California

{{Main|Etymology of California|Island of California}}

File:Detail of Queen Califia in the "California's Name" mural (Lucile Lloyd, 1937) (cropped).gif, originate in the 1510 epic Las Sergas de Esplandián, written by Garci Rodríguez de Montalvo.]]

The Spaniards gave the name {{lang|es|Las Californias}} to the peninsula of Baja California (in modern-day Mexico). As Spanish explorers and settlers moved north and inland, the region known as California, or Las Californias, grew. Eventually it included lands north of the peninsula, Alta California, part of which became the present-day U.S. state of California.

A 2017 state legislative document states, "Numerous theories exist as to the origin and meaning of the word 'California,{{'"}} and that all anyone knows is the name was added to a map by 1541 "presumably by a Spanish navigator."{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/16/us/why-is-california-called-california.html|title=Why Is California Called California?|last=Karlamangla|first= Soumya|work=The New York Times|date=April 16, 2024|access-date=April 17, 2024}}

The name most 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.{{Cite book |last1=Gudde |first1=Erwin G. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ibMwDwAAQBAJ&pg=PR9 |title=California Place Names: The Origin and Etymology of Current Geographical Names |last2=Bright |first2=William |date=2010 |publisher=University of California Press |isbn=978-0-520-26619-3 |pages=59–60 |orig-date=2004}} 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.{{Cite book |last=Putnam |first=Ruth |title=California: The name |date=1917 |publisher=University of California |editor-last=Priestley |editor-first=Herbert Ingram |location=Berkeley |pages=356–361 |chapter=Appendix A: Etymology of the Word 'California': Surmises and Usage |chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/cu31924008278347}}{{Cite journal |last=Vogeley |first=Nancy |date=April 20, 2001 |title=How Chivalry Formed the Myth of California |journal=Modern Language Quarterly |volume=62 |issue=2 |pages=165–188 |doi=10.1215/00267929-62-2-165 |s2cid=163100071 |issn = 0026-7929}}

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

{{Main|History of California}}

{{Further|History of California before 1900}}

File:California tribes & languages at contact.png tribes and languages at the time of European contact.]]

{{Main|Indigenous peoples of California}}

California was one of the most culturally and linguistically diverse areas in pre-Columbian North America.Klein, Barry T. Reference Encyclopedia of the American Indian. 7th ed. West Nyack, NY: Todd Publications, 1995 Historians generally agree that there were at least 300,000 people living in California prior to European colonization.{{Cite book |last=Eargle |first=Dolan H. Jr. |title=Native California guide: an introduction to the original peoples from earliest to modern times |date=2008 |publisher=Trees Co. Press |others=Fred Dodsworth |isbn=978-0-937401-11-8 |edition=Ed. 2008 |location=San Francisco |oclc=212858363 |quote=Estimates of the Native population in 1776 range from 300,000 to one million.}} The Indigenous peoples of California included more than 70 distinct ethnic groups, inhabiting environments ranging from mountains and deserts to islands and redwood forests.{{Cite web |title=California Indian History – California Native American Heritage Commission |url=https://nahc.ca.gov/resources/california-indian-history/ |access-date=2022-11-25 |website=nahc.ca.gov}}

Living in these diverse geographic areas, the indigenous peoples developed complex forms of ecosystem management, including forest gardening to ensure the regular availability of food and medicinal plants.{{cite book |title=Before the Wilderness: Environmental Management by Native Californians |publisher=Ballena Press |year=1993 |isbn=0-87919-126-0 |editor=Blackburn, Thomas C. and Kat Anderson |location=Menlo Park, California}}{{cite book |last=Cunningham |first=Laura |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nuYuYGHwCygC&pg=PA135 |title=State of Change: Forgotten Landscapes of California |publisher=Heyday |year=2010 |isbn=978-1-59714-136-9 |location=Berkeley, California |pages=135, 173–202 |access-date=2016-03-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160427074202/https://books.google.com/books?id=nuYuYGHwCygC&pg=PA135 |archive-date=2016-04-27 |url-status=live}} This was a form of sustainable agriculture.{{cite book |last=Anderson |first=M. Kat |url=https://archive.org/details/tendingwildnativ0000ande |title=Tending the Wild: Native American Knowledge And the Management of California's Natural Resources |publisher=University of California Press |year=2006 |isbn=0-520-24851-1 |url-access=registration}} To mitigate destructive large wildfires from ravaging the natural environment, indigenous peoples developed a practice of controlled burning.{{cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/firecaliforniase00sugi |title=Fire in California's Ecosystems |publisher=University of California Press |year=2006 |isbn=978-0-520-24605-8 |editor-first1=Neil G. |editor-last1=Sugihara |pages=[https://archive.org/details/firecaliforniase00sugi/page/n433 417] |chapter=17 |editor2=Jan W. Van Wagtendonk |editor-first3=Kevin E. |editor-last3=Shaffer |editor-first4=Joann |editor-last4=Fites-Kaufman |editor-first5=Andrea E. |editor-last5=Thode |url-access=limited}} This practice was recognized for its benefits by the California government in 2022.

These groups were also 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, craft specialists, and military alliances fostered social and economic relationships between many groups. Although nations would sometimes war, most armed conflicts were between groups of men for vengeance. Acquiring territory was not usually the purpose of these small-scale battles.{{Cite book |last=Sutton |first=Mark Q. |title=An introduction to native North America |date=2021 |isbn=978-0-367-54046-3 |edition=6th |location=New York |chapter=A Broad Portrait of California Native Societies |type=eBook |oclc=1204267735 |quote=Though actual battles with numerous combatants were sometimes fought, most armed conflict concerned small groups of men bent on revenge. Acquiring territory was not usually the goal of warfare.}}

Men and women generally had different roles in society. Women were often responsible for weaving, harvesting, processing, and preparing food, while men for hunting and other forms of physical labor. Most societies also had roles for people whom the Spanish referred to as joyas,{{Cite book |last=Kroeber |first=Alfred Louis |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4pcKAQAAIAAJ |title=Phonetic Constituents of the Native Languages of California |publisher=University Press |year=1912 |page=164 |language=en |quote=The institution of berdaches or women-men is one of frequent occurrence among the California natives... Among the coastal stocks south of San Francisco the custom flourished, and the individuals, termed 'joyas' by the Spanish...}} who they saw as "men who dressed as women".{{Cite journal |last=Miranda |first=Deborah A. |date=2010-04-01 |title=Extermination of the Joyas: Gendercide in Spanish California |url=https://read.dukeupress.edu/glq/article/16/1-2/253/34704/EXTERMINATION-OF-THE-JOYASGendercide-in-Spanish |journal=GLQ: A Journal of Lesbian and Gay Studies |language=en |volume=16 |issue=1–2 |pages=253–284 |doi=10.1215/10642684-2009-022 |s2cid=145480469 |issn=1064-2684}} Joyas were responsible for death, burial, and mourning rituals, and they performed women's social roles. Indigenous societies had terms such as two-spirit to refer to them. The Chumash referred to them as 'aqi. The early Spanish settlers detested and sought to eliminate them.{{Cite book |title=Contemporary archaeology in theory: the new pragmatism |date=2010 |publisher=Wiley-Blackwell |editor1-first=Robert W. |editor1-last=Preucel |editor2-first=Stephen A. |editor2-last=Mrozowski |isbn=978-1-4051-5832-9 |edition=2nd |location=Chichester, U.K. |oclc=495597287 |quote=In 1775, Alta California Governor Pedro Fages observed that there were two to three joyas in each village, and that all Indians were consequently addicted to 'this abominable vice.'}}

{{Main|Province of Las Californias|Spanish missions in California}}

File:The landing of Cabrillo on California (detail from mural by Daniel Sayre Groesbeck at the Santa Barbara County Courthouse).jpg 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.{{sfn|Rolle|1998|pp=20–21}} 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. The first Asians to set foot on what would be the United States occurred in 1587, when Filipino sailors arrived in Spanish ships at Morro Bay.{{Cite book |last1=Tillman |first1=Linda C. |url={{google books|plainurl=y|id=vSKAAAAAQBAJ|page=202}} |title=The Handbook of Research on Educational Leadership for Equity and Diversity |last2=Scheurich |first2=James Joseph |date=August 21, 2013 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-135-12843-2 |page=202}}{{Cite book |last=Huping Ling |url={{google books|plainurl=y|id=K-DdvbJM_gQC|page=109}} |title=Asian America: Forming New Communities, Expanding Boundaries |date=April 29, 2009 |publisher=Rutgers University Press |isbn=978-0-8135-4867-8 |page=109}} Coincidentally the descendants of the Muslim Caliph Hasan ibn Ali in formerly Islamic Manila and had converted, then mixed Christianity with Islam, upon Spanish conquest, transited through California (Named after a Caliph) on their way to Guerrero, Mexico{{sfn|Rolle|1998|p=24}} where they played a future role in the wars of independence. Sebastián Vizcaíno explored and mapped the coast of California in 1602 for New Spain, putting ashore in Monterey.{{sfn|Rolle|1998|p=26}} 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.{{Cite web |title=California as an Island in Maps—Online Exhibits |url=https://exhibits.stanford.edu/california-as-an-island |access-date=June 15, 2016 |website=Stanford University Libraries|date=December 7, 2015 }}

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 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 California 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), and 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 in 1776, the third to be established of California's 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.Historical Atlas of California{{sfn|Rolle|1998|pp=51–52}} 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,{{Cite web|url=https://www.csun.edu/~sg4002/courses/417/readings/mexican.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160222030913/http://www.csun.edu/~sg4002/courses/417/readings/mexican.pdf |archive-date=February 22, 2016 |url-status=live|title=California State University, Northridge - Mexican California: The Heyday of the Ranchos}} though many Californios supported independence from Spain, which many believed had neglected California and limited its development.{{Cite web|url=https://www.loc.gov/collections/california-first-person-narratives/articles-and-essays/early-california-history/mexican-california/|title=Mexican California | Early California History: An Overview | Articles and Essays | California as I Saw It: First-Person Narratives of California's Early Years, 1849-1900 | Digital Collections | Library of Congress|website=Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. 20540 USA}} Spain's trade monopoly on California had limited local trade prospects. Following Mexican independence, California 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.

{{Main|Alta California|Ranchos of California}}

File:1836 alvarado flag.webp leader Juan Bautista Alvarado's 1836 California 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. 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.{{Cite book |last=Altman |first=Linda Jacobs |url={{google books|plainurl=y|id=rAgL-tgWOecC|page=117}} |title=California |date=2005 |publisher=Marshall Cavendish |isbn=978-0-7614-1737-8 |page=117 |access-date=March 16, 2013}}{{break}}{{cite book |title=Testimonios: Early California Through the Eyes of Women, 1815–1848 |url= {{google books |plainurl=y |id=DuvFpaRwJlgC||page=425}} |access-date=March 16, 2013 |date=2006 |publisher=Heyday |isbn=978-1-59714-033-1 |page=425}} During this tumultuous political period Juan Bautista Alvarado was able to secure the governorship during 1836–1842.{{harvnb|Starr|2007|p=17}}{{break}}{{Cite book |url={{google books|plainurl=y|id=AYMPR6xAj50C||page=316}} |title=Historic Spots in California |date=2002 |publisher=Historic Spots in California |isbn=978-0-8047-7817-6 |editor-last=Hoover |editor-first=Mildred Brooke |page=316 |access-date=March 16, 2013 |editor-last2=Kyle |editor-first2=Douglas E.}}{{break}}{{cite book |last=Conway |first=J. D. |title=Monterey: Presidio, Pueblo, and Port |series=The Making of America Series |url= {{google books |plainurl=y |id=vz1jyn7Ti3oC|page=53}} |access-date=March 16, 2013 |date=2003 |publisher=Arcadia Publishing |isbn=978-0-7385-2423-8 |pages=53–55}} 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,{{Cite book |last1=Billington |first1=Ray Allen |url={{google books|plainurl=y|id=YoV-k7VcyZ0C|page=203}} |title=Westward Expansion: A History of the American Frontier |last2=Ridge |first2=Martin |date=2001 |publisher=University of New Mexico Press |isbn=978-0-8263-1981-4 |page=203 |author-link2=Martin Ridge (historian) |access-date=February 16, 2013}} including Isaac Graham.{{Cite book |last=Hart |first=James David |url={{google books|plainurl=y|id=teJCPQtWfOMC315|page=315}} |title=A Companion to California |date=1987 |publisher=University of California Press |isbn=978-0-520-05544-5 |page=315 |access-date=March 16, 2013}}{{break}}{{cite book |last=Harlow |first=Neal |title=California Conquered: The Annexation of a Mexican Province, 1846–1850 |url= {{google books |plainurl=y |id=pApgP6lBVbMC|page=27}} |access-date=March 16, 2013 |date=1989 |publisher=University of California Press |isbn=978-0-520-06605-2 |page=27}} 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.

File:John Marsh House (Byron, CA).jpg was the first doctor in California. His letters prompted the first wagon train to California (the Bartleson-Bidwell Party), which came to his ranch. His large, stone house still stands, and is now part of Marsh Creek State Park.]]

File:"General Vallejo Reviewing His Troops in Sonoma, 1846".jpg 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.Lyman, George D. John Marsh, Pioneer: The Life Story of a Trail-Blazer on Six Frontiers, pp. 237–39, The Chautauqua Press, Chautauqua, New York, 1931. 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. At the Battle of Providencia near Los Angeles, he convinced each side 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.Lyman, 1931, pp. 250–62.{{cite book | last=Stone | first=Irving | title=Men to Match My Mountains | publisher=Berkley | publication-place=New York | date=1956 | isbn=0-425-10544-X | pages=70–72}}Winkley, John W. Dr. John Marsh, Wilderness Scout, pp. 67–69, The Parthenon Press, Nashville, Tennessee, 1962.{{cite book | last=Stone | first=Irving | title=From Mud-flat Cove to Gold to Statehood | publisher=RSM Press | date=1999 | isbn=1-884995-17-9 | pages=66–68}}{{cite book | last=Salomon | first=Carlos Manuel | title=Pío Pico: The Last Governor of Mexican California | publisher=Univ. of Oklahoma Press | publication-place=Norman | date=2010 | isbn=978-0-8061-4090-2 | pages=68–76}}

{{Main|Conquest of California|Bear Flag Revolt}}

File:Fremont Raising the Bear Flag (engraved, c. 1860).jpg 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,{{Cite web |title=William B. Ide Adobe SHP |url=http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=458 |access-date=December 25, 2009 |publisher=California State Parks}} 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;{{Cite web |last= |date=2015 |title=Bear Flag Revolt |url=http://www.history.com/topics/bear-flag-revolt |access-date=June 5, 2015 |publisher=History.com}}{{break}}{{Cite web |last= |date=1998 |title=The United States and California |url=http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/cbhtml/cbstates.html |access-date=June 5, 2015 |publisher=Library of Congress |newspaper=The Library of Congress}} the same year marked the outbreak of the Mexican–American War (1846–1848).{{Cite web |last= |date=1999 |title=The U.S. Mexican War |url=https://www.pbs.org/kpbs/theborder/history/timeline/5.html |access-date=June 5, 2015 |website=The Border |publisher=KPBS}}{{break}}{{Cite book |last1=Matthew Kachur |url={{google books|plainurl=y|id=1g2ReKdEZfIC|page=25}} |title=The Mexican-American War |last2=Jon Sterngass |date=July 1, 2006 |publisher=World Almanac Library |isbn=978-0-8368-7290-3 |pages=25–26}}{{break}}{{Cite book |last=Thomas M. Leonard |url={{google books|plainurl=y|id=NQugPgduF0kC|page=141}} |title=James K. Polk: A Clear and Unquestionable Destiny |date=2001 |publisher=Rowman & Littlefield |isbn=978-0-8420-2647-5 |pages=141–143}}

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.{{Cite book |last=Spencer Tucker (Militärhistoriker) |url={{google books|plainurl=y|id=FZVQcZpic-8C|page=55}} |title=The Encyclopedia of the Mexican-American War: A Political, Social, and Military History |date=2013 |publisher=ABC-CLIO |isbn=978-1-85109-853-8 |pages=55–56}} 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.{{Cite book |url={{google books|plainurl=y|id=3cE1AAAAIAAJ|page=199}} |title=The Quarterly |date=1907 |publisher=Historical Society of Southern California |pages=199–201}}{{break}}{{cite book|first1=Hunt|last1=Janin|first2=Ursula|last2=Carlson|title=The California Campaigns of the U.S.-Mexican War, 1846–1848|url= {{google books |plainurl=y |id=_ImhCAAAQBAJ|page=149}}|date=April 20, 2015|publisher=McFarland|isbn=978-1-4766-2093-0|pages=149–151}}

{{See also|California gold rush|Interim government of California}}

File:Treaty of Cahuenga.jpg, signed in 1847 by Californio Andrés Pico and American John C. Frémont, was a ceasefire 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.{{Cite book |last=Osborne |first=Thomas J. |url={{google books|plainurl=y|id=FvA3jL4CFCMC}} |title=Pacific Eldorado: A History of Greater California |date=November 29, 2012 |publisher=Wiley |isbn=978-1-118-29217-4}}

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, Middle Easterns, 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.{{Cite web |title=California Gold Rush, 1848–1864 |url=http://www.learncalifornia.org/doc.asp?id=118 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110727033216/http://www.learncalifornia.org/doc.asp?id=118 |archive-date=July 27, 2011 |access-date=July 22, 2008 |website=Learn California.org, a site designed for the California Secretary of State}} Between 1847 and 1870, the population of San Francisco increased from 500 to 150,000.{{Cite web |title=1870 Fast Facts |url=https://www.census.gov/history/www/through_the_decades/fast_facts/1870_fast_facts.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190305053406/https://www.census.gov/history/www/through_the_decades/fast_facts/1870_fast_facts.html |archive-date=March 5, 2019 |access-date=March 5, 2019 |website=United States Census Bureau}}

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The seat of government for California under Spanish and later Mexican rule had been located in Monterey from 1777 until 1845.{{Cite web |title=Introduction |url=http://www.nps.gov/nr/travel/ca/intro.htm |access-date=August 26, 2012 |website=Early History of the California Coast |publisher=National Park Service}} 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{{Cite book |last1=Wilson |first1=Dotson |url=http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pdf/caleg11.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pdf/caleg11.pdf |archive-date=October 9, 2022 |url-status=live |title=California's Legislature |last2=Ebbert |first2=Brian S. |date=2006 |publisher=California State Assembly |edition=2006 |location=Sacramento |oclc=70700867}} 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{{spaces}}9 a state holiday.

