View source for California

{{Short description|U.S. state}}
{{about|the U.S. state}}
{{protection padlock|small=yes}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2025}}
{{Use American English|date=February 2025}}
{{Infobox U.S. state
| native_name = 
| image_flag = Flag of California.svg
| 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.
| name = California
| image_seal = Great Seal of the State of California Colored.svg
| flag_link = Flag of California
| nickname = The Golden State<ref name="America's story California">{{Cite web |title=California |url=http://www.americaslibrary.gov/es/ca/es_ca_subj.html |access-date=July 3, 2020 |website=americaslibrary.gov}}</ref>
| motto = "[[Eureka (word)#California|Eureka]]"<ref name="motto-symbols">{{Cite web |title=Chapter 2 of Division 2 of Title 1 of the California Government Code |url=http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displayText.xhtml?lawCode=GOV&division=2.&title=1.&part=&chapter=2.&article= |access-date=February 23, 2019 |website=[[California Office of Legislative Counsel]]}}</ref>
| anthem = "[[I Love You, California]]"{{break}}{{center|[[File:"I Love You, California" - Regional anthem of California.ogg]]}}
| image_map = California in United States.svg
| OfficialLang = [[Template:Official languages of U.S. states and territories|English]]
| Languages = * [[California English|English]]: 56.1%
* [[Spanish language in California|Spanish]]: 28.3%
* [[Languages of California|Others]]: 15.6%<ref name="Language">{{Cite web|title=Languages Spoken at Home|url= https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?text=Language&t=Language%20Spoken%20at%20Home&g=0400000US06&y=2020&tid=ACSST5Y2020.S1601|access-date=June 5, 2022|publisher= United States Census Bureau}}</ref>
| population_demonym = Californian<br />[[Californio]] (archaic Spanish)<br />Californiano (Spanish)
| LargestCity = [[Los Angeles]]
| LargestCounty = [[Los Angeles County|Los Angeles]]
| seat = [[Sacramento, California|Sacramento]]
| LargestMetro = [[Greater Los Angeles]]
| area_rank = 3rd
| area_total_sq_mi = 163,696
| area_total_km2 = 423,970
| width_mi = 250
| width_km = 400
| length_mi = 760
| length_km = 1,220
| area_water_percent = 4.7
| Latitude = 32°32′ N to 42° N
| Longitude = 114°8′ W to 124°26′ W
| population_rank = 1st
| population_as_of = 2024
| 2010Pop = {{IncreaseNeutral}} 39,431,263<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/CA/PST045224|accessdate=January 5, 2025|title= United States Census Quick Facts California}}</ref>
| MedianHouseholdIncome = {{Increase}} ${{round|95521|-2}} (2<span>0</span>23)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/2024/demo/acsbr-023.pdf|title=Household Income in States and Metropolitan Areas: 2023|accessdate=January 12, 2025}}</ref>
| 2000DensityUS = 251.3
| 2000Density = 97
| population_density_rank = 11th
| IncomeRank = [[List of U.S. states and territories by income#States and territories ranked by median household income|5th]]
| elevation_max_point = [[Mount Whitney]]<ref name=Mount_Whitney/><ref name=USGS/>{{refn|group=note|name=NAVD88}}{{refn|group=note|The summit of [[Mount Whitney]] is the highest point in the [[Contiguous United States]].}}
| elevation_max_ft = 14,505
| elevation_max_m = 4,421.0
| elevation_ft = 2,900
| elevation_m = 880
| elevation_min_point = [[Badwater Basin]]<ref name="NED">{{Cite web |date=September 21, 2015 |title=USGS National Elevation Dataset (NED) 1 meter Downloadable Data Collection from The National Map 3D Elevation Program (3DEP)—National Geospatial Data Asset (NGDA) National Elevation Data Set (NED) |url=https://catalog.data.gov/dataset/usgs-national-elevation-dataset-ned-1-meter-downloadable-data-collection-from-the-national-map- |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190325085854/https://catalog.data.gov/dataset/usgs-national-elevation-dataset-ned-1-meter-downloadable-data-collection-from-the-national-map- |archive-date=March 25, 2019 |access-date=September 22, 2015 |publisher=[[United States Geological Survey]]}}</ref>
| elevation_min_m = −85.0
| elevation_min_ft = −279
| Former = [[Mexican Cession]] [[Interim government of California|unorganized territory]]
| AdmittanceDate = [[An Act for the Admission of the State of California|{{Start date and age|1850|09|09}}]]
| AdmittanceOrder = 31st
| Governor = {{nowrap|[[Gavin Newsom]] ([[Democratic Party (United States)|D]])}}
| Lieutenant Governor = {{nowrap|[[Eleni Kounalakis]] (D)}}
| Legislature = [[California State Legislature|State Legislature]]
| Upperhouse = [[California State Senate|State Senate]]
| Lowerhouse = [[California State Assembly|State Assembly]]
| Judiciary = [[Supreme Court of California]]
| Senators = [[Alex Padilla]] (D) <br /> [[Adam Schiff]] (D)
| Representative = {{plainlist|
* 43 [[California Democratic Party|Democrats]]
* 9 [[California Republican Party|Republicans]]
}}
| timezone1 = [[Pacific Standard Time|PST]]
| utc_offset1 = −08:00
| timezone1_DST = [[Pacific Daylight Time|PDT]]
| utc_offset1_DST = −07:00
| iso_code = US-CA
| postal_code = CA
| TradAbbreviation = Calif., Cal., Cali.
| website = https://ca.gov
| area_land_km2 = 403,932
| area_land_sq_mi = 155,959
| area_water_km2 = 20,047
| area_water_sq_mi = 7,737
| Capital = [[Sacramento, California|Sacramento]]
| Representatives = 
}}
{{Infobox region symbols|country=United States
<!--before modifying these state symbols please verify your changes against official California Government Code sections 420-429.8,
http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/cgi-bin/displaycode?section=gov&group=00001-01000&file=420-429.8-->
| state                    = California
| image_flag               = 
| image_seal               = 
| mammal                   = {{ubl
     | '''Land:''' [[California grizzly bear]] (state animal)<ref name="motto-symbols" />
     | '''Marine:''' [[Gray whale]]
}}
| amphibian                = [[California red-legged frog]]
| bird                     = [[California quail]]
| colors                   = [[Blue]] & [[Gold (color)|Gold]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=California Government Code § 424 |url=http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=GOV&sectionNum=424. |access-date=February 23, 2019 |website=[[California Office of Legislative Counsel]]}}</ref>{{force plural}}
| dance                    = [[West Coast Swing]]
| fish                     = {{ubl
     | '''Fresh water:''' [[Golden trout]]
     | '''Marine:''' [[Garibaldi (fish)|Garibaldi]]
}}
| flower                   = [[Eschscholzia californica|California poppy]]
| folk_dance               = [[Square dance]]
| fossil                   = [[Smilodon|Sabre-toothed cat]]
| gemstone                 = [[Benitoite]]
| grass                    = [[Nassella pulchra|Purple needlegrass]]
| insect                   = [[Zerene eurydice|California dogface butterfly]]
| mineral                  = [[Gold|Native gold]]
| image_quarter            = 2005 CA Proof.png
| quarter_release_date     = 2005
| reptile                  = [[Desert tortoise]]
| tree                     = [[Sequoia sempervirens|Coast redwood]] & [[Sequoiadendron giganteum|giant sequoia]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=California Government Code § 422 |url=http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=GOV&sectionNum=422. |access-date=February 23, 2019 |website=[[California Office of Legislative Counsel]]}}</ref>
| rock                     = [[Serpentine group|Serpentine]]
| soil                     = [[San Joaquin (soil)|San Joaquin]]
| sport                    = [[Surfing]]
| tartan                   = [[California state tartan]]
| image_route              = California 1.svg
| butterfly                = 
| fruit                    = [[Avocado]]
| vegetable                = [[Artichoke]]
| dinosaur                 = [[Augustynolophus]]
| color                    = [[Blue]] & [[Gold]]
| ship                     = [[Californian (schooner)|''Californian'']]
| mushroom                 = [[Cantharellus californicus|California Golden Chanterelle]]
|crustacean=[[Dungeness crab]]}}

'''California''' ({{IPAc-en|ˌ|k|æ|l|ɪ|ˈ|f|ɔːr|n|i|ə}}) is a [[U.S. state|state]] in the [[Western United States]] that lies on the [[West Coast of the United States|Pacific Coast]]. It borders [[Oregon]] to the north, [[Nevada]] and [[Arizona]] to the east, and shares [[Mexico–United States border|an international border]] with the [[Mexico|Mexican]] state of [[Baja California]] to the south. With almost 40{{spaces}}million residents across an area of {{convert|163696|sqmi|km2}}, it is the [[List of states and territories of the United States by population|largest state by population]], [[List of U.S. states and territories by area|third-largest state by area]] and the [[List of U.S. states and territories by GDP|largest state economy]] in the U.S., with a GDP of approximately $4.1 trillion.

Prior to [[European colonization of the Americas|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 [[Mexican War of Independence|its successful war for independence]]. Following the [[Conquest of California|U.S. conquest of California]], part of the [[Mexican-American War]], California was [[Mexican Cession|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 [[California Statehood Act|admitted as the 31st state in 1850]] as a [[Slave states and free states|free state]], following the [[Compromise of 1850]].

The [[Greater Los Angeles]] and [[San Francisco Bay Area]] areas are the nation's second- and fifth-most populous [[Statistical area (United States)|urban regions]], with 19 million and 10 million residents respectively.<ref>{{Cite web |title=American FactFinder—Results |url=https://factfinder.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180124024658/https://factfinder.census.gov/faces/tableservices/jsf/pages/productview.xhtml |archive-date=January 24, 2018 |access-date=October 24, 2017 |website=factfinder.census.gov |publisher=U.S. Census Bureau}}</ref> [[Los Angeles]] is [[List of largest California cities by population|the state's most populous city]] and [[List of United States cities by population|the nation's second-most]]. California's [[List of capitals in the United States|capital]] is [[Sacramento, California|Sacramento]]. Part of [[the Californias]] region of North America, [[Geography of California|the state's diverse geography]] ranges from the [[Coastal California|Pacific Coast]] and metropolitan areas in the west to the [[Sierra Nevada]] mountains in the east, and from the [[Sequoia sempervirens|redwood]] and [[Douglas fir]] forests in the northwest to the [[Mojave Desert]] in the southeast. Two-thirds of the nation's [[List of earthquakes in California|earthquake]] risk lies in California.<ref name=CaliforniaEarthquakesHumanRisk>{{cite web|url=https://www.earthquakeauthority.com/California-Earthquake-Risk|title=What is the Earthquake Risk in California?|publisher=California Earthquake Authority|access-date=March 12, 2023|quote=CALIFORNIA IS HOME TO TWO-THIRDS OF OUR NATION'S EARTHQUAKE RISK.}}</ref> The [[Central Valley (California)|Central Valley]], a [[Soil fertility|fertile]] agricultural area, dominates the state's center. The large size of the state results in [[Climate of California|climates]] that vary from moist [[temperate rainforest]] in the north to arid [[Desert climate|desert]] in the interior, as well as snowy [[alpine climate|alpine]] in the [[List of mountain ranges of California|mountains]]. [[Droughts in California|Droughts]] and [[List of California wildfires|wildfires]] are an ongoing issue,<ref name="Elassar-2022">{{Cite web |last=Elassar |first=Alaa |date=April 3, 2022 |title=California once prohibited Native American fire practices. Now, it's asking tribes to use them to help prevent wildfires |url=https://www.cnn.com/2022/04/03/us/california-native-american-fire-practitioners-wildfires-climate/index.html |access-date=January 4, 2023 |website=CNN |language=en}}</ref> while atmospheric rivers have become increasingly prevalent, leading to intense flooding events—especially in the winter.

