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan were both elected twice as the 37th and 40th U.S. Presidents, respectively. However, Democrats have won all of California's electoral votes for the last eight elections, starting in 1992.

In the United States House, the Democrats held a 34–19 edge in the CA delegation of the 110th United States Congress in 2007. As the result of gerrymandering, the districts in California were usually dominated by one or the other party, and few districts were considered competitive. In 2008, Californians passed Proposition 20 to empower a 14-member independent citizen commission to redraw districts for both local politicians and Congress. After the 2012 elections, when the new system took effect, Democrats gained four seats and held a 38–15 majority in the delegation. Following the 2018 midterm House elections, Democrats won 46 out of 53 congressional house seats in California, leaving Republicans with seven.

File:Protest at Los Angeles City Hall (6248466227).jpg

The Occupy Los Angeles movement.

In general, Democratic strength is centered in the populous coastal regions of the Los Angeles metropolitan area and the San Francisco Bay Area. Republican strength is still greatest in eastern parts of the state. Orange County had remained largely Republican until the 2016 and 2018 elections, in which a majority of the county's votes were cast for Democratic candidates.[320][321] One study ranked Berkeley, Oakland, Inglewood and San Francisco in the top 20 most liberal American cities; and Bakersfield, Orange, Escondido, Garden Grove, and Simi Valley in the top 20 most conservative cities.[322]

In February 2021, out of the 25,166,581 people eligible to vote, 22,154,304 people were registered to vote.[323] Of the people registered, the three largest registered groups were Democrats (10,228,144), Republicans (5,347,377), and No Party Preference (5,258,223).[323] Los Angeles County had the largest number of registered Democrats (3,043,535) and Republicans (995,112) of any county in the state.[323]

In a 2020 study, California was ranked as the 10th easiest state for citizens to vote in.[324]

### Twinned regions[edit | edit source]

California has region twinning arrangements with:

* File:Flag of Catalonia.svg Catalonia, autonomous community of File:Flag of Spain.svg Spain[325]
* File:Flag of Alberta.svg Alberta, province of  Canada[326][327]

## See also[edit | edit source]

* Index of California-related articles
* Outline of California

## Notes[edit | edit source]

1. ^ The coordinates of the center of population are at 35°29′28″N 119°20′52″W﻿ / ﻿35.491035°N 119.347852°W﻿ / 35.491035; -119.347852.[176]
2. ^ Behind Nevada and Arizona.
3. ^ Persons of Hispanic or Latino origin are not distinguished between total and partial ancestry.
4. ^ The following are a list of the indigenous languages: Root languages of California: Athabaskan Family: Hupa, Mattole, Lassik, Wailaki, Sinkyone, Cahto, Tolowa, Nongatl, Wiyot, Chilula; Hokan Family: Pomo, Shasta, Karok, Chimiriko; Algonquian Family: Whilkut, Yurok; Yukian Family: Wappo; Penutian Family: Modok, Wintu, Nomlaki, Konkow, Maidu, Patwin, Nisenan, Miwok, Coast Miwok, Lake Miwok, Ohlone, Northern Valley Yokuts, Southern Valley Yokuts, Foothill Yokuts; Hokan Family: Esselen, Salinan, Chumash, Ipai, Tipai, Yuma, Halchichoma, Mohave; Uto-Aztecan Family: Mono Paiute, Monache, Owens Valley Paiute, Tubatulabal, Panamint Shoshone, Kawaisu, Kitanemuk, Tataviam, Gabrielino, Juaneno, Luiseno, Cuipeno, Cahuilla, Serrano, Chemehuevi
5. ^ Minnesota also has a moratorium on construction of nuclear power plants, which has been in place since 1994.[270]

## References[edit | edit source]

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266. ^ Mark Z. Jacobson et al.: A roadmap for repowering California for all purposes with wind, water, and sunlight. In: Energy 73 (2014), 875–889, doi:10.1016/j.energy.2014.06.099.
267. ^ "How a nuclear stalemate left radioactive waste stranded on a California beach". The Verge. August 28, 2018.
268. ^ Brown, Kate (November 19, 2019). "Opinion: California's San Onofre nuclear plant is a Chernobyl waiting to happen". Los Angeles Times.
269. ^ Doyle, Jim (March 9, 2009). "Nuclear power industry sees opening for revival". San Francisco Chronicle. p. A-1. Retrieved January 29, 2010.
270. ^ Brunswick, Mark (April 30, 2009). "Minnesota House says no to new nuclear power plants". Star Tribune. Minnesota: Chris Harte. Archived from the original on October 16, 2012. Retrieved January 29, 2010.
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272. ^ "A bridge too far gone". The Economist. August 9, 2007.
273. ^ "19th Annual Report on the Performance of State Highway Systems (1984–2008)" (PDF). Reason.org. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022.
274. ^ "The San Francisco—Oakland Bay Bridge Facts at a glance". California Department of Transportation. Retrieved April 5, 2012.
275. ^ Pool, Bob (June 25, 2010). "Pasadena Freeway getting a new look and a new name". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved April 5, 2012.
276. ^ "L.A.'s Famous Four-Level Freeway Interchange, 'The Stack', Turns 58". KCET. September 22, 2011. Retrieved April 5, 2012.
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278. ^ "Statistics for Publication, January through December 2021". State of California—Department of Motor Vehicles.
279. ^ Cabanatuan, Michael (January 8, 2011). "Calif. Amtrak ridership rising on state trains". The San Francisco Chronicle.
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282. ^ Hundley, N. (2001). The great thirst: Californians and water. Berkeley, Calif.: University of California Press.
283. ^ Reisner, Marc (1993). Cadillac Desert: The American West and its Disappearing Water. Penguin.
284. ^ "Why California Is Running Dry". CBS News. December 27, 2009.
285. ^ "§ 2 of Article III of the California Constitution". California Office of Legislative Counsel. Retrieved March 5, 2019.
286. ^ "§ 1 of Article V of the California Constitution". California Office of Legislative Counsel. Retrieved March 5, 2019.
287. ^ "§ 1 of Article IV of the California Constitution". California Office of Legislative Counsel. Retrieved March 5, 2019.
288. ^ "§ 1 of Article VI of the California Constitution". California Office of Legislative Counsel. Retrieved March 5, 2019.
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296. ^ "Inmates Executed 1978 to Present". Capital Punishment. Retrieved May 7, 2022.
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298. ^ "Article V of the California Constitution". California Office of Legislative Counsel. Retrieved March 6, 2019.
299. ^ Baldassare, Mark (1998). When Government Fails: The Orange County Bankruptcy. Public Policy Institute of California/University of California Press. pp. 67–68. ISBN 978-0-520-21486-6. LCCN 97032806.
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306. ^ "The Year of the Woman, 1992". history.house.gov. Office of the Historian of the U.S. House of Representatives. Retrieved December 15, 2019.
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314. ^ The Crash of the B-29 on Travis AFB, CA August 5, 1950, Check-six.com.
315. ^ "pdf Report of Registration as of May 23, 2022 Registration by County". Retrieved March 11, 2022.
316. ^ "California Is a Political Trendsetter". CBS News. October 30, 2006. Retrieved February 22, 2011.
317. ^ "2016 Presidential General Election Results".
318. ^ Jim Miller. "California could see new political party with independence goal". Sacramento Bee. Archived from the original on March 8, 2016. Retrieved March 19, 2016.
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320. ^ "2016 Presidential General Election". Ocvote.com. Retrieved November 10, 2016.
321. ^ Thornton, Paul (November 10, 2018). "RIP Republican Orange County". Los Angeles Times.
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### Works cited[edit | edit source]