During the American Civil War (1861–1865), California sent gold shipments eastward to Washington in support of the Union.{{Cite web|url=https://www.civilwar.org/learn/articles/10-facts-california-during-civil-war |title=10 Facts: California during the Civil War |work=American Battlefield Trust |date=August 13, 2013 |access-date=September 9, 2017}} 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, such as the "California 100 Company", were unofficially associated with the state of California 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.{{Cite web |title=The Chinese Experience in 19th Century America |url=http://teachingresources.atlas.illinois.edu/chinese_exp/introduction04.html |website=teachingresources.atlas.illinois.edu}} 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.{{Cite web |title=Immigration to the United States, 1851-1900 {{!}} Rise of Industrial America, 1876-1900 {{!}} U.S. History Primary Source Timeline {{!}} Classroom Materials at the Library of Congress {{!}} Library of Congress |url=https://www.loc.gov/classroom-materials/united-states-history-primary-source-timeline/rise-of-industrial-america-1876-1900/immigration-to-united-states-1851-1900/ |website=Library of Congress}}

{{Main|California genocide}}

File:"Protecting The Settlers" Illustration by JR Browne for his work "The Indians Of California" 1864 (cropped).jpg, known as the California genocide. At least 9,456 were killed with estimates as high 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.{{Cite web |title=Destruction of the California Indians |url=http://www.learncalifornia.org/doc.asp?id=1617 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111207115225/http://www.learncalifornia.org/doc.asp?id=1617 |archive-date=December 7, 2011 |access-date=April 15, 2012 |publisher=California Secretary of State}} Under its new American administration, California's first governor Peter Hardeman Burnett instituted policies that have been described as a state-sanctioned policy of elimination of California's indigenous people.{{Cite book |last=Risling Baldy |first=Cutcha |title=We are dancing for you: native feminisms and the revitalization of women's coming-of-age ceremonies |date=2018 |isbn=978-0-295-74345-5 |location=Seattle |pages=61–63 |oclc=1032289446}} Burnett announced in 1851 in his Second Annual Message to the Legislature: "That a war of extermination will continue to be waged between the races until the Indian race becomes extinct must be expected. While we cannot anticipate the result with but painful regret, the inevitable destiny of the race is beyond the power and wisdom of man to avert."{{Cite book |last=Senate |first=California Legislature |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XV1BAQAAMAAJ |title=The Journal of the Senate ... of the Legislature of the State of California ... |date=1851 |publisher=Sup't State Printing |page=792 |language=en}}

As in other American states, indigenous peoples were forcibly removed from their lands by American settlers, like 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 1850 Act for the Government and Protection of Indians.{{Cite web |title=Act for the Government and Protection of Indians {{!}} American Experience {{!}} PBS |url=https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/goldrush-act-for-government-and-protection-of-indians/ |access-date=March 3, 2021 |website=www.pbs.org}} One of these de facto slave auctions was approved by the Los Angeles City Council and occurred for nearly twenty years.{{Cite web |date=2016-09-02 |title=Los Angeles' 1850s Slave Market Is Now the Site of a Federal Courthouse |url=https://www.kcet.org/shows/lost-la/los-angeles-1850s-slave-market-is-now-the-site-of-a-federal-courthouse |access-date=2022-12-28 |website=KCET |language=en}} There were many massacres in which hundreds of indigenous people were killed by settlers for their land.{{Cite book |last=Baumgardner |first=Frank H. |title=Killing for Land in Early California: Indian Blood at Round Valley: Founding the Nome Cult Indian Farm |date=2005 |publisher=Algora |isbn=978-0-87586-803-5 |location=New York |page=171 |oclc=693780699}}

Between 1850 and 1860, the California state government paid around 1.5{{spaces}}million dollars (some 250,000 of which was reimbursed by the federal government){{Cite web |title=California Militia and Expeditions Against the Indians, 1850–1859 |url=http://www.militarymuseum.org/MilitiaandIndians.html |access-date=March 21, 2012 |publisher=Militarymuseum.org}} to hire militias with the stated purpose of protecting settlers, however these militias perpetrated numerous massacres of indigenous people. Indigenous people were also forcibly moved to reservations and rancherias, which were often small and isolated and without enough natural resources or funding from the government to adequately sustain the populations living on them.{{Cite web |date=May 11, 2012 |title=INDIANS of CALIFORNIA - American Period |url=http://www.cabrillo.edu/~crsmith/anth6_americanperiod.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120511152205/http://www.cabrillo.edu/~crsmith/anth6_americanperiod.html |archive-date=May 11, 2012 |access-date=March 3, 2021}} As a result, settler colonialism was a calamity for indigenous people. Several scholars and Native American activists, including Benjamin Madley and Ed Castillo, have described the actions of the California government as a genocide,{{cite book|last=Madley |first=Benjamin |title=An American Genocide, The United States and the California Catastrophe, 1846–1873 |publisher= Yale University Press|year=2016|isbn=978-0-300-18136-4|pages=11, 351}} as well as the 40th governor of California Gavin Newsom.{{Cite web |date=2021-08-13 |title=California governor calls Native American treatment genocide |url=https://apnews.com/article/california-native-americans-982b507a846a4ad6bc184b3e7f99ec70 |access-date=2022-12-29 |website=AP NEWS |language=en}} Benjamin Madley estimates that from 1846 to 1873, between 9,492 and 16,092 indigenous people were killed, including between 1,680 and 3,741 killed by the U.S. Army.

{{Main|History of California (1900–present)}}

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

In the 20th century, thousands of Japanese people migrated to California. The state in 1913 passed the Alien Land Act, excluding Asian immigrants from owning land.{{Cite web |title=The U.S. Mainland: Growth and Resistance |url=https://www.loc.gov/classroom-materials/immigration/japanese/the-us-mainland-growth-and-resistance/ |website=Library of Congress}} During World War II, Japanese Americans in California were interned in concentration camps;{{Cite web |title=Behind the Wire: Japanese Immigration and Relocation in U.S. History |url=https://www.loc.gov/classroom-materials/immigration/japanese/behind-the-wire/ |access-date=February 8, 2021 |website=Library of Congress}} in 2020, California apologized.{{Cite web |last=Dil |first=Cuneyt |date=February 20, 2020 |title=California apologizes for Japanese American internment |url=https://apnews.com/article/4b9234383de4814974f81e78a1edaa95 |access-date=February 8, 2021 |website=AP NEWS}}

Migration to California accelerated during the early 20th century with the completion of transcontinental highways like the Route 66. 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% Hispanic, 2.4% Asian, and 90% non-Hispanic white.{{Cite web |title=California—Race and Hispanic Origin: 1850 to 1990 |url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/documentation/twps0056/twps0056.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141224151538/http://www.census.gov/population/www/documentation/twps0056/twps0056.html |archive-date=December 24, 2014 |publisher=U.S. Census Bureau}}

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

File:Paramount Pictures studio gate, c. 1940 (cropped).jpg, 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 variety of geography, filmmakers established the studio system in Hollywood in the 1920s. California manufactured 9% of US armaments produced during World War II, ranking third behind New York and Michigan.Peck, Merton J. & Scherer, Frederic M. The Weapons Acquisition Process: An Economic Analysis (1962) Harvard Business School p. 111 California easily ranked first in production of military ships at drydock facilities in San Diego, Los Angeles, and the San Francisco Bay Area.{{Cite web |title=Shipbuilding Essay—World War II in the San Francisco Bay Area: A National Register of Historic Places Travel Itinerary |url=https://www.nps.gov/nr/travel/wwiibayarea/shipbuilding.htm |website=Nps.gov}}{{Cite web |title=Richmond Shipyard Number Three: World War II in the San Francisco Bay Area: A National Register of Historic Places Travel Itinerary |url=https://www.nps.gov/nr/travel/wwIIbayarea/ric.htm |website=Nps.gov}}{{Cite web |title=Rosie the Riveter National Historical Park, Kaiser Shipyards |url=https://cdn.loc.gov/master/pnp/habshaer/ca/ca3300/ca3393/data/ca3393data.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://cdn.loc.gov/master/pnp/habshaer/ca/ca3300/ca3393/data/ca3393data.pdf |archive-date=October 9, 2022 |url-status=live |website=Csn.loc.gov}}{{Cite web |date=August 11, 2010 |title=Saving the Bay—The Greatest Shipbuilding Center in the World |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UhCiGY75wVw |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171203135248/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UhCiGY75wVw |archive-date=December 3, 2017 |work=KQED |via=YouTube |access-date=July 10, 2017 |url-status=live }} Due to the hiring opportunities California offered during the conflict, the population multiplied from the immigration it received due to the work in its war factories, military bases, and training facilities.{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/2010census/data/apportionment-pop-text.php|title=Resident Population Data – 2010 Census|website=Census.gov|access-date=October 7, 2017}} After World War II, California's economy expanded due to strong aerospace and defense industries,{{cite news |title=How California Lost its Mojo |first=Bill |last=Watkins |url= http://www.foxandhoundsdaily.com/2012/10/how-california-lost-its-mojo/ |newspaper=Fox and Hound Daily |date=October 10, 2012 |access-date=June 25, 2013}}{{break}}{{Cite book |last1=Nancy Kleniewski |url={{google books|plainurl=y|id=dWuQ70MtnIQC|page=91}} |title=Cities, Change, and Conflict: A Political Economy of Urban Life |last2=Alexander R. Thomas |date=March 1, 2010 |publisher=Cengage Learning |isbn=978-0-495-81222-7 |pages=91–92 |access-date=June 26, 2013}} whose size decreased following the end of the Cold War.{{Cite web |last=Rosa Maria Moller |date=May 2008 |title=Aerospace States' Incentives to Attract The Industry |url=http://www.library.ca.gov/crb/08/08-005.pdf |access-date=June 25, 2013 |website=library.ca.gov |publisher=California Research Bureau |pages=24–25 |archive-date=August 24, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140824080139/http://www.library.ca.gov/crb/08/08-005.pdf }}{{break}}{{cite web |url=http://laedc.org/reports/AerospaceinSoCal_0812.pdf |title=The Aerospace Industry in Southern California |first1=Robert A. |last1=Kleinhenz |first2=Kimberly |last2=Ritter-Martinez |first3=Rafael |last3=De Anda |first4=Elizabeth |last4=Avila |date=August 2012 |publisher=laedc.org |access-date=June 25, 2013 |page=10 |quote=In 1987, California accounted for one in four aerospace jobs nationally, and in Los Angeles County, the share was one in ten. Following the collapse of the Soviet Union and the end of the Cold War, the Department of Defense (DOD) sharply curtailed procurement spending. In 1995, DOD spending fell below $50{{spaces}}billion for the first time since 1982. Nowhere in the country were the changes in Pentagon outlays more apparent than in Southern California. |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130512204822/http://laedc.org/reports/AerospaceinSoCal_0812.pdf |archive-date=May 12, 2013 }}{{break}}{{cite book |first1=Eric John |last1=Heikkila |first2=Rafael |last2=Pizarro |title=Southern California and the World |url= {{google books |plainurl=y|id=upaN7waaW7AC|page=18}} |access-date=June 25, 2013 |date=January 1, 2002 |publisher=Greenwood Publishing Group |isbn=978-0-275-97112-0 |page=18}}{{break}}{{cite book |first=James |last=Flanigan |title=Smile Southern California, You're the Center of the Universe: The Economy and People of a Global Region |url= {{google books |plainurl=y|id=T-_FMngVdI4C|page=25}} |access-date=June 25, 2013 |date=2009 |publisher=Stanford University Press |isbn=978-0-8047-5625-9 |page=25}} Stanford University began encouraging faculty and graduates to stay instead of leaving the state, and develop a high-tech region, now known as Silicon Valley.{{Cite news |last=Markoff |first=John |date=April 17, 2009 |title=Searching for Silicon Valley |work=The New York Times |url=http://travel.nytimes.com/2009/04/17/travel/escapes/17Amer.html |access-date=February 26, 2011}} As a result of this, California is a world center of the entertainment and music industries, of technology, engineering, and the aerospace industry, and as the US center of agricultural production.{{sfn|Cohen|2003|pages=115–116}} Just before the Dot Com Bust, California had the fifth-largest economy in the world.{{Cite book |last1=Clark Davis |url={{google books|plainurl=y|id=6QxvAAAAQBAJ|page=11}} |title=The Human Tradition in California |last2=David Igler |date=August 1, 2002 |publisher=Rowman & Littlefield Publishers |isbn=978-1-4616-4431-6 |page=11}}{{break}}{{cite news |last=Treanor |first=Jill |date=July 17, 2001 |title=Pink slip season in Silicon Valley |url= https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2001/jul/17/internetnews.business |newspaper=The Guardian |location=United Kingdom |access-date=April 22, 2015 |quote=This micro-economy—the world's fifth largest economy in its own right—started to feel the pain of the new technology meltdown first.}}

In the mid and late twentieth century, race-related incidents occurred. Tensions between police and African Americans, combined with unemployment and poverty in inner cities, led to riots, such as the 1992 Rodney King riots.{{Cite web |date=June 12, 2017 |title=Watts Rebellion (Los Angeles) |url=https://kinginstitute.stanford.edu/encyclopedia/watts-rebellion-los-angeles |access-date=February 7, 2021 |website=The Martin Luther King, Jr., Research and Education Institute |publisher=Stanford University}}{{Cite web |last1=Sastry |first1=Anjuli |last2=Grisby Bates |first2=Karen |title=When LA Erupted In Anger: A Look Back At The Rodney King Riots |url=https://www.npr.org/2017/04/26/524744989/when-la-erupted-in-anger-a-look-back-at-the-rodney-king-riots |access-date=February 7, 2021 |website=NPR|date=April 26, 2017 }} California was the hub of the Black Panther Party, known for arming African Americans to defend against racial injustice.{{Cite web |date=July 23, 2019 |title=The Black Panther Party: Challenging Police and Promoting Social Change |url=https://nmaahc.si.edu/blog-post/black-panther-party-challenging-police-and-promoting-social-change |access-date=February 7, 2021 |website=National Museum of African American History and Culture}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.history.com/news/free-school-breakfast-black-panther-party|title=How the Black Panthers' Breakfast Program Both Inspired and Threatened the Government|first=Erin|last=Blakemore|website=HISTORY|date=January 29, 2021 }} Mexican, Filipino, and other migrant farm workers rallied in the state around Cesar Chavez for better pay in the 1960s and 70s.{{Cite web |last=Pao |first=Maureen |title=Cesar Chavez: The Life Behind A Legacy Of Farm Labor Rights |url=https://www.npr.org/2016/08/02/488428577/cesar-chavez-the-life-behind-a-legacy-of-farm-labor-rights |access-date=February 7, 2021 |website=NPR|date=August 12, 2016 }}

File:Cesar Chavez and Brown Berets at peace rally.jpg, flanked by Brown Berets, at a 1971 rally during the Chicano movement]]

During the 20th century, two great disasters happened: the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and 1928 St. Francis Dam flood remain the deadliest in U.S. history.{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Dmky95hwKr0C&pg=PA540 |title=Encyclopedia of World Environmental History, Volume 3: O–Z |date=2004 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-0-415-93735-1 |editor-last=Krech |editor-first=Shepard III |pages=540– |access-date=November 23, 2012 |editor-last2=Merchant |editor-first2=Carolyn |editor-last3=McNeill |editor-first3=John Robert}}

Although air pollution has been reduced, health problems associated with pollution continue. Brown haze known as "smog" has been substantially abated after federal and state restrictions on automobile exhaust.William Deverell, and Greg Hise, eds. Land of Sunshine: An Environmental History of Metropolitan Los Angeles (2005).James E. Krier, and Edmund Ursin, Pollution and Policy: A Case Essay on California and Federal Experience with Motor Vehicle Air Pollution, 1940–1975 (1978) 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.Severin Borenstein, [https://www.jstor.org/stable/2696582 "The Trouble With Electricity Markets: Understanding California's Restructuring Disaster"], Journal of Economic Perspectives, Winter 2002, Vol. 16 Issue 1, pp. 191–211 (in JSTOR)

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, expecting to make a huge profit in months, then rolling it over by buying more properties. Mortgage companies were compliant, as people assumed prices would keep rising. The bubble burst in 2007–8 as prices began to crash. Hundreds of billions in property values vanished and foreclosures soared, as financial institutions and investors were badly hurt.Robert M. Hardaway, The Great American Housing Bubble: The Road to Collapse (2011) p. 22Stephen D. Cummings and Patrick B. Reddy, California after Arnold (2009) p. 102

File:Steve Jobs presents iPhone (cropped).jpg by Apple founder Steve Jobs in Silicon Valley, the largest tech hub in the world]]

In the 21st century, droughts and frequent wildfires attributed to climate change have occurred.{{Cite news |last=Wilson |first=Scott |date=December 5, 2019 |title=Fires, floods and free parking: California's unending fight against climate change |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2019/national/climate-environment/climate-change-california/ |access-date=February 8, 2021 |newspaper=Washington Post}}{{Cite web |last=Flavelle |first=Christopher |date=September 20, 2020 |title=How California Became Ground Zero for Climate Disasters |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/20/climate/california-climate-change-fires.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200920201702/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/20/climate/california-climate-change-fires.html |archive-date=September 20, 2020 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |access-date=February 8, 2021 |website=The New York Times}} From 2011 to 2017, a persistent drought was the worst in its recorded history.{{Cite web |title=California Facing Worst Drought on Record {{!}} NOAA Climate.gov |url=https://www.climate.gov/news-features/event-tracker/california-facing-worst-drought-record |access-date=February 8, 2021 |website=www.climate.gov}} The 2018 wildfire season was the state's deadliest and most destructive.{{Cite web |title=2018 California Wildfires |url=https://www.census.gov/topics/preparedness/events/wildfires/2018-ca-wildfires.html |access-date=February 8, 2021 |newspaper=Census.gov}}

One of the first confirmed COVID-19 cases in the United States occurred in California on January 26, 2020.{{cite news|last=Wheeler|first=Ian|date=February 4, 2020|title=Orange County coronavirus patient released, in good condition, health officials say|work=Orange County Register|url=https://www.ocregister.com/2020/02/04/risk-of-catching-coronavirus-in-so-cal-is-low-health-officials-say/|url-status=live|access-date=February 21, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200205195530/https://www.ocregister.com/2020/02/04/risk-of-catching-coronavirus-in-so-cal-is-low-health-officials-say/|archive-date=February 5, 2020}}{{cite web|date=February 2, 2020|title=Ninth case of fast-moving coronavirus confirmed in U.S.|url=https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-china-health-usa-california-idUKKBN1ZX01P|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200203011127/https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-china-health-usa-california-idUKKBN1ZX01P|archive-date=February 3, 2020|access-date=February 3, 2020|work=Reuters}} A state of emergency was declared in the state on March 4, 2020, and remained in effect until Governor Gavin Newsom ended it in February 2023.{{cite news|date=March 21, 2023|title=California Ends COVID-19 State of Emergency|work=State Center Community College District|url=https://www.scccd.edu/news/2023/california-ends-covid-19-state-of-emergency.html}} A mandatory statewide stay-at-home order was issued on March 19, 2020, which was ended in January 2021.{{Cite web|date=January 26, 2021|title=California Governor Gavin Newsom lifts virus stay-at-home orders|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/california-covid-stay-at-home-order-lifted/|url-status=live|access-date=February 24, 2021|website=CBS News|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210126123803/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/california-covid-stay-at-home-order-lifted/ |archive-date=January 26, 2021 }}

Cultural and language revitalization efforts among indigenous Californians have progressed among tribes as of 2022.{{Cite web |date=November 28, 2022 |title=What Does It Take To Reawaken a Native Language? |url=https://www.kcet.org/news-community/what-does-it-take-to-reawaken-a-native-language |access-date=January 2, 2023 |website=KCET |language=en-US}}{{Cite book|last=Whitebear |first=Luhui |title=Unsettled Records and the Restoration of Cultural Memories in Indigenous California |chapter=Drifting across Lines in the Sand: Unsettled Records and the Restoration of Cultural Memories in Indigenous California |date=June 19, 2022 |chapter-url=https://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/edit/10.4324/9781351174282-5/drifting-across-lines-sand-luhui-whitebear |publisher=The Routledge Companion to Gender and the American West |doi=10.4324/9781351174282-5 |isbn=978-1-351-17428-2 |access-date=January 7, 2023}} Some land returns to indigenous stewardship have occurred.{{Cite web |last=agencies |first=Dani Anguiano and |date=January 25, 2022 |title=Native American tribes reclaim California redwood land for preservation |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/jan/25/native-american-tribes-california-redwood-preservation |access-date=January 4, 2023 |website=the Guardian |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=November 22, 2022 |title=Native American land return movement makes gains, faces obstacles |url=https://andthewest.stanford.edu/2022/native-american-land-return-movement-makes-gains-faces-obstacles/ |access-date=January 7, 2023 |website=& the West |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Ahtone |first=Tristan |date=April 5, 2022 |title=California offers $100 million for tribes to buy back their land. It won't go far. |url=https://grist.org/indigenous/california-offers-100-million-for-tribes-to-buy-back-their-land-it-wont-go-far/ |access-date=January 4, 2023 |website=Grist |language=en-us}} In 2022, the largest dam removal and river restoration project in US history was announced for the Klamath River, as a win for California tribes.{{Citation |title=California Tribes Hail Dam Removal Plan After 20-Year Fight |date=December 16, 2022 |url=https://www.voanews.com/a/california-tribes-hail-dam-removal-plan-after-20-year-fight/6877208.html |language=en |access-date=January 7, 2023}}{{Cite web |date=December 8, 2022 |title=Largest River Restoration Project in American History Set to Begin |url=https://www.gov.ca.gov/2022/12/08/75829/ |access-date=January 7, 2023 |website=California Governor |language=en}}

In February 2025, a satirical petition of Denmark wanting to buy California and renaming it 'New Denmark', was published, with the goal of reaching 1 million votes.{{cite web|date=February 12, 2025|title='We'll bring hygge to Hollywood': Danes offer to buy California after Trump's Greenland claims|url=https://news.sky.com/story/well-bring-hygge-to-hollywood-danes-offer-to-buy-california-after-trumps-greenland-claims-13307781|access-date=February 13, 2025|website=Sky News}}{{cite web|last=Guy|first=Jack|title=Danish petition to buy California attracts hundreds of thousands of signatures

|url=https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/12/europe/danish-petition-purchase-california-scli-intl/index.html|date=February 12, 2025|access-date=February 13, 2025|website=CNN}} This comes after president Donald Trump unveiled a bill at the start of the month to rename Greenland Red, White, and Blueland.{{cite web|last=King|first=Ryan|title=GOP Rep. Buddy Carter unveils bill empowering Trump to acquire Greenland — and rename it 'Red, White, and Blueland'|url=https://nypost.com/2025/02/11/us-news/gop-rep-unveils-bill-empowering-trump-to-acquire-greenland-rename-it-red-white-and-blueland/|date=February 11, 2025|access-date=February 13, 2025|website=New York Post}}{{cite web|title=H.R.1161 - Red, White, and Blueland Act of 2025|url=https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/1161|date=February 10, 2025|access-date=February 13, 2025|website=congress.gov}}