The [[economy of California]] is the [[List of U.S. states and territories by GDP|largest of any U.S. state]], with an estimated 2024 [[gross state product]] of $4.172 trillion as of Q4 2024.<ref name="GDPByState">{{cite web |title=GDP by State |url=https://www.bea.gov/data/gdp/gdp-state |website=GDP by State &#124; U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) |publisher=Bureau of Economic Analysis |access-date=April 10, 2022}}</ref> It is the world's [[List of country subdivisions by GDP over 200 billion US dollars|largest sub-national economy]] and, if it were an independent country, would be the fourth-largest economy in the world (putting it, as of 2025, behind Germany and ahead of Japan) when [[List of countries by GDP (nominal)|ranked by nominal GDP]].<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Burke |first=Molly |date=April 23, 2025 |title=California is now 4th-largest economy in world, surpassing Japan |url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/california/article/california-now-4th-largest-economy-world-20291440.php |access-date=April 23, 2025 |website=San Francisco Chronicle |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title= California's Economy |url=https://www.ppic.org/publication/californias-economy/|access-date=January 5, 2024 |website= Public Policy Institute of California|language=en}}</ref> [[Agriculture in California|The state's agricultural industry]] leads the nation in output,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Palmer |first=Brian |date=July 10, 2013 |title=The C-Free Diet |url=http://www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/explainer/2013/07/california_grows_all_of_our_fruits_and_vegetables_what_would_we_eat_without.html |website=[[Slate (magazine)|Slate]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=CDFA—Statistics |url=https://www.cdfa.ca.gov/statistics/ |publisher=California Department of Food and Agriculture}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=July 27, 2017 |title=California farms produce a lot of food—but what and how much might surprise you |work=[[Orange County Register]] |url=https://www.ocregister.com/2017/07/27/california-farms-produce-a-lot-of-food-but-what-and-how-much-might-surprise-you/}}</ref> fueled by its production of [[California dairy industry|dairy]], [[Almond cultivation in California|almonds]], and [[Grape cultivation in California|grapes]].<ref name="Jason Gibson-2012">{{Cite web |last1=Vic Tolomeo |last2=Kelly Krug |last3=Doug Flohr |last4=Jason Gibson |date=October 31, 2012 |title=California Agricultural Statistics: 2011 Crop Year |url=http://www.nass.usda.gov/Statistics_by_State/California/Publications/California_Ag_Statistics/Reports/2011cas-all.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131224123521/http://www.nass.usda.gov/Statistics_by_State/California/Publications/California_Ag_Statistics/Reports/2011cas-all.pdf |archive-date=December 24, 2013 |access-date=July 1, 2013 |website=National Agricultural Statistics Service |publisher=United States Department of Agriculture}}</ref> With the busiest port in the country ([[Port of Los Angeles|Los Angeles]]), California plays a pivotal role in the global supply chain, hauling in about 40% of goods imported to the US.<ref name="Karlamangla">{{cite web |url= https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/18/us/port-of-los-angeles-supply-chain.html |title=The Busiest Port in the U.S. |last=Karlamangla |first=Soumya |date= November 4, 2021|website= [[The New York Times]]|access-date=August 16, 2023 |quote= But despite its glitzy image, L.A. is home to the busiest port in the Western Hemisphere. It plays a major role in the global supply chain}}</ref> Notable contributions to [[Culture of California|popular culture]], ranging from [[Media in Los Angeles|entertainment]], [[Sports in California|sports]], [[Music of California|music]], and [[fashion]], have their origins in California. [[Hollywood, Los Angeles|Hollywood]] in Los Angeles is the center of the [[Cinema of the United States|U.S. film]] industry and one of the oldest and largest film industries in the world; profoundly influencing global entertainment since the 1920s. The San Francisco Bay's [[Silicon Valley]] is the center of the global technology industry.<ref name="BEA">{{Cite web |title=California Gross domestic product (GDP) (millions of current dollars) |url=https://www.bea.gov/iTable/iTable.cfm?reqid=70&step=1&isuri=1&acrdn=1#reqid=70&step=10&isuri=1&7007=2014&7093=levels&7003=200&7035=-1&7036=-1&7001=1200&7002=1&7090=70&7004=naics&7005=-1&7006=06000 |access-date=July 19, 2015 |publisher=U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Economic Analysis |archive-date=August 6, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160806012919/https://www.bea.gov/iTable/iTable.cfm?reqid=70&step=1&isuri=1&acrdn=1#reqid=70&step=10&isuri=1&7007=2014&7093=levels&7003=200&7035=-1&7036=-1&7001=1200&7002=1&7090=70&7004=naics&7005=-1&7006=06000 }}</ref>{{toclimit|3}}

==Etymology==
{{Main|Etymology of California|Island of California}}

[[File:Detail of Queen Califia in the "California's Name" mural (Lucile Lloyd, 1937) (cropped).gif|thumb|left|upright|The word "California" and its namesake ruler, [[Calafia|Queen Calafia]], originate in the 1510 epic ''[[Las Sergas de Esplandián]]'', written by [[Garci Rodríguez de Montalvo]].]]

The Spaniards gave the name {{lang|es|Las Californias}} to the [[Baja California peninsula|peninsula of Baja California]] (in modern-day Mexico). As Spanish explorers and settlers moved north and inland, the region known as ''California'', or ''Las Californias'', grew. Eventually it included lands north of the peninsula, [[Alta California]], part of which became the present-day U.S. state of California.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://dornsife.usc.edu/magazine/how-california-got-its-name/#:~:text=The%20Spaniards%20gave%20the%20name,and%20Alta%20(Upper)%20California.|title=How California (Probably) Got Its Name|date=December 20, 2024 }}</ref>

A 2017 state legislative document states, "Numerous theories exist as to the origin and meaning of the word 'California,{{'"}} and that all anyone knows is the name was added to a map by 1541 "presumably by a Spanish navigator."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/16/us/why-is-california-called-california.html|title=Why Is California Called California?|last=Karlamangla|first= Soumya|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=April 16, 2024|access-date=April 17, 2024}}</ref><ref>Damian Bacich, "How Did California Get its Name? You Might be Surprised," ''California Frontier Project'' (2020) [https://www.californiafrontier.net/name-california/ online]</ref>

The name is most likely derived from the mythical island of California in the fictional story of [[Calafia|Queen Calafia]], as recorded in a 1510 work ''[[Las sergas de Esplandián|The Adventures of Esplandián]]'' by [[Garci Rodríguez de Montalvo]].<ref name="Gudde-2010">{{Cite book |last1=Gudde |first1=Erwin G. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ibMwDwAAQBAJ&pg=PR9 |title=California Place Names: The Origin and Etymology of Current Geographical Names |last2=Bright |first2=William |date=2010 |publisher=University of California Press |isbn=978-0-520-26619-3 |pages=59–60 |orig-date=2004}}</ref> Queen Calafia's kingdom was said to be a remote land rich in gold and pearls, inhabited by beautiful dark-skinned women who wore gold armor and lived like [[Amazons]], and bred [[griffin]]s for war.<ref name="Gudde-2010" /><ref>{{Cite book |last=Putnam |first=Ruth |title=California: The name |date=1917 |publisher=University of California |editor-last=Priestley |editor-first=Herbert Ingram |location=Berkeley |pages=356–361 |chapter=Appendix A: Etymology of the Word 'California': Surmises and Usage |chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/cu31924008278347}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Vogeley |first=Nancy |date=April 20, 2001 |title=How Chivalry Formed the Myth of California |journal=Modern Language Quarterly |volume=62 |issue=2 |pages=165–188 |doi=10.1215/00267929-62-2-165 |s2cid=163100071 |issn = 0026-7929}}</ref>

Abbreviations of the state's name include [[List of U.S. state abbreviations|CA, Cal, Cali, Calif]], and [[ISO 3166|US-CA]].

==History==
{{Further|History of California before 1900}}
[[File:California tribes & languages at contact.png|thumb|left|upright=1.6|A map of [[Indigenous Californians|Indigenous Californian]] tribes and languages at the time of European contact.]]

===Indigenous tribes===
{{Main|Indigenous peoples of California}}

California was one of the most culturally and linguistically diverse areas in [[pre-Columbian North America]].<ref>Klein, Barry T. Reference Encyclopedia of the American Indian. 7th ed. West Nyack, NY: Todd Publications, 1995</ref> Historians generally agree that there were at least 300,000 people living in California prior to European colonization.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Eargle |first=Dolan H. Jr. |title=Native California guide: an introduction to the original peoples from earliest to modern times |date=2008 |publisher=Trees Co. Press |others=Fred Dodsworth |isbn=978-0-937401-11-8 |edition=Ed. 2008 |location=San Francisco |oclc=212858363 |quote=Estimates of the Native population in 1776 range from 300,000 to one million.}}</ref> The [[Indigenous peoples of California]] included more than [[Classification of indigenous peoples of the Americas#California|70 distinct ethnic groups]], inhabiting environments ranging from mountains and deserts to islands and redwood forests.<ref>{{Cite web |title=California Indian History – California Native American Heritage Commission |url=https://nahc.ca.gov/resources/california-indian-history/ |access-date=November 25, 2022 |website=nahc.ca.gov}}</ref>

Living in these diverse geographic areas, the indigenous peoples developed complex forms of ecosystem management, including [[forest gardening]] to ensure the regular availability of food and [[medicinal plants]].<ref name=":17">{{cite book |title=Before the Wilderness: Environmental Management by Native Californians |publisher=Ballena Press |year=1993 |isbn=0-87919-126-0 |editor=Blackburn, Thomas C. and Kat Anderson |location=Menlo Park, California}}</ref><ref name="Cunningham2010">{{cite book |last=Cunningham |first=Laura |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nuYuYGHwCygC&pg=PA135 |title=State of Change: Forgotten Landscapes of California |publisher=Heyday |year=2010 |isbn=978-1-59714-136-9 |location=Berkeley, California |pages=135, 173–202 |access-date=March 3, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160427074202/https://books.google.com/books?id=nuYuYGHwCygC&pg=PA135 |archive-date=April 27, 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref> This was a form of [[sustainable agriculture]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Anderson |first=M. Kat |url=https://archive.org/details/tendingwildnativ0000ande |title=Tending the Wild: Native American Knowledge And the Management of California's Natural Resources |publisher=University of California Press |year=2006 |isbn=0-520-24851-1 |url-access=registration}}</ref> To mitigate destructive large wildfires from ravaging the natural environment, indigenous peoples developed a practice of [[controlled burn]]ing.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/firecaliforniase00sugi |title=Fire in California's Ecosystems |publisher=University of California Press |year=2006 |isbn=978-0-520-24605-8 |editor-first1=Neil G. |editor-last1=Sugihara |pages=[https://archive.org/details/firecaliforniase00sugi/page/n433 417] |chapter=17 |editor2=Jan W. Van Wagtendonk |editor-first3=Kevin E. |editor-last3=Shaffer |editor-first4=Joann |editor-last4=Fites-Kaufman |editor-first5=Andrea E. |editor-last5=Thode |url-access=limited}}</ref> This practice was recognized for its benefits by the California government in 2022.<ref name="Elassar-2022"/>

These groups were also diverse in their political organization, with bands, tribes, villages, and, on the resource-rich coasts, large [[chiefdom]]s, such as the [[Chumash people|Chumash]], [[Pomo people|Pomo]] and [[Salinan]]. Trade, intermarriage, craft specialists, and military alliances fostered social and economic relationships between many groups. Although nations would sometimes war, most armed conflicts were between groups of men for [[Revenge|vengeance]]. Acquiring territory was not usually the purpose of these small-scale battles.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Sutton |first=Mark Q. |title=An introduction to native North America |date=2021 |isbn=978-0-367-54046-3 |edition=6th |location=New York |chapter=A Broad Portrait of California Native Societies |type=eBook |oclc=1204267735 |quote=Though actual battles with numerous combatants were sometimes fought, most armed conflict concerned small groups of men bent on revenge. Acquiring territory was not usually the goal of warfare.}}</ref>

Men and women generally had different [[Gender role|roles]] in society. Women were often responsible for weaving, harvesting, processing, and preparing food, while men for hunting and other forms of physical labor. Most societies also had roles for people whom the Spanish referred to as ''joyas'',<ref>{{Cite book |last=Kroeber |first=Alfred Louis |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4pcKAQAAIAAJ |title=Phonetic Constituents of the Native Languages of California |publisher=University Press |year=1912 |page=164 |language=en |quote=The institution of berdaches or women-men is one of frequent occurrence among the California natives... Among the coastal stocks south of San Francisco the custom flourished, and the individuals, termed 'joyas' by the Spanish...}}</ref> who they saw as "men who dressed as women".<ref name=":6">{{Cite journal |last=Miranda |first=Deborah A. |date=April 1, 2010 |title=Extermination of the Joyas: Gendercide in Spanish California |url=https://read.dukeupress.edu/glq/article/16/1-2/253/34704/EXTERMINATION-OF-THE-JOYASGendercide-in-Spanish |journal=GLQ: A Journal of Lesbian and Gay Studies |language=en |volume=16 |issue=1–2 |pages=253–284 |doi=10.1215/10642684-2009-022 |s2cid=145480469 |issn=1064-2684|url-access=subscription }}</ref> ''Joyas'' were responsible for [[Death rituals|death]], [[burial]], and [[mourning rituals]], and they performed women's social roles.<ref name=":6" /> Indigenous societies had terms such as [[two-spirit]] to refer to them. The Chumash referred to them as ''<nowiki/>'aqi.<ref name=":6" />'' The early Spanish settlers detested and sought to eliminate them.<ref>{{Cite book |title=Contemporary archaeology in theory: the new pragmatism |date=2010 |publisher=Wiley-Blackwell |editor1-first=Robert W. |editor1-last=Preucel |editor2-first=Stephen A. |editor2-last=Mrozowski |isbn=978-1-4051-5832-9 |edition=2nd |location=Chichester, U.K. |oclc=495597287 |quote=In 1775, Alta California Governor Pedro Fages observed that there were two to three joyas in each village, and that all Indians were consequently addicted to 'this abominable vice.'}}</ref>

