100 Dumb US Laws (With Proof They Exist)
California (CA) lies on the West Coast along the Pacific Ocean, and it is the most populous state in the USA. The capital is Sacramento, but the best known city by far is Los Angeles. If California were an independent country, its economy would rank among the largest in the world. Key industries include technology, entertainment, and agriculture. Top tourist draws include Hollywood, Universal Studios, the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, and a number of national parks.
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Table of Contents
Quick Facts
Name California Abbreviation CA Capital Sacramento Largest city Los Angeles (Population: 3 820 914) Current time 6:05 Time zone PST (UTC-8), the state observes daylight saving time PDT (UTC-7) Population 39,538,212 (#1 most populous US state) Area 423,970 km² (#3 largest US state) Admitted to the Union September 9, 1850 (#31 state to join) ⭐ Capital of California
The capital of the State of California is Sacramento, officially established in 1850. It was declared the state capital in 1850, after Pueblo de San José de Guadalupe, Vallejo, and Benicia had briefly held that role.
🏙️ Largest City in California
The largest city in California is Los Angeles, home to 3,820,914 people in 2023. The second largest is San Diego with 1,388,320 residents, and third is San Jose with 969,655 people.
🕒 Time in California
The current time in California is 6:05. The entire state follows Pacific Standard Time (PST, UTC-8) and switches to Daylight Time from March through November, PDT (UTC-7).
🧑🤝🧑 Population of California
Based on 2023 data, California had 39,538,212 residents, which made it the most populous state in the United States.
📍 Area of California
California’s total area is 423,970 km², of which 403,932 km² is land and 20,047 km² is water. By area, California is the 3rd largest state in the USA.
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Fun Facts about the State of California
🧩 Which States Border California
California borders three U.S. states, with Oregon to the north, Nevada to the northeast and south, and Arizona to the east. It also has a land border with Mexico and a 1,351.85 km long coastline with the Pacific Ocean.
📅 Date of California Statehood
California joined the Union on September 9, 1850 as the 31st state, when Mexican territory merged with previously unorganized land.
📛 California State Nickname
California’s nickname is “The Golden State,” a nod to its rich gold deposits and the largest gold rush ever to take place in America. Interestingly, neighboring Nevada is nicknamed “The Silver State.”
⛰️ Highest Mountain in California
California’s and the contiguous United States’ highest mountain is Mount Whitney at 4,421 m, located within Sequoia National Park. The peak was named in honor of American geologist Josiah Dwight Whitney.
🏞️ Rivers in California
The longest river associated with California is the Colorado River, with a total length across all states of 2,330 km. Next are the Sacramento River (719 km), San Joaquin River (587 km), Klamath River (414 km), and Pit River (333 km).
🎓 Universities in California
The largest university is the University of California system of campuses, attended by a total of 300,000 students. The university was founded in 1868.
The largest campus is Los Angeles with roughly 48,000 students, the second largest is Berkeley with about 45,000, and third is San Diego with around 43,000 students.
✉️ ZIP Codes in California
California is assigned ZIP code ranges 900xx-908xx, 910xx-928xx, and 930xx-961xx. You can look up the ZIP code for a specific address on the USPS website, and you will find more information in the article ZIP Codes in the USA.
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Weather in California
The best seasons to visit California are spring and fall, when temperatures are pleasant. There are notable differences in temperatures and climate among California’s regions. National parks are accessible and landscapes are either in full bloom or glowing with fall colors.
Spring in California brings temperatures around 15 °C to 20 °C, with plenty of sunshine and little rainfall. Nature in the national parks wakes up and begins to bloom.
Summer in California is hot, with Los Angeles temperatures moderated by the Pacific Ocean at around 22 °C to 26 °C. Inland areas are much hotter and can climb up to 40 °C. Rainfall totals are minimal.
Fall in California brings a slight cool down, especially inland, while Los Angeles usually sees a pleasant 18 °C to 22 °C. Dry weather and strong winds create a high fire risk in some areas.
Winter in California varies by region. Coastal areas around Los Angeles remain mild, typically between 13 °C and 17 °C. In the Sierra Nevada and other mountain ranges, snow showers are common and temperatures drop below freezing.
🌡️ Average Temperatures and Precipitation in California
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What to See in California
1️⃣ Yosemite National Park
Yosemite National Park is among the most visited in the United States, known for massive granite formations dominated by El Capitan and Half Dome. The park’s main draws include stunning waterfalls and giant sequoias.
Yosemite is crisscrossed by trails that range from easy to very challenging, including the 25.7 km ascent to the summit of Half Dome at 2,694 m. Yosemite offers abundant camping options, sweeping views, and enough to explore for several days.
2️⃣ Universal Studios Hollywood
A must stop and a full day of fun for film lovers is Universal Studios Hollywood. This theme park combines real studios with attractions inspired by popular film franchises. The highlight is the studio tour with a behind the scenes look at film production.
If you are lucky, you might see a movie or TV episode being filmed. Many attractions are virtual roller coasters themed to The Simpsons, Jurassic Park, and Harry Potter.