{{Main|Geography of California}}

{{Further|Northern California|Southern California}}

File:California Topography and Geomorphic.gif of California]]

Covering an area of {{convert|163,696|sqmi|km2|abbr=on}}, California is the third-largest state in the United States in area, after Alaska and Texas.{{Cite web |date=April 2004 |title=2000 Census of Population and Housing |url=https://www.census.gov/prod/cen2000/phc3-us-pt1.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://www.census.gov/prod/cen2000/phc3-us-pt1.pdf |archive-date=October 9, 2022 |url-status=live |access-date=December 25, 2009 |publisher=US Census Bureau |page=29}} 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,{{Cite journal |date=March 1916 |title=Figures Show California's Motoring Supremacy |url={{google books|plainurl=y|id=p04zAQAAMAAJ|page=1}} |journal=Touring Topics |volume=8 |pages=38–9 |number=2}}{{Cite book |last=Cooley |first=Timothy J. |url={{google books|plainurl=y|id=EXdAAQAAQBAJ|page=46}} |title=Surfing about Music |date=2014 |publisher=University of California Press |isbn=978-0-520-95721-3 |page=46}} and Northern California, comprising the 48 northernmost counties.{{Cite news |last=Morgan |first=Neil |date=April 19, 1963 |title=Westward Tilt: Northern California |work=Lodi News-Sentinel |location=Lodi, California |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2245&dat=19630419&id=Rd8zAAAAIBAJ&pg=2786,2022902 |access-date=September 7, 2014}}{{Cite book |url={{google books|plainurl=y|id=Kr8rAQAAMAAJ|page=6}} |title=Kent Guide Manual (Harrison Narcotic Law) and Professional Registry |date=1917 |publisher=The Service Press |editor-last=John E. Kent |location=San Francisco |page=6}} 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, on the Central Coast]]

File:1 yosemite valley tunnel view 2010.JPG, 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{{spaces}}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 {{convert|14505|ft|m}}.{{cite ngs |id=GT1811|designation=Whitney|access-date=October 20, 2011}}{{Cite web |date=2001 |title=Elevations and Distances in the United States |url=http://egsc.usgs.gov/isb/pubs/booklets/elvadist/elvadist.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111015012701/http://egsc.usgs.gov/isb/pubs/booklets/elvadist/elvadist.html |archive-date=October 15, 2011 |access-date=October 21, 2011 |publisher=United States Geological Survey}}{{refn|group=note|name="NAVD88"|Elevation adjusted to North American Vertical Datum of 1988}} 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, in the Mojave Desert]]

File:San-miguel-cuyler-hike (cropped).jpg, 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.{{Cite news |date=April 26, 2017 |title=The Dried-Up Heart of California's Water Dilemma |work=Bloomberg |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2017-04-26/the-dried-up-heart-of-california-s-water-dilemma}}

About 45 percent of the state's total surface area is covered by forests,{{Cite book |last1=Laaksonen-Craig |first1=Susanna |url=http://anrcatalog.ucdavis.edu/pdf/8070.pdf |title=Forestry, Forest Products, and Forest Products Consumption in California |last2=Goldman |first2=George |last3=McKillop |first3=William |date=2003 |publisher=University of California—Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources |isbn=978-1-60107-248-1 |location=Davis, California |page=1 |access-date=December 12, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110221195646/http://anrcatalog.ucdavis.edu/pdf/8070.pdf |archive-date=February 21, 2011 }} 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.{{Cite book |last=Lanner |first=RM |title=The Bristlecone Book |date=2007 |publisher=Mountain Press |isbn=978-0-87842-538-9 |page=14}}{{Cite web |title=Oldlist |url=http://www.rmtrr.org/oldlist.htm |access-date=January 8, 2013 |publisher=Rocky Mountain Tree Ring Research}}

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 {{convert|−279|ft|m}}. The horizontal distance from the bottom of Death Valley to the top of Mount Whitney is less than {{convert|90|mi|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, and landslides on steep terrain; California also 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; most are too small to be felt.{{Cite web |title=Frequently Asked Questions |url=http://seismo.berkeley.edu/faq/rate_of_seism.html |access-date=April 22, 2011 |publisher=Seismo.berkeley.edu}} Among Americans at risk of serious harm from a major earthquake, two-thirds of that population are residents of California.

{{Main|Climate of California}}

{{Further|Climate change in California}}

File:Köppen Climate Types California.png types in California]]

Most of the state has a Mediterranean climate. 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 and colder winters in contrast with nearby areas closer to the ocean.{{Cite web|url=https://wrcc.dri.edu/|title=Western Regional Climate Center|website=wrcc.dri.edu}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.britannica.com/place/California-state/Climate|title=California - Climate | Britannica|website=www.britannica.com}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.differencebetween.net/science/difference-between-coastal-and-inland-climates/|title=Difference Between Coastal and Inland Climates|date=October 26, 2020}}

File:AERONET La Jolla.2007295.terra.250m.jpg 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. Coastal 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,{{Cite journal |last=El Fadli |first=K. I. |display-authors=etal |date=September 2012 |title=World Meteorological Organization Assessment of the Purported World Record 58{{spaces}}°C Temperature Extreme at El Azizia, Libya (September 13, 1922) |journal=Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society |volume=94 |issue=2 |page=199 |bibcode=2013BAMS...94..199E |doi=10.1175/BAMS-D-12-00093.1 |doi-access=free}} (The 136.4{{spaces}}°F (58{{spaces}}°C), claimed by 'Aziziya, Libya, on September 13, 1922, has been officially deemed invalid by the World Meteorological Organization.){{Cite web |title=World Meteorological Organization World Weather / Climate Extremes Archive |url=http://wmo.asu.edu/world-highest-temperature |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130104143844/http://wmo.asu.edu/world-highest-temperature |archive-date=January 4, 2013 |access-date=January 10, 2013}} {{convert|134|°F|°C|1}}, was recorded there on July 10, 1913. The lowest temperature in California was {{convert|−45|°F}} on January 20, 1937, in Boca.{{Cite web |title=Weather Data: California, Boca, 1937, January |url=https://geographic.org/global_weather/weather_data.php?month=01&year=1937&id=USC00040931&path=weather_stations/usc0000000_usc0045999/USC00040931.dly&name=Boca&country=California |access-date=June 26, 2020}}

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.

{|class="wikitable sortable" style="margin:auto;"

|+Average temperatures and precipitation for selected communities in California{{Cite web |title=California climate averages |url=http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/city.php3?c=US&s=CA&statename=California-United-States-of-America |access-date=January 26, 2018 |publisher=Weatherbase}}

|-

!Location

! August{{break}}(°F)

! August{{break}}(°C)

! January{{break}}(°F)

! January{{break}}(°C)

! Annual{{break}}precipitation{{break}}(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

|}

The wide range of climates leads to a high demand for water. Over time, droughts have been increasing due to climate change and overextraction,{{cite web|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2022/02/14/western-drought-fueled-by-climate-change-is-the-worst-in-1200-years.html|title=Western drought fueled by climate change is the worst in 1,200 years, scientists say|first=Emma|last=Newburger|publisher=CNBC|date=February 14, 2022|access-date=February 18, 2022}} becoming less seasonal and more year-round, further straining California's electricity supply{{cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/amp/US/california-blackouts-power-grid/story?id=89460998|title=Why California has blackouts: A look at the power grid|first=Meredith|last=Deliso|publisher=ABC News|date=September 9, 2022|access-date=September 11, 2022}} and water security{{Cite news |last1=Boxall |first1=Bettina |last2=St. John |first2=Paige |date=November 10, 2018 |title=California's most destructive wildfire should not have come as a surprise |work=Los Angeles Times |url=https://latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-camp-fire-science-20181110-story.html |access-date=November 11, 2018}}{{Cite web |title=Advancing Drought Science and Preparedness across the Nation |url=https://www.drought.gov/drought/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181111042024/https://www.drought.gov/drought/ |archive-date=November 11, 2018 |access-date=November 11, 2018 |publisher=National Integrated Drought Information System}} and having an impact on California business, industry, and agriculture.{{cite web |url=https://www.kvpr.org/business-economy/2022-03-14/drought-has-already-cost-close-to-2-billion-and-14-000-jobs-and-its-likely-not-over-yet |title= Drought has already cost close to $2 billion and 14,000 jobs, and it's likely not over yet|website=www.kvpr.org |date= March 14, 2022|access-date=July 13, 2022}}{{title missing|date=July 2022}}

In 2022, a new state program was created in collaboration with indigenous peoples of California to revive the practice of controlled burns as a way of clearing excessive forest debris and making landscapes more resilient to wildfires. Native American use of fire in ecosystem management was outlawed in 1911, yet has now been recognized.

{{Main|Ecology of California|Environment of California}}

File:Mount Whitney 2003-03-25.jpg, 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.{{Cite web |date=2003 |title=Checklist of the Scarabaeoidea of the Nearctic Realm |url=http://www.iscc.ca.gov/docs/CaliforniaInvasiveSpeciesList.pdf |access-date=October 5, 2010 |publisher=digitalcommons.unl.edu (University of Nebraska State: Papers in Entomology)}}

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).{{citation needed|date=May 2024}} Many California endemics have become endangered, as urbanization, logging, overgrazing, and the introduction of exotic species have encroached on their habitat.

{{Main|Fauna of California|California Floristic Province}}

{{see also|List of California native plants}}

File:Grizzly Giant Mariposa Grove.jpg, 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,{{Cite journal |last=David Elstein |date=May 2004 |title=Restoring California's Native Grasses |url=http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/archive/may04/grass0504.htm |journal=Agricultural Research Magazine |volume=52 |issue=5 |page=17 |access-date=December 25, 2009}} and there are close to hundred succulent species native to the state.{{Cite web |title=Native Plant of the Month: California Native Bunchgrasses |url=https://www.grassrootsecology.org/from-the-field/2023/8/14/native-plant-of-the-month-bunchgrasses#:~:text=By%20contrast,%20most%20California%20native%20grass%20species,in%20between%20for%20other%20plants%20to%20grow. |access-date=2024-11-27 |website=Grassroots Ecology |language=en-US}} 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.{{Cite web |date=April 21, 2010 |title=The California Invasive Species List |url=http://www.iscc.ca.gov/docs/CaliforniaInvasiveSpeciesList.pdf |access-date=October 5, 2010 |publisher=iscc.ca.gov (California Invasive Species Advisory Committee)}}

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.{{Cite web |date=2010 |title=California: flora and fauna |url=http://www.city-data.com/states/California-Flora-and-fauna.html |access-date=September 7, 2010 |publisher=city-data.com}}

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.

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.{{Cite web |title=Sequoia sempervirens (D. Don) Endl |url=http://www.na.fs.fed.us/pubs/silvics_manual/volume_1/sequoia/sempervirens.htm |access-date=October 7, 2010 |publisher=fed.us (U.S. Forest Service) |archive-date=December 16, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101216063912/http://www.na.fs.fed.us/pubs/silvics_manual/volume_1/sequoia/sempervirens.htm }}

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

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 {{convert|10500|ft|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.{{Cite web |title=Life Zones of the Central Sierra Nevada |url=http://www.sierrahistorical.org/archives/lifezones.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120301063716/http://www.sierrahistorical.org/archives/lifezones.html |archive-date=March 1, 2012 |access-date=October 5, 2010 |publisher=sierrahistorical.org}}

Palm trees are a well-known feature of California, particularly in Southern California and Los Angeles; many species have been imported, though the Washington filifera (commonly known as the California fan palm) is native to the state, mainly growing in the Colorado Desert oases.{{cite web |url= https://www.kcet.org/shows/lost-la/a-brief-history-of-palm-trees-in-southern-california |title= A Brief History of Palm Trees in Southern California |last= Masters|first= Nathan |date=December 7, 2011 |website= kcet.org |publisher= Public Media Group of Southern California/KCET/PBS |access-date= August 16, 2023}} Other 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|1997|12}}, 85 plant species were listed as threatened or endangered.

File:Tule Elk - Merced National Wildlife Refuge Bill Leikam 12-03-2010.jpg 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.{{Cite web |date=2009 |title=California Condor |url=http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/California_Condor/id |access-date=October 3, 2010 |publisher=The Cornell Lab of Ornithology}}{{Cite web |date=October 2, 2010 |title=CalPhotos: Browse Mammal Common Names |url=http://calphotos.berkeley.edu/fauna/com-Mammal.html |access-date=October 3, 2010 |publisher=calphotos.berkeley.edu (BSCIT University of California, Berkeley)}}{{Cite web |date=April 5, 2007 |title=Quail Ridge Reserve: UC Davis Natural Reserve System |url=http://nrs.ucdavis.edu/quail/natural/birds_bushtit.htm |access-date=October 5, 2010 |publisher=nrs.ucdavis.edu (University of California at Davis: Natural Reserve System) |archive-date=June 10, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100610063556/http://nrs.ucdavis.edu/quail/Natural/Birds_bushtit.htm }}

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.{{Cite web |date=2000 |title=Black-tailed Deer of California |url=http://www.westernhunter.com/Pages/Vol02Issue24/blacktail.html |access-date=October 7, 2010 |publisher=westernhunter.com}}

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. Principal mammals found in this region include the Sierra coney, white-tailed jackrabbit, and the bighorn sheep. {{As of|2003|04}}, 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.

File:Methuselah Walk USA Ca.jpg 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.

{{as of|2003|April}}, 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{{Cite web |title=California's Endangered Insects—Formally Listed Insects |url=http://essig.berkeley.edu/endins/listed.htm |access-date=August 25, 2015 |website=berkeley.edu}} and two that are threatened are on the federal list.{{Cite web |title=Threatened and Endangered Invertebrates |url=http://www.dfg.ca.gov/wildlife/nongame/t_e_spp/invertebrates.html |access-date=May 8, 2017 |website=DFG.CA.gov |publisher=California Department of Fish and Wildlife |archive-date=May 24, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170524215006/http://www.dfg.ca.gov/wildlife/nongame/t_e_spp/invertebrates.html }}{{Cite web |title=Species Search Results |url=https://ecos.fws.gov/ecp0/pub/SpeciesReport.do?groups=I&listingType=L&mapstatus=1 |access-date=May 8, 2017 |website=Environmental Conservation Online System |publisher=U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service}} Among threatened animals are the coastal California gnatcatcher, Paiute cutthroat trout, southern sea otter, and northern spotted owl. California has a total of {{convert|290821|acre|km2}} of National Wildlife Refuges. {{As of|2010|09}}, 123 California animals were listed as either endangered or threatened on the federal list.{{Cite web |date=September 7, 2010 |title=U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service: Species Reports: Listings and occurrences for California |url=http://ecos.fws.gov/tess_public/pub/stateListingAndOccurrenceIndividual.jsp?state=CA&s8fid=112761032792&s8fid=112762573902&s8fid=24012838822503 |access-date=September 7, 2010 |publisher=ecos.fws.gov}} Also, {{as of|2010|alt=as of the same year}}, 178 species of California plants were listed either as endangered or threatened on this federal list.

{{main|List of rivers of California}}

File:View of the Bay Area and the Californian Delta.jpg (center left) and the California 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.

{{Main|List of regions of California}}

{{see also|List of places in California}}

File:Ca-regions.svg]]

File:Southern California counties in red noshade.png (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

{{div col|colwidth=20em|content=

• 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
• Southern California
• Greater Los Angeles
• Antelope Valley
• Los Angeles Basin
• San Fernando Valley
• San Gabriel Valley
• Santa Clarita Valley
• Channel Islands
• Orange Coast
• Inland Empire
• San Diego–Tijuana
• California Deserts
• Mojave Desert
• Great Basin Desert
• Colorado Desert (Sonoran Desert)
• Calexico–Mexicali

}}

{{see also|List of cities and towns in California|List of largest California cities by population}}

The state has 483 incorporated cities and towns, of which 461 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)".{{Cite web |title=CA Codes (gov:34500-34504) |url=http://info.sen.ca.gov/cgi-bin/displaycode?section=gov&group=34001-35000&file=34500-34504 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090827062453/http://info.sen.ca.gov/cgi-bin/displaycode?section=gov&group=34001-35000&file=34500-34504 |archive-date=August 27, 2009 |access-date=January 29, 2010 |publisher=California State Senate}}

Sacramento became California's first incorporated city on February 27, 1850.{{Cite web |title=Instant City: Sacramento |url=http://www.library.ca.gov/goldrush/sec08.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100128231357/http://www.library.ca.gov/goldrush/sec08.html |archive-date=January 28, 2010 |access-date=January 29, 2010 |publisher=California State Library}} San Jose, San Diego, and Benicia tied for California's second incorporated city, each receiving incorporation on March 27, 1850.{{Cite web |title=San Jose at a Glance |url=http://www.sanjoseca.gov/about.asp |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100208201852/http://www.sanjoseca.gov/about.asp |archive-date=February 8, 2010 |access-date=January 29, 2010 |publisher=City of San Jose}}{{Cite web |title=A History of San Diego Government |url=http://www.sandiego.gov/city-clerk/geninfo/history.shtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100528081607/http://www.sandiego.gov/city-clerk/geninfo/history.shtml |archive-date=May 28, 2010 |access-date=January 29, 2010 |publisher=City of San Diego}}{{Cite web |date=May 23, 2007 |title=California State Parks: 1846 to 1854 |url=http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=1096 |access-date=January 29, 2010 |publisher=California State Parks}} Mountain House became the state's most recent and 483rd incorporated municipality on July 1, 2024.{{Cite web |date=July 1, 2024 |title=Mountain House officially becomes California's 483rd city |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/sacramento/news/mountain-house-officially-becomes-california-city/ |access-date=July 4, 2024 |publisher=CBS News}}

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

|country=California

|stat_ref=Source:{{Cite web |title=Census QuickFacts: California |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/CA/PST045219 |access-date=September 24, 2021 |publisher=U.S. Census Bureau}}

|list_by_pop=

|div_name=

|div_link=Counties of California{{!}}County

|city_1=Los Angeles, California{{!}}Los Angeles

|div_1=Los Angeles County, California{{!}}Los Angeles

|pop_1=3,898,747

|img_1=Los Angeles with Mount Baldy.jpg

|city_2=San Diego, California{{!}}San Diego

|div_2=San Diego County, California{{!}}San Diego

|pop_2=1,386,932

|img_2=San Diego skyline 18 (2).jpg

|city_3=San Jose, California{{!}}San Jose

|div_3=Santa Clara County, California{{!}}Santa Clara

|pop_3=1,013,240

|img_3=SJPan (cropped).jpg

|city_4=San Francisco, California{{!}}San Francisco

|div_4=San Francisco County, California{{!}}San Francisco

|pop_4=873,965

|img_4=San Francisco from the Marin Headlands in August 2022 (cropped).jpg

|city_5=Fresno, California{{!}}Fresno

|div_5=Fresno County, California{{!}}Fresno

|pop_5=542,107

|city_6=Sacramento, California{{!}}Sacramento

|div_6=Sacramento County, California{{!}}Sacramento

|pop_6=524,943

|city_7=Long Beach, California{{!}}Long Beach

|div_7=Los Angeles County, California{{!}}Los Angeles

|pop_7=466,742

|city_8=Oakland, California{{!}}Oakland

|div_8=Alameda County, California{{!}}Alameda

|pop_8=440,646

|city_9=Bakersfield, California{{!}}Bakersfield

|div_9=Kern County, California{{!}}Kern

|pop_9=403,455

|city_10=Anaheim, California{{!}}Anaheim

|div_10=Orange County, California{{!}}Orange

|pop_10=346,824

|city_11=Stockton, California{{!}}Stockton

|div_11=San Joaquin County, California{{!}}San Joaquin

|pop_11=320,804

|city_12=Riverside, California{{!}}Riverside

|div_12=Riverside County, California{{!}}Riverside

|pop_12=314,998

|city_13=Santa Ana, California{{!}}Santa Ana

|div_13=Orange County, California{{!}}Orange

|pop_13=310,227

|city_14=Irvine, California{{!}}Irvine

|div_14=Orange County, California{{!}}Orange

|pop_14=307,670

|city_15=Chula Vista, California{{!}}Chula Vista

|div_15=San Diego County, California{{!}}San Diego

|pop_15=275,487

|city_16=Fremont, California{{!}}Fremont

|div_16=Alameda County, California{{!}}Alameda

|pop_16=230,504

|city_17=Santa Clarita, California{{!}}Santa Clarita

|div_17=Los Angeles County, California{{!}}Los Angeles

|pop_17=228,673

|city_18=San Bernardino, California{{!}}San Bernardino

|div_18=San Bernardino County, California{{!}}San Bernardino

|pop_18=222,101

|city_19=Modesto, California{{!}}Modesto

|div_19=Stanislaus County, California{{!}}Stanislaus

|pop_19=218,464

|city_20=Moreno Valley, California{{!}}Moreno Valley

|div_20=Riverside County, California{{!}}Riverside

|pop_20=208,634

}}

{| class="wikitable"

|+ Largest metropolitan statistical areas in California

|-

| CA rank

| U.S. rank

!Metropolitan statistical area{{Cite web |date=August 15, 2017 |title=OMB Bulletin No. 17-01: Revised Delineations of Metropolitan Statistical Areas, Micropolitan Statistical Areas, and Combined Statistical Areas, and Guidance on Uses of the Delineations of These Areas |url=https://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/whitehouse.gov/files/omb/bulletins/2017/b-17-01.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/whitehouse.gov/files/omb/bulletins/2017/b-17-01.pdf |archive-date=October 9, 2022 |url-status=dead |access-date=March 6, 2018 |publisher=United States Office of Management and Budget}}