* Cohen, Saul Bernard (2003). Geopolitics of the World System. Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN 978-0-8476-9907-0.
* Rolle, Andrew (1998) [1963]. California: A History (5th ed.). Wheeling, IL: Harlan Davidson. ISBN 0-88295-938-7.
* Starr, Kevin (2007). California: A History. Modern Library Chronicles. Vol. 23\. Random House Digital, Inc. ISBN 978-0-8129-7753-0.

## Further reading[edit | edit source]

* Chartkoff, Joseph L.; Chartkoff, Kerry Kona (1984). The archaeology of California. Stanford: Stanford University Press. ISBN 978-0-8047-1157-9. OCLC 11351549.
* Fagan, Brian (2003). Before California: An archaeologist looks at our earliest inhabitants. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers. ISBN 978-0-7425-2794-2. OCLC 226025645.
* Hart, James D. (1978). A Companion to California. New York, NY: Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-502400-5.
* Matthews, Glenna. The Golden State in the Civil War: Thomas Starr King, the Republican Party, and the Birth of Modern California. New York: Cambridge University Press, 2012.
* Moratto, Michael J.; Fredrickson, David A. (1984). California archaeology. Orlando: Academic Press. ISBN 978-0-12-506182-7. OCLC 228668979.
* Newmark, Harris (1916). Sixty Years in Southern California 1853-1913. New York: The Knickerbacker Press.

## External links[edit | edit source]

File:Wiktionary-logo.svg

Wiktionary has definitions related to California.

* State of California
* California State Guide, from the Library of Congress
* File:Openstreetmap logo.svg Geographic data related to California at OpenStreetMap
* data.ca.gov: open data portal from California state agencies
* California State Facts from USDA
* California Drought: Farm and Food Impacts from USDA, Economic Research Service
* California at Curlie
* 1973 documentary featuring aerial views of the California coastline from Mt. Shasta to Los Angeles
* Early City Views (Los Angeles) Archived October 13, 2020, at the Wayback Machine

Preceded by

Wisconsin

|  List of U.S. states by date of statehood
Admitted on September 9, 1850 (31st)  | Succeeded by

Minnesota

|
|

Topics related to California
The Golden State

* v
* t
* e

State of California

Sacramento (capital)

Topics|

* Culture
* food
* music
* California sound
* sports
* California Dream
* Demographics
* Earthquakes
* Economy
* agriculture
* Education
* Environment
* Geography
* climate
* ecology
* flora
* fauna
* Government
* Capitol
* districts
* governor
* legislature
* Supreme Court
* Healthcare
* History
* Law
* National Historic Landmarks
* National Natural Landmarks
* NRHP listings
* Politics
* congressional delegations
* elections
* People
* Protected areas
* state parks
* state historic landmarks
* Symbols
* Transportation
* Water
* Index of articles

Regions|

* Antelope Valley
* Big Sur
* California Coast Ranges
* Cascade Range
* Central California
* Central Coast
* Central Valley
* Channel Islands
* Coachella Valley
* Coastal California
* Conejo Valley
* Cucamonga Valley
* Death Valley
* East Bay (SF Bay Area)
* East County (SD)
* Eastern California
* Emerald Triangle
* Gold Country
* Great Basin
* Greater San Bernardino
* Inland Empire
* Klamath Basin
* Lake Tahoe
* Greater Los Angeles
* Los Angeles Basin
* Lost Coast
* Mojave Desert
* Mountain Empire
* North Bay (SF)
* North Coast
* North Coast (SD)
* Northern California
* Orange Coast
* Owens Valley
* Oxnard Plain
* Peninsular Ranges
* Pomona Valley
* Sacramento–San Joaquin River Delta
* Sacramento Valley
* Saddleback Valley
* Salinas Valley
* San Fernando Valley
* San Francisco Bay Area
* San Francisco Peninsula
* San Gabriel Valley
* San Joaquin Valley
* Santa Clara Valley
* Santa Clara River Valley
* Santa Clarita Valley
* Santa Ynez Valley
* Shasta Cascade
* Sierra Nevada
* Silicon Valley
* South Bay (LA)
* South Bay (SD)
* South Bay (SF)
* South Coast
* Southern Border Region
* Southern California
* Transverse Ranges
* Tri-Valley
* Victor Valley
* Wine Country

Metro regions|

* Fresno–Madera
* Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim
* Sacramento–Roseville
* Riverside–San Bernardino–Ontario
* San Diego–Tijuana
* San Jose–San Francisco–Oakland

Counties|

* Alameda
* Alpine
* Amador
* Butte
* Calaveras
* Colusa
* Contra Costa
* Del Norte
* El Dorado
* Fresno
* Glenn
* Humboldt
* Imperial
* Inyo
* Kern
* Kings
* Lake
* Lassen
* Los Angeles
* Madera
* Marin
* Mariposa
* Mendocino
* Merced
* Modoc
* Mono
* Monterey
* Napa
* Nevada
* Orange
* Placer
* Plumas
* Riverside
* Sacramento
* San Benito
* San Bernardino
* San Diego
* San Francisco
* San Joaquin
* San Luis Obispo
* San Mateo
* Santa Barbara
* Santa Clara
* Santa Cruz
* Shasta
* Sierra
* Siskiyou
* Solano
* Sonoma
* Stanislaus
* Sutter
* Tehama
* Trinity
* Tulare
* Tuolumne
* Ventura
* Yolo
* Yuba

