California is known for:
- Hollywood
- Silicon Valley
- Disneyland
- Dry weather
- Surfing
- Less-than-ideal public transportation
- Wine country region
- Bad traffic
Geography & Demographics
| State Abbreviation |
CA |
| State Capital |
Sacramento |
| State Size |
Total (Land + Water): 163,696 sq miles; Land Only: 155,959 sq miles |
| Number of Counties |
58 |
| Time Zone |
Pacific Time Zone |
| Bordering States |
Arizona, Nevada, Oregon |
| Highest Point | Mount Whitney, 14,505 feet |
| Tallest Building | Wilshire Grand Center in Los Angeles, 1,100 feet |
| Largest Stadium | Rose Bowl in Pasadena, capacity 90,888 |
| National Parks | Channel Islands National Park
Death Valley National Park
Joshua Tree National Park
Kings Canyon National Park
Lassen Volcanic National Park
Pinnacles National Park
Redwood National Park
Sequoia National Park
Yosemite National Park
|
| State Population (2020) | 39,538,223 |
| State Population Density | 253.5 people / square mile |
| Area Codes |
209, 213, 279, 310, 323, 341, 408, 415, 424, 442, 510, 530, 559, 562, 619, 626, 628, 650, 657, 661, 669, 707, 714, 747, 760, 764, 805, 818, 820, 831, 840, 858, 909, 916, 925, 935, 949, 951 |
| Top 5 Cities (2020 population) |
Los Angeles (3,970,219)
San Diego (1,422,420)
San Jose (1,013,616)
San Francisco (866,606)
Fresno (530,267)
|
Government & Legislature
State Symbols
| State Animal | California grizzly bear |
| State Bird |
California Valley Quail |
| State Colors | Blue and gold |
| State Dance | West Coast swing dance |
| State Fife and Drum Corps | California Consolidated Drum Band |
| State Fish | Golden trout |
| State Flower |
Golden poppy |
| State Folk Dance | Square dance |
| State Fossil | Saber-toothed cat |
| State Gemstone | Benitoite |
| State Gold Rush Ghost Town | Bodie |
| State Grass | Purple needlegrass |
| State Historical Society | California Historical Society |
| State Insect | California dogface butterfly |
| State Lichen | Lace lichen |
| State Marine Fish | Garibaldi |
| State Marine Mammal | California gray whale |
| State Motto |
Eureka (I have found it) |
| State Marine Reptile | Pacific leatherback sea turtle |
| State Military Museum | California State Military Museum |
| State Mineral | Gold |
| State Nickname |
Golden State |
| State Prehistoric Artifact | Chipped stone bear |
| State Reptile | Desert tortoise |
| State Rock | Serpentine |
| State Silver Rush Ghost Town | Calico |
| State Soil | San Joaquin Soil |
| State Song | "I Love You, California" |
| State Tall Ship | The Californian |
| State Theater | Pasadena Playhouse |
| State Tree |
California redwood and sequoia |
| State Vietnam Veterans Memorial | California Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Sacramento's Capitol Park |
Sports Teams
| Major Sports Teams |
MLB: Los Angeles Angels, Los Angeles Dodgers, San Diego Padres, San Francisco Giants, Oakland A's
NFL: Los Angeles Rams, Los Angeles Chargers, San Francisco 49ers
NBA: Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Clippers, Golden State Warriors, Sacramento Kings
NHL: Anaheim Mighty Ducks, Los Angeles Kings, San Jose Sharks
MLS: LA Galaxy, Los Angeles Football Club, San Jose Earthquake |
| NCAA Division I Schools |
University of California, Berkeley (Pac-12)
University of California, Davis (Big West)
University of California, Irvine (Big West)
University of California, Los Angeles (Pac-12)
California Polytechnic State University (Big West)
University of California, Riverside (Big West)
University of California, Santa Barbara (Big West)
California State University, Bakersfield (WAC)
California State University, Fresno (Mountain West)
California State University, Fullerton (Big West)
California State University, Long Beach (Big West)
California State University, Northridge (Big West)
California State University, Sacramento (Big Sky)
Loyola Marymount University (West Coast)
University of the Pacific (West Coast)
Pepperdine University (West Coast)
Saint Mary's College of California (West Coast)
University of San Diego (West Coast)
San Diego State University (Mountain West)
University of San Francisco (West Coast)
San Jose State University (Mountain West)
Santa Clara University (West Coast)
University of Southern California (Pac-12)
Stanford University (Pac-12)
|
Popular Tourist Attractions
- Balboa Park: Park in San Diego, California.