!2020 census

!2010 census

!Change

!Counties

|-

| align="center" |{{nts|1}}

| align="center" |{{nts|2}}

|Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA MSA

|{{change|invert=on|13200998|12828837}}

|Los Angeles, Orange

|-

| align="center" |{{nts|2}}

| align="center" |{{nts|12}}

|San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA MSA

|{{change|invert=on|4749008|4335391}}

|Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, San Francisco, San Mateo

|-

| align="center" |{{nts|3}}

| align="center" |{{nts|13}}

|Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA MSA

|{{change|invert=on|4599839|4224851}}

|Riverside, San Bernardino

|-

| align="center" |{{nts|4}}

| align="center" |{{nts|17}}

|San Diego-Carlsbad, CA MSA

|{{change|invert=on|3298634|3095313}}

|San Diego

|-

| align="center" |{{nts|5}}

| align="center" |{{nts|26}}

|Sacramento–Roseville–Arden-Arcade, CA MSA

|{{change|invert=on|2397382|2149127}}

|El Dorado, Placer, Sacramento, Yolo

|-

| align="center" |{{nts|6}}

| align="center" |{{nts|35}}

|San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA MSA

|{{change|invert=on|2000468|1836911}}

|San Benito, Santa Clara

|-

| align="center" |{{nts|7}}

| align="center" |{{nts|56}}

|Fresno, CA MSA

|{{change|invert=on|1008654|930450}}

|Fresno

|-

| align="center" |{{nts|8}}

| align="center" |{{nts|62}}

|Bakersfield, CA MSA

|{{change|invert=on|909235|839631}}

|Kern

|-

| align="center" |{{nts|9}}

| align="center" |{{nts|70}}

|Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA MSA

|{{change|invert=on|843843|823318}}

|Ventura

|-

| align="center" |{{nts|10}}

| align="center" |{{nts|75}}

|Stockton-Lodi, CA MSA

|{{change|invert=on|779233|685306}}

|San Joaquin

|}

{| class="wikitable sortable"

|+ Largest combined statistical areas in California

|-

| CA rank

| U.S. rank

!Combined statistical area

!2020 census

!2010 census

!Change

!Counties

|-

| align="center" |{{nts|1}}

| align="center" |{{nts|2}}

|Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA Combined Statistical Area

|{{change|invert=on|18644680|17877006}}

|Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, Ventura

|-

| align="center" |{{nts|2}}

| align="center" |{{nts|4}}

|San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, CA Combined Statistical Area

|{{change|invert=on|9714023|8923942}}

|Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Merced, Napa, San Benito, San Francisco, San Joaquin, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Solano, Sonoma, Stanislaus

|-

| align="center" |{{nts|3}}

| align="center" |{{nts|23}}

|Sacramento-Roseville, CA Combined Statistical Area

|{{change|invert=on|2680831|2414783}}

|El Dorado, Nevada, Placer, Sacramento, Sutter, Yolo, Yuba

|-

| align="center" |{{nts|4}}

| align="center" |{{nts|45}}

|Fresno-Madera, CA Combined Statistical Area

|{{change|invert=on|1317395|1234297}}

|Fresno, Kings, Madera

|-

| align="center" |{{nts|5}}

| align="center" |{{nts|125}}

|Redding-Red Bluff, CA Combined Statistical Area

|{{change|invert=on|247984|240686}}

|Shasta, Tehama

|}

{{Main|Demographics of California}}

{{US Census population

| 1850 = 92597

| 1860 = 379994

| 1870 = 560247

| 1880 = 864694

| 1890 = 1213398

| 1900 = 1485053

| 1910 = 2377549

| 1920 = 3426861

| 1930 = 5677251

| 1940 = 6907387

| 1950 = 10586223

| 1960 = 15717204

| 1970 = 19953134

| 1980 = 23667902

| 1990 = 29760021

| 2000 = 33871648

| 2010 = 37253956

| 2020 = 39538223

| estyear = 2024

| estimate = 39431263

| footnote = Sources: 1790–1990, 2000, 2010, 2020, 2024{{Cite web |title=California Grew By 356,000 Residents in 2013 |url=http://www.dof.ca.gov/research/demographic/reports/estimates/e-1/documents/E-1_2014_Press_Release.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140502002520/http://www.dof.ca.gov/research/demographic/reports/estimates/e-1/documents/E-1_2014_Press_Release.pdf |archive-date=May 2, 2014 |access-date=September 26, 2016}}{{Cite web |date=August 20, 1993 |title=1990 Census of Population and Housing, Unit Counts, United States, 1990 CPH-2-1 |url=https://www.census.gov/prod/cen1990/cph2/cph-2-1-1.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://www.census.gov/prod/cen1990/cph2/cph-2-1-1.pdf |archive-date=October 9, 2022 |url-status=live |access-date=January 1, 2012 |website=Population and Housing Unit Counts, Population Estimates 1790–1990, pages 26–27 |publisher=United States Census Bureau, U.S. Department of Commerce Economics and Statistics Administration}}{{Cite web |title=Population, Population Change, and Estimated Components of Population Change: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2020 (NST-EST2020-alldata) |url=http://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/technical-documentation/research/evaluation-estimates.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201222173239/https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/technical-documentation/research/evaluation-estimates.html |archive-date=December 22, 2020 |access-date=April 26, 2021 |website=census.gov |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}{{Cite web |title=QuickFacts: California |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/CA | website=Census.gov | publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=December 20, 2024}}{{break}}Chart does not include indigenous population figures.{{break}}Studies indicate that the Native American{{break}}population in California in 1850 was close to 150,000{{break}}before declining to 15,000 by 1900.{{Cite web |title=American Indian Civics Project: Indians of Northern California: A Case Study of Federal, State, and Vigilante Intervention, 1850–1860 |url=http://americanindiantah.com/lesson_plans/ml_indians_in_northern_california.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120317041607/http://americanindiantah.com/lesson_plans/ml_indians_in_northern_california.html |archive-date=March 17, 2012 |access-date=March 21, 2012 |publisher=Americanindiantah.com}}

}}

Presently, close to one out of every nine United States residents live in California.{{cite web |last1=Johnson |last2=Mejia |last3=McGhee |first1=Hans |first2=Marisol |first3=Eric |title=California's Population |url=https://www.ppic.org/publication/californias-population/ |website=Public Policy Institute of California |access-date=March 14, 2024}}{{Cite news |url=https://calmatters.org/explainers/california-population-migration-census-demographics-immigration/ |first1=Judy |last1=Lin |first2=Adria |last2=Watson |title=Explainer: California migration: The story of 40 million |date=June 24, 2022 }} The United States Census Bureau reported that the population of California was 39.54 million on April 1, 2020, a 6.13% increase since the 2010 census. During that decade, the state's population grew more slowly than the rest of the nation, resulting in the loss of one seat on the US House of Representatives, the first loss in its entire history. The estimated state population in 2023 was 38.94 million. For well over a century (1900–2020), California experienced steady population growth. Even while the rate of growth began to slow by the 1990s, some growth continued into the first two decades of the 21st century; California added an average of around 400,000 people per year to its population during the period 1940–2020.{{Cite news|first1=Eric |last1=McGhee |first2=Marisol Cuellar |last2=Mejia |first3=Hans|last3=Johnson|url=https://www.ppic.org/blog/californias-stalled-population-growth/|title=California's Stalled Population Growth|date=April 26, 2021|publisher=Public Policy Institute of California}}{{Cite news|first=David|last=Byler|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2021/03/31/why-californias-population-boom-has-stalled/|title=Why California's population boom has stalled|newspaper=Washington Post|date=March 31, 2021}}{{Cite news|title=California's shrinking population has big impacts|first=Dan|last=Walters|url=https://calmatters.org/commentary/2022/04/california-population-decline/|work=CalMatters|date=April 10, 2022}} Then in 2020, the state began to experience population declines continuing every year, attributable mostly to moves out of state but also due to declining birth rates, COVID-19 pandemic deaths, and less internal migration from other states to California.{{Cite news|author=Staff and agencies|url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/may/02/california-population-decline-trend-covid|title=California's population shrinks for second year in a row|newspaper=The Guardian|date=May 2, 2022}} According to the U.S. Census Bureau, between 2021 and 2022, 818,000 California residents moved out of state{{Cite news |author=Angela Rodriguez |author2=Phillip Reese |date=November 2, 2023 |title=Again, more people are leaving California than moving in, data shows. Where are they going? |url=https://www.uniondemocrat.com/lifestyle/article_8e11bc68-79a4-11ee-998f-c71cde977c08.html |access-date=November 4, 2023 |newspaper=The Union Democrat |language=en}} with emigrants listing high cost of living,{{Cite news |title=Nearly half of California residents are considering leaving the state, a poll finds. Many cite the cost of living as the main reason. |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2023/06/28/california-population-decline-costs-of-living-state/70363036007/ |access-date=November 5, 2023 |newspaper=USA TODAY |language=en-US}} high taxes,{{Cite news |date=August 18, 2023 |title=Opinion: From homelessness to high taxes, here's why I plan on moving from California to Florida |url=https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/community-voices-project/story/2023-08-18/opinion-homelessness-high-taxes-california-libertarian-florida-moving-housing-crisis |access-date=November 5, 2023 |newspaper=San Diego Union-Tribune |language=en-US}}{{Cite news |author=Jim Doti |author2=Art Laffer |date=May 28, 2023 |title=James Doti and Art Laffer: California's lost adjusted gross income |url=https://www.ocregister.com/2023/05/28/james-doti-and-art-laffer-californias-lost-adjusted-gross-income/ |access-date=November 5, 2023 |newspaper=Orange County Register |language=en-US}} and a difficult business environment as the motivation. The net loss of population in California between July 2020 and July 2023 was 433,000.

File:California population density 2020.png

The Greater Los Angeles Area is the second-largest metropolitan area in the United States (U.S.), while Los Angeles is the second-largest city in the U.S. Los Angeles County has held the title of most populous U.S. county for decades, and it alone is more populous than 42 U.S. states.{{Cite web |date=December 2005 |title=About Los Angeles County Department of Public Social Services |url=https://dpss.lacounty.gov/dpss/about_dpss/dpss_overview.cfm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100417163102/http://dpss.lacounty.gov/dpss/about_dpss/dpss_overview.cfm |archive-date=April 17, 2010 |access-date=December 26, 2009 |publisher=Los Angeles County Department of Public Social Services}}{{Cite news |last=Barrett |first=Beth |date=September 19, 2003 |title=Baby Slump in L.A. County |pages=N4 |work=Los Angeles Daily News |publisher=Los Angeles Newspaper Group |url=http://www.redorbit.com/news/science/7215/baby_slump_in_la_county/index.html |access-date=December 26, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100715060356/http://www.redorbit.com/news/science/7215/baby_slump_in_la_county/index.html |archive-date=July 15, 2010}} San Francisco is the most densely-populated city in California and one of the most densely populated cities in the U.S.. Four of the top 20 most populous cities in the U.S. are in California: Los Angeles (2nd), San Diego (8th), San Jose (13th), and San Francisco (17th). The center of population of California is located four miles west-southwest of the city of Shafter, Kern County.{{refn|The coordinates of the center of population are at {{Coord|35.491035|-119.347852|display=inline}}.{{Cite web |date=November 17, 2021 |title=Centers of Population for the 2020 Census |url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/reference/cenpop2020/CenPop2020_Mean_ST.txt |publisher=United States Census Bureau |website=United States Census}}

|group="note"}}

As of 2020, California ranked fourth among states by life expectancy, with a life expectancy of 79.0 years.{{Cite journal|url=https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr71/nvsr71-02.pdf |access-date=January 2, 2025 |title=U.S. State Life Tables, 2020|first1=Elizabeth |last1=Arias |first2=Jiaquan |last2=Xu |first3=Betzaida |last3=Tejada-Vera |first4=Sherry |last4=Murphy |first5=Brigham|last5=Bastian|publisher=Centers for Disease Control and Prevention|journal=National Vital Statistics Reports|volume=71|number=2|date=August 23, 2022}}

Starting in the year 2010, for the first time since the California Gold Rush, California-born residents made up the majority of the state's population.{{Cite news |last1=Teresa Watanabe |last2=Hector Becerra |date=April 1, 2010 |title=Native-born Californians regain majority status |work=Los Angeles Times |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2010-apr-01-la-me-homegrown1-2010apr01-story.html |access-date=January 19, 2013}} 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.{{Cite web |title=Net Migration from Mexico Falls to Zero—and Perhaps Less |url=http://www.pewhispanic.org/files/2012/04/PHC-04-23-Mexican-Migration.pdf |access-date=July 19, 2015 |publisher=Pew Hispanic Center |archive-date=September 24, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924072108/http://www.pewhispanic.org/files/2012/04/PHC-04-23-Mexican-Migration.pdf }} Immigration from Latin American countries has dropped significantly with most immigrants now coming from Asia. In total for 2011, there were 277,304 immigrants. Fifty-seven percent came from Asian countries versus 22% from Latin American countries.{{Cite news |last1=Stephen Magagnini |last2=Phillip Reese |date=January 17, 2013 |title=Census shows Asians eclipse Latino arrivals to California |work=Sacramento Bee |url=http://www.sacbee.com/2013/01/17/5120459/asian-immigrants-to-california.html |access-date=January 19, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130118232108/http://www.sacbee.com/2013/01/17/5120459/asian-immigrants-to-california.html |archive-date=January 18, 2013}} 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.

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.{{Cite web |date=December 6, 2012 |title=Unauthorized Immigrants: 11.1 Million in 2011 |url=http://www.pewhispanic.org/2012/12/06/unauthorized-immigrants-11-1-million-in-2011/ |access-date=August 25, 2015 |website=Pew Research Center's Hispanic Trends Project}} The number of migrants arrested attempting to cross the Mexican border in the Southwest decreased from a high of 1.1{{spaces}}million in 2005 to 367,000 in 2011.{{cite web |url=http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2012-05-03/californias-illegal-immigrant-shortage |title=California's Illegal Immigrant Shortage |website=Bloomberg BusinessWeek |date=May 3, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120510045259/http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2012-05-03/californias-illegal-immigrant-shortage |archive-date=May 10, 2012 }} 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,{{Cite news |last=Slevin |first=Peter |date=April 30, 2010 |title=New Arizona law puts police in 'tenuous' spot |pages=A4 |newspaper=The Washington Post |location=Washington, DC |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/graphic/2010/04/29/GR2010042904397.html}}Behind Nevada and Arizona totaling nearly 2.6{{spaces}}million.{{Cite news |last=Michael Gardner |date=April 19, 2011 |title=Cutting services to illegal immigrants isn't easy |work=The San Diego Union-Tribune |url=http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sdut-cutting-services-to-illegal-immigrants-isnt-easy-2011apr19-htmlstory.html |access-date=August 8, 2017}} 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.{{Cite web |last1=Johnson |first1=Hans |last2=Hill |first2=Laura |date=July 2011 |title=Illegal Immigration |url=http://www.ppic.org/content/pubs/atissue/AI_711HJAI.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/http://www.ppic.org/content/pubs/atissue/AI_711HJAI.pdf |archive-date=October 9, 2022 |url-status=live |access-date=January 15, 2013 |website=Publications |publisher=Public Policy Institute of California}} More than half of illegal immigrants originate from Mexico. The state of California and some California cities, including Los Angeles, Oakland, and San Francisco,{{Cite news |date=April 15, 2019 |title=Officials in Sanctuary Cities Condemn Trump's Proposal To Move Immigrant Detainees |url=https://www.npr.org/2019/04/15/713616857/officials-in-sanctuary-cities-condemn-trumps-proposal-to-move-immigrant-detainee?t=1567429578598}} have adopted sanctuary policies.{{Cite web |title=Cities, States Resist—and Assist—Immigration Crackdown in New Ways |url=https://pew.org/2O8sa9I |website=pew.org|date=August 3, 2018 }}

According to HUD's 2022 Annual Homeless Assessment Report, there were an estimated 171,521 homeless people in California.{{Cite web |title=2007-2022 PIT Counts by State |url=https://view.officeapps.live.com/op/view.aspx?src=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.huduser.gov%2Fportal%2Fsites%2Fdefault%2Ffiles%2Fxls%2F2007-2022-PIT-Counts-by-State.xlsx&wdOrigin=BROWSELINK}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.huduser.gov/portal/sites/default/files/pdf/2022-AHAR-Part-1.pdf|title=The 2022 Annual Homelessness Assessment Report (AHAR) to Congress}}

File:Map of Californian Counties by Percentage of Hispanics or Latinos.png make up the state's largest ethnic group. The map displays California's counties by percentage of Hispanics and Latinos in the 2020 census:
{{legend|#26619C|50% or more}}{{legend|#0087BD|25–49%}}{{legend|#6699CC|15–24%}}{{legend|#9EB9D4|5–15%}}]]

{| class="wikitable sortable collapsible"; text-align:right; font-size:80%;"

|+ style="font-size:120%" |Racial and ethnic composition as of the 2020 census

|-

! Race and ethnicity{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov/library/visualizations/interactive/race-and-ethnicity-in-the-united-state-2010-and-2020-census.html |title=Race and Ethnicity in the United States: 2010 Census and 2020 Census |author= |date=August 12, 2021 |website=census.gov |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=September 26, 2021}}

! colspan="2" data-sort-type=number |Alone

! colspan="2" data-sort-type=number |Total

|-

| Hispanic or LatinoPersons of Hispanic or Latino origin are not distinguished between total and partial ancestry.

|align=right| {{bartable}}

|align=right| {{bartable|39.4|%|2||background:green}}

|-

| White (non-Hispanic)

|align=right| {{bartable|34.7|%|2||background:gray}}

|align=right| {{bartable|38.3|%|2||background:gray}}

|-

| Asian (non-Hispanic)

|align=right| {{bartable|15.1|%|2||background:purple}}

|align=right| {{bartable|17.0|%|2||background:purple}}

|-

| African American (non-Hispanic)

|align=right| {{bartable|5.4|%|2||background:mediumblue}}

|align=right| {{bartable|6.4|%|2||background:mediumblue}}

|-

| Native American (non-Hispanic)

|align=right| {{bartable|0.4|%|2||background:gold}}

|align=right| {{bartable|1.3|%|2||background:gold}}

|-

| Pacific Islander (non-Hispanic)

|align=right| {{bartable|0.3|%|2||background:pink}}

|align=right| {{bartable|0.7|%|2||background:pink}}

|-

| Other (non-Hispanic)

|align=right| {{bartable|0.6|%|2||background:brown}}

|align=right| {{bartable|1.3|%|2||background:brown}}

|}

{| class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible"

|+California Racial Breakdown of Population

!Racial composition

!1950{{Cite web |title=California - Race and Hispanic Origin: 1850 to 1990 |url=http://www.census.gov/population/www/documentation/twps0056/tab19.pdf |website=US Census Bureau|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100327163812/http://www.census.gov/population/www/documentation/twps0056/tab19.pdf |archive-date=March 27, 2010 }}

!1960

!1970

!1980

!1990

!2000{{Cite web |publisher=United States Census Bureau |title=Decennial Census (2020, 2010, 2000) |url=https://www.census.gov/data/developers/data-sets/decennial-census.html |access-date=2024-06-28 |website=Census.gov}}

!2010{{Cite web |title=2010 Census: California State Profile |url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/dc10_thematic/2010_Profile/2010_Profile_Map_California.pdf |website=US Census Bureau}}