===Spanish period===
{{Main|Province of Las Californias|Spanish missions in California}}

[[File:The landing of Cabrillo on California (detail from mural by Daniel Sayre Groesbeck at the Santa Barbara County Courthouse).jpg|thumb|left|Portuguese explorer [[Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo]] claiming California for the [[Spanish Empire]] in 1542]]

The first Europeans to explore the [[coast of California]] were the members of a [[Spanish Empire|Spanish]] maritime expedition led by Portuguese captain [[Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo]] in 1542. Cabrillo was commissioned by [[Antonio de Mendoza]], the [[Viceroy of New Spain]], to lead an expedition up the Pacific coast in search of trade opportunities; they entered [[San Diego Bay]] on September 28, 1542, and reached at least as far north as [[San Miguel Island]].{{sfn|Rolle|1998|pp=20–21}} Privateer and explorer [[Francis Drake]] explored and claimed an undefined portion of the California coast in 1579, landing north of the future city of [[San Francisco]]. The first Asians to set foot on what would be the United States occurred in 1587, when [[Overseas Filipino|Filipino]] sailors arrived in Spanish ships at [[Morro Bay, California|Morro Bay]].<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Tillman |first1=Linda C. |url={{google books|plainurl=y|id=vSKAAAAAQBAJ|page=202}} |title=The Handbook of Research on Educational Leadership for Equity and Diversity |last2=Scheurich |first2=James Joseph |date=August 21, 2013 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-135-12843-2 |page=202}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Huping Ling |url={{google books|plainurl=y|id=K-DdvbJM_gQC|page=109}} |title=Asian America: Forming New Communities, Expanding Boundaries |date=April 29, 2009 |publisher=Rutgers University Press |isbn=978-0-8135-4867-8 |page=109}}</ref> Descendants of the Muslim Caliph Hasan ibn Ali, who had been living in [[Manila]], transited through California while traveling to Guerrero, Mexico. These individuals, who had converted to Christianity while retaining some Islamic traditions, later played a role in [[Philippine military activities in the Americas|Mexico's wars of independence]].{{sfn|Rolle|1998|p=24}} [[Sebastián Vizcaíno]] explored and mapped the coast of California in 1602 for [[New Spain]], putting ashore in [[Monterey, California|Monterey]].{{sfn|Rolle|1998|p=26}} Despite the on-the-ground explorations of California in the 16th century, Rodríguez's [[island of California|idea of California as an island]] persisted. Such depictions appeared on many European maps well into the 18th century.<ref>{{Cite web |title=California as an Island in Maps—Online Exhibits |url=https://exhibits.stanford.edu/california-as-an-island |access-date=June 15, 2016 |website=Stanford University Libraries |date=December 7, 2015 |archive-date=August 12, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160812042020/https://exhibits.stanford.edu/california-as-an-island |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The [[Portolá expedition]] of 1769–70 was a pivotal event in the Spanish colonization of California, resulting in the establishment of numerous missions, [[presidio]]s, and [[pueblos]]. The military and civil contingent of the expedition was led by [[Gaspar de Portolá]], who traveled over land from [[Sonora]] into California, while the religious component was headed by [[Junípero Serra]], who came by sea from [[Baja California]]. In 1769, Portolá and Serra established [[Mission San Diego de Alcalá]] and the [[Presidio of San Diego]], the first religious and military settlements founded by the Spanish in California. By the end of the expedition in 1770, they would establish the [[Presidio of Monterey]] and [[Mission San Carlos Borromeo de Carmelo]] on Monterey Bay.

[[File:Father Serra Celebrates Mass at Monterey by Léon Trousset.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|left|[[Junípero Serra]] conducting the first [[Mass in the Catholic Church|Mass]] in [[Monterey Bay]] in 1770]]

After the Portolà expedition, Spanish [[missionary|missionaries]] led by Father-President Serra set out to establish 21 [[Spanish missions of California]] along [[El Camino Real (California)|El Camino Real]] ("The Royal Road") and along the California coast, 16 sites of which having been chosen during the Portolá expedition. 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, California|Ventura]] ([[Mission San Buenaventura]]), and [[Santa Barbara, California|Santa Barbara]] ([[Mission Santa Barbara]]), among others.

[[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 Anza expedition selected numerous sites for missions, presidios, and pueblos, which subsequently would be established by settlers. [[Gabriel Moraga]], a member of the expedition, would also christen many of California's prominent rivers with their names in 1775–1776, such as the [[Sacramento River]] and the [[San Joaquin River]]. After the expedition, Gabriel's son, [[José Joaquín Moraga]], would found the pueblo of [[San Jose, California|San Jose]] in 1777, making it the first civilian-established city in California.
[[File:San_Juan_Capistrano,_California_(c._1806).jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|The Spanish founded [[Mission San Juan Capistrano]] in 1776, the third to be established of [[Spanish missions in California|California's missions]].]]
During this same period, sailors from the [[Russian Empire]] explored along the northern coast of California. In 1812, the [[Russian-American Company]] established a trading post and small fortification at [[Fort Ross]] on the [[North Coast (California)|North Coast]].<ref name="Historical Atlas of California">Historical Atlas of California</ref>{{sfn|Rolle|1998|pp=51–52}} Fort Ross was primarily used to supply [[Russian America|Russia's Alaskan colonies]] with food supplies. The settlement did not meet much success, failing to attract settlers or establish long term trade viability, and was abandoned by 1841.

During the [[War of Mexican Independence]], Alta California was largely unaffected and uninvolved in the revolution,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mexican California: The Heyday of the Ranchos |url=https://www.csun.edu/~sg4002/courses/417/readings/mexican.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160222030913/http://www.csun.edu/~sg4002/courses/417/readings/mexican.pdf |archive-date=February 22, 2016 |website=California State University, Northridge}}</ref> though many [[Californio]]s supported independence from [[Spain]], which many believed had neglected California and limited its development.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.loc.gov/collections/california-first-person-narratives/articles-and-essays/early-california-history/mexican-california/|title=Mexican California &#124; Early California History: An Overview &#124; Articles and Essays &#124; California as I Saw It: First-Person Narratives of California's Early Years, 1849-1900 &#124; Digital Collections &#124; Library of Congress|website=Library of Congress, Washington, D.C. 20540 USA}}</ref> Spain's trade monopoly on California had limited local trade prospects. Following Mexican independence, California ports were freely able to trade with foreign merchants. Governor [[Pablo Vicente de Solá]] presided over the transition from [[New Spain|Spanish colonial rule]] to independent Mexican rule.

===Mexican period===
{{Main|Alta California|Ranchos of California}}

[[File:1836 alvarado flag.webp|thumb|left|The flag used by [[Californio]] leader [[Juan Bautista Alvarado]]'s 1836 [[California independence]] movement]]

In 1821, the [[Mexican War of Independence]] gave the [[Declaration of Independence of the Mexican Empire|Mexican Empire]] (which included California) independence from Spain. In 1822, the California's first legislature was formed, known as the [[Diputación de Alta California]]. The [[Missions of California|California mission system]], which controlled much of the best land in Alta California, was [[secularized]] by 1834 and became the property of the Mexican government.<ref name=nps/> The governor granted many square leagues of land to others with political influence. These huge ''[[Ranchos of California|ranchos]]'' or cattle ranches emerged as the dominant institutions of Mexican California. The ranchos developed under ownership by [[Californio]]s (Hispanics native of California) who traded cowhides and tallow with Boston merchants. Beef did not become a commodity until the 1849 [[California Gold Rush]].

From the 1820s, trappers and settlers from the U.S. and Canada began to arrive in Northern California. These new arrivals used the [[Siskiyou Trail]], [[California Trail]], [[Oregon Trail]] and [[Old Spanish Trail (trade route)|Old Spanish Trail]] to cross the rugged mountains and harsh deserts in and surrounding California. The early government of the newly independent Mexico was highly unstable, and in a reflection of this, from 1831 onwards, California also experienced a series of armed disputes, both internal and with the central Mexican government.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Altman |first=Linda Jacobs |url={{google books|plainurl=y|id=rAgL-tgWOecC|page=117}} |title=California |date=2005 |publisher=Marshall Cavendish |isbn=978-0-7614-1737-8 |page=117 |access-date=March 16, 2013}}{{break}}{{cite book |title=Testimonios: Early California Through the Eyes of Women, 1815–1848 |url= {{google books |plainurl=y |id=DuvFpaRwJlgC||page=425}} |access-date=March 16, 2013 |date=2006 |publisher=Heyday |isbn=978-1-59714-033-1 |page=425}}</ref> During this tumultuous political period [[Juan Bautista Alvarado]] was able to secure the governorship during 1836–1842.<ref>{{harvnb|Starr|2007|p=17}}{{break}}{{Cite book |url={{google books|plainurl=y|id=AYMPR6xAj50C||page=316}} |title=Historic Spots in California |date=2002 |publisher=Historic Spots in California |isbn=978-0-8047-7817-6 |editor-last=Hoover |editor-first=Mildred Brooke |page=316 |access-date=March 16, 2013 |editor-last2=Kyle |editor-first2=Douglas E.}}{{break}}{{cite book |last=Conway |first=J. D. |title=Monterey: Presidio, Pueblo, and Port |series=The Making of America Series |url= {{google books |plainurl=y |id=vz1jyn7Ti3oC|page=53}} |access-date=March 16, 2013 |date=2003 |publisher=Arcadia Publishing |isbn=978-0-7385-2423-8 |pages=53–55}}</ref> The military action which first brought Alvarado to power had momentarily declared California to be an independent state, and had been aided by [[Anglo-Americans|Anglo-American]] residents of California,<ref name="Graham1840">{{Cite book |last1=Billington |first1=Ray Allen |url={{google books|plainurl=y|id=YoV-k7VcyZ0C|page=203}} |title=Westward Expansion: A History of the American Frontier |last2=Ridge |first2=Martin |date=2001 |publisher=University of New Mexico Press |isbn=978-0-8263-1981-4 |page=203 |author-link2=Martin Ridge (historian) |access-date=February 16, 2013}}</ref> including [[Isaac Graham]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Hart |first=James David |url={{google books|plainurl=y|id=teJCPQtWfOMC315|page=315}} |title=A Companion to California |date=1987 |publisher=University of California Press |isbn=978-0-520-05544-5 |page=315 |access-date=March 16, 2013}}{{break}}{{cite book |last=Harlow |first=Neal |title=California Conquered: The Annexation of a Mexican Province, 1846–1850 |url= {{google books |plainurl=y |id=pApgP6lBVbMC|page=27}} |access-date=March 16, 2013 |date=1989 |publisher=University of California Press |isbn=978-0-520-06605-2 |page=27}}</ref> In 1840, one hundred of those residents who did not have passports were arrested, leading to the [[Isaac Graham|Graham Affair]], which was resolved in part with the intercession of [[Royal Navy]] officials.<ref name="Graham1840" />

[[File:"General Vallejo Reviewing His Troops in Sonoma, 1846".jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|General [[Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo|Mariano G. Vallejo]] reviewing his troops in the [[Sonoma Plaza]], 1846]]

One of the largest ranchers in California was [[John Marsh (pioneer)|John Marsh]]. After failing to obtain justice against squatters on his land from the Mexican courts, he determined that California should become part of the U.S. Marsh conducted a letter-writing campaign espousing the California climate, the soil, and other reasons to settle there, as well as the best route to follow, which became known as "Marsh's route". His letters were read, reread, passed around, and printed in newspapers throughout the country, and started the first wagon trains rolling to California.<ref>Lyman, George D. ''John Marsh, Pioneer: The Life Story of a Trail-Blazer on Six Frontiers'', pp. 237–39, The Chautauqua Press, Chautauqua, New York, 1931.</ref> After ushering in the period of organized emigration to California, Marsh became involved in a military battle between the much-hated Mexican general, [[Manuel Micheltorena]] and the California governor he had replaced, Juan Bautista Alvarado. At the [[Battle of Providencia]] near Los Angeles, he convinced each side that they had no reason to be fighting each other. As a result of Marsh's actions, they abandoned the fight, Micheltorena was defeated, and California-born [[Pio Pico]] was returned to the governorship. This paved the way to California's ultimate acquisition by the U.S.<ref>Lyman, 1931, pp. 250–62.</ref><ref>{{cite book | last=Stone | first=Irving | title=Men to Match My Mountains | publisher=Berkley | publication-place=New York | date=1956 | isbn=0-425-10544-X | pages=70–72}}</ref><ref>Winkley, John W. ''Dr. John Marsh, Wilderness Scout,'' pp. 67–69, The Parthenon Press, Nashville, Tennessee, 1962.</ref><ref>{{cite book | last=Stone | first=Irving | title=From Mud-flat Cove to Gold to Statehood | publisher=RSM Press | date=1999 | isbn=1-884995-17-9 | pages=66–68}}</ref><ref>{{cite book | last=Salomon | first=Carlos Manuel | title=Pío Pico: The Last Governor of Mexican California | publisher=Univ. of Oklahoma Press | publication-place=Norman | date=2010 | isbn=978-0-8061-4090-2 | pages=68–76}}</ref>

===U.S. conquest and the California Republic===
{{Main|Conquest of California|Bear Flag Revolt}}

[[File:Fremont Raising the Bear Flag (engraved, c. 1860).jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.2|The 1846 [[Bear Flag Revolt]] declared the [[California Republic]] and prefaced the [[Conquest of California|American conquest of California]].]]