Most populous
cities|

* Los Angeles
* San Diego
* San Jose
* San Francisco
* Fresno
* Sacramento
* Long Beach
* Oakland
* Bakersfield
* Anaheim

* v
* t
* e

Mayors of cities with populations exceeding 100,000 in California

1. Eric Garcetti (D)
(Los Angeles)
2. Todd Gloria (D)
(San Diego)
3. Sam Liccardo (D)
(San Jose)
4. London Breed (D)
(San Francisco)
5. Jerry Dyer (R)
(Fresno)
6. Darrell Steinberg (D)
(Sacramento)
7. Robert Garcia (D)
(Long Beach)
8. Libby Schaaf (D)
(Oakland)
9. Karen Goh (R)
(Bakersfield)
10. Trevor O'Neil (R)
(Anaheim)
11. Kevin Lincoln (R)
(Stockton)
12. Patricia Lock Dawson (D)
(Riverside)
13. Vicente Sarmiento (D)
(Santa Ana)
14. Farrah Khan (D)
(Irvine)
15. Mary Salas (D)
(Chula Vista)
16. Lily Mei (D)
(Fremont)
17. Laurene Weste (R)
(Santa Clarita)*
18. John Valdivia (R)
(San Bernardino)
19. Sue Zwahlen (D)
(Modesto)
20. Yxstian Gutierrez (D)
(Moreno Valley)*
21. Acquanetta Warren (R)
(Fontana)
22. John Zaragoza (D)
(Oxnard)
23. Barbara Delgleize
(Huntington Beach)*
24. Ardy Kassakhian (D)
(Glendale)*
25. Bobbie Singh-Allen (D)
(Elk Grove)
26. Paul S. Leon (R)
(Ontario)
27. Chris Rogers (D)
(Santa Rosa)*
28. L. Dennis Michael (D)
(Rancho Cucamonga)
29. Esther Sanchez (D)
(Oceanside)
30. Steven R. Jones (R)
(Garden Grove)
31. R. Rex Parris (R)
(Lancaster)
32. Steve Hofbauer (R)
(Palmdale)
33. Kimbely Craig (R)
(Salinas)
34. Barbara Halliday (D)
(Hayward)
35. Wes Speake (R)
(Corona)*
36. Larry Klein (D)
(Sunnyvale)
37. Krista Bernasconi (R)
(Roseville)
38. Paul McNamara (D)
(Escondido)
39. Tim Sandoval (D)
(Pomona)
40. George Chen (R)
(Torrance)
41. Steve Nelsen (R)
(Visalia)
42. Fred Jung (D)
(Fullerton)*
43. Mark Murphy (R)
(Orange)
44. Debra Jones (R)
(Victorville)
45. Victor Gordo (D)
(Pasadena)
46. Lisa Gillmor (D)
(Santa Clara)
47. Keith Mashburn (R)
(Simi Valley)
48. Bob Engler (D)
(Thousand Oaks)*
49. Robert McConnell (D)
(Vallejo)
50. Dominic Aliano (D)
(Concord)*
51. José Flores (R)
(Clovis)*
52. Harry T. Price (D)
(Fairfield)
53. Jesse Arreguín (D)
(Berkeley)
54. Tom Butt (D)
(Richmond)
55. Matt Hall (R)
(Carlsbad)
56. Lamar Thorpe (D)
(Antioch)
57. Jonathan Ingram (R)
(Murrieta)
58. Blanca Pacheco (D)
(Downey)*
59. Matt Rahn (R)
(Temecula)
60. John Stephens (D)
(Costa Mesa)
61. Sofia Rubalcava (D)
(Ventura)*
62. Alice Patino (R)
(Santa Maria)
63. Dario Castellanos (R)
(West Covina)*
64. Chris Barajas (D)
(Jurupa Valley)
65. Jessica Ancona (D)
(El Monte)
66. Bill Zimmerman (R)
(Menifee)
67. Bill Wells (R)
(El Cajon)
68. Jess Talamantes (D)
(Burbank)*
69. James T. Butts Jr. (D)
(Inglewood)
70. Deborah Robertson (D)
(Rialto)
71. Ron Rowlett (D)
(Vacaville)
72. Andrew Coolidge (R)
(Chico)
73. Rick Bonilla (D)
(San Mateo)*
74. Rod Daus-Magbual (D)
(Daly City)
75. Brigit Bennington (R)
(Hesperia)*
76. Rick Ramirez (D)
(Norwalk)*

^* Mayor selected from city council

* v
* t
* e

Protected areas of California

National Park System

| National Parks|

* Channel Islands
* Death Valley
* Joshua Tree
* Kings Canyon
* Lassen Volcanic
* Pinnacles
* Redwood
* Sequoia
* Yosemite

|

National Preserves|

Mojave

National Monuments|

* Cabrillo
* Castle Mountains
* César E. Chávez
* Devils Postpile
* Lava Beds
* Muir Woods
* Tule Lake