!2020{{Cite web |title=Explore Census Data |url=https://data.census.gov/table?g=040XX00US06&y=2020&d=DEC%20Redistricting%20Data%20(PL%2094-171) |access-date=2024-06-28 |website=data.census.gov}}

|-

|White

|93.7%

|92%

|89%

|76.2%

|69%

|59.6%

|57.6%

|41.2%

|-

|Black

|4.4%

|5.6%

|7%

|7.7%

|7.4%

|6.7%

|6.2%

|5.6%

|-

|Asian

|1.7%

|2%

|2.8%

|5.3%

|9.6%

|10.9%

|13%

|15.4%

|-

|Native

|0.2%

|0.2%

|0.5%

|0.9%

|0.8%

|1%

|1%

|1.6%

|-

|Native Hawaiian and

other Pacific Islander

|—

|—

|—

|—

|—

|0.4%

|0.4%

|0.4%

|-

|Other race

|—

|0.1%

|0.7%

|10%

|13.2%

|16.8%

|17%

|21.2%

|-

|Two or more races

|—

|—

|—

|—

|—

|4.8%

|4.9%

|14.6%

|-

|Hispanic or Latino

|—

|—

|13.7%

|19.2%

|25.8%

|32.4%

|37.6%

|39.4%

|-

|Non-Hispanic white

|—

|—

|76.3%

|66.6%

|57.2%

|46.7%

|40.2%

|34.7%

|}

According to the United States Census Bureau in 2022 the population self-identified as (alone or in combination): 56.5% White (including Hispanic Whites),{{Cite web |title=Grid View: Table B02008 - Census Reporter |url=https://censusreporter.org/data/table/?table=B02008&geo_ids=04000US06&primary_geo_id=04000US06 |access-date=2024-06-28 |website=censusreporter.org}} 33.7% non-Hispanic white,{{Cite web |title=Grid View: Table B03002 - Census Reporter |url=https://censusreporter.org/data/table/?table=B03002&geo_ids=04000US06&primary_geo_id=04000US06 |access-date=2024-06-28 |website=censusreporter.org}} 18.1% Asian,{{Cite web |title=Grid View: Table B02011 - Census Reporter |url=https://censusreporter.org/data/table/?table=B02011&geo_ids=04000US06&primary_geo_id=04000US06 |access-date=2024-06-28 |website=censusreporter.org}} 7.3% Black or African American,{{Cite web |title=Grid View: Table B02009 - Census Reporter |url=https://censusreporter.org/data/table/?table=B02009&geo_ids=04000US06&primary_geo_id=04000US06 |access-date=2024-06-28 |website=censusreporter.org}} 3.2% Native American and Alaska Native,{{Cite web |title=Grid View: Table B02010 - Census Reporter |url=https://censusreporter.org/data/table/?table=B02010&geo_ids=04000US06&primary_geo_id=04000US06 |access-date=2024-06-28 |website=censusreporter.org}} 0.9% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander,{{Cite web |title=Grid View: Table B02012 - Census Reporter |url=https://censusreporter.org/data/table/?table=B02012&geo_ids=04000US06&primary_geo_id=04000US06 |access-date=2024-06-28 |website=censusreporter.org}} and 34.3% some other race.{{Cite web |title=Grid View: Table B02013 - Census Reporter |url=https://censusreporter.org/data/table/?table=B02013&geo_ids=04000US06&primary_geo_id=04000US06 |access-date=2024-06-28 |website=censusreporter.org}} These numbers add up to more than 100% because respondents can select multiple racial identities. 19% of Californians identified as two or more races in 2022, although excluding respondents who selected "some other race", only 5% identified as two or more races.{{Cite web |title=Grid View: Table B02001 - Census Reporter |url=https://censusreporter.org/data/table/?table=B02001&geo_ids=04000US06&primary_geo_id=04000US06#valueType%7Cpercentage |access-date=2024-06-28 |website=censusreporter.org}}

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.[https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/table/RHI125215/06 2018 U.S. Census QuickFacts], United States Census Bureau, 2018. Non-Hispanic whites constituted 36.8% of the state's population. 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.as quoted in Clark, Donald T. (2008). Santa Cruz County Place Names p.442, Scotts Valley, California, Kestrel Press. However, they make up only a small part of California's Hispanic population today, estimated at 500,000. California has the largest Mexican, Salvadoran, and Guatemalan population, together making up over 90% of the state's Latino population.{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/library/stories/2023/09/2020-census-dhc-a-hispanic-population.html|title=Eight Hispanic Groups Each Had a Million or More Population in 2020}}

According to 2022 estimates from the American Community Survey, 32.4% of the population had Mexican ancestry, 6.6% had German ancestry, 6.1% had English ancestry, 5.6% had Irish ancestry, 4.9% had Chinese ancestry, 4.3% had Filipino ancestry, 4% had Central American ancestry (Mostly Salvadoran and Guatemalan), 3.4% had Italian ancestry, 2.8% listed themselves as American, and 2.5% had Indian ancestry.{{Cite web |title=Grid View: Table B04006 - Census Reporter |url=https://censusreporter.org/data/table/?table=B04006&geo_ids=04000US06&primary_geo_id=04000US06#valueType%7Cestimate |access-date=2024-06-28 |website=censusreporter.org}}{{Cite web |title=Grid View: Table B03001 - Census Reporter |url=https://censusreporter.org/data/table/?table=B03001&geo_ids=04000US06&primary_geo_id=04000US06 |access-date=2024-06-28 |website=censusreporter.org}}{{Cite web |title=Grid View: Table B02018 - Census Reporter |url=https://censusreporter.org/data/table/?table=B02018&geo_ids=04000US06&primary_geo_id=04000US06 |access-date=2024-06-28 |website=censusreporter.org}}

File:Ethnic Origins in California.png

{{as of|2011}}, 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).{{Cite web |last=Exner |first=Rich |date=June 3, 2012 |title=Americans under age 1 now mostly minorities, but not in Ohio: Statistical Snapshot |url=http://www.cleveland.com/datacentral/index.ssf/2012/06/americas_under_age_1_populatio.html |access-date=September 20, 2016 |website=cleveland.com |publisher=Advance Ohio}}

In terms of total numbers, California has the largest population of White Americans in the United States, an estimated 22,200,000 residents including people identifying as white in combination with any other race. 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 7.1{{spaces}}million, constituting a third of the nation's total. California's Native American population of 504,000 is the most of any state, with 103,030 identifying as Non-Hispanic and belonging mostly to the Indigenous peoples of California.{{Cite web |title=Grid View: Table B03002 - Census Reporter |url=https://censusreporter.org/data/table/?table=B03002&geo_ids=04000US06&primary_geo_id=04000US06#valueType%7Cestimate |access-date=2024-06-28 |website=censusreporter.org}}{{Cite web |title=Grid View: Table B02001 - Census Reporter |url=https://censusreporter.org/data/table/?table=B02001&geo_ids=04000US06&primary_geo_id=04000US06#valueType%7Cestimate |access-date=2024-06-28 |website=censusreporter.org}} Most of the state's Native American population identifies as Hispanic and belongs to Indigenous Mexican or Central American ethnic groups, including 185,200 identifying as Mexican American Indian and 67,904 identifying as Central American Indian.{{Cite web |title=Grid View: Table B02014 - Census Reporter |url=https://censusreporter.org/data/table/?table=B02014&geo_ids=04000US06&primary_geo_id=04000US06#valueType%7Cestimate |access-date=2024-06-28 |website=censusreporter.org}}

According to estimates from 2011, California has the largest minority population in the United States by numbers, making up 60% of the state population.{{Cite web |title=California QuickFacts from the US Census Bureau |url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/06000.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091228054319/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/06000.html |archive-date=December 28, 2009 |access-date=December 26, 2009 |publisher=US Census Bureau}} 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."[http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/06/05/MNSG1DQ1BL.DTL Whites in state 'below the replacement' level]". San Francisco Chronicle. June 5, 2010. It is currently projected that Hispanics will rise to 49% of the population by 2060, primarily due to domestic births rather than immigration.{{Cite news |date=June 20, 2015 |title=Latino mojo |newspaper=The Economist |url=https://www.economist.com/news/united-states/21654583-latino-mojo}} 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.{{Cite web |last=Wendell Cox |title=Asians: America's Fastest Growing Minority |url=http://www.newgeography.com/content/004825-asians-americas-fastest-growing-minority |access-date=July 19, 2015 |publisher=NewsGeography}}

Most of California's immigrant population are born in Mexico (3.9 million), the Philippines (825,200), China (768,400), India (556,500), and Vietnam (502,600).{{cite web | url=https://www.ppic.org/publication/immigrants-in-california/#:~:text=The%20vast%20majority%20of%20California%27s,)%20and%20Vietnam%20(502%2C600) | title=Immigrants in California }}

California has the largest multiracial population in the United States.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ppic.org/wp-content/uploads/content/pubs/cacounts/CC_804LHCC.pdf|title=California's Multiracial Population}} Mexican is the most common ancestry in California, followed by English, German, and Irish.{{cite news|url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/projects/2023/california-population-ethnicity/#:~:text=Mexicans%20comprise%20the%20largest%20ethnic,of%20people%20of%20Irish%20descent.|title=California's population: Charts show how demographic is changing|newspaper=The San Francisco Chronicle |date=October 11, 2023 }}

{{main|Languages of California}}

{{see also|California English|Spanish language in California}}

{|class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible mw-open" style="margin-left:1em; float:right"

|+ Languages spoken in California by more than 100,000 persons

|-

! Language !! Population{{break}}({{as of|2021|lc=y}}){{Cite web |title=American Community Survey: LANGUAGE SPOKEN AT HOME BY ABILITY TO SPEAK ENGLISH FOR THE POPULATION 5 YEARS AND OVER|url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=punjabi&g=040XX00US06&tid=ACSDT1Y2021.B16001&moe=false|access-date=July 23, 2023|publisher=United States Census Bureau}} !! %

|-

|English

|20,763,638

|{{Percentage|20,763,638|37,027,601|2}}

|-

|Spanish

|10,434,308

|{{Percentage|10,434,308|37,027,601|2}}

|-

|Chinese

|1,244,445

|{{Percentage|1,244,445|37,027,601|2}}

|-

|Tagalog

|757,488

|{{Percentage|757,488|37,027,601|2}}

|-

|Vietnamese

|544,046

|{{Percentage|544,046|37,027,601|2}}

|-

|Korean

|356,901

|{{Percentage|356,901|37,027,601|2}}

|-

|Arabic

|231,612

|{{Percentage|231,612|37,027,601|2}}

|-

|Persian

|221,650

|{{Percentage|221,650|37,027,601|2}}

|-

|Armenian

|211,614

|{{Percentage|211,614|37,027,601|2}}

|-

|Hindi

|208,148

|{{Percentage|208,148|37,027,601|2}}

|-

|Russian

|178,176

|{{Percentage|178,176|37,027,601|2}}

|-

|Punjabi

|156,763

|{{Percentage|156,763|37,027,601|2}}

|-

|Japanese

|135,992

|{{Percentage|135,992|37,027,601|2}}

|-

|French

|126,371

|{{Percentage|126,371|37,027,601|2}}

|}

English serves as California's de jure and de facto official language. According to the 2021 American Community Survey conducted by the United States Census Bureau, 56.08% (20,763,638) of California residents age{{spaces}}5 and older spoke only English at home, while 43.92% spoke another language at home. 60.35% of people who speak a language other than English at home are able to speak English "well" or "very well", with this figure varying significantly across the different linguistic groups. 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.{{Cite web |title=Driver's License or ID Card Renewal |url=http://www.dmv.ca.gov/dl/dl_info.htm#languages |publisher=California Department of Motor Vehicles}}{{Cite web |last=Wesson |first=Herb |author-link=Herb Wesson |date=July 17, 2001 |title=AB 800 Assembly Bill—Bill Analysis |url=http://info.sen.ca.gov/pub/01-02/bill/asm/ab_0751-0800/ab_800_cfa_20020116_162757_sen_comm.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101123142018/http://info.sen.ca.gov/pub/01-02/bill/asm/ab_0751-0800/ab_800_cfa_20020116_162757_sen_comm.html |archive-date=November 23, 2010 |access-date=December 27, 2009 |publisher=California State Assembly |page=3 |quote=In 1986, California voters amended the state constitution to provide that the Legislature and officials of the State of California shall take all steps necessary to insure that the role of English as the common language of the State of California is preserved and enhanced. The Legislature shall make no law which diminishes or ignores the role of English as the common language of California.}}{{Cite news |last=Hull |first=Dana |date=May 20, 2006 |title=English already is 'official' in California |work=San Jose Mercury News}}

{{multiple image

| align = left

| width = 150

| image1 = California Constitution 1849 title page.jpg

| image2 = Proclama al Pueblo de California (1849) (cropped).jpg

| footer = The Constitution of California was written in both English (left) and Spanish (right) by both American and Californio delegates.

}}

Spanish is the most commonly spoken language in California, behind English, spoken by 28.18% (10,434,308) of the population (in 2021). The Spanish language has been spoken in California since 1542 and is deeply intertwined with California's cultural landscape and history.{{cite journal | last1=Gifford | first1=Bernard R. | last2=Valdés | first2=Guadalupe | title=The Linguistic Isolation of Hispanic Students in California's Public Schools: The Challenge of Reintegration | journal=Teachers College Record: The Voice of Scholarship in Education | volume=108 | issue=14 | date=2006 | issn=0161-4681 | doi=10.1177/016146810610801408 | pages=125–154 |url=https://www.ousd.org/cms/lib07/CA01001176/Centricity/Domain/3542/Linguistic%20Isolation%20gifford%20valdes.pdf| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211015233107/https://www.ousd.org/cms/lib07/CA01001176/Centricity/Domain/3542/Linguistic%20Isolation%20gifford%20valdes.pdf | archive-date=October 15, 2021 }}{{Cite web|url=https://www.zocalopublicsquare.org/2016/12/15/california-losing-ability-hablar-espanol/ideas/connecting-california/|title=Is California Losing Its Ability to Hablar Español? | Connecting California|first=Joe|last=Mathews |date=December 15, 2016}}{{cite web|quote=Spanish is deeply intertwined in our society | last=Good | first=Greta | title=10.4 million people speak Spanish in California–here's how you can learn, too | website=SFGATE | date=2021-03-31 | url=https://www.sfgate.com/shopping/article/10-4-million-people-speak-Spanish-in-16067234.php}} Spanish was the official administrative language of California through the Spanish and Mexican eras, until 1848. Following the U.S. Conquest of California and the Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo, the U.S. Government guaranteed the rights of Spanish-speaking Californians. The first Constitution of California was written in both languages at the Monterey Constitutional Convention of 1849 and protected the rights of Spanish speakers to use their language in government proceedings and mandating that all government documents be published in both English and Spanish.{{cite web | last=Edwards | first=Andrew | title=English, Spanish share long history in California | website=Los Angeles Daily News | date=2010-07-18 | url=https://www.dailynews.com/2010/07/18/english-spanish-share-long-history-in-california/}}

Despite the initial recognition of Spanish by early American governments in California, the revised 1879 constitution stripped the rights of Spanish speakers and the official status of Spanish.{{Cite web|url=http://www.languagepolicy.net/archives/1879con.htm|title=Spanish Language Rights in California: Debates over the 1879 Constitution|website=languagepolicy.net}} The growth of the English-only movement by the mid-20th century led to the passage of 1986 California Proposition 63, which enshrined English as the only official language in California and ended Spanish language instruction in schools.{{Cite magazine|url=https://time.com/4041224/history-california-bilingual-education/|title=The Complicated History Behind California's Vote on Bilingual Education|date=November 2, 2016|magazine=Time}} 2016 California Proposition 58 reversed the prohibition on bilingual education, though there are still many barriers to the proliferation of Spanish bilingual education, including a shortage of teachers and lack of funding.{{cite web | last=Garcia | first=Karen | title=How second- and third-generation Latinos are reclaiming the Spanish language | website=Los Angeles Times | date=2023-01-31 | url=https://www.latimes.com/lifestyle/story/2023-01-31/how-language-affects-identity-for-latinos }}{{cite web | last=Sanchez | first=Claudio | title=After Nearly 2 Decades, Californians Revisit Ban On Bilingual Education | website=NPR | date=2016-10-29 | url=https://www.npr.org/sections/ed/2016/10/29/499867678/the-debate-over-bilingual-education-in-california }} The government of California has since made efforts to promote Spanish language access and bilingual education,{{Cite web|url=https://www.ksbw.com/article/dollar178-million-grant-uplifts-california-spanish-speaking-students/41236323|title=$1.78 million grant uplifts California Spanish-speaking students|first=Christian|last=Balderas|date=September 16, 2022|website=KSBW}}{{cite web | last=Kelley | first=Cindy | title=California wants most students to be bilingual by 2040. Here's why. | website=San Diego Union-Tribune | date=2022-03-10 | url=https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2022/03/10/california-wants-most-students-to-be-bilingual-by-2040-heres-why/ }} as have private educational institutions in California.{{Cite web|url=https://www.vcstar.com/story/news/2021/03/10/el-eco-leads-more-spanish-language-courses-california-lutheran/4551110001/|title=California Lutheran University staff create more Spanish-language options|first=Shivani|last=Patel|website=Ventura County Star}} Many businesses in California promote the usage of Spanish by their employees, to better serve both California's Hispanic population and the larger Spanish-speaking world.{{Cite web|url=https://www.smdailyjournal.com/sponsored/will-spanish-overtake-english-as-the-most-spoken-language-of-california/article_0a193d8e-88f9-11ec-b067-bbf4bca11bba.html|title=Will Spanish Overtake English as the Most Spoken Language of California?|date=February 8, 2022|website=San Mateo Daily Journal}}{{Cite web|url=https://janerosenthal.com/live-in-california-learn-spanish/|title=Should You Lean Spanish If You Live in California? | Jane Rosenthal Author|first=Janes|last=Team|date=January 17, 2023|website=Jane Rosenthal}}

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.{{Cite map |publisher=Coyote Press |title=Native Tribes, Groups, Language Families and Dialects of California in 1770 |url=http://www.californiaprehistory.com/tribmap.html |edition=1966 |access-date=December 27, 2009 |archive-date=April 30, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110430112732/http://www.californiaprehistory.com/tribmap.html }}{{Cite map |publisher=California State Parks |title=California Indians Root Languages and Tribal Groups |url=http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=23545 |edition=1994 |access-date=December 27, 2009}} A survey conducted between 2007 and 2009 identified 23 different indigenous languages among California farmworkers.{{Cite web |date=2013 |title=Indigenous Farmworker Study—Indigenous Mexicans in California Agriculture. Section V. Language and Culture |url=http://indigenousfarmworkers.org/final_report_section_v.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/http://indigenousfarmworkers.org/final_report_section_v.pdf |archive-date=October 9, 2022 |url-status=live |access-date=July 1, 2013}} All of California's indigenous languages are endangered, although there are now efforts toward language revitalization.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 California has the highest concentration nationwide of Chinese, Vietnamese and Punjabi speakers.

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.{{Cite journal |last1=Bucholtz |first1=Mary |display-authors=etal |date=December 2007 |title=Hella Nor Cal or Totally So Cal?: The Perceptual Dialectology of California |journal=Journal of English Linguistics |volume=35 |issue=4 |pages=325–352 |citeseerx=10.1.1.516.3682 |doi=10.1177/0075424207307780 |s2cid=64542514}}

{{Main|Religion in California}}

{{see also|List of cathedrals in California}}

{{Pie chart

| thumb = right

| caption = Religious self-identification, per Public Religion Research Institute's 2021 American Values Survey{{Cite web |last=Staff |date=February 24, 2023 |title=American Values Atlas: Religious Tradition in California|url=https://ava.prri.org/#religious/2021/States/religion/m/US-CA|access-date=April 4, 2023 |website=Public Religion Research Institute}}

| label1 = Catholicism

| value1 = 34

| color1 = Purple

| label2 = Protestantism

| value2 = 27

| color2 = Blue

| label3 = Jehovah's Witness

| value3 = 1

| color3 = Teal

| label4 = Mormonism

| value4 = 1

| color4 = Lightblue

| label5 = Unaffiliated

| value5 = 28

| color5 = White

| label6 = Buddhism

| value6 = 2

| color6 = Yellow

| label7 = Judaism

| value7 = 1

| color7 = Pink

| label8 = Hinduism

| value8 = 1

| color8 = Orange

| label9 = Other

| value9 = 5

| color9 = Black

}}

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.{{Cite web |last= |date=May 12, 2015 |title=America's Changing Religious Landscape, Appendix D: Detailed Tables |url=http://www.pewforum.org/files/2015/05/Appendix-D-Detailed-Tables.pdf |access-date=June 5, 2015 |publisher=Pew Research Center |archive-date=May 28, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150528123026/http://www.pewforum.org/files/2015/05/Appendix-D-Detailed-Tables.pdf }} 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.{{Cite web |title=Religious Affiliation by State in the U.S |url=http://religions.pewforum.org/pdf/report-religious-landscape-study-full.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/http://religions.pewforum.org/pdf/report-religious-landscape-study-full.pdf |archive-date=October 9, 2022 |url-status=live |access-date=June 24, 2010 |website=U.S. Religious Landscape Study |publisher=Pew Research Center |page=103}} The American Jewish Year Book placed the total Jewish population of California at about 1,194,190 in 2006.Ira M. Sheskin and Arnold Dashefsky, "Jewish Population of the United States, 2006", American Jewish Year Book 2006, Volume 106 [https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/US-Israel/usjewpop.html] 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.{{Cite web |title=The Association of Religion Data Archives | State Membership Report |url=http://www.thearda.com/rcms2010/r/s/06/rcms2010_06_state_adh_2010.asp |access-date=December 16, 2013 |publisher=thearda.com |archive-date=December 17, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131217000142/http://www.thearda.com/rcms2010/r/s/06/rcms2010_06_state_adh_2010.asp }}

File:Cathedral of San Carlos Borromeo (cropped2).jpg in Monterey, built 1791–94, is the oldest parish in California.Clark, Donald T., Monterey County Place Names: A Geographical Dictionary (Kestrel Press, Carmel Valley, CA, 1991).|left]]

California has 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.{{Cite news |last=Helfand |first=Duke |date=June 24, 2008 |title=State has a relaxed view on religion—Survey finds Californians are less certain about the existence of God than others in the U.S |work=Los Angeles Times |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2008-jun-24-me-faith24-story.html |access-date=December 27, 2009}}

{{Main|Culture of California}}

{{see also|Cuisine of California}}

File: Hollywood Sign (Zuschnitt).jpg in Los Angeles]]

The culture of California is a Western culture and 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, California culture has been greatly influenced by several large immigrant populations, especially those from Latin America and Asia.{{Cite web |last=Park |first=Bborie |date=December 2003 |title=A World of Opportunity—Which New Languages Davis Students Would Like to Study and Why |url=http://www.sariweb.ucdavis.edu/downloads/311AWorldOfOpportunity.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100611013350/http://www.sariweb.ucdavis.edu/downloads/311AWorldOfOpportunity.pdf |archive-date=June 11, 2010 |access-date=December 27, 2009 |publisher=UC Davis Student Affairs Research and Information}}

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, the building projects during the Great Depression 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.

