California
The Golden State
Government
California became part of the union on September 9, 1850. It was the 31st state to enter the union when it was purchased from Mexico, It is the third largest state being 163,694 square miles. It is also the most popularized state. In 2014, California had 34.4 million people living there! It is the most popularized state in the United States.
Sacramento became the state capital in 1854. Jerry Brown is the current and also 39th Governor of California. He was elected in 2011.
Geography and Climate
California is known for it's great weather and location to many different types of regions. It has coastal, mountain, valley, and desert regions.
California is bordered by the states of Oregon, Nevada and Arizona. California meets the Pacific Ocean on the west. California shares an international border with Mexico.
California's weather varies based on its region. Most of California has cool, rainy winters and dry summers. The mountain region of California is colder and will get snow from time to time. The desert region of California is very dry and its temperatures can be very high. The Coastal Region of California is cooler, experiencing rainy winters and dry summers.
California's Agriculture and Economy
Crops
California produces more than 350 crops! Of those, the following are the only ones produced in California: almonds, artichokes, dates, figs, kiwifruit, olives, persimmons, pistachios, pomegranates. Of the states, California grows more avocados, grapes, lemons, melons, peaches, plums, and strawberries.
Soil
California has more than 1,688 soils. The San Joaquin series is the state soil. The Central Valley has more than 500,000 acres of San Joaquin soils. The soils are used for crops, such as wheat, rice, figs, almonds, oranges, and grapes.
Livestock
Livestock and poultry make up about 24% of California’s gross cash income, with a combined total of $9.8 billion. California has the most milk production in the nation with over 1.75 million dairy cows. Over 5.3 billion eggs are produced each year. There are over 410,000 Bee colonies in the state. Bees are used both for pollination and production of honey, and their value is over $42 million.
State Symbols
State Bird
State Flower
State Tree
State Flag
State Seal
State Motto
State Quarter
State Song
State Animal
Did You Know?
- The first Spanish missionaries arrived in California in the 1700s,
- Gold was discovered at Sutter’s Mill in 1848 which made settlers head to the west coast in search of fortune.
- Death Valley is one of the hottest and driest places in the United States. Temperatures can be greater than 120 degrees Fahrenheit during the summer and only gets around two inches of rain each year.
- The largest living tree in the world can be found in Sequoia National Park. It is estimated to be between 1,800-2,700 years old.
- Southern California has about 10,000 earthquakes a year. Most are so small they are never felt.
- The first motion picture theater opened in Los Angeles on April 2, 1903.
California's Celebrity Natives
- Robert Frost poet, San Francisco
- Katie Perry singer, Santa Barbara
- George Lucas filmmaker, Modesto
- Eldrick "Tiger" Woods golfer, Cypress
- Leonardo DiCaprio actor, Hollywood
Sports Teams
- Basketball: Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Clippers, Golden State Warriors, and the Sacramento Kings
- Baseball: Los Angeles Dodgers, Los Angeles Angels, Oakland Athletics, San Diego Padres, San Francisco Giants
- Hockey: Los Angeles Ducks, Los Angeles Kings, San Jose Sharks
- Football: San Diego Chargers, San Francisco Giants, Oakland Raiders, Los Angeles Rams
- Soccer: LA Galaxy and San Jose Earthquakes