California

Capital: Sacramento

State abbreviation/Postal code: Calif./CA

Governor: Jerry Brown, D (to Jan. 2015)

Lieut. Governor: Gavin Newsom, D (to Jan. 2015)

Senators: Barbara Boxer, D (to Jan. 2017); Dianne Feinstein, D (to Jan. 2013)

U.S. Representatives: 53

Historical biographies of Congressional members

Secy. of State: Debra Bowen, D (to Jan. 2015)

Atty. General: Kamala Harris, D (to Jan. 2015)

Treasurer: Bill Lockyear, D (to Jan. 2015)

Entered Union (rank): Sept. 9, 1850 (31)

Present constitution adopted: 1879

Motto: Eureka (I have found it)

State symbols:

flower	golden poppy (1903)
tree	California redwoods (Sequoia sempervirens & Sequoiadendron giganteum) (1937, 1953)
bird	California valley quail (1931)
animal	California grizzly bear (1953)
fish	California golden trout (1947)
colors	blue and gold (1951)
song	“I Love You, California” (1951)

Nickname: Golden State

Origin of name: From a book, Las Sergas de Esplandián, by Garcia Ordóñez de Montalvo, c. 1500

10 largest cities (2010): Los Angeles, 3,792,621; San Diego, 1,307,402; San Jose, 945,942; San Francisco, 805,235; Fresno, 510,365; Sacramento, 489,488; Long Beach, 462,257; Oakland, 409,300; Bakersfield, 347,483; Anaheim, 336,265

Land area: 155,959 sq mi. (403,934 sq km)

Geographic center: In Madera Co., 38 mi. E of Madera

Number of counties: 58

Largest county by population and area: Los Angeles, 9,818,605 (2010); San Bernardino, 20,164 sq mi.

National forests: 18

State parks and beaches: 278 (1.5 million ac.)

Residents: Californian

2010 resident population: 37,253,956

2010 resident census population (rank): 37,253,956 (1). Male: 18,517,830; Female: 18,736,126. White: 21,453,934 (57.6%); Black: 2,299,072 (6.2%); American Indian: 362,801 (1.0%); Asian: 4,861,007 (13.0%); Other race: 6,317,372; Two or more races: 1,815,384 (4.9%); Hispanic/Latino: 14,013,719 (37.6%). 2010 population 18 and over: 27,958,916; 65 and over: 4,246,514; median age: 35.2.

See additional census data

Area codes

Tourism office

Map of California

Although California was sighted by Spanish navigator Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo in 1542, its first Spanish mission (at San Diego) was not established until 1769. California became a U.S. territory in 1847 when Mexico surrendered it to John C. Frémont. On Jan. 24, 1848, James W. Marshall discovered gold at Sutter's Mill, starting the California Gold Rush and bringing settlers to the state in large numbers. By 1964, California had surpassed New York to become the most populous state. One reason for this may be that more immigrants settle in California than any other state—more than one-third of the nation's total in 1994. Asians and Pacific Islanders led the influx.

Leading industries include agriculture, manufacturing (transportation equipment, machinery, and electronic equipment), biotechnology, aerospace-defense, and tourism. Principal natural resources include timber, petroleum, cement, and natural gas.

Death Valley, in the southeast, is 282 ft below sea level, the lowest point in the nation. Mt. Whitney (14,491 ft) is the highest point in the contiguous 48 states. Lassen Peak is one of two active U.S. volcanoes outside of Alaska and Hawaii; its last eruptions were recorded in 1917.

Other points of interest include Yosemite National Park, Disneyland, Hollywood, the Golden Gate Bridge, Sequoia National Park, San Simeon State Park, and Point Reyes National Seashore.

In the Nov. 2005 election, California voters soundly rejected Gov. Schwarzenegger's heavily-supported “reform agenda” ballot measures.

See more on California:
Encyclopedia: California
Encyclopedia: Geography
Encyclopedia: Economy
Encyclopedia: Government
Encyclopedia: History
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