{{further|Media in Los Angeles|Media in the San Francisco Bay Area|Music in California}}

{{see also|List of amusement parks in the Americas#California|List of newspapers in California|List of radio stations in California}}

File:Walt_Disney_Studios_Alameda_Entrance.jpg, headquartered in Burbank, is one of the world's largest media and entertainment companies.]]

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.) as well as many minor film studios being based in or around the area. Many animation studios are also headquartered in the state.

File:Emma nevada.jpg bought this steam engine in 1938 for the scrap price, restored it, and built the Grizzly Flats Railroad on which to operate it on a small strip of land behind his home in San Gabriel, California. He later donated this engine, another steam engine and rolling stock, and the funds to build a car barn to house it, to the Southern California Railway Museum in Perris, California.]]

The four major American television commercial broadcast networks (ABC, CBS, NBC, and Fox) as well as other networks all have production facilities and offices in the state. All the four major commercial broadcast networks, plus the two major Spanish-language networks (Telemundo and Univision) each have at least three owned-and-operated TV stations in California, including at least one in Los Angeles and at least one in San Francisco.{{refn|group="note"|ABC has the least amount of owned-and-operated TV stations with three: KABC-TV in Los Angeles, KGO-TV in San Francisco, and KFSN-TV in Fresno.}}

File:Twitter headquarters in San Francisco (TK2).JPG, headquartered in San Francisco, is one of the largest social media networks in the world.]]

File:State Fair 2014.jpg is held annually during the summer at Cal Expo in northeastern Sacramento.]]

One of the oldest radio stations in the United States still in existence, KCBS (AM) in the San Francisco Bay Area, was founded in 1909. Universal Music Group, one of the "Big Four" record labels, is based in Santa Monica, while Warner Records is based in Los Angeles. Many independent record labels, such as Mind of a Genius Records, are also headquartered in the state. California is also the birthplace of several international music genres, including the Bakersfield sound, Bay Area thrash metal, alternative rock, g-funk, nu metal, glam metal, thrash metal, psychedelic rock, stoner rock, punk rock, hardcore punk, metalcore, pop punk, surf music, third wave ska, west coast hip hop, west coast jazz, jazz rap, and many other genres. Other genres such as pop rock, indie rock, hard rock, hip hop, pop, rock, rockabilly, country, heavy metal, grunge, new wave and disco were popularized in the state. In addition, many British bands, such as Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, Black Sabbath, and the Rolling Stones settled in the state after becoming internationally famous.

As the home of Silicon Valley, the Bay Area is the headquarters of several prominent internet media, social media, and other technology companies. Three of the "Big Five" technology companies (Apple, Meta, and Google) are based in the area as well as other services such as Netflix, Pandora Radio, Twitter, Yahoo!, and YouTube. Other prominent companies that are headquartered here include HP inc. and Intel. Microsoft and Amazon also have offices in the area.

California, particularly Southern California,{{cite web |url=http://www.speedhunters.com/2022/03/car-culture-southern-california/ |title=Car Culture: Does Anywhere Do It Better Than Southern California? |last=Ryan|first=Sara|date=March 18, 2022|website= speedhunters.com|publisher=Electronic Arts Inc. |access-date= August 17, 2023|quote=Ask anyone who's involved in the automotive hobby where they'd suggest heading for some really thick car culture, and Southern California would surely be mentioned.}} is considered the birthplace of modern car culture.{{cite journal | doi=10.2307/25591577 | jstor=25591577 | last1=Lutz | first1=R. C. | title=On the Road to Nowhere? California's Car Culture | journal=California History | date=August 28, 2023 | volume=79 | issue=1 | pages=50–55 }}

Several fast food, fast casual, and casual dining chains were also founded California, including some that have since expanded internationally like California Pizza Kitchen, Denny's, IHOP, McDonald's, Panda Express, and Taco Bell.

{{Main|Sports in California}}

{{see also|List of professional sports teams in California}}

File:Pebble-Beach-CA.jpg, one of the best ranked golf courses in the world]]

File:LBGP05.jpg is the longest running major street race in North America.]]

California has 18 major professional sports league franchises, far more than any other state. The San Francisco Bay Area has five major league teams, while the Greater Los Angeles Area is home to ten. San Diego has two major league teams and Sacramento has one. 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 Stadium. A thirteenth, Super Bowl LVI, was held at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood on February 13, 2022.{{Cite news |last=Naranjo |first=Candice |title=The Super Bowl is Coming to Levi's Stadium in 2016 |newspaper=Kron4 - San Francisco Bay Area News |date=March 28, 2014 |url=http://news.kron4.com/news/the-super-bowl-is-coming-to-levis-stadium-in-2016/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140329080701/http://news.kron4.com/news/the-super-bowl-is-coming-to-levis-stadium-in-2016/ |archive-date=March 29, 2014 |access-date=March 28, 2014 |publisher=KRON 4}}

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

The NFL has three teams in the state: the Los Angeles Rams, Los Angeles Chargers, and San Francisco 49ers.

MLB has four teams in the state: the San Francisco Giants, Los Angeles Dodgers, Los Angeles Angels, and San Diego Padres.{{cite web |url=https://www.loscerritosnews.net/2021/06/14/how-many-mlb-teams-are-in-california/ |title=How many MLB teams are in California? |author= |date=June 14, 2021 |website=loscerritosnews.net |publisher=Hews Media Group, Cerritos Community News |access-date=August 17, 2023 |quote=There are a total of five different MLB franchises that are currently located on the west coast, with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Los Angeles Angels, Oakland Athletics, San Diego Padres and the San Francisco Giants.}}

The NBA has four teams in the state: the Golden State Warriors, Los Angeles Clippers, Los Angeles Lakers, and Sacramento Kings. Additionally, the WNBA also has one team in the state: the Los Angeles Sparks.

The NHL has three teams in the state: the Anaheim Ducks, Los Angeles Kings, and San Jose Sharks.

MLS has four teams in the state: the Los Angeles Galaxy, San Jose Earthquakes, Los Angeles FC, and San Diego FC.

MLR has one team in the state: the San Diego Legion.

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 (now Palisades Tahoe) 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.{{Cite news |last1=Nagourney |first1=Adam |author-link=Adam Nagourney |last2=Longman |first2=Jeré |date=July 31, 2017 |title=Los Angeles Makes Deal to Host the 2028 Summer Olympics |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/31/sports/olympics/los-angeles-2028-summer-olympics.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170802233825/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/31/sports/olympics/los-angeles-2028-summer-olympics.html |archive-date=August 2, 2017}} 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.

In addition to the Olympic games, California also hosts the California State Games.

Many sports, such as surfing, snowboarding, and skateboarding, were invented in California, while others like volleyball, beach soccer, and skiing were popularized in the state.

Other sports that are big in the state include golf, rodeo, tennis, mountain climbing, marathon running, horse racing, bowling, mixed martial arts, boxing, and motorsports, especially NASCAR and Formula One.

File:The "Olympic Gateway" arch and male and female statues at the entrance to the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, California LCCN2013631630.tif hosted the Summer Olympics in 1932 and 1984, and will also host in 2028.]]

{|class="wikitable sortable"

|-

! 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

|-

|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 FC

|Soccer

|Major League Soccer

|-

|San Diego FC

|Soccer

|Major League Soccer

|-

|Angel City FC

|Soccer

|National Women's Soccer League (NWSL)

|-

|San Diego Wave FC

|Soccer

|National Women's Soccer League

|-

|San Diego Legion

|Rugby union

|Major League Rugby

|}

{{Main|Education in California}}

{{see also|Spanish bilingual education in California}}

File:Santa Barbara Senior High School (cropped).jpg, 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.{{CongRec|2000|S2337|April 6, 2000}}

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.{{Cite web |date=February 2005 |title=Proposition 98 Primer |url=http://www.lao.ca.gov/2005/prop_98_primer/prop_98_primer_020805.htm |access-date=January 29, 2010 |website=LAO.ca.gov |publisher=California Legislative Analyst's Office}}

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).{{Cite magazine |date=June 1, 2018 |title=Education Spending Per Student by State |url=http://www.governing.com/gov-data/education-data/state-education-spending-per-pupil-data.html |url-status=live |magazine=Governing |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180702004654/http://www.governing.com/gov-data/education-data/state-education-spending-per-pupil-data.html |archive-date=July 2, 2018 |access-date=July 18, 2018 |quote=NOTE: Adult education, community services and other nonelementary-secondary program expenditures are excluded.}}

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).{{Cite web |last1=Gordon |first1=Tracy |last2=Iselin |first2=John |date=January 1, 2017 |title=What Everyone Should Know about Their State's Budget |url=http://apps.urban.org/features/what-drives-state-spending/ |access-date=July 16, 2018 |publisher=Urban Institute |quote=This chart includes two places, District of Columbia, and the U.S. average, so the number rankings rank 52 total entities; this needs to be understood when viewing these rankings.}}{{Cite web |last1=Gordon |first1=Tracy |last2=Iselin |first2=John |date=January 1, 2017 |title=What Everyone Should Know about Their State's Budget |url=http://apps.urban.org/features/what-drives-state-spending/spending-drivers-documentation.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202025027/http://apps.urban.org/features/what-drives-state-spending/spending-drivers-documentation.pdf |archive-date=February 2, 2017 |access-date=July 16, 2018 |publisher=Urban Institute |page=7 |quote=For state and local government spending, we rely primarily on the U.S. Census Bureau's Census of Governments Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances for fiscal year 2012, as revised and released on October 23, 2015.1 For state and local government employment and payroll, we draw from the U.S. Census Bureau's Census of Governments Government Employment and Payroll survey for full-time equivalent employees in March 2012.}}{{Cite news |last=Woolfolk |first=John |date=January 15, 2018 |title=Why do Californians pay more state and local taxes than Texans? |work=San Jose Mercury News |url=https://www.mercurynews.com/2018/01/13/why-do-californians-pay-more-state-and-local-taxes-than-texans/ |url-status=live |access-date=July 16, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180208202805/https://www.mercurynews.com/2018/01/13/why-do-californians-pay-more-state-and-local-taxes-than-texans/ |archive-date=February 8, 2018 |quote=California spending per resident on K-12 schools was about average among the states, but while teacher pay was among the highest, the state trailed others in teachers and support staff per student.}}

{{main|List of colleges and universities in California}}

File:Berkeley glade afternoon.jpg is the oldest campus of the University of California, and the state's flagship public university.]]

File:Stanford University Main Quad - 7 June 2009.jpg is a private university that is one of the top-ranked universities in the world.{{Cite web |title=QS World University Rankings 2023: Top Global Universities |url=https://www.topuniversities.com/university-rankings/world-university-rankings/2023 |access-date=November 28, 2022 |website=Top Universities |language=en}}]]

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.{{Cite web |title=Log In—Confluence |url=https://confluence.ucop.edu/login.action?os_destination=%2Fpages%2Fviewpage.action%3FspaceKey%3DUC101%26title%3DAbout%2Bthe%2BUniversity%2Bof%2BCalifornia&permissionViolation=true |website=confluence.ucop.edu}} 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.{{Cite magazine |date=July 15, 2007 |title=America's Best Hospitals 2007 |url=http://health.usnews.com/usnews/health/best-hospitals/honorroll.htm |magazine=U.S. News & World Report |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070711023109/http://health.usnews.com/usnews/health/best-hospitals/honorroll.htm |archive-date=July 11, 2007 |access-date=July 15, 2007}} 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.{{Cite web |last=Gilmore |first=Janet |date=December 19, 2016 |title=85,000 students seek admission to Berkeley's 2017–18 freshman class |url=http://news.berkeley.edu/2016/12/19/85000-students-seek-admission-to-berkeleys-2017-18-freshman-class/ |access-date=May 8, 2017 |website=Berkeley News}}{{Cite web |last=Kendall |first=Rebecca |title=UCLA breaks several records with 2017 freshman applications |url=http://newsroom.ucla.edu/releases/ucla-breaks-several-records-with-2017-freshman-applications |access-date=May 8, 2017 |website=UCLA Newsroom}}Powell, Farran. "California Students Face Competition for College Options". U.S. News & World Report. N.p., February 6, 2017. Web. May 7, 2017. 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.{{Cite web |title=Rising number of rejections raises fears that Long Beach is becoming 'elite' university |url=https://edsource.org/2016/rising-number-of-rejections-raise-fears-that-long-beach-is-becoming-elite-university/95431 |access-date=May 8, 2017 |website=EdSource}} 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.{{Cite web |title=Baccalaureate Degree Program {{!}} California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office |url=https://www.cccco.edu/About-Us/Chancellors-Office/Divisions/Educational-Services-and-Support/What-we-do/Curriculum-and-Instruction-Unit/Curriculum/Baccalaureate-Degree-Program |access-date=October 8, 2022 |website=www.cccco.edu}}) It is the largest network of higher education in the U.S., composed of 112 colleges serving a student population of over 2.6{{spaces}}million.

California is also home to notable private universities such 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.

{{Main|Economy of California}}

File:SJ skyline at night horizontal.jpg is the largest tech hub in the world and home to Big Tech companies like Apple, Alphabet, Meta, Nvidia, Intel, HP, Netflix, Inc., Uber, and many more.]]

California's economy ranks among the largest in the world. {{as of|2024}}, the gross state product (GSP) is $4.0{{spaces}}trillion ($102,500 per capita), the largest of any U.S. state.{{cite web |title=GDP by State |url=https://www.bea.gov/data/gdp/gdp-state |website=GDP by State | U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) |publisher=Bureau of Economic Analysis |access-date=10 April 2022}} California is responsible for one seventh of the nation's gross domestic product (GDP).{{Cite web |title=GDP by State |website=Bureau of Economic Analysis |url=https://bea.gov/newsreleases/regional/gdp_state/qgdpstate_newsrelease.htm |access-date=May 18, 2018}} {{as of|2018}}, California's nominal GDP is larger than all but four countries.{{Cite web |date=July 2013 |title=California Poised to Move Up in World Economy Rankings in 2013 |url=http://www.ccsce.com/PDF/Numbers-July-2013-CA-Economy-Rankings-2012.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/http://www.ccsce.com/PDF/Numbers-July-2013-CA-Economy-Rankings-2012.pdf |archive-date=October 9, 2022 |url-status=live |access-date=June 14, 2014 |publisher=Center for Continuing Study of the California Economy}} In terms of purchasing power parity (PPP),{{Cite web |date=December 2, 2010 |title=Calif. retains economy that would be 8th largest |url=http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9JS1MLO0.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101206151318/http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9JS1MLO0.htm |archive-date=December 6, 2010 |access-date=September 2, 2012 |website=Bloomberg BusinessWeek}} it is larger than all but eight countries.{{Cite web |title=GDP, PPP (current international $) |url=http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NY.GDP.MKTP.PP.CD?order=wbapi_data_value_2012+wbapi_data_value+wbapi_data_value-last&sort=desc |access-date=June 14, 2014 |publisher=World Bank, International Comparison Program database}} California's economy is larger than Africa and Australia and is almost as large as South America.{{Cite web |date=October 2019 |title=GDP, current prices |url=https://www.imf.org/external/datamapper/NGDPD@WEO/OEMDC/ADVEC/WEOWORLD |access-date=January 22, 2020 |website=World Economic Outlook |publisher=International Monetary Fund}} The state recorded total, non-farm employment of 16,677,800 {{As of|2021|09|lc=y}} among 966,224 employer establishments.{{Cite web|title=U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: California|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/CA|url-status=live|access-date=December 6, 2021|website=www.census.gov|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201115306/https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/CA |archive-date=December 1, 2017 }}. As of 2024, California is home to 57 of the Fortune 500 companies, the highest number of any U.S. state.{{Cite web |last=Burleigh |first=Emma |date=2024-06-04 |title=California beats out Texas and New York as home to the most Fortune 500 companies |url=https://fortune.com/2024/06/04/fortune-500-california-most-companies/ |access-date=2025-02-17 |website=Fortune |language=en}}

File:The port of Long Beach 2 by Don Ramey Logan.jpg-Port of Long Beach is the largest port in the U.S. by import volume and one of the busiest ports in the world.]]

As the largest and second-largest U.S. ports respectively, the Port of Los Angeles and the Port of Long Beach in Southern California collectively play a pivotal role in the global supply chain, together hauling in about 40% of all imports to the United States by TEU volume. 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.Patrick Burnson, [https://www.logisticsmgmt.com/article/top_30_u.s._ports_trade_tensions_determine_where_cargo_goes_next Top 30 U.S. Ports 2019: Trade tensions determine where cargo goes next], Logistics Management (May 10, 2019).

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.{{Cite web |title=2011 CalFacts |url=http://www.lao.ca.gov/reports/2011/calfacts/calfacts_010511.aspx |access-date=April 22, 2011 |publisher=Lao.ca.gov}} California has an unemployment rate of 3.9% {{as of|2022|9|lc=y}}.{{Cite web|title=California Economy at a Glance|url=https://www.bls.gov/regions/west/california.htm|url-status=live|access-date=December 6, 2021|website=bls.gov|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141121114732/http://www.bls.gov:80/regions/west/california.htm |archive-date=November 21, 2014 }}

California's economy is dependent on trade and international related commerce accounts for about one-quarter of the state's economy, and representing 7% of their GDP; California's biggest trade partner is Mexico. In 2008, California exported $144{{spaces}}billion worth of goods, up from $134{{spaces}}billion in 2007 and $127{{spaces}}billion in 2006.{{Cite web |title=Trade Statistics |url=http://www.calchamber.com/international/trade/pages/tradestatistics.aspx |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100209095504/http://www.calchamber.com/international/trade/pages/tradestatistics.aspx |archive-date=February 9, 2010 |access-date=January 29, 2010 |publisher=California Chamber of Commerce}} Vehicles, computers and electronic products are California's top exports, accounting for 42 percent of all the state's exports in 2008; over 50 car companies operate in California, such as Tesla and Mazda.

{{main|Agriculture in California}}

{{further|Strawberry cultivation in California|Production of peaches in California|Walnuts in California}}

{{see also|California nut crimes}}

File:Autumn in Napa Valley vineyards.jpg in Wine Country. The agricultural industry in California is the largest in the U.S.]]

