Top 10 Facts about California state


 

The State of California was admitted as the 31st state of the union in 1850. By the early 1960s, the state was the most populous U.S. state.

The state has an area of about 163,696 square miles, making it the third-largest state in the US in terms of land area

California is one of the most popular destinations in North America. Some famous attractions in California are the Golden Gate Bridge, Disneyland, and Hollywood.

It also hosts popular music festivals like Coachella, is loved as the Wine Country, attracts techs to the Silicon Valley, and Surf Culture.

Its capital city is Sacramento while Los Angeles is the most populated city in the state. LA is also home to Hollywood. California’s economy is the largest in the United States.

There is a lot more to learn about the Golden State. Check out the top 10 facts about California State below. 

1. California State has several nicknames

Photo by Keith Allison – Wikimedia

California has several nicknames. The names are the Land of Milk and Honey, the El Dorado State, the Golden State, the Sunshine State, the Grape State, and the Golden West.

The nickname “the Land of Milk and Honey” was accorded after they discovered gold Coloma.

Several new opportunities came after the discovery of gold, subsequently, people from all backgrounds took the opportunity to better themselves financially.

These new opportunities were compared to the promised land in the bible. Additionally, the nickname the Golden State came about after the gold rush in 1968.

Development in California can be traced back to the discovery of gold in 1848.    

2. California State is heavily influenced by the Spanish

The Spanish settled in California back in the 18th century. Today, traces of their influence is evident through architecture and the names of places. California’s capital city is Sacramento.

While it was still under the colonial rule of the Spanish, California was a province of independent Mexico.

The political history of this state, racial and cultural composition all bear their roots in the Spanish.

There is no version of the origin of the name California that has been accepted. Some believe that it was borrowed from an early 16th-century Spanish novel, Las sergas de Esplandián.

This novel told the story of an island full of gold and other precious stones called California.

3. California is the most populous state in the United States

Photo by Stan Shebs – Wikimedia

California is the 3rd largest state as well as the most populous. More than 40 million people call California home.

This is 10 million more than the population in Texas. California, therefore, has an eighth of the total population in the US. 

To put it into perspective, there are more people in California alone than there are in Canada.

4. California is the most culturally diverse State

Like New York, California is a culturally and linguistically diverse state. The indigenous groups in California are about 70. They settled along the coast and the interior parts.

A majority of residents in California belong to a minority ethnic group. It is estimated that at least 1 out of 4 citizens was not born in California

The culture here has influence from Hispanic California, Asia and Mexico. While in California, you will notice several galleries, museums, and concert halls.

Some famous artists from California are David Park, Elmer Bischoff, and Richard Diebenkorn.

5. California is famously known as the home of the film industry thanks to Hollywood

Photo by Thomas Wolf – Wikimedia

Hollywood is found in the central region of the state. The neighbourhood around Hollywood is densely populated. It is considered to be the home of the country’s film industry.

There are notable media houses and studios such as Dolby Theatre, MTV, Comedy Central, CBS Studios, NBC Studios, BET, and NBC.

The first movie that premiered in California was in 1911 and was produced by the Nestor Motion Picture Company.

The movie studios here are state of the art and have magnificent sets. California still holds on to the top spot of theatrically released projects in 2020.

6. California State is famous for its Vineyards and Wineries

Photo by Stan Shebs – Wikimedia

Wine has been produced in the north of the Bay Area since the early 1800s. The region became popular in the mid-1970s as the Wine Country.

The region had 25 wineries in the triangle within Napa, Sonoma, and the Russian River Valley. Today, there are more than 800 world-class cellars.

Another nickname for California is The Grape State. This state has the largest vineyards with thousands of small and large wineries.

About 90% of wine supplied in the United States comes from California. They also export some to Europe.

The wineries and vineyards in the Bay area, and Central, Russian River, and Napa Valley are open for tours.

7. California State has several Hot Springs and Sandy Beaches

Other than the beautiful beaches and Hollywood, California is also known for its several hot springs.

Some of the hot springs are located in remote places and you may be required to walk or hike to reach them.

Before using the hot springs, it is advisable to get clearance from your doctor. Hot Springs have been proven to have health benefits and you can enjoy a dip with family and friends.

If you prefer the beach, then bring your beach towel and enjoy a swim in the ocean. There are several other cool spots for surfing too.  

8. California is home to the Silicon Valley

Photo by The Pancake of Heaven – Wikimedia

California is the birthplace of the invention. An example is the internet was first used in California in 1969.

There are ivy league universities and other top performing institutions that have smart and talented students.

Some of the top tech companies like Twitter, Apple, Tesla, Google, Meta, Microsoft, Yahoo are all based in California.

Their location in the south San Francisco Bay Area is popularly known as Silicon Valley.

9. The State of California has the largest trees in the country

While California is known for getting big quakes, they also have some of the biggest trees in the country.

There is one massive tree that has a name, General Sherman. It is a sequoia in the Sequoia National Park.

The tree is over 52,000 cubic feet by volume and it’s over 100 ft in circumference at its base.

Giant sequoia trees are mostly found in California. It is a major symbol of the diverse ecosystem that California is known for.  

10. The Death Valley in California is one of the hottest in the world

Photo by Tuxyso – Wikimedia

The Death Valley is a desert located on the northern side of the Mojave Desert close to the Great Basin Desert.

It is one of the hottest deserts in the world with the highest temperature ever recorded being 134.1℉ in 1913. Temperatures in this desert exceed 100℉ in the summer.

Additionally, the desert has the lowest point in North America in the Badwater Basin. It is 282 feet below sea level.

Although the desert has a harsh climate, there are beautiful rock formations and spotless dunes.

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