California

Also known as State of California, The Golden State, Calif., California, United States, Cali., Cal., CA, US-CA

California () is a state in the Western United States that lies on the Pacific Coast. It borders Oregon to the north, Nevada and Arizona to the east, and shares an international border with the Mexican state of Baja California to the south. With almost 40million residents across an area of , it is the largest state by population, third-largest state by area and the largest state economy in the U.S., with a GDP of approximately $4.3 trillion.

AI overview

California is a state on the U.S. Pacific Coast with almost 40 million residents, making it the most populous state in the country. It matters because it has the largest state economy in the U.S., with a GDP of approximately $4.3 trillion, and plays a significant role in the nation's economic, cultural, and political landscape.

AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.

Key facts

U.S. state.flag_alt: The flag shows a red stripe on the bottom in a white field, with a red star on the top left in the canton. In the center, a grizzly bear is on top of a mound of green grass on over the white field. Below it, text reads "CALIFORNIA REPUBLIC" in a Seal color.
U.S. state.name: California
U.S. state.image_seal: Great Seal of the State of California Colored.svg
U.S. state.flag_link: Flag of California
U.S. state.nickname: The Golden State
U.S. state.motto: "Eureka"
U.S. state.anthem: "I Love You, California"
U.S. state.image_map: California in United States.svg
U.S. state.OfficialLang: English
U.S. state.LargestCity: Los Angeles
U.S. state.LargestCounty: Los Angeles

~112 min read

Article

57 sections

Contents

Etymology
History
Indigenous tribes
Spanish period
Mexican period
U.S. conquest and the California Republic
Early American period
California genocide
1900–present
Geography
Climate
Ecology
Flora and fauna
Rivers
Regions
Cities and towns
Demographics
Population
Race and ethnicity
Languages
Religion
Culture
Media and entertainment
Sports
Education
Higher education
Economy
Agriculture
Income
State finances
Energy
Transportation
Highways
Air travel
Railroads
Busses
Water
Government and politics
State government
Executive branch
Legislative branch
Judicial branch
Local government
Counties
City and town governments
School districts and special districts
Federal representation
Armed forces
Politics
Foreign relations
See also
Notes
References
Citations
Works cited
Further reading
External links

Prior to European colonization, California was one of the most culturally and linguistically diverse areas in pre-Columbian North America. European exploration in the 16th and 17th centuries led to the colonization by the Spanish Empire. The area became a part of Mexico in 1821, as a result of its successful war for independence. Following the U.S. conquest of California, part of the Mexican-American War, California was ceded to the United States in 1848. The California gold rush started in 1848 and led to social and demographic changes, including the California genocide. It organized itself and was admitted as the 31st state in 1850 as a free state, following the Compromise of 1850.