Agriculture is an important sector in California's economy. According to the USDA in 2011, the three largest California agricultural products by value were milk and cream, shelled almonds, and grapes. Farming-related sales more than quadrupled over the past three decades, from $7.3{{spaces}}billion in 1974 to nearly $31{{spaces}}billion in 2004.{{Cite web |date=August 6, 2007 |title=Cal Facts 2006 State Economy |url=http://www.lao.ca.gov/2006/cal_facts/2006_calfacts_econ.htm |access-date=January 29, 2010 |publisher=Legislative Analyst's Office of California}} 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. In 2008, California's 81,500 farms and ranches generated $36.2{{spaces}}billion products revenue.{{Cite web |date=2010 |title=California Agricultural Production Statistics 2009–2010 |url=http://www.cdfa.ca.gov/statistics/ |access-date=October 5, 2010 |publisher=cdfa.ca.gov (California Department of Food and Agriculture)}} In 2011, that number grew to $43.5{{spaces}}billion products revenue.{{Cite web |date=2013 |title=California Agricultural Production Statistics 2011 |url=http://www.cdfa.ca.gov/statistics/ |access-date=May 18, 2013 |publisher=cdfa.ca.gov (California Department of Food and Agriculture)}} The agriculture sector accounts for two percent of the state's GDP and employs around three percent of its total workforce.{{Cite news |last=Venton |first=Danielle |date=June 5, 2015 |title=A Better Way for California to Water Its Farms |magazine=Wired |url=https://www.wired.com/2015/06/farming-and-drought/ |access-date=June 5, 2015}}

{{See also|California locations by per capita income}}

File:Sleeping Beauty Castle 2019.jpg in Anaheim is a major tourist destination, with 16.9 million annual visits in 2022.{{Cite web |url = https://aecom.com/wp-content/uploads/documents/reports/AECOM-Theme-Index-2022.pdf |title = TEA/AECOM 2022 Global Attractions Attendance Report |date = 2023 |access-date = August 16, 2023 }}]]

Per capita GDP in 2021 was $85,546, ranking fourth in the nation. Per capita income varies widely by geographic region and profession.{{Cite press release |title=State Personal Income 2006 |date=March 27, 2007 |publisher=Bureau of Economic Analysis |url=https://www.bea.gov/newsreleases/regional/spi/2007/spi0307.htm |access-date=January 29, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070704133957/http://www.bea.gov/newsreleases/regional/spi/2007/spi0307.htm |archive-date=July 4, 2007}} 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.{{Cite web |last=Cowan |first=Tadlock |date=December 12, 2005 |title=California's San Joaquin Valley: A Region in Transition |url=http://www.centralvalleybusinesstimes.com/links/CRS%20San%20Joaquin%20Valley%20Report.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090324221541/http://www.centralvalleybusinesstimes.com/links/CRS%20San%20Joaquin%20Valley%20Report.pdf |archive-date=March 24, 2009 |access-date=January 29, 2010 |publisher=Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress |page=2}}

Using the supplemental poverty measure, California has a poverty rate of 23.5%, the highest of any state in the country.{{Cite news |last=Berlinger |first=Joshua |date=November 12, 2012 |title=A New Poverty Calculation Yields Some Surprising Results |work=Business Insider |url=http://www.businessinsider.com/new-census-data-on-poverty-rates-yields-some-pretty-shocking-results-2012-11 |access-date=October 7, 2013}} However, using the official measure the poverty rate was only 13.3% as of 2017.{{Cite web |title=U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: United States |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/US |access-date=August 2, 2019 |website=www.census.gov}} 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.{{Cite web |last=May |first=Patrick |title=How many millionaires do we have in California? Hint: It's a big number |url=https://www.chicoer.com/2019/02/05/how-many-millionaires-do-we-have-in-california-hint-its-a-big-number/ |access-date=May 3, 2020 |website=Enterprise Record|date=February 5, 2019 }} In 2010, California residents were ranked first among the states with the best average credit score of 754.{{Cite web |last=Bukszpan |first=Daniel |date=March 29, 2012 |title=States With the Best Credit Scores |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2012/03/29/States-With-the-Best-Credit-Scores.html |website=Cnbc.com}}

File:USA-World Nominal GDP.PNG|If California was an independent country, its gross domestic product (nominal) would rank fifth in the world (2022).{{Cite web |title=5. Report for Selected Countries and Subjects |url=https://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2016/01/weodata/weorept.aspx?pr.x=69&pr.y=15&sy=2018&ey=2018&scsm=1&ssd=1&sort=country&ds=.&br=1&c=512%2C672%2C914%2C946%2C612%2C137%2C614%2C546%2C311%2C962%2C213%2C674%2C911%2C676%2C193%2C548%2C122%2C556%2C912%2C678%2C313%2C181%2C419%2C867%2C513%2C682%2C316%2C684%2C913%2C273%2C124%2C868%2C339%2C921%2C638%2C948%2C514%2C943%2C218%2C686%2C963%2C688%2C616%2C518%2C223%2C728%2C516%2C558%2C918%2C138%2C748%2C196%2C618%2C278%2C624%2C692%2C522%2C694%2C622%2C142%2C156%2C449%2C626%2C564%2C628%2C565%2C228%2C283%2C924%2C853%2C233%2C288%2C632%2C293%2C636%2C566%2C634%2C964%2C238%2C182%2C662%2C359%2C960%2C453%2C423%2C968%2C935%2C922%2C128%2C714%2C611%2C862%2C321%2C135%2C243%2C716%2C248%2C456%2C469%2C722%2C253%2C942%2C642%2C718%2C643%2C724%2C939%2C576%2C644%2C936%2C819%2C961%2C172%2C813%2C132%2C199%2C646%2C733%2C648%2C184%2C915%2C524%2C134%2C361%2C652%2C362%2C174%2C364%2C328%2C732%2C258%2C366%2C656%2C734%2C654%2C144%2C336%2C146%2C263%2C463%2C268%2C528%2C532%2C923%2C944%2C738%2C176%2C578%2C534%2C537%2C536%2C742%2C429%2C866%2C433%2C369%2C178%2C744%2C436%2C186%2C136%2C925%2C343%2C869%2C158%2C746%2C439%2C926%2C916%2C466%2C664%2C112%2C826%2C111%2C542%2C298%2C967%2C927%2C443%2C846%2C917%2C299%2C544%2C582%2C941%2C474%2C446%2C754%2C666%2C698%2C668&s=NGDPD&grp=0&a= |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190323111307/https://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2016/01/weodata/weorept.aspx?pr.x=69&pr.y=15&sy=2018&ey=2018&scsm=1&ssd=1&sort=country&ds=.&br=1&c=512%2C672%2C914%2C946%2C612%2C137%2C614%2C546%2C311%2C962%2C213%2C674%2C911%2C676%2C193%2C548%2C122%2C556%2C912%2C678%2C313%2C181%2C419%2C867%2C513%2C682%2C316%2C684%2C913%2C273%2C124%2C868%2C339%2C921%2C638%2C948%2C514%2C943%2C218%2C686%2C963%2C688%2C616%2C518%2C223%2C728%2C516%2C558%2C918%2C138%2C748%2C196%2C618%2C278%2C624%2C692%2C522%2C694%2C622%2C142%2C156%2C449%2C626%2C564%2C628%2C565%2C228%2C283%2C924%2C853%2C233%2C288%2C632%2C293%2C636%2C566%2C634%2C964%2C238%2C182%2C662%2C359%2C960%2C453%2C423%2C968%2C935%2C922%2C128%2C714%2C611%2C862%2C321%2C135%2C243%2C716%2C248%2C456%2C469%2C722%2C253%2C942%2C642%2C718%2C643%2C724%2C939%2C576%2C644%2C936%2C819%2C961%2C172%2C813%2C132%2C199%2C646%2C733%2C648%2C184%2C915%2C524%2C134%2C361%2C652%2C362%2C174%2C364%2C328%2C732%2C258%2C366%2C656%2C734%2C654%2C144%2C336%2C146%2C263%2C463%2C268%2C528%2C532%2C923%2C944%2C738%2C176%2C578%2C534%2C537%2C536%2C742%2C429%2C866%2C433%2C369%2C178%2C744%2C436%2C186%2C136%2C925%2C343%2C869%2C158%2C746%2C439%2C926%2C916%2C466%2C664%2C112%2C826%2C111%2C542%2C298%2C967%2C927%2C443%2C846%2C917%2C299%2C544%2C582%2C941%2C474%2C446%2C754%2C666%2C698%2C668&s=NGDPD&grp=0&a= |archive-date=March 23, 2019 |access-date=December 15, 2018}}

File:California counties by GDP 2021.png|California counties by GDP (2021){{Cite web|title=GDP by county in 2021|url=https://www.bea.gov/sites/default/files/2022-12/lagdp1222.pdf}}

{{Main|California state finances|2008–12 California budget crisis}}

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

State spending increased from $56{{spaces}}billion in 1998 to $127{{spaces}}billion in 2011.{{Cite news |last=Nunes |first=Devin |date=January 10, 2009 |title=California's Gold Rush Has Been Reversed |page=A9 |work=The Wall Street Journal |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB123154816733469917 |access-date=January 29, 2010}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-california-budget-idUSTRE7095FB20110110 |title=California's Brown proposes "painful" budget cuts |last=Christie |first=Jim |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151015211702/http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/01/10/us-california-budget-idUSTRE7095FB20110110 |archive-date=October 15, 2015 |url-status=live |website=Reuters |date=January 10, 2011}} California has the third highest per capita spending on welfare among the states, as well as the highest spending on welfare at $6.67{{spaces}}billion.{{Cite news |last=Michael Gardner |date=July 28, 2012 |title=Is California the welfare capital?: Delving into why California has such a disproportionate share of the nation's recipients |work=U-T San Diego |url=http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2012/jul/28/welfare-capital-of-the-us/?page=1#article |access-date=August 6, 2012}} In January 2011, California's total debt was at least $265{{spaces}}billion.{{Cite web|url=http://www.sfgate.com/opinion/openforum/article/How-much-does-California-owe-2478624.php |title=How much does California owe? |last=Nation |first=Joe |website=Sfgate.com |date=January 19, 2011}} 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{{spaces}}billion.{{Cite web|url=http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Gov-Brown-proudly-signs-balanced-state-budget-4628307.php |title=Gov. Brown proudly signs balanced state budget |last=Buchanan |first=Wyatt |website=Sfgate.com |date=June 27, 2013 |access-date=July 29, 2013}}{{Cite news |title=California's current debt load: $132 billion |url=http://www.bizjournals.com/sacramento/news/2013/09/06/californias-current-debt-load-132.html}}

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.{{Cite web |title=California Proposition 30, Sales and Income Tax Increase (2012) |url=http://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php/California_Proposition_30,_Sales_and_Income_Tax_Increase_(2012)#cite_note-taxfoundation_states-6 |access-date=January 16, 2013 |publisher=Ballotpedia}}

All real property is taxable annually. Property tax increases are capped at 2% annually or the rate of inflation (whichever is lower), per Proposition 13.

{{Main|Energy in California}}

{{further|Solar power in California|Wind power in California}}

{{see also|History of oil in California through 1930|Plug-in electric vehicles in California}}

File:Moss Landing Power Plant p1270026.jpg, 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. The state has extensive hydro-electric energy generation facilities, however, moving water is the single largest energy use in the state. Also, due to 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.{{Cite news |last=Mufson |first=Steven |date=February 17, 2007 |title=In Energy Conservation, Calif. Sees Light |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/02/16/AR2007021602274.html |access-date=February 28, 2010}} 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.{{Cite web |date=October 20, 2011 |title=California—U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) |url=http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/state/state_energy_profiles.cfm?sid=CA |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101229175513/http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/state/state_energy_profiles.cfm?sid=CA |archive-date=December 29, 2010 |access-date=October 28, 2011 |publisher=Tonto.eia.doe.gov}}

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, 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. The Clean Energy, Jobs and Affordability Act of 2022 commits the state to running its operations on clean, renewable energy resources by 2035, and SB 1203 also requires the state to achieve net-zero operations for all agencies. 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.{{Cite web |last=Edison International |title=SCE Unveils Largest Battery Energy Storage Project in North America |url=https://newsroom.edison.com/releases/sce-unveils-largest-battery-energy-storage-project-in-north-america |access-date=May 10, 2020 |website=Edison International}} 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.{{cite journal | last1=Jacobson | first1=Mark Z. |authorlink1=Mark Z. Jacobson | last2=Delucchi | first2=Mark A. | last3=Ingraffea | first3=Anthony R. | last4=Howarth | first4=Robert W. | last5=Bazouin | first5=Guillaume | last6=Bridgeland | first6=Brett | last7=Burkart | first7=Karl | last8=Chang | first8=Martin | last9=Chowdhury | first9=Navid | last10=Cook | first10=Roy | last11=Escher | first11=Giulia | last12=Galka | first12=Mike | last13=Han | first13=Liyang | last14=Heavey | first14=Christa | last15=Hernandez | first15=Angelica | last16=Jacobson | first16=Daniel F. | last17=Jacobson | first17=Dionna S. | last18=Miranda | first18=Brian | last19=Novotny | first19=Gavin | last20=Pellat | first20=Marie | last21=Quach | first21=Patrick | last22=Romano | first22=Andrea | last23=Stewart | first23=Daniel | last24=Vogel | first24=Laura | last25=Wang | first25=Sherry | last26=Wang | first26=Hara | last27=Willman | first27=Lindsay | last28=Yeskoo | first28=Tim | title=A roadmap for repowering California for all purposes with wind, water, and sunlight | journal=Energy | volume=73 | date=2014 | doi=10.1016/j.energy.2014.06.099 | pages=875–889| bibcode=2014Ene....73..875J |display-authors=1}}

California has one major nuclear power plant (Diablo Canyon) in operation. The San Onofre nuclear plant was shut down in 2013. More than 1,700{{spaces}}tons of radioactive waste are stored at San Onofre,{{Cite news |date=August 28, 2018 |title=How a nuclear stalemate left radioactive waste stranded on a California beach |work=The Verge |url=https://www.theverge.com/2018/8/28/17765538/san-onofre-nuclear-generating-station-radioactive-spent-fuel-waste-yucca-mountain}} and sit on the coast where there is a record of past tsunamis.{{Cite news |last=Brown |first=Kate |date=November 19, 2019 |title=Opinion: California's San Onofre nuclear plant is a Chernobyl waiting to happen |work=Los Angeles Times |url=https://www.latimes.com/opinion/story/2019-11-19/san-onofre-nuclear-plant-waste-radioactive}} Voters banned the approval of new nuclear power plants since the late 1970s because of concerns over radioactive waste disposal.{{Cite news |last=Doyle |first=Jim |date=March 9, 2009 |title=Nuclear power industry sees opening for revival |page=A-1 |work=San Francisco Chronicle |url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/03/08/MN3H16ANEN.DTL |access-date=January 29, 2010}}{{refn|Minnesota also has a moratorium on construction of nuclear power plants, which has been in place since 1994.{{cite news |last1=Richert |first1=Catharine |last2=Brown |first2=Gretchen |title=Why nuclear energy is a political minefield in Minnesota |url=https://www.mprnews.org/episode/2023/11/13/why-nuclear-energy-is-a-political-minefield-in-minnesota |access-date=26 March 2024 |work=MPR News |date=13 November 2023}}|group="note"}} Several cities such as Oakland, Berkeley and Davis have declared themselves as nuclear-free zones.

{{Main|Transportation in California}}

{{see also|History of rail transportation in California}}

File:GoldenGateBridge-001.jpg in the San Francisco Bay Area, is one of the most famous bridges in the world.]]

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.{{Cite web |last=Mieszkowski |first=Katharine |date=September 2, 2010 |title=California Is Tops in Worst Roads—Pulse of the Bay |url=http://www.baycitizen.org/blogs/pulse-of-the-bay/read-while-you-are-waiting-traffic-clear |access-date=April 22, 2011 |publisher=The Bay Citizen |archive-date=July 22, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110722041103/http://www.baycitizen.org/blogs/pulse-of-the-bay/read-while-you-are-waiting-traffic-clear/ }}{{Cite news |date=August 9, 2007 |title=A bridge too far gone |newspaper=The Economist |url=http://www.economist.com/node/9621456}} 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.{{Cite web |title=19th Annual Report on the Performance of State Highway Systems (1984–2008) |url=http://reason.org/files/19th_annual_highway_report.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/http://reason.org/files/19th_annual_highway_report.pdf |archive-date=October 9, 2022 |url-status=live |website=Reason.org}}

File:San Francisco Bay Ferry Hydrus May 2017 (cropped).jpg is a public water taxi system in 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 {{convert|4200|ft|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 {{convert|76|ft}} wide by {{convert|58|ft}} high.{{Cite web |title=The San Francisco—Oakland Bay Bridge Facts at a glance |url=http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/esc/tollbridge/SFOBB/Sfobbfacts.html |access-date=April 5, 2012 |publisher=California Department of Transportation}} The Arroyo Seco Parkway, connecting Los Angeles and Pasadena, opened in 1940 as the first freeway in the Western United States.{{Cite news |last=Pool |first=Bob |date=June 25, 2010 |title=Pasadena Freeway getting a new look and a new name |work=Los Angeles Times |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2010-jun-25-la-me-parkway-20100625-story.html |access-date=April 5, 2012}} It was later extended south to the Four Level Interchange in downtown Los Angeles, regarded as the first stack interchange ever built.{{Cite web |date=September 22, 2011 |title=L.A.'s Famous Four-Level Freeway Interchange, 'The Stack', Turns 58 |url=http://www.kcet.org/updaily/socal_focus/history/la-as-subject/navigating-the-stack-the-four-level-turns-58.html |access-date=April 5, 2012 |publisher=KCET}}

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).{{Cite web |publisher=State of California—Department of Motor Vehicles|title=Statistics for Publication, January through December 2021|url=https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/file/department-of-motor-vehicles-statistics-pdf/}}

File:TheThemeBuildingLosAngeles (cropped2).jpg (LAX) is the 4th busiest airport in the world.]]

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:Pacific Surfliner @ San Clemente CA..jpg'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.{{Cite news |last=Cabanatuan |first=Michael |date=January 8, 2011 |title=Calif. Amtrak ridership rising on state trains |work=The San Francisco Chronicle |url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/01/05/BAMU1GU16Q.DTL}} Integrated subway and light rail networks are found in Los Angeles (Los Angeles Metro Rail) and San Francisco (Muni Metro). Light rail systems are also found in San Jose (VTA light rail), San Diego (San Diego Trolley), Sacramento (SacRT light rail), and Northern San Diego County (Sprinter). Furthermore, commuter rail networks serve the San Francisco Bay Area (Altamont Corridor Express, Bay Area Rapid Transit, Caltrain, Sonoma–Marin Area Rail Transit), Greater Los Angeles (Metrolink), and San Diego County (Coaster).

The California High-Speed Rail Authority was authorized in 1996 by the state legislature to plan a California High-Speed Rail system to put before the voters. The plan they devised, 2008 California Proposition 1A, connecting all the major population centers in the state, was approved by the voters at the November 2008 general election.{{Cite news |last=Cabanatuan |first=Michael |date=August 17, 2010 |title=Plan for high-speed rail system released |work=The San Francisco Chronicle |url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/11/08/BAV6140IK5.DTL}} The first phase of construction was begun in 2015, and the first segment {{convert|171|mi}} long, is planned to be put into operation by the end of 2030. Planning and work on the rest of the system is continuing, with funding for completing it is an ongoing issue.{{cite web |title=2023 Project Update Report |url=https://hsr.ca.gov/about/project-update-reports/2023-project-update-report/ |publisher=California High-Speed Rail Authority |access-date=September 6, 2023}} California's 2023 integrated passenger rail master plan includes a high speed rail system.[https://dot.ca.gov/-/media/dot-media/programs/rail-mass-transportation/documents/california-state-rail-plan/20230309-casrp-public-dor-guidance.pdf"California State Rail Modernization Plan 2023 Draft"]Caltrans March 2023

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.

{{Main|Water in California}}

File:Aerial view of Shasta Dam and Shasta Lake (2019).jpg, in the Shasta Cascade region, is California's largest reservoir.]]

California's interconnected water system is the world's largest, managing over {{convert|40000000|acre.ft|km3|lk=in}} of water per year, centered on six main systems of aqueducts and infrastructure projects.Hundley, N. (2001). The great thirst: Californians and water. Berkeley, Calif.: University of California Press. 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.{{Cite book |last=Reisner, Marc |title=Cadillac Desert: The American West and its Disappearing Water |date=1993 |publisher=Penguin}} Former California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger said:

We've been in crisis for quite some time because we're now 38{{spaces}}million people and not anymore 18{{spaces}}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."[https://www.cbsnews.com/news/why-california-is-running-dry/ Why California Is Running Dry]". CBS News. December 27, 2009.

File:Sacramento, California State Capitol.jpg in Sacramento, seat of the California government, hosts the California Legislature and the Governor of California.]]