National Seashores|

Point Reyes

National Historical Parks|

* Rosie the Riveter/World War II Home Front
* San Francisco Maritime

National Historic Sites|

* Eugene O'Neill
* Fort Point
* John Muir
* Manzanar

National Memorials|

* Port Chicago Naval Magazine

National Recreation Areas|

* Golden Gate
* Santa Monica Mountains
* Whiskeytown

State Parks

| State Parks|

* Ahjumawi Lava Springs
* Andrew Molera
* Angel Island
* Año Nuevo
* Anza-Borrego Desert
* Arthur B. Ripley Desert Woodland
* Bidwell–Sacramento River
* Big Basin Redwoods
* Border Field
* Bothe-Napa Valley
* Burton Creek
* Butano
* Calaveras Big Trees
* Castle Crags
* Castle Rock
* Caswell Memorial
* China Camp
* Chino Hills
* Clear Lake
* Coast Dairies
* Crystal Cove
* Cuyamaca Rancho
* D. L. Bliss
* Del Norte Coast Redwoods
* Donner Memorial
* Ed Z'berg Sugar Pine Point
* Emerald Bay
* The Forest of Nisene Marks
* Fort Ord Dunes
* Fremont Peak
* Garrapata
* Gaviota
* Great Valley Grasslands
* Grizzly Creek Redwoods
* Grover Hot Springs
* Hearst San Simeon
* Hendy Woods
* Henry Cowell Redwoods
* Henry W. Coe
* Humboldt Lagoons
* Humboldt Redwoods
* Jedediah Smith Redwoods
* Julia Pfeiffer Burns
* Leo Carrillo
* Limekiln
* MacKerricher
* Malibu Creek
* Manchester
* McArthur–Burney Falls Memorial
* McLaughlin Eastshore
* Mendocino Headlands
* Mendocino Woodlands
* Montaña de Oro
* Morro Bay
* Mount Diablo
* Mount San Jacinto
* Mount Tamalpais
* Navarro River Redwoods
* Pacheco
* Palomar Mountain
* Pfeiffer Big Sur
* Placerita Canyon
* Plumas-Eureka
* Point Mugu
* Portola Redwoods
* Prairie Creek Redwoods
* Red Rock Canyon
* Richardson Grove
* Rio de Los Angeles
* Robert Louis Stevenson
* Russian Gulch
* Saddleback Butte
* Salt Point
* Samuel P. Taylor
* San Bruno Mountain
* Sinkyone Wilderness
* South Yuba River
* Sue-meg
* Sugarloaf Ridge
* Sutter Buttes
* Tolowa Dunes
* Tomales Bay
* Topanga
* Trione-Annadel
* Van Damme
* Washoe Meadows
* Wilder Ranch

|

State
Natural Reserves|

* Antelope Valley California Poppy
* Armstrong Redwoods
* Azalea
* Caspar Headlands
* John B. Dewitt
* John Little
* Jug Handle
* Kruse Rhododendron
* Los Osos Oaks
* Mailliard Redwoods
* Mono Lake Tufa
* Montgomery Woods
* Point Lobos
* Smithe Redwoods
* Torrey Pines
* Tule Elk

State
Marine Reserves|

* Albany
* Big Creek
* Carmel Pinnacles
* Del Mar Landing
* Emeryville Crescent
* Estero de Limantour
* Fitzgerald
* Laguna Beach
* Lovers Point
* Montara
* Moro Cojo Slough
* Natural Bridges
* Point Lobos
* Point Sur
* Russian River
* Stewarts Point

State
Historic Parks|

* Anderson Marsh
* Antelope Valley Indian Museum
* Bale Grist Mill
* Benicia Capitol
* Bidwell Mansion
* Bodie
* California Citrus
* California State Indian Museum
* Chumash Painted Cave
* Colonel Allensworth
* Columbia
* Cowell Ranch/John Marsh
* El Presidio de Santa Barbara
* Empire Mine
* Folsom Powerhouse
* Fort Humboldt
* Fort Ross
* Fort Tejon
* Governor's Mansion
* Hearst San Simeon
* Indian Grinding Rock
* Jack London
* La Purísima Mission
* Leland Stanford Mansion
* Los Angeles
* Los Encinos
* Malakoff Diggins
* Marconi Conference Center
* Marshall Gold Discovery
* Monterey
* Old Sacramento
* Old Town San Diego
* Olompali
* Petaluma Adobe
* Pigeon Point Light Station
* Pío Pico
* Point Sur
* Railtown 1897
* San Juan Bautista
* San Pasqual Battlefield
* Santa Cruz Mission
* Santa Susana Pass
* Shasta
* Sonoma
* Sutter's Fort
* Tomo-Kahni
* Wassama Round House
* Watts Towers of Simon Rodia
* Weaverville Joss House
* Will Rogers
* William B. Ide Adobe
* Woodland Opera House

State Beaches|

* Asilomar
* Bean Hollow
* Bolsa Chica
* Cardiff
* Carlsbad
* Carmel River
* Carpinteria
* Caspar Headlands
* Cayucos
* Corona del Mar
* Dockweiler
* Doheny
* El Capitán
* Emma Wood
* Gray Whale Cove
* Greenwood
* Half Moon Bay
* Huntington
* Leucadia
* Lighthouse Field
* Little River
* Malibu Lagoon
* Mandalay
* Manresa
* Marina
* McGrath
* Montara
* Monterey
* Moonlight
* Morro Strand
* Moss Landing
* Natural Bridges
* New Brighton
* Pacifica
* Pelican
* Pescadero
* Pismo
* Point Dume
* Point Sal
* Pomponio
* Refugio
* Robert H. Meyer Memorial
* Robert W. Crown Memorial
* Salinas River
* San Buenaventura
* San Clemente
* San Elijo
* San Gregorio
* San Onofre
* Santa Monica
* Schooner Gulch
* Seacliff
* Silver Strand
* Sonoma Coast
* South Carlsbad
* Sunset
* Thornton
* Torrey Pines
* Trinidad
* Twin Lakes
* Westport-Union Landing
* Will Rogers
* William Randolph Hearst Memorial
* Zmudowski

State
Recreation Areas|

* Admiral William Standley
* Auburn
* Austin Creek
* Benbow
* Benicia
* Bethany Reservoir
* Brannan Island
* Candlestick Point
* Castaic Lake
* Colusa-Sacramento River
* Folsom Lake
* Franks Tract
* George J. Hatfield
* Harry A. Merlo
* Kenneth Hahn
* Kings Beach
* Lake Del Valle
* Lake Oroville
* Lake Perris
* Lake Valley
* Martial Cottle Park
* McConnell
* Millerton Lake
* Picacho
* Providence Mountains
* Salton Sea
* San Luis Reservoir
* Silverwood Lake
* Standish-Hickey
* Tahoe
* Turlock Lake
* Woodson Bridge

State Vehicular
Recreation Areas|

* Carnegie
* Clay Pit
* Heber Dunes
* Hollister Hills
* Hungry Valley
* Oceano Dunes
* Ocotillo Wells
* Prairie City

Other|

* Burleigh H. Murray Ranch
* California State Mining and Mineral Museum
* California State Capitol Museum
* California State Railroad Museum
* Castro Adobe
* Delta Meadows
* Estero Bay
* Hatton Canyon
* Indio Hills Palms
* Point Cabrillo Light Station
* Point Lobos Ranch
* Point Montara Light Station
* Reynolds Wayside Campground
* San Timoteo Canyon
* Stone Lake
* Verdugo Mountains
* Ward Creek
* Wildwood Canyon

