californiahistorypage

state flag, by bea

Picture of state, by bea

sighted by Spanish navigator Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo in 1542, 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. By 1964, 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.

Leading industries include agriculture, manufacturing (transportation equipment, machinery, and electronic equipment), biotechnology, aerospace-defense, and tourism. Principal natural resources include timber, petroleum, cement, and natural gas.

Death Valley, in the southeast, is 282 ft below sea level, the lowest point in the nation. Mt. Whitney (14,491 ft) is the highest point in the contiguous 48 states. Lassen Peak is one of two active U.S. volcanoes outside of Alaska and Hawaii; its last eruptions were recorded in 1917.

Other points of interest include Yosemite National Park, Disneyland, Hollywood, the Golden Gate Bridge, Sequoia National Park, San Simeon State Park, and Point Reyes National Seashore.

Capital: Sacramento Governor: Arnold Schwarzenegger, R (to Jan. 2011) Lieut. Governor: John Garamendi, D (to Jan. 2011) Senators: Barbara Boxer, D (to Jan. 2011); Dianne Feinstein, D (to Jan. 2013) U.S. Representatives: 53 Secy. of State: Debra Bowen, D (to Jan. 2011) Atty. General: Jerry Brown, D (to Jan. 2011) Treasurer: Bill Lockyear, D (to Jan. 2011 Entered Union (rank): Sept. 9, 1850 (31) Present constitution adopted: 1879 Motto: Eureka (I have found it) flower	golden poppy (1903) tree	California redwoods (Sequoia sempervirens & Sequoiadendron giganteum) (1937, 1953) bird	California valley quail (1931) animal	California grizzly bear (1953) fish	California golden trout (1947) colors	blue and gold (1951) song	“I Love You, California” (1951) Nickname: Golden State 10 largest cities (2005 est.): Los Angeles, 3,844,829; San Diego, 1,255,540; San Jose, 912,332; San Francisco, 739,426; Long Beach, 474,014; Fresno, 461,116; Sacramento, 456,441; Oakland, 395,274; Santa Ana, 340,368; Anaheim, 331,804 Land area: 155,959 sq mi. (403,934 sq km) Number of counties: 58 National forests: 18 State parks and beaches: 278 (1.5 million ac.) 2005 resident population est.: 36,132,147

Well i have done alot of this AKA bea...well i just copied and pasted this from this website: http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0108187.html