Both the highest and lowest points in the 48 conterminous states are in the state of California—Mount Whitney and Death Valley, respectively. The former is the culminating summit of the Sierra Nevada, one of the major mountain ranges of North America. It encompasses approximately 163,696 square miles, making it the third-largest state by area. The state stretches from the Pacific Ocean to the Sierra Nevada mountain range, and from the southern Mojave Desert to the dense forests of the northern Coast Ranges. Southern California’s dense settlement lies along a coastal plateau and in valleys ranging from about 10 to 60 miles (16 to 100 km) inland.
Land
With its expansive coastline, towering mountains, sprawling cities, and vast deserts, each region has its distinct flavor and story. Here’s a brief breakdown of the various regions of California, celebrating their uniqueness. California’s coastline runs for approximately 840 miles, featuring numerous bays, beaches, and cliffs.
Major Rivers in California
- Despite its urban hubs, the Central Valley retains a rural charm and is deeply connected to the land.
- Majestic and awe-inspiring, the Sierra Nevada mountains are home to Yosemite National Park and Lake Tahoe.
- Its largest towns are in the Owens Valley, which was a fertile farmland until its groundwater flow was diverted to Los Angeles through a mammoth series of conduits built in 1908–13.
- The influence of the Spanish settlers of the 18th and 19th centuries is evident in California’s architecture and place-names.
- This tech-driven region houses Silicon Valley, the global hub for innovation and home to tech giants like Google, Apple, and Facebook.
The 1848 discovery of gold at Sutter’s Mill propelled the Gold Rush, leading to significant population growth and economic expansion. Subsequent development included the rise of the agricultural industry, establishment of major urban centers, and the growth of the entertainment and technology sectors. With a population exceeding 39 million, California ranks california tax brackets 2023 as the most populous state in the United States.
California government
It is also the cultural, and economic hub of the larger Sacramento Metropolitan Area. Situated in Southern California is Los Angeles – the largest and the most populous city in California. The city of Los Angeles has been designated as a global city and is considered to be a leader in the technology, science, entertainment, and medicine industry. Incorporated cities and towns in California are either charter or general-law municipalities.161 General-law municipalities owe their existence to state law and are consequently governed by it; charter municipalities are governed by their own city or town charters. Municipalities incorporated in the 19th century tend to be charter municipalities.
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, following its successful war for independence, but was ceded to the United States in 1848 after the Mexican–American War. The California gold rush started in 1848 and led to social and demographic changes, including depopulation of Indigenous tribes. It organized itself and was admitted as the 31st state in as a free state, following the Compromise of 1850.
Los Angeles County, with over 10 million residents, ranks as the most populous, while Alpine County, with fewer than 1,200 residents, remains the least populous. Geographically, San Bernardino County spans more than 20,000 square miles, making it the largest, whereas San Francisco encompasses just 47 square miles as both a city and county. California, also known as the Golden State, offers a diverse tapestry of landscapes, cultures, and communities.
- California was the second state to recall their state governor, the second state to legalize abortion, and the only state to ban marriage for gay couples twice by vote (including Proposition 8 in 2008).
- Most of California’s special districts are single-purpose districts, and provide one service.
- The heartland of California is the Central Valley, which runs for 450 miles (725 km) through the center of the state, forming a trough between the Coast Ranges to the west and the Sierra Nevada to the east.
- Other genres such as pop rock, indie rock, hard rock, hip hop, pop, rock, rockabilly, country, heavy metal, grunge, new wave and disco were popularized in the state.
- The California Highway Patrol is the largest statewide police agency in the United States in employment with more than 10,000 employees.
Social services
Indeed, almost all of southeastern California is arid, hot desert, with routine extreme high temperatures during the summer. The southeastern border of California with Arizona is entirely formed by the Colorado River, from which the southern part of the state gets about half of its water. In the middle of the state lies the California Central Valley, bounded by the Sierra Nevada in the east, the coastal mountain ranges in the west, the Cascade Range to the north and by the Tehachapi Mountains in the south. California, located on the west coast of the United States, extends from the Pacific Ocean to the Sierra Nevada mountain range. It borders Oregon to the north, Nevada to the east, Arizona to the southeast, and Mexico to the south.
California (/ˌkælɪˈfɔːrniə/) 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 40 million residents across an area of 163,696 square miles (423,970 km2), it is the largest state by population and third-largest by area. Key geographical regions include the Coastal Range, home to iconic locations such as Big Sur and the Redwood National Park.
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Numerous major cities in California grew out of missions, including San Francisco (Mission San Francisco de Asís), San Diego (Mission San Diego de Alcalá), Ventura (Mission San Buenaventura), and Santa Barbara (Mission Santa Barbara), among others. In conclusion, California isn’t just one experience; it’s a multifaceted adventure waiting to be explored. Whether you’re drawn to the glitz and glam of Hollywood, the tech-driven buzz of Silicon Valley, the agricultural richness of the Central Valley, or the natural wonders of its parks and coastlines, there’s something in the Golden State for everyone. With its dense redwood forests, the rugged Pacific coastline, and the volcanic landscapes of Mount Shasta, it’s a place of untamed beauty. This region is less populated, giving it an untouched feel, perfect for those seeking solitude and connection with nature. Renowned attractions include Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, drawing millions annually.
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The Colorado River Aqueduct at the Arizona border carries water from that river across the southern California desert and mountains to serve the Los Angeles metropolitan area. The California State Water Project, launched in 1960, is the largest water-transfer system ever undertaken. It is designed to deliver water daily from the Feather River (a tributary of the Sacramento River) in north-central California to communities as far south as the Mexican border.
The geographic area of a special district can spread across multiple cities or counties, or could consist of only a portion of one. Most of California’s special districts are single-purpose districts, and provide one service. The high-technology sectors in Northern California, specifically Silicon Valley, in Santa Clara and San Mateo counties, have emerged from the economic downturn caused by the dot-com bust. A majority of California’s cities are located in either the San Francisco Bay Area or the Sacramento metropolitan area in Northern California; or the Los Angeles area, the Inland Empire, or the San Diego metropolitan area in Southern California. The Los Angeles Area, the Bay Area, and the San Diego metropolitan area are among several major metropolitan areas along the California coast. Juan Bautista de Anza led a similarly important expedition throughout California in 1775–76, which would extend deeper into the interior and north of California.
The Central Valley, a major agricultural hub, lies between the Sierra Nevada and the Coast Ranges. The Sierra Nevada mountains, which include Mount Whitney—the highest peak in the contiguous United States—extend along the eastern edge of the state. The state also contains significant desert regions, such as Death Valley, which holds the record for the highest temperature on Earth.
The Greater Los Angeles and San Francisco Bay areas are the nation’s second- and fifth-most populous urban regions, with 19 million and 10 million residents respectively.11 Los Angeles is the state’s most populous city and the nation’s second-most. Two-thirds of the nation’s earthquake risk lies in California.12 The Central Valley, a fertile agricultural area, dominates the state’s center. The large size of the state results in climates that vary from moist temperate rainforest in the north to arid desert in the interior, as well as snowy alpine in the mountains. Droughts and wildfires are an ongoing issue,13 while simultaneously, atmospheric rivers are turning increasingly prevalent and leading to intense flooding events—especially in the winter. Water is chronically scarce in southern California and the desert regions, but excesses of rain and snowmelt cause winter flooding along the rivers of the northern coast. Complex systems of dams and aqueducts transport water from north to south, but not without the protests of those who regard the export of water from their regions as a bar to future growth or as a threat to environmental balance.