National Forests and Grasslands

| National Forests
and Grasslands|

* Angeles
* Butte Valley NG
* Cleveland
* Eldorado
* Humboldt-Toiyabe
* Inyo
* Klamath
* Lake Tahoe Basin
* Lassen
* Los Padres
* Mendocino
* Modoc
* Plumas
* Rogue River – Siskiyou
* San Bernardino
* Sequoia
* Shasta–Trinity
* Sierra
* Six Rivers
* Stanislaus
* Tahoe

|

National Wilderness
Preservation System|

* Agua Tibia
* Ansel Adams
* Bucks Lake
* Caribou
* Carson-Iceberg
* Castle Crags
* Cucamonga
* Desolation
* Dick Smith
* Dinkey Lakes
* Emigrant
* Golden Trout
* Hoover
* Inyo Mountains
* Ishi
* Jennie Lakes
* John Muir
* Kaiser
* Marble Mountain
* Mokelumne
* Mount Shasta Wilderness
* North Fork
* Pine Creek
* San Gabriel
* Sanhedrin
* San Jacinto
* San Rafael
* Sespe
* Siskiyou
* Snow Mountain
* South Fork Eel River
* South Sierra
* South Warner
* Thousand Lakes
* Trinity Alps
* Ventana
* Yolla Bolly–Middle Eel
* Yuki

National Monuments
and Recreation Areas|

* Giant Sequoia National Monument
* San Gabriel Mountains National Monument
* Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument
* Smith River National Recreation Area
* Shasta–Trinity National Recreation Area
* Sand to Snow National Monument

State Forests

* Boggs Mountain Demonstration
* Ellen Pickett
* Jackson Demonstration
* Las Posadas
* LaTour Demonstration
* Mount Zion
* Mountain Home Demonstration
* Soquel Demonstration

National Wildlife Refuges

* Antioch Dunes
* Bitter Creek
* Blue Ridge
* Butte Sink
* Castle Rock
* Clear Lake
* Coachella Valley
* Colusa
* Delevan
* Don Edwards San Francisco Bay
* Ellicott Slough
* Farallon
* Guadalupe-Nipomo Dunes
* Hopper Mountain
* Humboldt Bay
* Kern
* Lower Klamath
* Marin Islands
* Merced
* Modoc
* Pixley
* Sacramento
* Sacramento River
* Salinas River
* San Diego Bay
* San Diego
* San Joaquin River
* San Luis
* San Pablo Bay
* Seal Beach
* Sonny Bono Salton Sea
* Stone Lakes
* Sutter
* Tijuana Slough
* Tule Lake

State Wildlife Areas

| Wildlife
Areas|

* Antelope Valley
* Ash Creek
* Bass Hill
* Battle Creek
* Big Lagoon
* Big Sandy
* Biscar
* Butte Valley
* Buttermilk Country
* Cache Creek
* Camp Cady
* Cantara/Ney Springs
* Cedar Roughs
* Cinder Flats
* Collins Eddy
* Colusa Bypass
* Coon Hollow
* Cottonwood Creek
* Crescent City Marsh
* Crocker Meadows
* Daugherty Hill
* Decker Island
* Doyle
* Dutch Flat
* Eastlker River
* Eel River
* Elk Creek Wetlands
* Elk River
* Fay Slough
* Feather River
* Fitzhugh Creek
* Fremont Weir
* Grass Lake
* Gray Lodge
* Green Creek
* Grizzly Island
* Hallelujah Junction
* Heenan Lake
* Hill Slough
* Hollenbeck Canyon
* Honey Lake
* Hope Valley
* Horseshoe Ranch
* Imperial
* Indian Valley
* Kelso Peak and Old Dad Mountains
* Kinsman Flat
* Knoxville
* Laguna
* Lake Berryessa
* Lake Earl
* Lake Sonoma
* Little Panoche Reservoir
* Los Banos
* Lower Sherman Island
* Mad River Slough
* Marble Mountains
* Mendota
* Merrill's Landing
* Miner Slough
* Monache Meadows
* Morro Bay
* Moss Landing
* Mouth of Cottonwood Creek
* Napa-Sonoma Marshes
* North Grasslands
* O'Neill Forebay
* Oroville
* Petaluma Marsh
* Pickel Meadow
* Pine Creek
* Point Edith
* Putah Creek
* Rector Reservoir
* Red Lake
* Rhode Island
* Sacramento River
* San Felipe Valley
* San Jacinto
* San Luis Obispo
* San Luis Reservoir
* San Pablo Bay
* Santa Rosa
* Shasta Valley
* Silver Creek
* Slinkard/Little Antelope
* Smithneck Creek
* South Fork
* Spenceville
* Surprise Valley
* Sutter Bypass
* Tehama
* Truckee River
* Upper Butte Basin
* Volta
* Warner Valley
* Waukell Creek
* West Hilmar
* Westlker River
* White Slough
* Willow Creek
* Yolo Bypass

|

Ecological
Reserves|

* Albany Mudflats
* Alkali Sink
* Allensworth
* Atascadero Creek Marsh
* Bair Island
* Baldwin Lake
* Batiquitos Lagoon
* Blue Sky
* Boden Canyon
* Boggs Lake
* Bolsa Chica
* Bonny Doon
* Buena Vista Lagoon
* Butler Slough
* Butte Creek Canyon
* Butte Creek House
* Buttonwillow
* By Day Creek
* Calhoun Cut
* Canebrake
* Carlsbad Highlands
* Carmel Bay
* Carrizo Canyon
* Carrizo Plains
* China Point
* Clover Creek
* Coachella Valley
* Coal Canyon
* Corte Madera Marsh
* Crestridge
* Dairy Mart Ponds
* Dales Lake
* Del Mar Landing
* Eden Landing
* Elkhorn Slough
* Estelle Mountain
* Fall River Mills
* Fish Slough
* Fremont Valley
* Goleta Slough
* Indian Joe Spring
* Kaweah
* Kerman
* King Clone
* Laguna Laurel
* Loch Lomond Vernal Pool
* Lokern
* Magnesia Spring
* Marin Islands
* Mattole River
* McGinty Mountain
* Morro Dunes
* Morro Rock
* Napa River
* North Table Mountain
* Oasis Spring
* Panoche Hills
* Peytonia Slough
* Phoenix Vernal Pools
* Pine Hill
* Piute Creek
* Pleasant Valley
* Rancho Jamul
* Redwood Shores
* River Springs Lakes
* Saline Valley
* San Dieguito Lagoon
* San Elijo Lagoon
* San Felipe Creek
* San Joaquin River
* Santa Rosa Plateau
* Springville
* Stone Corral
* Sycamore Canyon
* Sycuan Peak
* Thomes Creek
* Tomales Bay
* Upper Newport Bay
* Watsonville Slough
* West Mojave Desert
* Woodbridge
* Yaudanchi