- California's Great America: Amusement park in Santa Clara, California.
- Disneyland: Theme park in Anaheim, California.
- Golden Gate Bridge: Bridge in San Francisco, California.
- Griffith Observatory: Observatory in Los Angeles, California.
- Hearst Castle: Historic castle in San Simeon, California.
- Hollywood Bowl: Concert hall in Los Angeles, California.
- Knott's Berry Farm: Amusement park in Buena Park, California.
- Legoland California: Theme park in Carlsbad, California.
- Los Angeles Zoo: Zoo in Los Angeles, California.
- Monterey Bay Aquarium: Aquarium in Monterey, California.
- San Diego Zoo: Zoo in San Diego, California.
- Santa Monica Pier: Recreational and entertainment center in Santa Monica, California.
- SeaWorld San Diego: Theme park in San Diego, California.
- Sequoia National Park: National park in the southern Sierra Nevada region in California.
- Six Flags Magic Mountain: Theme park in Valencia, California.
- The Queen Mary: Floating hotel in Long Beach, California.
- Universal Studios Hollywood: Theme park in Universal City, California.
- Yosemite National Park: National park in the Sierra Nevada region in California.
UNESCO Heritage Sites
Festivals and Events
Top festivals and events in California. They are listed in approximate order of when they take place during the year.
Popular Iconic California Foods
California is famous for the following foods:
- Double-Double from In-N-Out
- Garlic Ice Cream
- Clam Chowder in a Sourdough Bread Bowl
- Cobb Salad
- California Roll
- California-Style Pizza
- Mission Burrito
- French Dip Sandwich
- Fortune Cookie
- Avocado Toast
- Ranch Dressing
- Cioppino
- Tri-Tip
California has 6 three-star Michelin restaurants:
| Restaurant |
City |
Cuisine |
| SingleThread | Healdsburg | Contemporary, Californian |
| Addison | San Diego | Contemporary |
| Atelier Crenn | San Francisco | Contemporary, French |
| Benu | San Francisco | Asian, Contemporary |
| Quince | San Francisco | Contemporary, Californian |
| The French Laundry | Yountville | Contemporary, French |
California has 12 two-star Michelin restaurants:
| Restaurant |
City |
Cuisine |
| Harbor House | Elk | Californian, Creative |
| Hayato | Los Angeles | Japanese, Seafood |
| n/naka | Los Angeles | Japanese, Contemporary |
| Providence | Los Angeles | Seafood |
| Commis | Oakland | Contemporaryn |
| Acquerello | San Francisco | Italian, Contemporary |
| Birdsong | San Francisco | Contemporary, American |
| Californios | San Francisco | Mexican, Contemporary |
| Lazy Bear | San Francisco | Contemporary, Modern |
| Saison | San Francisco | Californian, Contemporary |
| Mélisse | Santa Monica | French |
| Sushi Ginza Onodera | West Hollywood | Japanese, Sushi |
Famous People Born In California
Nobel Prize Winners
- Joseph Erlanger (Physiology or Medicine, 1944)
- Edwin M. McMillan (Chemistry, 1951)
- Willis E. Lamb (Physics, 1955)
- Owen Chamberlain (Physics, 1959)
- John Steinbeck (Literature, 1962)
- Luis Alvarez (Physics, 1968)
- Dudley R. Herschbach (Chemistry, 1986)
- Robert B. Laughlin (Physics, 1998)
- Eric Cornell (Physics, 2001)
- Leland Hartwell (Physiology or Medicine, 2001)
- Thomas C. Schelling (Economic Sciences, 2005)