In 1846, a group of American settlers in and around [[Sonoma, California|Sonoma]] rebelled against Mexican rule during the [[Bear Flag Revolt]]. Afterward, rebels raised the [[Bear Flag]] (featuring a bear, a star, a red stripe and the words "California Republic") at Sonoma. The Republic's only president was [[William B. Ide]],<ref name="William B. Ide Adobe SHP">{{Cite web |title=William B. Ide Adobe SHP |url=http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=458 |access-date=December 25, 2009 |publisher=California State Parks}}</ref> who played a pivotal role during the Bear Flag Revolt. This revolt by American settlers served as a prelude to the later American military invasion of California and was closely coordinated with nearby American military commanders.

The California Republic was short-lived;<ref>{{Cite web |last=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=2015 |title=Bear Flag Revolt |url=http://www.history.com/topics/bear-flag-revolt |access-date=June 5, 2015 |publisher=History.com}}{{break}}{{Cite web |last=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=1998 |title=The United States and California |url=http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/cbhtml/cbstates.html |access-date=June 5, 2015 |publisher=Library of Congress |newspaper=The Library of Congress}}</ref> the same year marked the outbreak of the [[Mexican–American War]] (1846–1848).<ref>{{Cite web |last=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=1999 |title=The U.S. Mexican War |url=https://www.pbs.org/kpbs/theborder/history/timeline/5.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010110094600/http://www.pbs.org/kpbs/theborder/history/timeline/5.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 10, 2001 |access-date=June 5, 2015 |website=The Border |publisher=KPBS}}{{break}}{{Cite book |last1=Matthew Kachur |url={{google books|plainurl=y|id=1g2ReKdEZfIC|page=25}} |title=The Mexican-American War |last2=Jon Sterngass |date=July 1, 2006 |publisher=World Almanac Library |isbn=978-0-8368-7290-3 |pages=25–26}}{{break}}{{Cite book |last=Thomas M. Leonard |url={{google books|plainurl=y|id=NQugPgduF0kC|page=141}} |title=James K. Polk: A Clear and Unquestionable Destiny |date=2001 |publisher=Rowman & Littlefield |isbn=978-0-8420-2647-5 |pages=141–143}}</ref>

Commodore [[John D. Sloat]] of the [[U.S. Navy]] sailed into [[Monterey Bay]] in 1846 and began the [[Conquest of California|U.S. military invasion of California]], with Northern California capitulating in less than a month to the U.S. forces.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Spencer Tucker (Militärhistoriker) |url={{google books|plainurl=y|id=FZVQcZpic-8C|page=55}} |title=The Encyclopedia of the Mexican-American War: A Political, Social, and Military History |date=2013 |publisher=ABC-CLIO |isbn=978-1-85109-853-8 |pages=55–56}}</ref> In Southern California, Californios continued to resist American forces. Notable military engagements of the conquest include the [[Battle of San Pasqual]] and the [[Battle of Dominguez Rancho]] in Southern California, as well as the [[Battle of Olómpali]] and the [[Battle of Santa Clara (1847)|Battle of Santa Clara]] in Northern California. After a series of defensive battles in the south, the [[Treaty of Cahuenga]] was signed by the [[Californios]] on January 13, 1847, securing a censure and establishing [[de facto]] American control in California.<ref>{{Cite book |url={{google books|plainurl=y|id=3cE1AAAAIAAJ|page=199}} |title=The Quarterly |date=1907 |publisher=Historical Society of Southern California |pages=199–201}}{{break}}{{cite book|first1=Hunt|last1=Janin|first2=Ursula|last2=Carlson|title=The California Campaigns of the U.S.-Mexican War, 1846–1848|url= {{google books |plainurl=y |id=_ImhCAAAQBAJ|page=149}}|date=April 20, 2015|publisher=McFarland|isbn=978-1-4766-2093-0|pages=149–151}}</ref>

===Early American period===
{{See also|California gold rush|Interim government of California}}
[[File:Treaty of Cahuenga.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|The [[Treaty of Cahuenga]], signed in 1847 by Californio [[Andrés Pico]] and American [[John C. Frémont]], was a ceasefire that ended the U.S. [[conquest of California]].]]
Following the [[Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo]] (February 2, 1848) that ended the war, the westernmost portion of the annexed Mexican territory of Alta California soon became the American state of California, and the remainder of the old territory was then subdivided into the new American Territories of Arizona, Nevada, [[Colorado]] and [[Utah]]. The even more lightly populated and arid lower region of old Baja California remained as a part of Mexico. In 1846, the total settler population of the western part of the old Alta California had been estimated to be no more than 8,000, plus about 100,000 Native Americans, down from about 300,000 before Hispanic settlement in 1769.<ref name="Osborne2012">{{Cite book |last=Osborne |first=Thomas J. |url={{google books|plainurl=y|id=FvA3jL4CFCMC}} |title=Pacific Eldorado: A History of Greater California |date=November 29, 2012 |publisher=Wiley |isbn=978-1-118-29217-4}}</ref>

In 1848, only one week before the official American annexation of the area, gold was discovered in California, this being an event which was to forever alter both the state's demographics and its finances. Soon afterward, a massive influx of immigration into the area resulted, as prospectors and miners arrived by the thousands. The population burgeoned with U.S. citizens, Europeans, Middle Easterns, Chinese and other immigrants during the great [[California gold rush]]. By the time of California's application for statehood in 1850, the settler population of California had multiplied to 100,000. By 1854, more than 300,000 settlers had come.<ref>{{Cite web |title=California Gold Rush, 1848–1864 |url=http://www.learncalifornia.org/doc.asp?id=118 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110727033216/http://www.learncalifornia.org/doc.asp?id=118 |archive-date=July 27, 2011 |access-date=July 22, 2008 |website=Learn California.org, a site designed for the [[California Secretary of State]]}}</ref> Between 1847 and 1870, the population of San Francisco increased from 500 to 150,000.<ref>{{Cite web |title=1870 Fast Facts |url=https://www.census.gov/history/www/through_the_decades/fast_facts/1870_fast_facts.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190305053406/https://www.census.gov/history/www/through_the_decades/fast_facts/1870_fast_facts.html |archive-date=March 5, 2019 |access-date=March 5, 2019 |website=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> 
{{multiple image
| direction         = vertical
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| width             = 270
| header            = [[California Gold Rush]]
| image1            = California Clipper 500.jpg
| caption1          = An ad to sail to California, {{circa|1850}}
| image2            = SanFranciscoharbor1851c sharp.jpg
| caption2          = [[San Francisco]] harbor, {{circa|1850–51}}
| image3            = Mining_on_the_American_River_near_Sacramento,_circa_1852.jpg
| caption3          = Mining near [[Sacramento, California|Sacramento]], {{circa|1852}}
}}
The seat of government for California under Spanish and later Mexican rule had been located in [[Monterey, California|Monterey]] from 1777 until 1845.<ref name="nps">{{Cite web |title=Introduction |url=http://www.nps.gov/nr/travel/ca/intro.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070823164224/http://www.nps.gov/nr/travel/ca/intro.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=August 23, 2007 |access-date=August 26, 2012 |website=Early History of the California Coast |publisher=National Park Service}}</ref> Pio Pico, the last Mexican governor of Alta California, had briefly moved the capital to Los Angeles in 1845. The U.S. [[consulate]] had also been located in Monterey, under consul [[Thomas O. Larkin]].

In 1849, a state Constitutional Convention was first held in Monterey. Among the first tasks of the convention was a decision on a location for the new state capital. The first full legislative sessions were held in San Jose (1850–1851). Subsequent locations included [[Vallejo, California|Vallejo]] (1852–1853), and nearby [[Benicia, California|Benicia]] (1853–1854); these locations eventually proved to be inadequate as well. The capital has been located in [[Sacramento, California|Sacramento]] since 1854<ref name="Wilson 2006">{{Cite book |last1=Wilson |first1=Dotson |url=http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pdf/caleg11.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pdf/caleg11.pdf |archive-date=October 9, 2022 |url-status=live |title=California's Legislature |last2=Ebbert |first2=Brian S. |date=2006 |publisher=California State Assembly |edition=2006 |location=Sacramento |oclc=70700867}}</ref> with only a short break in 1862 when legislative sessions were held in San Francisco due to [[Great Flood of 1862|flooding in Sacramento]]. Once the state's Constitutional Convention had finalized its state constitution, it applied to the U.S. Congress for [[Admission to the Union|admission to statehood]]. On September 9, 1850, as part of the [[Compromise of 1850]], California became a [[Slave states and free states|free state]] and September{{spaces}}9 a [[California Admission Day|state holiday]].

During the [[American Civil War]] (1861–1865), California sent gold shipments eastward to Washington [[California in the American Civil War|in support of the Union]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.civilwar.org/learn/articles/10-facts-california-during-civil-war |title=10 Facts: California during the Civil War |work=American Battlefield Trust |date=August 13, 2013 |access-date=September 9, 2017}}</ref> However, due to the existence of a large contingent of pro-South sympathizers within the state, the state was not able to muster any full military regiments to send eastwards to officially serve in the Union war effort. Still, several smaller military units within the Union army, such as the [[2nd Regiment of Cavalry, Massachusetts Volunteers|"California 100 Company"]], were unofficially associated with the state of California due to a majority of their members being from California.

At the time of California's admission into the Union, travel between California and the rest of the continental U.S. had been a time-consuming and dangerous feat. Nineteen years later, and seven years after it was greenlighted by President Lincoln, the [[first transcontinental railroad]] was completed in 1869. California was then reachable from the eastern States in a week's time.

Much of the state was extremely well suited to fruit cultivation and agriculture in general. Vast expanses of wheat, other cereal crops, vegetable crops, cotton, and nut and fruit trees were grown (including oranges in Southern California), and the foundation was laid for the state's prodigious agricultural production in the Central Valley and elsewhere.