Marine
Protected
Areas|

* Abalone Cove
* Albany Mudflats
* Anacapa
* Anacapa
* Año Nuevo
* Asilomar
* Atascadero Beach
* Bair Island
* Batiquitos Lagoon
* Big Creek
* Big Creek
* Big Sycamore Canyon
* Bodega
* Bolsa Chica
* Cambria
* Cardiff and San Elijo
* Carmel Bay
* Carmel Pinnacles
* Carrington Point
* Catalina Marine Science Center
* Corte Madera Marsh
* Crystal Cove
* Dana Point
* Del Mar Landing
* Doheny
* Doheny
* Duxbury Reef
* Edward F. Ricketts
* Elkhorn Slough
* Encinitas
* Estero de Limantour
* Fagan Marsh
* Farallon Islands
* Farnsworth Bank
* Fort Ross
* Gerstle Cove
* Goleta Slough
* Greyhound Rock
* Gull Island
* Harris Point
* Heisler Park
* Hopkins
* Irvine Coast
* James V. Fitzgerald
* Judith Rock
* Julia Pfeiffer Burns
* La Jolla
* Laguna Beach
* Lovers Cove (Catalina Island)
* Lovers Point
* MacKerricher
* Manchester and Arena Rock
* Marin Islands
* Mia J. Tegner
* Moro Cojo Slough
* Morro Bay
* Morro Bay
* Morro Beach
* Natural Bridges
* Niguel
* Pacific Grove Marine Gardens
* Painted Cave
* Peytonia Slough
* Piedras Blancas
* Piedras Blancas
* Pismo
* Pismo-Oceano Beach
* Point Buchon
* Point Buchon
* Point Cabrillo
* Point Fermin
* Point Lobos
* Point Reyes Headlands
* Point Sur
* Point Sur
* Portuguese Ledge
* Punta Gorda
* Redwood Shores
* Refugio
* Richardson Rock
* Robert E. Badham
* Robert W. Crown
* Russian Gulch
* Russian River
* Salt Point
* San Diego-Scripps
* San Dieguito Lagoon
* San Elijo Lagoon
* Santa Barbara Island
* Scorpion
* Skunk Point
* Sonoma Coast
* Soquel Canyon
* South Laguna Beach
* South Point
* Swami’s
* Tomales Bay
* Upper Newport Bay
* Van Damme
* Vandenberg
* White Rock (Cambria)

Bureau of Land Management National Landscape Conservation System

| National Monuments|

* Berryessa Snow Mountain
* California Coastal
* Carrizo Plain
* Cascade-Siskiyou
* Fort Ord
* Mojave Trails
* Sand to Snow
* Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains

|

National
Conservation Areas|

* California Desert
* King Range

Wilderness Areas|

* Argus Range
* Big Maria Mountains
* Bigelow Cholla Garden
* Bighorn Mountain
* Black Mountain
* Bright Star
* Bristol Mountains
* Cadiz Dunes
* Carrizo Gorge
* Chemehuevi Mountains
* Chimney Peak
* Chuckwalla Mountains
* Chumash
* Cleghorn Lakes
* Clipper Mountain
* Coso Range
* Coyote Mountains
* Darwin Falls
* Dead Mountains
* Dick Smith
* El Paso Mountains
* Fish Creek Mountains
* Funeral Mountains
* Golden Valley
* Grass Valley
* Headwaters Forest Reserve
* Hollow Hills
* Ibex
* Indian Pass
* Inyo Mountains
* Jacumba
* Kelso Dunes
* Kiavah
* Kingston Range
* Little Chuckwalla Mountains
* Little Picacho
* Machesna Mountain
* Matilija
* Malpais Mesa
* Manly Peak
* Mecca Hills
* Mesquite
* Newberry Mountains
* Nopah Range
* North Algodones Dunes
* North Mesquite Mountains
* Old Woman Mountains
* Orocopia Mountains
* Otay Mountain
* Owens Peak
* Pahrump Valley
* Palen/McCoy
* Palo Verde Mountains
* Picacho Peak
* Piper Mountain
* Piute Mountains
* Red Buttes
* Resting Spring Range
* Rice Valley
* Riverside Mountains
* Rodman Mountains
* Sacatar Trail
* Saddle Peak Hills
* San Gorgonio
* Santa Lucia
* Santa Rosa
* Sawtooth Mountains
* Sespe
* Sheephole Valley
* South Nopah Range
* Stateline
* Stepladder Mountains
* Surprise Canyon
* Sylvania Mountains
* Trilobite
* Turtle Mountains
* Whipple Mountains

National Marine Sanctuaries

* Channel Islands
* Cordell Bank
* Greater Farallones
* Monterey Bay

National Estuarine Research Reserves

* Elkhorn Slough
* San Francisco Bay
* Tijuana River Estuary

University of California Natural Reserve System

* Angelo Coast Range Reserve
* Año Nuevo Island
* Blue Oak Ranch Reserve
* Bodega Marine
* Box Springs
* Boyd Deep Canyon Desert Research Center
* Burns Piñon Ridge
* Carpinteria Salt Marsh
* Chickering American River
* Coal Oil Point
* Dawson Los Monos Canyon
* Eagle Lake Field Station
* Elliott Chaparral
* Emerson Oaks
* Fort Ord
* Hastings
* James San Jacinto Mountains
* Jenny Pygmy Forest
* Jepson Prairie
* Kendall-Frost Mission Bay Marsh
* Kenneth S. Norris Rancho Marino
* Landels-Hill Big Creek
* McLaughlin
* Motte Rimrock
* Quail Ridge
* Sagehen Creek Field Station
* San Joaquin Freshwater Marsh
* Santa Cruz Island
* Scripps Coastal
* Sedgwick
* Stebbins Cold Canyon
* Steele Burnand Anza-Borrego
* Stunt Ranch Santa Monica Mountains
* Sweeney Granite Mountains Desert Research Center
* Valentine Eastern Sierra
* Younger Lagoon