- Andrew Z. Fire (Physiology or Medicine, 2006)
- Elinor Ostrom (Economic Sciences, 2009)
- Carol W. Greider (Physiology or Medicine, 2009)
- Thomas J. Sargent (Economic Sciences, 2011)
- William E. Moerner (Chemistry, 2014)
- Charles M Rice (Physiology or Medicine, 2020)
- Jim Clausere (Physics, 2022)
United States Presidents
- Richard M. Nixon (37th President)
Pro Football Hall Of Fame Members
- Mel Hein (Center, Linebacker. Inducted in 1963)
- Hugh McElhenny (Halfback. Inducted in 1970)
- Frank Gifford (Halfback, Flanker. Inducted in 1977)
- Ron Mix (Offensive Tackle. Inducted in 1979)
- Pete Rozelle (General Manager, NFL Commissioner. Inducted in 1985)
- O. J. Simpson (Running Back. Inducted in 1985)
- Bob St. Clair (Offensive Tackle. Inducted in 1990)
- Tex Schramm (General Manager, Team President. Inducted in 1991)
- Dan Fouts (Quarterback. Inducted in 1993)
- Bill Walsh (Coach. Inducted in 1993)
- Anthony Muñoz (Offensive Tackle. Inducted in 1998)
- Marcus Allen (Running Back. Inducted in 2003)
- James Lofton (Wide Receiver. Inducted in 2003)
- Troy Aikman (Quarterback. Inducted in 2006)
- Warren Moon (Quarterback. Inducted in 2006)
- Gary Zimmerman (Offensive Tackle. Inducted in 2008)
- Les Richter (Linebacker, Guard, Kicker. Inducted in 2011)
- Larry Allen (Guard, Tackle. Inducted in 2013)
- Junior Seau (Linebacker. Inducted in 2015)
- Dick Stanfel (Guard. Inducted in 2016)
- Terrell Davis (Running Back. Inducted in 2017)
- Jerry Jones (Owner. Inducted in 2017)
- Tony Gonzalez (Tight End. Inducted in 2019)
- Troy Polamalu (Safety. Inducted in 2020)
- Tom Flores (Head Coach. Inducted in 2021)
- Tony Boselli (Offensive Tackle. Inducted in 2022)
- Dick Vermeil (Head Coach. Inducted in 2022)
Baseball Hall Of Fame Players
- Frank Chance (First Baseman. Inducted in 1946)
- Harry Heilmann (Right Fielder. Inducted in 1952)
- Joe DiMaggio (Center Fielder. Inducted in 1955)
- Joe Cronin (Shortstop. Inducted in 1956)
- Ted Williams (Left Fielder. Inducted in 1966)
- Chick Hafey (Left Fielder. Inducted in 1971)
- Harry Hooper (Right Fielder. Inducted in 1971)
- Lefty Gomez (Pitcher. Inducted in 1972)
- George Kelly (First Baseman. Inducted in 1973)
- Bob Lemon (Pitcher. Inducted in 1976)
- Duke Snider (Center Fielder. Inducted in 1980)
- Don Drysdale (Pitcher. Inducted in 1984)
- Bobby Doerr (Second Baseman. Inducted in 1986)
- Ernie Lombardi (Catcher. Inducted in 1986)
- Tony Lazzeri (Second Baseman. Inducted in 1991)
- Tom Seaver (Pitcher. Inducted in 1992)
- Eddie Murray (First Baseman. Inducted in 2003)
- Gary Carter (Catcher. Inducted in 2003)
- Dennis Eckersley (Pitcher. Inducted in 2004)
- Tony Gwynn (Right Fielder. Inducted in 2007)
- Joe Gordon (Second Baseman. Inducted in 2009)
- Randy Johnson (Pitcher. Inducted in 2015)
- Trevor Hoffman (Pitcher. Inducted in 2018)
- Alan Trammell (Shortstop. Inducted in 2018)
Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall Of Fame Players
- Hank Luisetti (Forward. Inducted in 1959)
- Vic Hanson (Guard. Inducted in 1960)
- Jim Pollard (Center-Forward. Inducted in 1978)
- Ann Meyers (Guard. Inducted in 1993)
- Bill Walton (Center. Inducted in 1993)
- Vern Mikkelsen (Forward. Inducted in 1995)