In the nineteenth century, a large number of migrants from China traveled to the state as part of the [[Gold Rush]] or to seek work.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Chinese Experience in 19th Century America |url=http://teachingresources.atlas.illinois.edu/chinese_exp/introduction04.html |website=teachingresources.atlas.illinois.edu}}</ref> Even though the Chinese proved indispensable in building the transcontinental railroad from California to Utah, perceived job competition with the Chinese led to anti-Chinese riots in the state, and eventually the U.S. ended migration from China partially as a response to pressure from California with the 1882 [[Chinese Exclusion Act]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Immigration to the United States, 1851-1900 {{!}} Rise of Industrial America, 1876-1900 {{!}} U.S. History Primary Source Timeline {{!}} Classroom Materials at the Library of Congress {{!}} Library of Congress |url=https://www.loc.gov/classroom-materials/united-states-history-primary-source-timeline/rise-of-industrial-america-1876-1900/immigration-to-united-states-1851-1900/ |website=Library of Congress}}</ref>

====California genocide====
{{Main|California genocide}}

[[File:"Protecting The Settlers" Illustration by JR Browne for his work "The Indians Of California" 1864 (cropped).jpg|thumb|right|Between 1846 and 1873, U.S. government agents and private settlers perpetrated many massacres against [[Indigenous Californians]], known as the [[California genocide]]. At least 9,456 were killed with estimates as high as 100,000 deaths.<ref name=Madley/>]]

Under earlier Spanish and Mexican rule, California's original native population had precipitously declined, above all, from Eurasian diseases to which the [[Indigenous peoples of California|Indigenous people of California]] had not yet developed a natural immunity.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Destruction of the California Indians |url=http://www.learncalifornia.org/doc.asp?id=1617 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111207115225/http://www.learncalifornia.org/doc.asp?id=1617 |archive-date=December 7, 2011 |access-date=April 15, 2012 |publisher=[[California Secretary of State]]}}</ref> Under its new American administration, California's first governor [[Peter Hardeman Burnett]] instituted policies that have been described as a state-sanctioned policy of elimination of California's indigenous people.<ref name=":15">{{Cite book |last=Risling Baldy |first=Cutcha |title=We are dancing for you: native feminisms and the revitalization of women's coming-of-age ceremonies |date=2018 |isbn=978-0-295-74345-5 |location=Seattle |pages=61–63 |oclc=1032289446}}</ref> Burnett announced in 1851 in his Second Annual Message to the Legislature: "That a war of extermination will continue to be waged between the races until the Indian race becomes extinct must be expected. While we cannot anticipate the result with but painful regret, the inevitable destiny of the race is beyond the power and wisdom of man to avert."<ref name=":14">{{Cite book |last=Senate |first=California Legislature |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XV1BAQAAMAAJ |title=The Journal of the Senate ... of the Legislature of the State of California ... |date=1851 |publisher=Sup't State Printing |page=792 |language=en}}</ref>

As in other American states, indigenous peoples were forcibly removed from their lands by American [[settler]]s, like miners, ranchers, and farmers. Although California had entered the American union as a free state, the "loitering or orphaned Indians", were ''[[de facto]]'' enslaved by their new Anglo-American masters under the 1850 ''[[Act for the Government and Protection of Indians]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Act for the Government and Protection of Indians {{!}} American Experience |url=https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/goldrush-act-for-government-and-protection-of-indians/ |access-date=March 3, 2021 |website=www.pbs.org}}</ref> One of these ''de facto'' [[Slave-auction|slave auctions]] was approved by the [[Los Angeles City Council]] and occurred for nearly twenty years.<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |date=September 2, 2016 |title=Los Angeles' 1850s Slave Market Is Now the Site of a Federal Courthouse |url=https://www.kcet.org/shows/lost-la/los-angeles-1850s-slave-market-is-now-the-site-of-a-federal-courthouse |access-date=December 28, 2022 |website=KCET |language=en}}</ref> There were many massacres in which hundreds of indigenous people were killed by settlers for their land.<ref name="Baumgardner 2005 171">{{Cite book |last=Baumgardner |first=Frank H. |title=Killing for Land in Early California: Indian Blood at Round Valley: Founding the Nome Cult Indian Farm |date=2005 |publisher=Algora |isbn=978-0-87586-803-5 |location=New York |page=171 |oclc=693780699}}</ref>

Between 1850 and 1860, the California state government paid around 1.5{{spaces}}million dollars (some 250,000 of which was reimbursed by the federal government)<ref>{{Cite web |title=California Militia and Expeditions Against the Indians, 1850–1859 |url=http://www.militarymuseum.org/MilitiaandIndians.html |access-date=March 21, 2012 |publisher=Militarymuseum.org}}</ref> to hire militias with the stated purpose of protecting settlers, however these militias perpetrated numerous massacres of indigenous people.<ref name="Baumgardner 2005 171"/> Indigenous people were also forcibly moved to reservations and rancherias, which were often small and isolated and without enough natural resources or funding from the government to adequately sustain the populations living on them. As a result, [[settler colonialism]] was a calamity for indigenous people. Several scholars and Native American activists, including Benjamin Madley and [[Ed Castillo]], have described the actions of the California government [[California Genocide|as a genocide]],<ref name=Madley>{{cite book|last=Madley |first=Benjamin |title=An American Genocide, The United States and the California Catastrophe, 1846–1873 |publisher= Yale University Press|year=2016|isbn=978-0-300-18136-4|pages=11, 351}}</ref> as well as the 40th governor of California [[Gavin Newsom]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=August 13, 2021 |title=California governor calls Native American treatment genocide |url=https://apnews.com/article/california-native-americans-982b507a846a4ad6bc184b3e7f99ec70 |access-date=December 29, 2022 |website=AP NEWS |language=en}}</ref> Benjamin Madley estimates that from 1846 to 1873, between 9,492 and 16,092 indigenous people were killed, including between 1,680 and 3,741 killed by the U.S. Army.<ref name=Madley/>

===1900–present===
{{Main|History of California (1900–present)}}

[[File:Post-and-Grant-Avenue-Look (cropped).jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|left|View of the destruction from the [[1906 San Francisco earthquake]]]]

In the 20th century, thousands of Japanese people migrated to California. The state in 1913 passed the [[California Alien Land Law of 1913|Alien Land Act]], excluding Asian immigrants from owning land.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The U.S. Mainland: Growth and Resistance |url=https://www.loc.gov/classroom-materials/immigration/japanese/the-us-mainland-growth-and-resistance/ |website=Library of Congress}}</ref> During World War II, [[Internment of Japanese Americans|Japanese Americans in California were interned]] in concentration camps;<ref>{{Cite web |title=Behind the Wire: Japanese Immigration and Relocation in U.S. History |url=https://www.loc.gov/classroom-materials/immigration/japanese/behind-the-wire/ |access-date=February 8, 2021 |website=Library of Congress}}</ref> in 2020, California apologized.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dil |first=Cuneyt |date=February 20, 2020 |title=California apologizes for Japanese American internment |url=https://apnews.com/article/4b9234383de4814974f81e78a1edaa95 |access-date=February 8, 2021 |website=AP NEWS}}</ref>

Migration to California accelerated during the early 20th century with the completion of transcontinental highways like the [[U.S. Route 66 (California)|Route 66]]. From 1900 to 1965, the population grew from fewer than one million to the greatest in the Union. In 1940, the [[U.S. Census Bureau]] reported California's population as 6% Hispanic, 2.4% Asian, and 90% non-Hispanic white.<ref>{{Cite web |title=California—Race and Hispanic Origin: 1850 to 1990 |url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/documentation/twps0056/twps0056.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141224151538/http://www.census.gov/population/www/documentation/twps0056/twps0056.html |archive-date=December 24, 2014 |publisher=U.S. Census Bureau}}</ref>

To meet the population's needs, engineering feats like the [[California Aqueduct|California]] and [[Los Angeles Aqueduct]]s; the [[Oroville Dam|Oroville]] and [[Shasta Dam]]s; and the [[San Francisco–Oakland Bay Bridge|Bay]] and [[Golden Gate Bridge|Golden Gate]] Bridges were built. The state government adopted the [[California Master Plan for Higher Education]] in 1960 to develop an efficient system of public education.
[[File:Paramount Pictures studio gate, c. 1940 (cropped).jpg|thumb|In the early 20th century, [[Major film studios|Hollywood studios]], like [[Paramount Pictures]], helped transform [[Hollywood, Los Angeles|Hollywood]] into the world capital of film and helped solidify [[Los Angeles]] as a global economic hub.]]
Meanwhile, attracted to the mild Mediterranean climate, cheap land, and the state's variety of geography, filmmakers established the [[studio system]] in Hollywood in the 1920s. California manufactured 9% of U.S. armaments produced [[California during World War II|during World War II]], ranking third behind [[New York (state)|New York]] and [[Michigan]].<ref>[[Whiz Kids (Department of Defense)|Peck, Merton J.]] & [[Frederic M. Scherer|Scherer, Frederic M.]] ''The Weapons Acquisition Process: An Economic Analysis'' (1962) [[Harvard Business School]] p. 111</ref> California easily ranked first in production of military ships at drydock facilities in San Diego, Los Angeles, and the San Francisco Bay Area.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Shipbuilding Essay—World War II in the San Francisco Bay Area: A National Register of Historic Places Travel Itinerary |url=https://www.nps.gov/nr/travel/wwiibayarea/shipbuilding.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070630093056/http://www.nps.gov/nr/travel/wwIIbayarea/shipbuilding.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 30, 2007 |website=Nps.gov}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Richmond Shipyard Number Three: World War II in the San Francisco Bay Area: A National Register of Historic Places Travel Itinerary |url=https://www.nps.gov/nr/travel/wwIIbayarea/ric.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070626070052/http://www.nps.gov/nr/travel/wwIIbayarea/ric.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 26, 2007 |website=Nps.gov}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Rosie the Riveter National Historical Park, Kaiser Shipyards |url=https://cdn.loc.gov/master/pnp/habshaer/ca/ca3300/ca3393/data/ca3393data.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://cdn.loc.gov/master/pnp/habshaer/ca/ca3300/ca3393/data/ca3393data.pdf |archive-date=October 9, 2022 |url-status=live |website=Csn.loc.gov}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=August 11, 2010 |title=Saving the Bay—The Greatest Shipbuilding Center in the World |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UhCiGY75wVw |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171203135248/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UhCiGY75wVw |archive-date=December 3, 2017 |work=[[KQED Inc.|KQED]] |via=[[YouTube]] |access-date=July 10, 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref> Due to the hiring opportunities California offered during the conflict, the population multiplied from the immigration it received due to the work in its war factories, military bases, and training facilities.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/2010census/data/apportionment-pop-text.php|title=Resident Population Data – 2010 Census|website=Census.gov|access-date=October 7, 2017}}</ref> After World War II, California's economy expanded due to strong [[Aerospace manufacturer|aerospace]] and [[Defense industry|defense]] industries,<ref name="BWatkins2012">{{cite news |title=How California Lost its Mojo |first=Bill |last=Watkins |url= http://www.foxandhoundsdaily.com/2012/10/how-california-lost-its-mojo/ |newspaper=Fox and Hound Daily |date=October 10, 2012 |access-date=June 25, 2013}}{{break}}{{Cite book |last1=Nancy Kleniewski |url={{google books|plainurl=y|id=dWuQ70MtnIQC|page=91}} |title=Cities, Change, and Conflict: A Political Economy of Urban Life |last2=Alexander R. Thomas |date=March 1, 2010 |publisher=Cengage Learning |isbn=978-0-495-81222-7 |pages=91–92 |access-date=June 26, 2013}}</ref> whose size decreased following the end of the [[Cold War]].<ref name="BWatkins2012" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Moller |first=Rosa Maria |date=May 2008 |title=Aerospace States' Incentives to Attract The Industry |url=http://www.library.ca.gov/crb/08/08-005.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140824080139/http://www.library.ca.gov/crb/08/08-005.pdf |archive-date=August 24, 2014 |access-date=June 25, 2013 |website=library.ca.gov |publisher=California Research Bureau |pages=24–25}}{{break}}{{cite web |last1=Kleinhenz |first1=Robert A. |last2=Ritter-Martinez |first2=Kimberly |last3=De Anda |first3=Rafael |last4=Avila |first4=Elizabeth |date=August 2012 |title=The Aerospace Industry in Southern California |url=http://laedc.org/reports/AerospaceinSoCal_0812.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130512204822/http://laedc.org/reports/AerospaceinSoCal_0812.pdf |archive-date=May 12, 2013 |access-date=June 25, 2013 |publisher=laedc.org |page=10 |quote=In 1987, California accounted for one in four aerospace jobs nationally, and in Los Angeles County, the share was one in ten. Following the collapse of the Soviet Union and the end of the Cold War, the Department of Defense (DOD) sharply curtailed procurement spending. In 1995, DOD spending fell below $50{{spaces}}billion for the first time since 1982. Nowhere in the country were the changes in Pentagon outlays more apparent than in Southern California.}}{{break}}{{cite book |last1=Heikkila |first1=Eric John |url={{google books |plainurl=y|id=upaN7waaW7AC|page=18}} |title=Southern California and the World |last2=Pizarro |first2=Rafael |date=January 1, 2002 |publisher=Greenwood Publishing Group |isbn=978-0-275-97112-0 |page=18 |access-date=June 25, 2013}}{{break}}{{cite book |last=Flanigan |first=James |url={{google books |plainurl=y|id=T-_FMngVdI4C|page=25}} |title=Smile Southern California, You're the Center of the Universe: The Economy and People of a Global Region |date=2009 |publisher=Stanford University Press |isbn=978-0-8047-5625-9 |page=25 |access-date=June 25, 2013}}</ref> [[Stanford University]] began encouraging faculty and graduates to stay instead of leaving the state, and develop a high-tech region, now known as [[Silicon Valley]].<ref name="Markoff">{{Cite news |last=Markoff |first=John |date=April 17, 2009 |title=Searching for Silicon Valley |work=The New York Times |url=http://travel.nytimes.com/2009/04/17/travel/escapes/17Amer.html |access-date=February 26, 2011}}</ref> As a result of this, California is a world center of the entertainment and music industries, of technology, engineering, and the aerospace industry, and as the U.S. center of agricultural production.{{sfn|Cohen|2003|pages=115–116}} Just before the [[Dot-com bubble|Dot Com Bust]], California had the fifth-largest economy in the world.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Davis |first1=Clark |url={{google books|plainurl=y|id=6QxvAAAAQBAJ|page=11}} |title=The Human Tradition in California |last2=Igler |first2=David |date=August 1, 2002 |publisher=Rowman & Littlefield Publishers |isbn=978-1-4616-4431-6 |page=11}}{{break}}{{cite news |last=Treanor |first=Jill |date=July 17, 2001 |title=Pink slip season in Silicon Valley |url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2001/jul/17/internetnews.business |access-date=April 22, 2015 |newspaper=The Guardian |location=United Kingdom |quote=This micro-economy—the world's fifth largest economy in its own right—started to feel the pain of the new technology meltdown first.}}</ref>