Private Conservation Land Trusts

* Agua Hedionda Lagoon
* Arastradero Preserve
* Arroyo Conejo Open Space
* Audubon Canyon Ranch
* Bear Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve
* Blue Ridge Berryessa Natural Area
* Bluff Lake (San Bernardino County, California)
* Big Sur Land Trust
* California Rangeland Trust
* Catalina Island Conservancy
* Claremont Canyon Conservancy
* Cosumnes River Preserve
* Fairfield Osborn Preserve
* Land Conservancy of San Luis Obispo County
* Pacific Forest Trust
* Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy
* Peninsula Open Space Trust
* Pepperwood Preserve
* Sanctuary Forest
* Santa Cruz Island
* Santa Lucia Preserve
* Sempervirens Fund
* Sierra Nevada Alliance
* Sogorea Te Land Trust
* The Nature Conservancy
* The Trust for Public Land
* The Wildlands Conservancy

Heritage registers
National Natural Landmarks

* v
* t
* e

Western United States

Regions|

* Rocky Mountains
* Great Basin
* West Coast
* Pacific Northwest
* Mountain States

States|

* Alaska
* Arizona
* California
* Colorado
* Hawaii
* Idaho
* Montana
* Nevada
* New Mexico
* Oregon
* Utah
* Washington
* Wyoming

Territories|

* American Samoa
* Guam
* Northern Mariana Islands

Major metropolitan areas|

* Los Angeles
* Phoenix
* San Francisco Bay Area
* San Jose–Oakland
* San Bernardino-Riverside
* Seattle
* San Diego
* Denver
* Portland
* Las Vegas
* Sacramento
* Salt Lake City
* Honolulu
* Oahu
* Albuquerque
* Santa Fe
* Anchorage

Major cities (over 300k)|

* Albuquerque
* Anaheim
* Aurora
* Bakersfield
* Colorado Springs
* Denver
* Fresno
* Henderson
* Honolulu
* Las Vegas
* Long Beach
* Los Angeles
* Mesa
* Oakland
* Phoenix
* Portland
* Riverside
* Sacramento
* San Diego
* San Francisco
* San Jose
* Santa Ana
* Seattle
* Stockton
* Tucson

State capitals|

* Boise
* Carson City
* Cheyenne
* Denver
* Helena
* Honolulu
* Juneau
* Olympia
* Phoenix
* Sacramento
* Salem
* Salt Lake City
* Santa Fe

Territorial capitals|

* Hagåtña
* Pago Pago
* Saipan

* v
* t
* e

New Spain (1521–1821)

Conflicts|

* Spanish conquest of the Aztec Empire →
* Spanish conquest of Guatemala →
* Spanish conquest of Yucatán →
* Anglo-Spanish War (1585–1604) →
* Anglo-Spanish War (1625–1630) →
* Dutch Revolt →
* Anglo-Spanish War (1654–1660) →
* Piracy in the Caribbean →
* Queen Anne's War →
* War of Jenkins' Ear →
* Seven Years' War →
* Spain and the American Revolutionary War

Conflicts with indigenous
peoples during colonial rule|

* Mixtón War →
* Yaqui Wars →
* Chichimeca War →
* Philippine revolts against Spain →
* Acaxee Rebellion →
* Spanish–Moro conflict →
* Acoma Massacre →
* Tepehuán Revolt →
* Tzeltal Rebellion →
* Pueblo Revolt →
* Pima Revolt →
* Spanish American wars of independence

Central
government
and
administration|

| Habsburg Spain|

* Charles I
* Joanna of Castile
* Philip II
* Philp III
* Philip IV
* Charles II

|

Bourbon Spain|

* Philip V (also reigned after Louis I)
* Louis I
* Ferdinand VI
* Charles III
* Charles IV
* Ferdinand VII of Spain (also reigned after Joseph I)

Viceroys of New Spain|

* List of viceroys of New Spain

Audiencias|

* Guadalajara
* Captaincy General of Guatemala
* Manila
* Mexico
* Santo Domingo

Captancies General|

* Cuba
* Guatemala
* Philippines
* Puerto Rico
* Santo Domingo
* Yucatán
* Provincias Internas

Intendancy|

* Havana
* New Orleans
* State of Mexico
* Chiapas
* Comayagua
* Nicaragua
* Camagüey
* Santiago de Cuba
* Guanajuato
* Valladolid
* Guadalajara
* Zacatecas
* San Luis Potosí
* Veracruz
* Puebla
* Oaxaca
* Durango
* Sonora
* Mérida, Yucatán
* La Florida

Politics|

* Viceroy
* Gobernaciones
* Adelantado
* Captain general
* Corregidor (position)
* Cabildo
* Encomienda

Treaties|

* Treaty of Tordesillas
* Treaty of Zaragoza
* Peace of Westphalia
* Peace of Ryswick
* Peace of Utrecht
* Congress of Breda
* Treaty of Fontainebleau (1762)
* Treaty of Paris (1783)
* Treaty of Córdoba
* Adams–Onís Treaty

Notable
cities,
provinces,
and territories|

| Cities|

* Mexico City
* Veracruz
* Xalapa
* Puebla
* Toluca
* Cuernavaca
* Oaxaca
* Morelia
* Acapulco
* Campeche
* Mérida
* Guadalajara
* Durango
* Monterrey
* León
* Guanajuato
* Zacatecas
* Pachuca
* Querétaro
* Saltillo
* San Luis Potosí
* Los Ángeles
* Yerba Buena (San Francisco)
* San José
* San Diego
* Santa Fe
* Albuquerque
* El Paso
* Los Adaes
* San Antonio
* Tucson
* Pensacola
* St. Augustine
* Havana
* Santo Domingo
* San Juan
* Antigua Guatemala
* Cebu
* Manila

|

Provinces and
territories|

* La Florida (Florida)
* Las Californias
* Alta California (California)
* Baja California
* Santa Fe de Nuevo México (New Mexico)
* Tejas (Texas)
* Nueva Galicia
* Nueva Vizcaya
* Nueva Extremadura
* New Kingdom of León
* Cebu
* Bulacan
* Pampanga