- Cheryl Miller (Forward. Inducted in 1995)
- Gail Goodrich (Guard. Inducted in 1996)
- George Yardley (Guard-Forward. Inducted in 1996)
- Dennis Johnson (Guard. Inducted in 2010)
- Reggie Miller (Guard. Inducted in 2012)
- Jamaal Wilkes (Guard-Forward. Inducted in 2012)
- Gary Payton (Guard. Inducted in 2013)
- Lisa Leslie (Center. Inducted in 2015)
- Ray Allen (Guard. Inducted in 2018)
- Jason Kidd (Guard. Inducted in 2018)
- Tina Thompson (Forward. Inducted in 2018)
- Paul Westphal (Guard. Inducted in 2019)
- Kim Mulkey (Coach. Inducted in 2020)
- Rick Adelman (Coach. Inducted in 2021)
- Paul Pierce (Forward. Inducted in 2021)
Hockey Hall Of Fame Members
- Angela Ruggiero (Defense. Inducted in 2015)
Famous Actors And Actresses
- Ben Affleck
- Jessica Alba
- Jennifer Aniston
- Jeff Bridges
- Nicolas Cage
- Jessica Chastain
- Cher
- Ted Danson
- Cameron Diaz
- Leonardo DiCaprio
- Robert Duvall
- Clint Eastwood
- Will Ferrell
- Sally Field
- Jodie Foster
- Gene Hackman
- Tom Hanks
- Donah Hill
- Dustin Hoffman
- Helen Hunt
- Dwayne Johnson
- Angelina Jolie
- Diane Keaton
- Brie Larson
- Liza Minnelli
- Marilyn Monroe
- Gwyneth Paltrow
- Gregory Peck
- Sean Penn
- Cliff Robertson
- Kristen Stewart
Famous Singers
- Paula Abdul
- Jeff Buckley
- Colbie Caillat
- Kim Carnes
- Cher
- Cherrelle
- Snoop Dogg
- Ella Fitzgerald
- John Fogerty
- Josh Groban
- Etta James
- Courtney Love
- Mike Patton
- Kate Perry
- Steve Perry
- Bonnie Raitt
- Patrice Rushen
- Raphael Saadiq
- Gwen Stefani
- Suzanne Vega
- Tom Waits
- Scott Weiland
California Fun Facts
- California was the name given to a mythical island in the popular early 16th century Spanish novel Las Sergas de Esplandián. When the Spanish started exploring the Pacific coast, they applied this name to the Baja California Peninsula. That name stuck.
- Spanish navigator Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo became the first European in recorded history to sight the region that is present-day California in 1542.
- The first McDonald's restaurant opened in San Bernardino in 1940 by brothers Richard and Maurice McDonald.
- San Bernardino County is the largest county in the United States, totaling 20,105 square miles.
- Castroville is known as the Artichoke Capital of the World. In 1947, Norma Jean was crowned Castroville's first Artichoke Queen. She later became a world-famous actress by her screen name, Marilyn Monroe.
- California has more national parks than any other state in USA. Of the 59 national parks in USA, California has 9 national parks.
- On Jan. 24, 1848, James W. Marshall discovered gold at Sutter's Mill, starting the California Gold Rush and bringing settlers to the state in large numbers.
- Fresno, California is the Raisin Capital of the World.
- William Todd designed the original California flag. He was the nephew of Mary Todd Lincoln, Abraham Lincoln's wife.
- California is the only state that has hosted both the Summer and Winter Olympics.
- At 14,505 feet, California's Mount Whitney is the highest peak in the lower 48 states.
- In 1996, California became the first state to legalize marijuana (weed) for medical use.
This page was last updated on October 14, 2023.
ADVERTISEMENTS
|