In the mid and late twentieth century, race-related incidents occurred. Tensions between police and African Americans, combined with unemployment and poverty in inner cities, led to riots, such as the 1992 [[1992 Los Angeles riots|Rodney King riots.]]<ref>{{Cite web |date=June 12, 2017 |title=Watts Rebellion (Los Angeles) |url=https://kinginstitute.stanford.edu/encyclopedia/watts-rebellion-los-angeles |access-date=February 7, 2021 |website=The Martin Luther King, Jr., Research and Education Institute |publisher=Stanford University}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last1=Sastry |first1=Anjuli |last2=Grisby Bates |first2=Karen |title=When LA Erupted In Anger: A Look Back At The Rodney King Riots |url=https://www.npr.org/2017/04/26/524744989/when-la-erupted-in-anger-a-look-back-at-the-rodney-king-riots |access-date=February 7, 2021 |website=NPR|date=April 26, 2017 }}</ref> California was the hub of the [[Black Panther Party]], known for arming African Americans to defend against racial injustice.<ref>{{Cite web |date=July 23, 2019 |title=The Black Panther Party: Challenging Police and Promoting Social Change |url=https://nmaahc.si.edu/blog-post/black-panther-party-challenging-police-and-promoting-social-change |access-date=February 7, 2021 |website=National Museum of African American History and Culture}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.history.com/news/free-school-breakfast-black-panther-party|title=How the Black Panthers' Breakfast Program Both Inspired and Threatened the Government|first=Erin|last=Blakemore|website=HISTORY|date=January 29, 2021 }}</ref> Mexican, Filipino, and other migrant farm workers rallied in the state around [[Cesar Chavez]] for better pay in the 1960s and 70s.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pao |first=Maureen |title=Cesar Chavez: The Life Behind A Legacy Of Farm Labor Rights |url=https://www.npr.org/2016/08/02/488428577/cesar-chavez-the-life-behind-a-legacy-of-farm-labor-rights |access-date=February 7, 2021 |website=NPR|date=August 12, 2016 }}</ref>
[[File:Cesar Chavez and Brown Berets at peace rally.jpg|thumb|left|Civil rights activist [[Cesar Chavez]], flanked by [[Brown Berets]], at a 1971 rally during the [[Chicano movement]]]]
During the 20th century, two great disasters happened: the [[1906 San Francisco earthquake]] and 1928 [[St. Francis Dam]] flood remain the deadliest in U.S. history.<ref name="IIIMcNeill2004">{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Dmky95hwKr0C&pg=PA540 |title=Encyclopedia of World Environmental History, Volume 3: O–Z |date=2004 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-0-415-93735-1 |editor-last=Krech |editor-first=Shepard III |pages=540– |access-date=November 23, 2012 |editor-last2=Merchant |editor-first2=Carolyn |editor-last3=McNeill |editor-first3=John Robert}}</ref>

Although air pollution has been reduced, health problems associated with pollution continue. Brown haze known as "[[smog]]" has been substantially abated after federal and state restrictions on automobile exhaust.<ref>William Deverell, and Greg Hise, eds. ''Land of Sunshine: An Environmental History of Metropolitan Los Angeles'' (2005).</ref><ref>James E. Krier, and Edmund Ursin, ''Pollution and Policy: A Case Essay on California and Federal Experience with Motor Vehicle Air Pollution, 1940–1975'' (1978).</ref> An [[2000–2001 California electricity crisis|energy crisis in 2001]] led to [[rolling blackout]]s, soaring power rates, and the importation of electricity from neighboring states. [[Southern California Edison]] and [[Pacific Gas and Electric Company]] came under heavy criticism.<ref>Severin Borenstein, [https://www.jstor.org/stable/2696582 "The Trouble With Electricity Markets: Understanding California's Restructuring Disaster"], ''Journal of Economic Perspectives'', Winter 2002, Vol. 16 Issue 1, pp. 191–211 (in JSTOR).</ref>

Housing prices in urban areas continued to increase; a modest home which in the 1960s cost $25,000 would cost half a million dollars or more in urban areas by 2005. More people commuted longer hours to afford a home in more rural areas while earning larger salaries in the urban areas. Speculators bought houses, expecting to make a huge profit in months, then rolling it over by buying more properties. [[Mortgage]] companies were compliant, as people assumed prices would keep rising. The [[subprime mortgage crisis|bubble burst]] in 2007–2008 as prices began to crash. Hundreds of billions in property values vanished and foreclosures soared, as financial institutions and investors were badly hurt.<ref>Robert M. Hardaway, ''The Great American Housing Bubble: The Road to Collapse'' (2011), p. 22.</ref><ref>Stephen D. Cummings and Patrick B. Reddy, ''California after Arnold'' (2009), p. 102.</ref>
[[File:Steve Jobs presents iPhone (cropped).jpg|thumb|right|The 2007 launch of the [[IPhone (1st generation)|iPhone]] by [[Apple Inc.|Apple]] founder [[Steve Jobs]] in [[Silicon Valley]], the largest [[Technopole|tech hub]] in the world]]
In the 21st century, droughts and frequent wildfires attributed to climate change have occurred.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Wilson |first=Scott |date=December 5, 2019 |title=Fires, floods and free parking: California's unending fight against climate change |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2019/national/climate-environment/climate-change-california/ |access-date=February 8, 2021 |newspaper=Washington Post}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Flavelle |first=Christopher |date=September 20, 2020 |title=How California Became Ground Zero for Climate Disasters |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/20/climate/california-climate-change-fires.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200920201702/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/20/climate/california-climate-change-fires.html |archive-date=September 20, 2020 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |access-date=February 8, 2021 |website=The New York Times}}</ref> From 2011 to 2017, a [[2011–2017 California drought|persistent drought]] was the worst in its recorded history.<ref>{{Cite web |title=California Facing Worst Drought on Record |url=https://www.climate.gov/news-features/event-tracker/california-facing-worst-drought-record |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140302015456/http://www.climate.gov/news-features/event-tracker/california-facing-worst-drought-record |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 2, 2014 |access-date=February 8, 2021 |website=www.climate.gov}}</ref> The 2018 wildfire season was the state's deadliest and most destructive.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2018 California Wildfires |url=https://www.census.gov/topics/preparedness/events/wildfires/2018-ca-wildfires.html |access-date=February 8, 2021 |newspaper=Census.gov}}</ref>

One of the first confirmed [[COVID-19]] cases in the U.S. occurred in California on January 26, 2020.<ref name="Wheeler2">{{cite news|last=Wheeler|first=Ian|date=February 4, 2020|title=Orange County coronavirus patient released, in good condition, health officials say|work=Orange County Register|url=https://www.ocregister.com/2020/02/04/risk-of-catching-coronavirus-in-so-cal-is-low-health-officials-say/|url-status=live|access-date=February 21, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200205195530/https://www.ocregister.com/2020/02/04/risk-of-catching-coronavirus-in-so-cal-is-low-health-officials-say/|archive-date=February 5, 2020}}</ref><ref name="uk.reuters.com2">{{cite web|date=February 2, 2020|title=Ninth case of fast-moving coronavirus confirmed in U.S.|url=https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-china-health-usa-california-idUKKBN1ZX01P|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200203011127/https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-china-health-usa-california-idUKKBN1ZX01P|archive-date=February 3, 2020|access-date=February 3, 2020|work=[[Reuters]]}}</ref> A [[State of emergency#United States|state of emergency]] was declared in the state on March 4, 2020, and remained in effect until Governor [[Gavin Newsom]] ended it in February 2023.<ref>{{cite news|date=March 21, 2023|title=California Ends COVID-19 State of Emergency|work=State Center Community College District|url=https://www.scccd.edu/news/2023/california-ends-covid-19-state-of-emergency.html}}</ref> A mandatory statewide [[stay-at-home order]] was issued on March 19, 2020, which was ended in January 2021.<ref>{{Cite web|date=January 26, 2021|title=California Governor Gavin Newsom lifts virus stay-at-home orders|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/california-covid-stay-at-home-order-lifted/|url-status=live|access-date=February 24, 2021|website=CBS News|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210126123803/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/california-covid-stay-at-home-order-lifted/ |archive-date=January 26, 2021 }}</ref>

Cultural and [[language revitalization]] efforts among indigenous Californians have progressed among tribes as of 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |date=November 28, 2022 |title=What Does It Take To Reawaken a Native Language? |url=https://www.kcet.org/news-community/what-does-it-take-to-reawaken-a-native-language |access-date=January 2, 2023 |website=KCET |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Whitebear |first=Luhui |title=Unsettled Records and the Restoration of Cultural Memories in Indigenous California |chapter=Drifting across Lines in the Sand: Unsettled Records and the Restoration of Cultural Memories in Indigenous California |date=June 19, 2022 |chapter-url=https://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/edit/10.4324/9781351174282-5/drifting-across-lines-sand-luhui-whitebear |publisher=The Routledge Companion to Gender and the American West |doi=10.4324/9781351174282-5 |isbn=978-1-351-17428-2 |access-date=January 7, 2023}}</ref> Some [[Land Back|land returns]] to indigenous stewardship have occurred.<ref>{{Cite web |last=agencies |first=Dani Anguiano and |date=January 25, 2022 |title=Native American tribes reclaim California redwood land for preservation |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/jan/25/native-american-tribes-california-redwood-preservation |access-date=January 4, 2023 |website=the Guardian |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=November 22, 2022 |title=Native American land return movement makes gains, faces obstacles |url=https://andthewest.stanford.edu/2022/native-american-land-return-movement-makes-gains-faces-obstacles/ |access-date=January 7, 2023 |website=& the West |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Ahtone |first=Tristan |date=April 5, 2022 |title=California offers $100 million for tribes to buy back their land. It won't go far. |url=https://grist.org/indigenous/california-offers-100-million-for-tribes-to-buy-back-their-land-it-wont-go-far/ |access-date=January 4, 2023 |website=Grist |language=en-us}}</ref> In 2022, the largest [[dam removal]] and river restoration project in U.S. history was announced for the [[Klamath River]], as a win for California tribes.<ref>{{Citation |title=California Tribes Hail Dam Removal Plan After 20-Year Fight |date=December 16, 2022 |url=https://www.voanews.com/a/california-tribes-hail-dam-removal-plan-after-20-year-fight/6877208.html |language=en |access-date=January 7, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=December 8, 2022 |title=Largest River Restoration Project in American History Set to Begin |url=https://www.gov.ca.gov/2022/12/08/75829/ |access-date=January 7, 2023 |website=California Governor |language=en}}</ref>

==Geography==
{{Main|Geography of California}}

{{Further|Northern California|Southern California}}
[[File:California Topography and Geomorphic.gif|thumb|upright=1.8|left|[[Topographic map]] of California]]

Covering an area of {{convert|163,696|sqmi|km2|abbr=on}}, California is the [[List of U.S. states and territories by area|third-largest state in the U.S.]] in area, after [[Alaska]] and [[Texas]].<ref name="2000 population and housing">{{Cite web |date=April 2004 |title=2000 Census of Population and Housing |url=https://www.census.gov/prod/cen2000/phc3-us-pt1.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://www.census.gov/prod/cen2000/phc3-us-pt1.pdf |archive-date=October 9, 2022 |url-status=live |access-date=December 25, 2009 |publisher=[[US Census Bureau]] |page=29}}</ref> California is one of the most geographically diverse states in the union and is often geographically bisected into two regions, Southern California, comprising the ten southernmost counties,<ref>{{Cite journal |date=March 1916 |title=Figures Show California's Motoring Supremacy |url={{google books|plainurl=y|id=p04zAQAAMAAJ|page=1}} |journal=Touring Topics |volume=8 |pages=38–9 |number=2}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Cooley |first=Timothy J. |url={{google books|plainurl=y|id=EXdAAQAAQBAJ|page=46}} |title=Surfing about Music |date=2014 |publisher=University of California Press |isbn=978-0-520-95721-3 |page=46}}</ref> and Northern California, comprising the 48 northernmost counties.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Morgan |first=Neil |date=April 19, 1963 |title=Westward Tilt: Northern California |work=Lodi News-Sentinel |location=Lodi, California |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2245&dat=19630419&id=Rd8zAAAAIBAJ&pg=2786,2022902 |access-date=September 7, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |url={{google books|plainurl=y|id=Kr8rAQAAMAAJ|page=6}} |title=Kent Guide Manual (Harrison Narcotic Law) and Professional Registry |date=1917 |publisher=The Service Press |editor-last=Kent |editor-first=John E. |location=San Francisco, California |page=6}}</ref> It is bordered by [[Oregon]] to the north, [[Nevada]] to the east and northeast, [[Arizona]] to the southeast, the [[Pacific Ocean]] to the west and shares an international border with the [[Mexico|Mexican]] state of [[Baja California]] to the south (with which it makes up part of [[The Californias]] region of North America, alongside [[Baja California Sur]]).