{{Main|Government of California}}

The capital city of California is Sacramento.{{Cite web |title=§ 2 of Article III of the California Constitution |url=http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=CONS§ionNum=SEC.%202.&article=III |access-date=March 5, 2019 |website=California Office of Legislative Counsel}}

The state is organized into three branches of government—the executive branch consisting of the governor{{Cite web |title=§ 1 of Article V of the California Constitution |url=http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=CONS§ionNum=SECTION%201.&article=V |access-date=March 5, 2019 |website=California Office of Legislative Counsel}} and the other independently elected constitutional officers; the legislative branch consisting of the Assembly and Senate;{{Cite web |title=§ 1 of Article IV of the California Constitution |url=http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=CONS§ionNum=SEC.%201.&article=IV |access-date=March 5, 2019 |website=California Office of Legislative Counsel}} and the judicial branch consisting of the Supreme Court of California and lower courts.{{Cite web |title=§ 1 of Article VI of the California Constitution |url=http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=CONS§ionNum=SEC.%201.&article=VI |access-date=March 5, 2019 |website=California Office of Legislative Counsel}} The state also allows ballot propositions: direct participation of the electorate by initiative, referendum, recall, and ratification.{{Cite web |title=Article II of the California Constitution |url=http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displayText.xhtml?lawCode=CONS&division=&title=&part=&chapter=&article=II |access-date=March 5, 2019 |website=California Office of Legislative Counsel}} Before the passage of Proposition 14 in 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,{{Cite web |last=Bowen |first=Debra |title=Voter-Nominated Offices Information |url=http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/statewide-elections/2012-primary/new-open-primary-info.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131224014308/http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/statewide-elections/2012-primary/new-open-primary-info.pdf |archive-date=December 24, 2013 |access-date=March 16, 2014 |publisher=California Secretary of State}} 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.{{Cite web |last=Bowen |first=Debra |title=Voter-Nominated Offices Information |url=http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voter-nominated-offices.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140626162020/http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voter-nominated-offices.htm |archive-date=June 26, 2014 |access-date=March 16, 2014 |publisher=California Secretary of State}} At the primary election, the two candidates with the top votes will advance to the general election regardless of party affiliation. This is known as a nonpartisan blanket primary. 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.

{{main|California executive branch|Governor of California|List of California state agencies}}

File:Stanford Mansion - Sacramento, California (6007570640) (cropped).jpg is the official reception center for the California 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.{{Cite web |title=Article V of the California Constitution |url=http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displayText.xhtml?lawCode=CONS&division=&title=&part=&chapter=&article=V |access-date=March 6, 2019 |website=California Office of Legislative Counsel}}

The many California state agencies that are under the governor's cabinet are grouped together to form cabinet-level entities that are referred to by government officials as "superagencies". Those departments that are directly under the other independently elected officers work separately from these superagencies.{{cite book |last1=Van Vechten |first1=Renée B. |title=California Politics: A Primer |date=2011 |publisher=SAGE |location=Los Angeles |isbn=978-1-4522-0306-5 |page=63 |edition=2nd |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tatzWQscKmcC&pg=PA63 |access-date=February 25, 2019}}{{cite book |last1=Lawrence |first1=David G. |last2=Cummins |first2=Jeffrey |title=California: The Politics of Diversity |date=2019 |publisher=Rowman & Littlefield |location=Lanham |isbn=978-1-5381-2930-2|page=167 |edition=10th |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FwmkDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA167}}

{{main|California Legislature}}

The California State Legislature consists of a 40-member Senate and 80-member Assembly.{{Cite web|url=https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=CONS§ionNum=SEC.%202.&article=IV|title=California Constitution Article IV § 2|work=California Office of Legislative Counsel|access-date=February 23, 2019|archive-date=February 24, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190224062408/https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=CONS§ionNum=SEC.|url-status=live}} 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.

{{main|Judiciary of California}}

File:Supremecourtofcaliforniamaincourthouse (cropped).jpg primarily convenes at the Earl Warren Building in San Francisco (pictured), but also holds session in Sacramento and Los Angeles.]]

California's legal system is explicitly based upon English common law{{Cite web |title=California Civil Code § 22.2 |url=https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=CIV§ionNum=22.2. |access-date=March 6, 2019 |website=California Office of Legislative Counsel}} 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.{{Cite news |last=Thompson |first=Don |date=December 8, 2007 |title=Calif. Struggles with sentencing reform |work=USA Today |url=https://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2007-12-08-2244622424_x.htm |access-date=January 29, 2010}} 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).{{Cite web |title=Death Row Inmates by State and Size of Death Row by Year {{!}} Death Penalty Information Center |url=https://deathpenaltyinfo.org/death-row-inmates-state-and-size-death-row-year |access-date=May 8, 2017 |website=deathpenaltyinfo.org}}{{Cite web |title=State Execution Rates {{!}} Death Penalty Information Center |url=https://deathpenaltyinfo.org/state-execution-rates |access-date=May 8, 2017 |website=deathpenaltyinfo.org}} California has performed 13 executions since 1976, with the last being in 2006.{{Cite web |title=Inmates Executed 1978 to Present |url=https://www.cdcr.ca.gov/capital-punishment/inmates-executed-1978-to-present/ |access-date=May 7, 2022 |website=Capital Punishment |language=en-US}}

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 2020–2021, the state judiciary's 2,000 judicial officers and 18,000 judicial branch employees processed approximately 4.4 million cases.{{cite book |last1=Judicial Council of California |title=2022 Court Statistics Report: Statewide Caseload Trends, 2011–12 Through 2020–21 |date=2022 |publisher=Judicial Council of California |location=San Francisco |page=1 |url=https://www.courts.ca.gov/documents/2022-Court-Statistics-Report.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220704050343/https://www.courts.ca.gov/documents/2022-Court-Statistics-Report.pdf |archive-date=July 4, 2022 |url-status=live |access-date=August 19, 2022}}

{{Main|Local government in California}}

File:San Francisco City Hall September 2013 panorama 3.jpg 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, such as fire protection and water supply, especially in unincorporated areas, are handled by special districts.

{{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.{{Cite book |last=Baldassare |first=Mark |url={{google books|plainurl=y|id=sDs4WZV0SRsC|page=67}} |title=When Government Fails: The Orange County Bankruptcy |date=1998 |publisher=Public Policy Institute of California/University of California Press |isbn=978-0-520-21486-6 |pages=67–68 |lccn=97032806}}{{Cite book |last1=Janiskee |first1=Brian P. |url={{google books|plainurl=y|id=23Y3Nxs0qWgC|page=105}} |title=Democracy in California: Politics and Government in the Golden State |last2=Masugi |first2=Ken |date=2011 |publisher=Rowman & Littlefield Publishers |isbn=978-1-4422-0338-9 |edition=3rd |page=105 |lccn=2011007585}} In addition, the county serves as the local government for all unincorporated areas. Each county is governed by an elected board of supervisors.{{sfn|Baldassare|1998|p=50}}

{{see also|List of municipalities in California}}

File:Los Angeles City Hall 01 (cropped).jpg, seat of the Government of Los Angeles]]

Incorporated cities and towns in California are either charter or general-law municipalities. 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.

{{See also|List of school districts in California}}

File:LAUSD HQ Bldg.jpg is the second largest in the United States by enrollment.]]

About 1,102 school districts, independent of cities and counties, handle California's public education. 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.{{Citation |title=Individual State Descriptions: 2007 |date=November 2012 |url=http://www2.census.gov/govs/cog/isd_book.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/http://www2.census.gov/govs/cog/isd_book.pdf |archive-date=October 9, 2022 |url-status=live |pages=25–26 |series=2007 Census of Governments |publisher=United States Census Bureau |ref={{harvid|Census|2007}}}}

There are about 3,400 special districts in California.{{Cite book |last1=Mizany |first1=Kimia |url=http://www.waterplan.water.ca.gov/docs/cwpu2005/vol4/vol4-background-whatssospecialaboutspecialdistricts.pdf |title=What's So Special About Special Districts? A Citizen's Guide to Special Districts in California |last2=Manatt |first2=April |publisher=California Senate Local Government Committee |edition=3 |access-date=March 11, 2014 |archive-date=July 4, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110704180433/http://www.waterplan.water.ca.gov/docs/cwpu2005/vol4/vol4-background-whatssospecialaboutspecialdistricts.pdf }} 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.

{{main|United States congressional delegations from California}}

{{See also|California's congressional districts}}

File:California Congressional Delegation honoring Pete Stark.jpg in 2020]]

The state of California sends 52 members to the House of Representatives,{{Cite web |title=Directory of Representatives |url=http://www.house.gov/representatives/#state_ca |access-date=March 25, 2014 |publisher=House.gov}} the nation's largest congressional state delegation. Consequently, California also has the largest number of electoral votes in national presidential elections, with 54. The former speaker of the House of Representatives is the representative of California's 20th district, Kevin McCarthy.{{Cite web |title=California Senators, Representatives, and Congressional District Maps |url=https://www.govtrack.us/congress/members/CA |access-date=January 15, 2019 |website=GovTrack.us}}

California is represented in the United States Senate by Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff.

{{See also|California during World War II}}

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 at Naval Base Coronado in San Diego]]

In California, {{as of|lc=y|2009}}, 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.{{Cite web |date=2012 |title=Table 508. Military and Civilian Personnel in Installations: 2009 |url=https://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/2012/tables/12s0509.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111017094716/http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/2012/tables/12s0509.pdf |archive-date=October 17, 2011 |access-date=June 15, 2013 |website=United States Census Bureau |publisher=United States Department of Commerce}}

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.{{Cite web |last= |date=June 30, 2011 |title=Military recruitment 2010 |url=http://nationalpriorities.org/analysis/2011/military-recruitment-2010/ |access-date=June 15, 2013 |publisher=National Priorities Project}}

However, {{as of|2002|lc=y}}, Californians were relatively under-represented in the military as a proportion to its population.{{Cite journal |last1=Segal |first1=David R. |last2=Segal |first2=Mady Wechsler |date=2004 |title=America's Military Population |url=http://www.prb.org/Source/ACF1396.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/http://www.prb.org/Source/ACF1396.pdf |archive-date=October 9, 2022 |url-status=live |journal=Population Bulletin |volume=59 |issue=4 |page=10 |issn=0032-468X |access-date=June 15, 2013}}

In 2000, California, had 2,569,340 veterans of United States military service.{{Cite web |title=California—Armed forces |url=http://www.city-data.com/states/California-Armed-forces.html |access-date=December 26, 2009 |website=city-data.com}} {{as of|2010}}, 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{{spaces}}II (the largest population of this group of any state).{{Cite web |last= |date=September 30, 2010 |title=Table 7L: VETPOP2011 Living Veterans By State, Period of Service, Gender, 2010–2040 |url=http://www.va.gov/VETDATA/docs/Demographics/New_Vetpop_Model/7lVetPop11_POS_State.xlsx |access-date=June 15, 2013 |website=Veteran Population |publisher=Department of Veterans Affairs}}

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

{{clear}}

{{Main |Politics of California|Elections in California}}

{{see also|Politics of California before 1900|Political party strength in California}}

{|class="wikitable floatright"

|+California registered voters {{as of|2024|10|21|lc=y|df=US}}{{Cite web |title=pdf Report of Registration as of January 5, 2024 Registration by County |url=https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voter-registration/voter-registration-statistics |access-date=May 16, 2024}}

|-

! colspan=2 |Party

! Number of voters

! Percentage

|rowspan="10" style="font-size:small" |160px

Party registration by county{{break}}(October 2022):

{{legend|#d3e7ff|Democrat ≥ 30%}}

{{legend|#b9d7ff|Democrat ≥ 40%}}

{{legend|#86b6f2|Democrat ≥ 50%}}

{{legend|#ffccd0|Republican ≥ 30%}}

{{legend|#f2b3be|Republican ≥ 40%}}

{{legend|#e27f90|Republican ≥ 50%}}

|-

| {{party color cell|Democratic Party (United States)}}

|Democratic

|style="text-align:center;" |10,355,081

|style="text-align:center;" |45.83%

|-

| {{party color cell|Republican Party (United States)}}

|Republican

|style="text-align:center;" |5,638,209

|style="text-align:center;" |24.95%

|-

| {{party color cell|Independent (United States)}}

|No Party Preference

|style="text-align:center;" |4,986,066

|style="text-align:center;" |22.07%

|-

| {{party color cell|American Independent Party}}

|American Independent

|style="text-align:center;" |875,034

|style="text-align:center;" |3.87%

|-

| {{party color cell|Libertarian Party (United States)}}

|Libertarian

|style="text-align:center;" |234,978

|style="text-align:center;" |1.04%

|-

| {{party color cell|Peace and Freedom Party}}

|Peace and Freedom

|style="text-align:center;" |141,805

|style="text-align:center;" |0.63%

|-

| {{party color cell|Green Party (United States)}}

|Green

|style="text-align:center;" |107,929

|style="text-align:center;" |0.48%

|-

|colspan="2" style="text-align:left;" |Other

|style="text-align:center;" |256,557

|style="text-align:center;" |1.13%

|-

! colspan=2 |Total

! style="text-align:center;" |22,595,659

! style="text-align:center;" |100%

|}

California has an idiosyncratic political culture compared to the rest of the country, and is sometimes regarded as a trendsetter.{{Cite news |date=October 30, 2006 |title=California Is a Political Trendsetter |work=CBS News |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/california-is-a-political-trendsetter/ |access-date=February 22, 2011}} 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.{{Cite web|url=https://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/national.php?year=2016&off=0&elect=0&f=0|title=2016 Presidential General Election Results}} 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.

California was the second state to recall their state governor, the second state to legalize abortion, and the only state to ban marriage for gay couples twice by vote (including Proposition{{spaces}}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, 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 exclusively 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 protesters and pro-military counterprotesters in Berkeley (2008)]]

Several political movements have advocated for California independence. The California National Party and the California Freedom Coalition both advocate for California independence along the lines of progressivism and civic nationalism.{{Cite web |last=Jim Miller |title=California could see new political party with independence goal |url=http://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article54004530.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160308223549/http://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article54004530.html |archive-date=March 8, 2016 |access-date=March 19, 2016 |website=Sacramento Bee}} The Yes California movement attempted to organize an independence referendum via ballot initiative for 2019, which was then postponed.{{Cite web |last=Tech Insider |date=November 9, 2016 |title=What is 'Calexit' and how can California secede from the US? |url=http://www.businessinsider.com/calexit-explainer-california-plans-to-secede-2016-11 |access-date=March 31, 2017 |website=Business Insider}}

The Democrats also hold a supermajority in both houses of the state legislature. There are 62 Democrats and 18 Republicans in the Assembly; and 32 Democrats and eight Republicans in the Senate.

From 1952 through 1988, California was a Republican-leaning state, as the party carried the state's electoral votes in nine of ten elections, with 1964 as the sole 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 California 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 movement (2011)]]

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.{{Cite web |title=2016 Presidential General Election |url=http://www.ocvote.com/fileadmin/live/gen2016/results.htm |access-date=November 10, 2016 |website=Ocvote.com}}{{Cite news |last=Thornton |first=Paul |date=November 10, 2018 |title=RIP Republican Orange County |work=Los Angeles Times |url=https://latimes.com/la-ol-opinion-newsletter-midterm-election-20181110-htmlstory.html}} 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.{{Cite web |date=August 16, 2005 |title=Study Ranks America's Most Liberal and Conservative Cities |url=http://govpro.com/content/gov_imp_31439/index.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110501140306/http://govpro.com/content/gov_imp_31439/index.html |archive-date=May 1, 2011 |access-date=February 20, 2011 |publisher=Bay Area Center for Voting Research}}

In October 2022, out of the 26,876,800 people eligible to vote, 21,940,274 people were registered to vote.{{Cite web |date=October 24, 2022 |title=Voter Registration by County |url=https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/report-registration/15day-general-2022 |access-date=February 15, 2023 |website=Elections |publisher=California Secretary of State}} Of the people registered, the three largest registered groups were Democrats (10,283,258), Republicans (5,232,094), and No Party Preference (4,943,696).

California retains the death penalty, though it has not been used since 2006.{{cite web | url = https://www.npr.org/2023/01/13/1148846720/california-says-it-will-dismantle-death-row-the-move-brings-cheers-and-anger#:~:text=Technically%2C%20the%20death%20penalty%20still,the%20state%20in%2017%20years. | title = California says it will dismantle death row. The move brings cheers and anger | last = Westervelt | first = Eric | date = January 13, 2023 | website = npr.org | publisher = National Public Radio | access-date = August 5, 2023 }}

California has region twinning arrangements with:

• {{flagicon|Catalonia}} Catalonia, autonomous community of {{flagicon|Spain}} Spain{{Cite web |title=Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 71 |url=http://soir.senate.ca.gov/scr71 |publisher=Senate Office of International Relations}}
• {{flagicon|Alberta}} Alberta, province of {{flagicon|Canada}} Canada{{Cite web |title=California's Sister State Relationships | Senate Office of International Relations |url=https://soir.senate.ca.gov/sisterstates |access-date=September 30, 2018 |publisher=Soir.senate.ca.gov}}{{Cite web |title=California-Alberta Relations |url=http://economic.alberta.ca/documents/California-AB.pdf?0.8097911507356912 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180929233318/http://economic.alberta.ca/documents/California-AB.pdf?0.8097911507356912 |archive-date=September 29, 2018 |access-date=September 29, 2018}}
• {{flagicon|Jeju Province}} Jeju Province of {{flagicon|Republic of Korea}} South Korea{{Cite web |title=ACR 42 Assembly Concurrent Resolution - CHAPTERED |url=http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/05-06/bill/asm/ab_0001-0050/acr_42_bill_20050718_chaptered.html |access-date=March 2, 2023 |website=www.leginfo.ca.gov}}
• {{flagicon|China}} Guangdong, province of {{flagicon|China}} China{{cite web |title=State of California and Guangdong Province Sister State Agreement |url=https://soir.senate.ca.gov/content/state-california-and-guangdong-province-sister-state-agreement |website=Senate Office of International Relations |access-date=October 27, 2023}}

• Index of California-related articles
• Outline of California
• List of people from California
• Proposed Danish acquisition of California

{{Clear}}

{{NoteFoot}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{Cite book |last=Cohen |first=Saul Bernard |url={{google books|plainurl=y|id=QkMD8HKRlgoC|page=115}} |title=Geopolitics of the World System |date=2003 |publisher=Rowman & Littlefield |isbn=978-0-8476-9907-0}}
• {{Cite book |last=Rolle |first=Andrew |url=https://archive.org/details/californiahisto000roll |title=California: A History |publisher=Harlan Davidson |year=1998 |isbn=0-88295-938-7 |edition=5th |location=Wheeling, IL |orig-date=1963}}
• {{Cite book |last=Starr |first=Kevin |title=California: A History |date=2007 |publisher=Random House Digital, Inc. |isbn=978-0-8129-7753-0 |series=Modern Library Chronicles |volume=23 |author-link=Kevin Starr}}

{{See also|Bibliography of California history}}

• {{Cite book |last1=Chartkoff |first1=Joseph L. |url=https://archive.org/details/archaeologyofcal00char |title=The archaeology of California |last2=Chartkoff, Kerry Kona |date=1984 |publisher=Stanford University Press |isbn=978-0-8047-1157-9 |location=Stanford |oclc=11351549}}
• {{Cite book |last=Fagan |first=Brian |title=Before California: An archaeologist looks at our earliest inhabitants |date=2003 |publisher=Rowman & Littlefield Publishers |isbn=978-0-7425-2794-2 |location=Lanham, MD |oclc=226025645}}
• {{Cite book |last=Hart |first=James D. |title=A Companion to California |date=1978 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-502400-5 |location=New York, NY}}
• 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.
• {{Cite book |last1=Moratto |first1=Michael J. |title=California archaeology |last2=Fredrickson, David A. |date=1984 |publisher=Academic Press |isbn=978-0-12-506182-7 |location=Orlando |oclc=228668979}}
• {{Cite book |last=Newmark |first=Harris |url=https://archive.org/stream/sixtyyearsinsout00newmrich#page/n7/mode/2up |title=Sixty Years in Southern California 1853-1913 |date=1916 |publisher=The Knickerbacker Press |location=New York}}

{{Sister project links|auto=1|commonscat=yes|wikt=California|s=Portal:California|b=y|v=y}}

• [http://www.ca.gov/ State of California]
• [https://www.loc.gov/rr/program/bib/states/california/index.html California State Guide, from the Library of Congress]
• {{osmrelation-inline|165475}}
• [http://data.ca.gov/ data.ca.gov: open data portal from California state agencies]
• [http://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/state-fact-sheets/state-data.aspx?StateFIPS=06&StateName=California California State Facts from USDA]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20150422235318/http://www.ers.usda.gov/topics/in-the-news/california-drought-farm-and-food-impacts.aspx California Drought: Farm and Food Impacts from USDA, Economic Research Service]
• [http://diva.sfsu.edu/collections/sfbatv/bundles/188919 1973 documentary featuring aerial views of the California coastline from Mt. Shasta to Los Angeles]
• [http://waterandpower.org/museum/Early_City_Views%20(1800s)_Page_1.html/ Early City Views (Los Angeles)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201013171441/https://waterandpower.org/museum/Early_City_Views%20%281800s%29_Page_1.html |date=October 13, 2020 }}

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