3️⃣ San Francisco
San Francisco and its surroundings offer days of activities for families and groups of friends. One of the most popular attractions is Alcatraz Prison, located on an island with interiors open to the public on guided tours.
The city’s world famous symbol is the Golden Gate Bridge, which is free to walk. Do not skip a ride on a San Francisco cable car and a visit to the world’s most crooked street, Lombard Street.
On a walking tour, explore Chinatown and Pier 39 with its classic boardwalk attractions.
4️⃣ Sequoia National Park
Sequoia National Park, together with adjacent Kings Canyon, sits in central California. The park is famous for giant sequoias, the best known being General Sherman at 83.8 m, considered the world’s largest tree by volume since 2002. A popular viewpoint is the granite dome of Moro Rock.
5️⃣ Hollywood
The Hollywood neighborhood is worth a visit on its own, even though recent years have brought issues with homelessness and drug use. The two biggest attractions are free.
The Hollywood Walk of Fame is lined with just under three thousand star plaques honoring icons of music, film, and theater. Before you go, it helps to check the list of names and mark the locations of your favorites on a map.
You do not even need to walk to the other landmark, just look up. On the south slope of Mount Lee stands the Hollywood Sign, 14 m high and 110 m long, erected in 1923 as an advertisement for a real estate development.
6️⃣ Death Valley National Park
Death Valley National Park is one of the driest and hottest places on Earth, with a temperature of 56.7 °C recorded in 1913. Visitors can admire salt flats, colorful rock formations, and sand dunes. Highlights include Badwater Basin, the lowest point in North America, which reaches 86 m below sea level at its deepest spot.
The park is open year round, but spring and fall are considered the best times to visit because of extreme summer heat.
7️⃣ Monterey Bay Aquarium
The Monterey Bay Aquarium is considered one of the best in the world, with massive tanks where you can watch sea otters, octopuses, and jellyfish. A standout experience is feeding time for sharks and other marine animals. Set right on the ocean, the aquarium focuses on marine conservation and research. It is a great visit for families and groups of friends.
8️⃣ Joshua Tree National Park
Joshua Tree National Park is one of the most photogenic parks in America. Credit goes to the Joshua trees scattered across the landscape among low rock formations. Many hiking trails of varying difficulty invite you to wander among them.
There are several campgrounds inside the park that are open year round. A night in the park brings another perk, you can stargaze under ideal conditions thanks to very low light pollution.
9️⃣ Venice Beach
Venice Beach and neighboring Santa Monica are among Los Angeles’ most famous spots, where laid back beach culture meets street art and, in recent years, tent encampments of people experiencing homelessness. The beach still deserves a walk, along with three defining places.
First is Muscle Beach, an outdoor gym dating to 1934 where Arnold Schwarzenegger once built his physique. Right next to it is a popular, free to use skatepark.
A bit farther on is the Santa Monica Pier with a small amusement park and a compact roller coaster.
🔟 Other National Parks in California
Several other national parks also deserve attention. The Redwood National Park on the northwest coast protects groves of sequoias that reach heights of up to 115 m. You can admire massive rock walls, often with unusual shapes, in Pinnacles National Park, one of the youngest in the United States.
You can see one of the world’s largest volcanoes in Lassen Volcanic National Park, also known for hot springs and bubbling mud pots. Channel Islands National Park off the California coast is among the least visited, made up of five islands with unspoiled nature and a diverse ecosystem.
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Largest Cities in California
The table lists the ten largest cities in California in 2023. The data source is the federal agency United States Census Bureau, whose primary role is the decennial census.
City County Population 1 Los Angeles Los Angeles 3,820,914 Map of Los Angeles 2 San Diego San Diego 1,388,320 Map of San Diego 3 San Jose Santa Clara 969,655 Map of San Jose 4 San Francisco San Francisco 808,988 Map of San Francisco 5 Fresno Fresno 545,716 Map of Fresno 6 Sacramento Sacramento 526,384 Map of Sacramento 7 Long Beach Los Angeles 449,468 Map of Long Beach 8 Oakland Alameda 436,504 Map of Oakland 9 Bakersfield Kern 413,381 Map of Bakersfield 10 Anaheim Orange 340,512 Map of Anaheim -
Sports Teams in California
🏒 Hockey (NHL)
Three teams from California play in the NHL, all in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference.
The oldest club is the Los Angeles Kings, founded in 1967, with black, silver, and white as their colors. They play home games at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.
The second oldest team is the San Jose Sharks, who began play in 1991. The club hosts home games at SAP Center in San Jose. The Sharks’ colors are teal, white, black, and orange.
The youngest California NHL team is the Anaheim Ducks, established in 1993. They play home games at Honda Center in Anaheim, and their colors are orange, metallic gold, black, and white.
🏈 American Football (NFL)
California also fields three teams in the NFL.
First to join the league, in the 1937 season, were the Los Angeles Rams of the NFC’s Western Division. The club plays home games at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, with royal blue and sol as its colors.