In the middle of the state lies the [[California Central Valley]], bounded by the Sierra Nevada in the east, the [[Pacific Coast Ranges|coastal mountain ranges]] in the west, the [[Cascade Range]] to the north and by the [[Tehachapi Mountains]] in the south. The Central Valley is California's productive agricultural heartland.

Divided in two by the [[Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta]], the northern portion, the [[Sacramento Valley]] serves as the watershed of the [[Sacramento River]], while the southern portion, the [[San Joaquin Valley]] is the watershed for the [[San Joaquin River]]. Both valleys derive their names from the rivers that flow through them. With dredging, the Sacramento and the San Joaquin Rivers have remained deep enough for several inland cities to be [[seaport]]s.

{{multiple image
| align             = right
| perrow            = 1
| total_width       = 220
| header            = 
| image1            = Big Sur June 2008.jpg
| caption1          = [[Big Sur]], on the [[Central Coast (California)|Central Coast]]
| image2            = 1 yosemite valley tunnel view 2010.JPG
| caption2          = [[Yosemite]], in the [[Sierra Nevada]]
}}

The Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta is a critical water supply hub for the state. Water is diverted from the delta and through an extensive network of [[pump (Water)|pumps]] and canals that traverse nearly the length of the state, to the Central Valley and the State Water Projects and other needs. Water from the Delta provides drinking water for nearly 23{{spaces}}million people, almost two-thirds of the state's population as well as water for farmers on the west side of the San Joaquin Valley.

[[Suisun Bay]] lies at the confluence of the Sacramento and San Joaquin Rivers. The water is drained by the [[Carquinez Strait]], which flows into [[San Pablo Bay]], a northern extension of [[San Francisco Bay]], which then connects to the [[Pacific Ocean]] via the [[Golden Gate]] strait.

The [[Channel Islands of California|Channel Islands]] are located off the [[South Coast (California)|Southern coast]], while the [[Farallon Islands]] lie west of San Francisco.

The Sierra Nevada (Spanish for "snowy range") includes the highest peak in the [[contiguous United States|contiguous 48 states]], [[Mount Whitney]], at {{convert|14505|ft|m}}.<ref name="Mount_Whitney">{{cite ngs |id=GT1811|designation=Whitney|access-date=October 20, 2011}}</ref><ref name="USGS">{{Cite web |date=2001 |title=Elevations and Distances in the United States |url=http://egsc.usgs.gov/isb/pubs/booklets/elvadist/elvadist.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111015012701/http://egsc.usgs.gov/isb/pubs/booklets/elvadist/elvadist.html |archive-date=October 15, 2011 |access-date=October 21, 2011 |publisher=[[United States Geological Survey]]}}</ref>{{refn|group=note|name="NAVD88"|Elevation adjusted to [[North American Vertical Datum of 1988]]}} The range embraces [[Yosemite Valley]], famous for its glacially carved domes, and [[Sequoia National Park]], home to the [[Sequoiadendron giganteum|giant sequoia]] trees, the largest living organisms on Earth, and the deep freshwater lake, [[Lake Tahoe]], the largest lake in the state by volume.

To the east of the Sierra Nevada are [[Owens Valley]] and [[Mono Lake]], an essential [[bird migration|migratory bird]] habitat. In the western part of the state is [[Clear Lake (California)|Clear Lake]], the largest freshwater lake by area entirely in California. Although Lake Tahoe is larger, it is divided by the California/Nevada border. The Sierra Nevada falls to Arctic temperatures in winter and has several dozen small glaciers, including [[Palisade Glacier]], the southernmost glacier in the U.S.

{{multiple image
| align             = left
| perrow            = 1
| total_width       = 220
| header            = 
| image1            = Death Valley Mesquite Flats Sand Dunes 2013.jpg
| caption1          = [[Death Valley]], in the [[Mojave Desert]]
| image2            = San-miguel-cuyler-hike (cropped).jpg
| caption2          = [[San Miguel Island|San Miguel]], in the [[Channel Islands (California)|Channel Islands]]
}}

The [[Tulare Lake]] was the largest freshwater lake west of the Mississippi River. A remnant of [[Pleistocene]]-era [[Lake Corcoran]], Tulare Lake dried up by the early 20th century after its tributary rivers were diverted for agricultural irrigation and municipal water uses.<ref>{{Cite news |date=April 26, 2017 |title=The Dried-Up Heart of California's Water Dilemma |work=Bloomberg |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2017-04-26/the-dried-up-heart-of-california-s-water-dilemma}}</ref>

About 45% of the state's total surface area is covered by forests,<ref name="Forestry 2003">{{Cite book |last1=Laaksonen-Craig |first1=Susanna |url=http://anrcatalog.ucdavis.edu/pdf/8070.pdf |title=Forestry, Forest Products, and Forest Products Consumption in California |last2=Goldman |first2=George |last3=McKillop |first3=William |date=2003 |publisher=University of California—Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources |isbn=978-1-60107-248-1 |location=Davis, California |page=1 |access-date=December 12, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110221195646/http://anrcatalog.ucdavis.edu/pdf/8070.pdf |archive-date=February 21, 2011 }}</ref> and California's diversity of pine species is unmatched by any other state. California contains more forestland than any other state except Alaska. Many of the trees in the [[White Mountains (California)|California White Mountains]] are the oldest in the world; an individual [[bristlecone pine]] is over 5,000 years old.<ref name="Lanner">{{Cite book |last=Lanner |first=R. M. |title=The Bristlecone Book |date=2007 |publisher=Mountain Press |isbn=978-0-87842-538-9 |page=14}}</ref><ref name="oldest">{{Cite web |title=Oldlist |url=http://www.rmtrr.org/oldlist.htm |access-date=January 8, 2013 |publisher=Rocky Mountain Tree Ring Research}}</ref>

In the south is a large inland salt lake, the [[Salton Sea]]. The south-central desert is called the [[Mojave Desert|Mojave]]; to the northeast of the Mojave lies [[Death Valley]], which contains the lowest and hottest place in North America, the [[Badwater Basin]] at {{convert|−279|ft|m}}.<ref name=NED/> The horizontal distance from the bottom of Death Valley to the top of Mount Whitney is less than {{convert|90|mi|km}}. 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.

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 metropolitan area|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.

As part of the [[Pacific Ring of Fire|Ring of Fire]], California is subject to [[tsunami]]s, [[Floods in California|floods]], [[Droughts in California|droughts]], [[Santa Ana winds]], [[List of California wildfires|wildfires]], and [[landslide]]s on steep terrain; California also has several [[volcano]]es. It has many [[List of earthquakes in California|earthquakes]] due to several faults running through the state, the largest being the [[San Andreas Fault]]. About 37,000 [[earthquake]]s are recorded each year; most are too small to be felt.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Frequently Asked Questions |url=http://seismo.berkeley.edu/faq/rate_of_seism.html |access-date=April 22, 2011 |publisher=Seismo.berkeley.edu}}</ref> Among Americans at risk of serious harm from a major earthquake, two-thirds of that population are residents of California.<ref name=CaliforniaEarthquakesHumanRisk/>[[File:Köppen Climate Types California.png|thumb|upright=1.8|[[Köppen climate classification|Köppen climate]] types]]

===Climate===
{{Main|Climate of California}}

{{Further|Climate change in California}}Most of the state has a [[Mediterranean climate]]. The cool [[California Current]] offshore often creates summer [[fog]] near the coast. Farther inland, there are colder winters and hotter summers. The maritime moderation results in the shoreline summertime temperatures of Los Angeles and [[San Francisco]] being the coolest of all major metropolitan areas of the U.S. and uniquely cool compared to areas on the same latitude in the interior and on the east coast of the North American continent. Even the [[San Diego]] shoreline bordering Mexico is cooler in summer than most areas in the contiguous U.S. Just a few miles inland, summer temperature extremes are significantly higher, with downtown Los Angeles being several degrees [[Climate of the Los Angeles Basin|warmer]] than at the coast. The same [[microclimate]] phenomenon is seen in the [[San Francisco Bay Area#Climate|climate of the Bay Area]], where areas sheltered from the ocean experience significantly hotter summers and colder winters in contrast with nearby areas closer to the ocean.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://wrcc.dri.edu/|title=Western Regional Climate Center|website=wrcc.dri.edu}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=California – Climate &#124; Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/place/California-state/Climate |website=www.britannica.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.differencebetween.net/science/difference-between-coastal-and-inland-climates/|title=Difference Between Coastal and Inland Climates|date=October 26, 2020}}</ref>
[[File:AERONET La Jolla.2007295.terra.250m.jpg|thumb|left|[[List of California wildfires|California wildfires]] affect the state yearly. The [[Santa Ana winds]] often expand fires and spread smoke over hundreds of miles.]]
Northern parts of the state have more rain than the south. California's mountain ranges also influence the climate: some of the rainiest parts of the state are west-facing mountain slopes. Coastal northwestern California has a [[temperate climate]], and the Central Valley has a Mediterranean climate but with greater temperature extremes than the coast. The high mountains, including the Sierra Nevada, have an [[alpine climate]] with snow in winter and mild to moderate heat in summer.

