Nicknames: Golden State

Capitol: Sacramento

Motto: Eureka - I have found it

Song: I love you California written by F. B. Silverwood

Flower: California Poppy Eschscholtzia californica

Tree: Redwood Sequoia sempervirens, and Giant Sequoia Sequoia gigantea

Bird: California Valley Quail

Gained Statehood: September 9, 1850

Name Origin: Named by Spanish after Califia, a mythical paradise in a Spanish novel, written by Montalvo in 1510.

California extends from the tropical beaches of San Diego near the Mexican border to the rugged northern coastline near Oregon. In the southern part of the state, warm Pacific waters and that famous California surf attract many tourists to its beaches. Traveling north, the coastline becomes more scenic, and the waters are cooler and the beaches more rocky. In northern California, hiking along rocky cliffs and visiting secluded beaches to see seals, sea otters or whales are more popular than swimming. Coastal mountains stretch along the western edge of the California. These volcanic peaks form a protective barrier sheltering the inlands from the full force of the Pacific Ocean weather patterns. In some places, the ridges are a few miles inland forming flat coastal plains where cities like Los Angeles and San Diego are located. At Big Sur the mountains meet the ocean to form spectacular coastal vistas.

Although California was sighted by Spanish navigator Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo in 1542, its first Spanish mission (at San Diego) was not established until 1769. Spain claimed and occupied California in the interest of increasing the Spanish realm and Catholic influence. The Spanish viewed the native population as playing an important role as Catholic citizens, but eventually the mission/presidio system failed to adopt the Indians to this role and did not attract a great deal of of Spanish settlers. The Yankee residents were the first to claim California, after "Californios" spent three decades in political confusion, in the Bear Flag revolt of June 1846. Due to the Mexican-American war that resulted from the Yankee takeover of Texas, the American Navy took control of California without firing a shot.
California became a U.S. territory in 1847 when Mexico surrendered it to John C. Frémont. James W. Marshall discovered gold at Sutter's Mill in 1848, starting the California Gold Rush and bringing settlers into California in search of gold. Gold mania swept the States and the world resulting in the remarkable fourty niner 49er migration. New California residents quickly overwhelming the Californios and Indians. California was recognized by the U.S. congress in October 1850. California had surpassed New York to become the most populous state in 1964. More immigrants settle in California than any other state.
Today California's leading industries include agriculture, manufacturing (transportation equipment, machinery, and electronic equipment), biotechnology, aerospace-defense, and tourism. California's natural resources include timber, petroleum, cement, and natural gas.

Gertrude Atherton, David Belasco , Shirley Temple Black , Dave Brubeck , Luther Burbank , Julia Child , Joe DiMaggio , James H. Doolittle , Isadora Duncan , John Frémont ,Robert Frost , Henry George , Richard "Pancho" Gonzales , George E. Hale , Bret Harte , William Randolph Hearst , Sidney Howard , Collis Potter Huntington , Helen Hunt Jackson , Robinson Jeffers , Anthony M. Kennedy ,Jack London , James W. Marshall , Aimee Semple McPherson , Marilyn Monroe , John Muir , Richard M. Nixon , Isamu Noguchi , Frank Norris , Kathleen Norris , George S. Patton, Jr. , Robert Redford , Sally K. Ride , William Saroyan , Junípero Serra , Upton Sinclair , Leland Stanford , Lincoln Steffens ,John Steinbeck , Adlai Stevenson , Johann Sutter , Michael Tilson Thomas , Earl Warren