In the 1950 season the league expanded with the San Francisco 49ers, also in the NFC’s Western Division. The team plays home games at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, and its colors are red, gold, and white.
The most recent California entry, in the 1970 season, was the Los Angeles Chargers of the AFC’s Western Division. Team colors are blue, gold, and white. The club shares SoFi Stadium in Inglewood with the Los Angeles Rams.
🏀 Basketball (NBA)
California has a strong NBA presence with four teams, all in the Pacific Division of the Western Conference.
The well known Los Angeles Lakers entered the NBA in the 1948 season and play all home games at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. The Lakers’ colors are purple, gold, and black.
In the same 1948 season, the Sacramento Kings also began NBA play. The team’s home court is Golden 1 Center in Sacramento. Team colors are black, royal purple, gray, white, and royal blue.
In 1962 the Golden State Warriors started NBA play after moving to California from Pennsylvania, where they had competed since 1946 as the Philadelphia Warriors. The team plays home games at Chase Center in San Francisco. The club’s colors are royal blue and yellow.
The fourth California NBA team, since the 1970 season, is the Los Angeles Clippers, who play home games at Intuit Dome in Inglewood. The Clippers list navy blue, red, Pacific blue, and silver as their colors.
⚾ Baseball (MLB)
California has a deep MLB lineup with five teams, all playing in Western Divisions.
The San Francisco Giants began National League play in the 1883 season, and their colors are black, orange, metallic gold, and cream. The Giants play home games at Oracle Park in San Francisco.
The Los Angeles Dodgers first competed in the National League in the 1890 season and now play home games at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. Team colors are blue, white, and red.
The third team is the Oakland Athletics of the American League, whose first season was 1901. Their colors are green, gold, and white. The team plays home games at the Oakland Coliseum.
The Los Angeles Angels of the American League have competed since the 1961 season. The Angels play home games at Angel Stadium in Anaheim, and their colors are red, navy blue, and silver.
The San Diego Padres have been part of the National League since the 1969 season, playing home games at Petco Park in San Diego. Team colors are brown, gold, and white.
⚽ Soccer (MLS)
California also has a strong presence in MLS, with four teams in the Western Conference.
The LA Galaxy took part in the inaugural 1996 season and play home games at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson. The club’s colors are navy blue, gold, and white.
In the same 1996 season the San Jose Earthquakes made their debut. Their home stadium is PayPal Park. Official team colors are blue, black, and white.
The third California MLS team is Los Angeles FC, competing since the 2018 season. Home games are played at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, and club colors are black, gold, red, asphalt, and gray.
The newest MLS club, starting with the 2025 season, is San Diego FC. Primary club colors are chrome and azure, complemented by blue, red, orange, and yellow. All home matches will be played at Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego.
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California State Symbols
California law defines many state symbols, and this article features a selection of them.
California State Flag
California’s flag is among the most recognizable in the United States and has existed in its current form since February 3, 1911. The dominant motif is a grizzly bear walking left on green grass. The bear image was created by artist Donald Graeme Kelley, and the flag was designed by William L. Todd. A red stripe along the bottom, a red star in the upper left, and the words “California Republic” complete the design.
Great Seal of California
California’s Great Seal has been in use since 1849, though it has undergone several small adjustments. Its central figure is Athena, the Greek goddess of wisdom, symbolizing that California was “born adult,” never having been a U.S. territory. She is joined by a grizzly bear, grapevines, a sheaf of grain, a miner, a prospector, and a bay with sailing ships.
State Animal
California’s official animal since 1958 is the California grizzly bear (Ursus arctos californicus), more commonly known simply as the grizzly. Somewhat paradoxically, the last grizzly in California was seen near Yosemite National Park in 1924.
State Colors
In 1951 California chose blue and gold as its state colors. Blue represents the sky, and gold references the precious metal that sparked the Gold Rush in the spring of 1848.
State Marine Mammal
The gray whale (Eschrichtius robustus) became California’s official marine mammal in 1975. The animal, about 15 m long and weighing on average 27,000 kg, is commonly seen off the California coast.
State Bird
In 1931 lawmakers designated the California quail (Callipepla californica) as the official state bird. This small ground dwelling bird averages a length of 26 cm and is found almost exclusively along the coast of California and Mexico’s Baja California.
State Theater
California has an official state theater, the Pasadena Playhouse in the city of Pasadena since 1937. The first performances in this Spanish Colonial style building took place in 1924.
State Fruit
In 2013 avocado became California’s unofficial state fruit. Around three thousand farmers in the state grow this delicious fruit.
State Mineral
Gold was officially designated a state symbol in 1965, though it had long served as an unofficial emblem. It began on January 24, 1848, when carpenter and mill worker James Wilson Marshall discovered gold at Coloma near Sacramento. Word spread quickly and drew roughly 300,000 prospectors to California from across the United States and abroad.
State Fabric
Since 2016 California has had an official state fabric, denim. Blue jeans have been the traditional clothing of California’s gold seekers, working people, hippies, and rock stars. The bill approving this symbol carries the number 501, a nod to the most famous jeans model from California brand Levi’s.
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