Although California was sighted by Spanish navigator Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo
in 1542, its first Spanish mission (at San Diego) was not established until 1769.
California became a U.S. territory in 1847 when Mexico surrendered it to John
C. Frémont. 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. By1964, California had surpassed New York to become the most populous
state. One reason for this may be that more immigrants settle in California than
any other state—more than one-third of the nation's total in 1994. Asians
and Pacific Islanders led the influx.
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Capital City: Sacramento
Capitol Tour
California: State of California Official Web site
Admission to Statehood:
Click for Date & List
Airports:
Airport Links
Amtrak:
California •
California Amtrak History
Area: 163707 sq.mi, 3rd Land 155973 sq. mi., 3rd Water 7734
sq.mi., 6th Coastline 840 mi., 3rd Shoreline 3,427 mi., 5th
Area Codes:
California
Beaches:
California
Beaches
Biographies:
Famous People from California
Bird:
California
Quail
Border States: Regional List •
Arizona •
Nevada •
Oregon
Cam World:
Live Web Cams
Chambers of Commerce:
California
Climate: Climate:
California
Community Pages: California Cities,
Towns, Communities List
Constitution: 31st
State
County Profile:
County Map
California's 58 Counties Courts: Judicial System
Current Events:
California News Headlines
Department of Education: Education •
Certification
• California Institute of
Technology -
California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California.
California State
University System
California State University -
CSU -
Monterey Bay.
Stanford University-
Stanford, CA.
University of California
System - UC Berkeley
The University of California at Berkeley, founded 1868.
University of California -
The University of California at Los Angeles, CA.
University of California -
The University of California at San Diego, CA.
Driving: DMV
Earthquakes:
California
Earthquake Facts and History
Economy: Agriculture: Vegetables, fruits and nuts, dairy products,
cattle, nursery stock, grapes. Industry: Electronic
components and equipment, aerospace, film production, food processing,
petroleum, computers and computer software, tourism.
Environment:
Clickable Map Fast Facts & Trivia:
USA States List
Flag: California (CA)
Flower:
Poppy
Genealogical Resources:
Cyndi's List
Historical
Societies
Geographic Center: 38 miles east of Madera
Geology Maps:
California
Ghost Towns:
California Ghost Towns
Government: California has several different and overlapping forms of local government. Cities, counties, and the one city and county can make ordinances (local laws), including the establishment and enforcement of civil and criminal penalties.
The entire state is subdivided into 58 counties (e.g. Merced County). The most important municipal entity is the city (e.g. Los Angeles). California cities are granted broad plenary powers under the California Constitution to assert jurisdiction over just about anything, and they cannot be abolished or merged without the consent of a majority of their inhabitants. For example, Los Angeles runs its own water and power utilities and its own elevator inspection department, while practically all other cities rely upon private utilities and the state elevator inspectors. San Francisco is unique in that it is the only consolidated city-county in the state.
The city of Lakewood, California pioneered the Lakewood Plan, a contract under which a city reimburses a county for performing services which are more efficiently performed on a countywide basis. Such contracts have become very popular throughout California and many other states, as they enable city governments to concentrate on particular local concerns like zoning. A city which contracts out most of its services, particularly law enforcement, is known as a contract city.
There are also thousands of "special districts", which are areas with a defined territory in which a specific service is provided, such as
schools or fire stations. These entities lack plenary power to enact laws, but do have the power to promulgate administrative regulations that often carry the force of law within land directly controlled by such districts. Many special districts, particularly those created to provide public transportation or education, have their own police departments (e.g. Bay Area Rapid Transit District/BART Police and University of California/UC Police Department).
Governor: Governor:
Office of
Governor •
List
of Governors of California
Governors of California:
Past
and present Governors
Highest Point: Mt.
Whitney; 14,494 feet, 2nd
Highways: Lincoln
Highway Association • Historic Route 66
• California
Highways Historic Highways History:
Kids Corner: State of
California Kids Site
Hotels, Motels & Inns:
Library: California
License Plates:
California
Lighthouses:
California
Lottery: California Lottery
Lowest Point:
Death Valley; 282 feet below sea level, 1st
Maps:
Missions: California Mission
Studies Association
• Motto:The Greek word "Eureka" has appeared on the state seal since
1849 and means "I have found it". The words were probably intended to refer to
the discovery of gold in California. Archimedes, the famed Greek mathematician,
is said to have exclaimed "Eureka!" when, after long study, he discovered a
method of determining the purity of gold. In 1957, attempts were made to
establish "In God We Trust" as the state motto, but "Eureka" was made the
official state motto in 1963. Museums:
The Virtual Library
• California
State Military Museum Name: California named by Spanish after Califia, amythical paradise in a Spanish romance, written by Montalvo in
1510.
National Forest:
California
Native: Native
American Heritage Commission • Government agency responsible for
identifying and cataloging Native American cultural resources. •
A Short
Overview of California Indian History
Newspapers: California • California
National Parks Parks: California
State Parks •
National Parks
Population:
Quick facts
33,871,648; 1st, 12/00
Presidential Birthplace:
Richard Milhous Nixon,
1969-1974 {37th}
Property Taxes: California Real
Estate Tax Questions and Information
Real Estate: Every California City,
Town & Community Representatives: California House:
Members • California
Senate:
Members • US House:
110th Congress
• US Senate:
110th Congress
Road Side America:
California
School Directory:
California Scenic Highways:
California Scenic Highways Soil:
California - San Joaquin
Song: California
•
USA State Song List
Sports: California Teams Symbols:
California Insignia
Tourism:
www.gocalif.ca.govTravel:
California Travel
•
Greyhound Tree:
California
Redwood Giant Redwood Veteran Affairs:
California VA
Visitor Guides:
California -
California's official travel and tourism website.
Railroad tour Weather:
Sacramento,
Sacramento Metropolitan Airport
Wildlife Refuge:
State Areas
White Pages:
AnyWho.com Over 90 million people listings, businesses, emails, & reverse
telephone listings.
Yellow Pages:
Yellow Pages.com
Yellow Pages:
Beverly Hills Yellow Pages
Zoos: Los Angeles Zoo •
San Diego Zoo •
Sacramento Zoo
The Sacramento Zoo: A magnificent collection of rare and endangered animals set among majestic, hundred -year-old oaks and unique gardens - a wonderful place to spend an afternoon!
More California State Information
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