Other areas|

* Spanish Formosa

Explorers,
adventurers and
conquistadors|

| Pre-New Spain
explorers|

* Christopher Columbus
* Ferdinand Magellan
* Juan Sebastián Elcano
* Vasco Núñez de Balboa
* Diego Velázquez de Cuéllar

|

Explorers and
conquistadors|

* Hernán Cortés
* Juan Ponce de León
* Nuño de Guzmán
* Bernal Díaz del Castillo
* Pedro de Alvarado
* Pánfilo de Narváez
* Hernando de Soto
* Francisco Vázquez de Coronado
* Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo
* Miguel López de Legazpi
* Ángel de Villafañe
* Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca
* Pedro Menéndez de Avilés
* Luis de Carvajal y de la Cueva
* Juan de Oñate
* Juan José Pérez Hernández
* Gaspar de Portolá
* Manuel Quimper
* Cristóbal de Oñate
* Andrés de Urdaneta
* Ruy López de Villalobos
* Diego Velázquez de Cuéllar
* Francisco Hernández de Córdoba (Yucatán conquistador)
* Francisco Hernández de Córdoba (founder of Nicaragua)
* Gil González Dávila
* Francisco de Ulloa
* Juan José Pérez Hernández
* Dionisio Alcalá Galiano
* Bruno de Heceta
* Juan Francisco de la Bodega y Quadra
* Alonso de León
* Ignacio de Arteaga y Bazán
* José de Bustamante y Guerra
* José María Narváez
* Pedro Sarmiento de Gamboa
* Antonio Gil Y'Barbo
* Alexander von Humboldt
* Thomas Gage

Catholic Church
in New Spain|

| Spanish missions
in the Americas|

* Spanish missions in Arizona
* Spanish missions in Baja California
* Spanish missions in California
* Spanish missions in the Carolinas
* Spanish missions in Florida
* Spanish missions in Georgia
* Spanish missions in Louisiana
* Spanish missions in Mexico
* Spanish missions in New Mexico
* Spanish missions in the Sonoran Desert
* Spanish missions in Texas
* Spanish missions in Virginia
* Spanish missions in Trinidad

|

Friars, fathers,
priests, and bishops|

* Pedro de Gante
* Gerónimo de Aguilar
* Toribio de Benavente Motolinia
* Bernardino de Sahagún
* Juan de Zumárraga
* Alonso de Montúfar
* Vasco de Quiroga
* Bartolomé de las Casas
* Alonso de Molina
* Diego Durán
* Diego de Landa
* Gerónimo de Mendieta
* Juan de Torquemada
* Juan de Palafox y Mendoza
* Carlos de Sigüenza y Góngora
* Eusebio Kino
* Francisco Javier Clavijero
* Junípero Serra
* Francisco Palóu
* Fermín de Lasuén
* Esteban Tápis
* José Francisco de Paula Señan
* Mariano Payeras
* Sebastián Montero
* Marcos de Niza
* Francisco de Ayeta
* Antonio Margil
* Francisco Marroquín
* Manuel Abad y Queipo
* Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla
* José María Morelos

Other events|

* Our Lady of Guadalupe
* Suppression of the Jesuits
* California mission clash of cultures
* Cargo system
* Indian Reductions

Society
and culture|

| Indigenous
peoples|

| Mesoamerican|

* Aztecs
* Maya
* Huastec
* Mixtec
* P'urhépecha
* Totonac
* Pipil
* Kowoj
* Kʼicheʼ
* Kaqchikel
* Zapotec
* Poqomam
* Mam

|

Caribbean|

* Arawak
* Ciboney
* Guanahatabey

California|

* Mission Indians
* Cahuilla
* Chumash
* Cupeño
* Juaneño
* Kumeyaay
* Luiseño
* Miwok
* Mohave
* Ohlone
* Serrano
* Tongva

Southwestern|

* Apache
* Coahuiltecan
* Cocopah
* Comanche
* Hopi
* Hualapai
* La Junta
* Navajo
* Pima
* Puebloan
* Quechan
* Solano
* Yaqui
* Zuni

North-Northwest Mexico|

* Acaxee
* Chichimeca
* Cochimí
* Kiliwa
* Opata
* Tepehuán

Florida and other
Southeastern tribes|

* Indigenous people during De Soto's travels
* Apalachee
* Calusa
* Creek
* Jororo
* Pensacola
* Seminole
* Timucua
* Yustaga

Filipinos|

* Negrito
* Igorot
* Mangyan
* Peoples of Palawan
* Ati
* Panay
* Lumad
* Bajau
* Tagalog
* Cebuano

Others|

* Taiwanese indigenous peoples
* Chamorro people

Architecture|

* Spanish Colonial style
* by country
* Colonial Baroque style
* Forts
* Missions

Trade and economy|

* Real
* Columbian exchange
* Manila galleon
* Triangular trade

People and classes|

* Casta
* Peninsulares
* Criollo
* Indios
* Mestizo
* Castizo
* Coyotes
* Pardos
* Zambo
* Negros

People|

* Juan Bautista de Anza
* Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo
* Francis Drake
* Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla
* Eusebio Kino
* La Malinche
* Fermín de Lasuén
* Limahong
* Moctezuma II
* Junípero Serra
* Hasekura Tsunenaga

* Category

* v
* t
* e

Political divisions of the United States

List of states and territories

States|

* Alabama
* Alaska
* Arizona
* Arkansas
* California
* Colorado
* Connecticut
* Delaware
* Florida
* Georgia
* Hawaii
* Idaho
* Illinois
* Indiana
* Iowa
* Kansas
* Kentucky
* Louisiana
* Maine
* Maryland
* Massachusetts
* Michigan
* Minnesota
* Mississippi
* Missouri
* Montana
* Nebraska
* Nevada
* New Hampshire
* New Jersey
* New Mexico
* New York
* North Carolina
* North Dakota
* Ohio
* Oklahoma
* Oregon
* Pennsylvania
* Rhode Island
* South Carolina
* South Dakota
* Tennessee
* Texas
* Utah
* Vermont
* Virginia
* Washington
* West Virginia
* Wisconsin
* Wyoming

Federal district|

Washington, D.C.

Insular areas|

* American Samoa
* Guam
* Northern Mariana Islands
* Puerto Rico
* U.S. Virgin Islands

Outlying islands|

* Baker Island
* Howland Island
* Jarvis Island
* Johnston Atoll
* Kingman Reef
* Midway Atoll
* Navassa Island
* Palmyra Atoll
* Wake Island

Indian reservations|

* List of Indian reservations

Others|

* Federal enclave

Coordinates: 37°N 120°W﻿ / ﻿37°N 120°W﻿ / 37; -120﻿ (State of California)
*[c.]: circa
*[Pop.]: Population
*[%±]: Percent change
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