California's mountains produce [[rain shadow]]s on the eastern side, creating extensive [[desert]]s. The higher elevation deserts of [[eastern California]] have hot summers and cold winters, while the low deserts east of the Southern California mountains have hot summers and nearly frostless mild winters. [[Death Valley]], a desert with large expanses below sea level, is considered the hottest location in the world; the highest temperature in the world,<ref name="newRecord">{{Cite journal |last=El Fadli |first=K. I. |display-authors=etal |date=September 2012 |title=World Meteorological Organization Assessment of the Purported World Record 58{{spaces}}°C Temperature Extreme at El Azizia, Libya (September 13, 1922) |journal=Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society |volume=94 |issue=2 |page=199 |bibcode=2013BAMS...94..199E |doi=10.1175/BAMS-D-12-00093.1 |doi-access=free}} (The 136.4{{spaces}}°F (58{{spaces}}°C), claimed by [['Aziziya]], [[Libya]], on September 13, 1922, has been officially deemed invalid by the [[World Meteorological Organization]].)</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=World Meteorological Organization World Weather / Climate Extremes Archive |url=http://wmo.asu.edu/world-highest-temperature |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130104143844/http://wmo.asu.edu/world-highest-temperature |archive-date=January 4, 2013 |access-date=January 10, 2013}}</ref> {{convert|134|°F|°C|1}}, was recorded there on July 10, 1913. The lowest temperature in California was {{convert|−45|°F}} on January 20, 1937, in [[Boca, California|Boca]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Weather Data: California, Boca, 1937, January |url=https://geographic.org/global_weather/weather_data.php?month=01&year=1937&id=USC00040931&path=weather_stations/usc0000000_usc0045999/USC00040931.dly&name=Boca&country=California |access-date=June 26, 2020}}</ref>

The table below lists average temperatures for January and August in a selection of places throughout the state; some highly populated and some not. This includes the relatively cool summers of the [[Humboldt Bay]] region around [[Eureka, California|Eureka]], the extreme heat of [[Death Valley]], and the mountain climate of [[Mammoth Lakes, California|Mammoth]] in the Sierra Nevada.
{{Clear left}}
{|class="wikitable sortable"
|+Average temperatures and precipitation for selected communities in California<ref name="California climate averages">{{Cite web |title=California climate averages |url=http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/city.php3?c=US&s=CA&statename=California-United-States-of-America |access-date=January 26, 2018 |publisher=Weatherbase}}</ref>
|-
!Location
! August{{break}}(°F)
! August{{break}}(°C)
! January{{break}}(°F)
! January{{break}}(°C)
! Annual{{break}}precipitation{{break}}(mm/in)
|-
|[[Los Angeles]] ||83/64 ||29/18 ||66/48 ||20/8 ||377/15
|-
|[[Los Angeles International Airport|LAX/LA Beaches]] ||75/64 ||23/18 ||65/49 ||18/9 ||326/13
|-
|[[San Diego, California|San Diego]] ||76/67 ||24/19 ||65/49 ||18/9 ||262/10
|-
|[[San Jose, California|San Jose]] ||82/58 ||27/14 ||58/42 ||14/5 ||401/16
|-
|[[San Francisco, California|San Francisco]] ||67/54 ||20/12 ||56/46 ||14/8 ||538/21
|-
|[[Fresno, California|Fresno]] ||97/66 ||34/19 ||55/38 ||12/3 ||292/11
|-
|[[Sacramento, California|Sacramento]] ||91/58 ||33/14 ||54/39 ||12/3 ||469/18
|-
|[[Oakland, California|Oakland]] ||73/58 ||23/14 ||58/44 ||14/7 ||588/23
|-
|[[Bakersfield, California|Bakersfield]] ||96/69 ||36/21 ||56/39 ||13/3 ||165/7
|-
|[[Riverside, California|Riverside]] ||94/60 ||35/18 ||67/39 ||19/4 ||260/10
|-
|[[Eureka, California|Eureka]] ||62/53 ||16/11 ||54/41 ||12/5 ||960/38
|-
|[[Death Valley]] ||115/86 ||46/30 ||67/40 ||19/4 ||60/2
|-
|[[Mammoth Lakes, California|Mammoth Lakes]] ||77/45 ||25/7 ||40/15 ||4/ −9 ||583/23
|}
The wide range of climates leads to a high demand for water. Over time, [[Droughts in California|droughts]] have been increasing [[Climate change in California|due to climate change]] and [[Water extraction|overextraction]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cnbc.com/2022/02/14/western-drought-fueled-by-climate-change-is-the-worst-in-1200-years.html|title=Western drought fueled by climate change is the worst in 1,200 years, scientists say|first=Emma|last=Newburger|publisher=[[CNBC]]|date=February 14, 2022|access-date=February 18, 2022}}</ref> becoming less seasonal and more year-round, further straining California's [[electricity supply]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/california-blackouts-power-grid/story?id=89460998|title=Why California has blackouts: A look at the power grid|first=Meredith|last=Deliso|publisher=ABC News|date=September 9, 2022|access-date=September 11, 2022}}</ref> and [[water security]]<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Boxall |first1=Bettina |last2=St. John |first2=Paige |date=November 10, 2018 |title=California's most destructive wildfire should not have come as a surprise |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |url=https://latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-camp-fire-science-20181110-story.html |access-date=November 11, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Advancing Drought Science and Preparedness across the Nation |url=https://www.drought.gov/drought/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181111042024/https://www.drought.gov/drought/ |archive-date=November 11, 2018 |access-date=November 11, 2018 |publisher=National Integrated Drought Information System}}</ref> and having an impact on California business, industry, and agriculture.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.kvpr.org/business-economy/2022-03-14/drought-has-already-cost-close-to-2-billion-and-14-000-jobs-and-its-likely-not-over-yet |title= Drought has already cost close to $2 billion and 14,000 jobs, and it's likely not over yet|website=www.kvpr.org |date= March 14, 2022|access-date=July 13, 2022}}{{title missing|date=July 2022}}</ref>

In 2022, a new state program was created in collaboration with [[indigenous peoples of California]] to revive the practice of [[controlled burn]]s as a way of clearing excessive forest debris and making landscapes more resilient to wildfires. [[Native American use of fire in ecosystems|Native American use of fire in ecosystem]] management was outlawed in 1911, yet has now been recognized.<ref name="Elassar-2022"/>

===Ecology===
{{Main|Ecology of California|Environment of California}}

[[File:Mount Whitney 2003-03-25.jpg|thumb|right|[[Mount Whitney]], in the Sierra Nevada, is the highest mountain in the [[contiguous U.S.]]]]

California is one of the ecologically richest and most diverse parts of the world, and includes some of the most endangered ecological communities. California is part of the [[Nearctic realm]] and spans a number of terrestrial [[ecoregion]]s.<ref name="The California Invasive Species List">{{Cite web |date=April 21, 2010 |title=The California Invasive Species List |url=http://www.iscc.ca.gov/docs/CaliforniaInvasiveSpeciesList.pdf |access-date=October 5, 2010 |publisher=iscc.ca.gov (California Invasive Species Advisory Committee)}}</ref>

California's large number of [[endemic (ecology)|endemic]] species includes [[Relict (biology)|relict]] species, which have died out elsewhere, such as the Catalina ironwood (''[[Lyonothamnus floribundus]]''). Many other endemics originated through differentiation or [[adaptive radiation]], whereby multiple species develop from a common ancestor to take advantage of diverse ecological conditions such as the California lilac (''[[Ceanothus]]'').{{citation needed|date=May 2024}} Many California endemics have become endangered, as urbanization, logging, [[overgrazing]], and the introduction of [[exotic species]] have encroached on their habitat.

===Flora and fauna===
{{Main|Fauna of California|California Floristic Province}}

{{see also|List of California native plants}}

{{multiple image
| align             = left
| perrow            = 1
| total_width       = 200
| header            = 
| image1            = Grizzly Giant Mariposa Grove.jpg
| caption1          = Yosemite's [[Grizzly Giant]], a 209' tall giant sequoia, Earth's [[List of tallest trees|largest tree species]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nps.gov/seki/learn/nature/largest-trees-in-world.htm|title=The Largest Trees in the World|publisher=U.S. Department of the Interior: National Park Service|year=2025|location=Three Rivers, California}}</ref>  Listed as endangered by the [[IUCN]], most [[List of giant sequoia groves|sequoia groves]] have been granted protected status.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://research.fs.usda.gov/silvics/giant-sequoia|title=Silvics of North America Project ''(Your guide to silviculture in North America)'': Giant Sequoia - Sequoiadendron giganteum (Lindl.) Buchholz Taxodiaceae—Redwood family|publisher=USDA Forest Service, Canadian Forest Service, and Comisión Nacional Forestal|year=2025}}</ref>
| image2            = JoshuaTree 20150911.jpg
| caption2          = Originally utilized by [[Indigenous peoples of California|Indigenous peoples]] as a source of food and fiber for textiles, the western Joshua Tree (''[[Yucca brevifolia]]'') is a recognizable native plant of Californian deserts and protected under the State's ''Western Joshua Tree Conservation Act'' of 2023.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nps.gov/jotr/learn/nature/jtrees.htm|title=Joshua Trees|publisher=U.S. Department of the Interior: National Park Service|year=2025|location=Twentynine Palms, California}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.biologicaldiversity.org/programs/public_lands/pdfs/Western_Joshua_Tree_Status_Review_2022-04-13.pdf|title=Report to the Fish and Game Commission Status Review of Western Joshua Tree (Yucca brevifolia)|publisher=State of California Natural Resources Agency: Department of Fish and Wildlife|date=March 2022|location=Sacramento, California}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=202320240SB122|title=SB-122 Public resources trailer bill.|publisher=California State Legislature|date=10 July 2023|location=Sacramento, California}}</ref>
}}

California boasts several superlatives in its collection of flora: the [[giant sequoia|largest trees]], the [[coast redwood|tallest trees]], and the [[pinus longaeva|oldest trees]]. California's native grasses are [[perennial plant]]s,<ref name="Restoring Native Grasses">{{Cite journal |last=Elstein |first=David |date=May 2004 |title=Restoring California's Native Grasses |url=https://agresearchmag.ars.usda.gov/2004/may/grass |journal=Agricultural Research Magazine |volume=52 |issue=5 |page=17 |access-date=December 25, 2009}}</ref> and there are close to hundred succulent species native to the state.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Native Plant of the Month: California Native Bunchgrasses |url=https://www.grassrootsecology.org/from-the-field/2023/8/14/native-plant-of-the-month-bunchgrasses#:~:text=By%20contrast,%20most%20California%20native%20grass%20species,in%20between%20for%20other%20plants%20to%20grow. |access-date=November 27, 2024 |website=Grassroots Ecology |language=en-US}}</ref> After European contact, these were generally replaced by [[invasive species]] of European annual grasses; and, in modern times, California's hills turn a characteristic golden-brown in summer.<ref name="The California Invasive Species List"/>

Because California has the greatest diversity of climate and terrain, the state has six life zones which are the lower [[Sonoran Desert]]; upper Sonoran (foothill regions and some coastal lands), transition (coastal areas and moist northeastern counties); and the Canadian, Hudsonian, and Arctic Zones, comprising the state's highest elevations.<ref name="California: flora and fauna">{{Cite web |date=2010 |title=California: flora and fauna |url=http://www.city-data.com/states/California-Flora-and-fauna.html |access-date=September 7, 2010 |publisher=city-data.com}}</ref>

Plant life in the dry climate of the lower Sonoran zone contains a diversity of native cactus, mesquite, and paloverde. The [[Yucca brevifolia|Joshua tree]] is found in the Mojave Desert. Flowering plants include the dwarf desert poppy and a variety of [[aster (genus)|asters]]. [[Fremont cottonwood]] and [[valley oak]] thrive in the Central Valley. The upper Sonoran zone includes the chaparral belt, characterized by forests of small shrubs, stunted trees, and herbaceous plants. ''[[Nemophila]]'', [[Lamiaceae|mint]], ''[[Phacelia]]'', ''[[viola (plant)|Viola]]'', and the California poppy (''[[Eschscholzia californica]]'', the state flower) also flourish in this zone, along with the lupine, more species of which occur here than anywhere else in the world.<ref name="California: flora and fauna" />

The transition zone includes most of California's forests with the redwood (''[[Sequoia sempervirens]]'') and the "big tree" or giant sequoia (''[[Sequoiadendron giganteum]]''), among the oldest living things on earth (some are said to have lived at least 4,000 years). [[Tanbark oak]], [[California laurel]], [[sugar pine]], [[Arbutus|madrona]], [[Acer macrophyllum|broad-leaved maple]], and [[Douglas-fir]] also grow here. Forest floors are covered with [[Polystichum|swordfern]], alumnroot, [[barrenwort]], and [[trillium]], and there are thickets of [[huckleberry]], [[azalea]], elder, and wild currant. Characteristic wild flowers include varieties of mariposa, [[tulip]], and [[Lilium columbianum|tiger]] and [[Lilium pardalinum|leopard]] lilies.<ref name="Sequoia sempervirens (D. Don) Endl.">{{Cite web |title=Sequoia sempervirens (D. Don) Endl |url=http://www.na.fs.fed.us/pubs/silvics_manual/volume_1/sequoia/sempervirens.htm |access-date=October 7, 2010 |publisher=fed.us (U.S. Forest Service) |archive-date=December 16, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101216063912/http://www.na.fs.fed.us/pubs/silvics_manual/volume_1/sequoia/sempervirens.htm }}</ref>

{{multiple image
| align             = right
| perrow            = 1
| total_width       = 220
| header            = 
| image1            = California sea lion in La Jolla (70568).jpg
| caption1          = A [[California sea lion]] in [[La Jolla]]
| image2            = Tule Elk - Merced National Wildlife Refuge Bill Leikam 12-03-2010.jpg
| caption2          = A [[Tule Elk]] in the [[San Joaquin Valley]]
}}

The high elevations of the Canadian zone allow the [[Jeffrey pine]], [[red fir]], and [[lodgepole pine]] to thrive. Brushy areas are abundant with dwarf [[manzanita]] and ceanothus; the unique [[Calvatia sculpta|Sierra puffball]] is also found here. Right below the timberline, in the Hudsonian zone, the whitebark, foxtail, and silver pines grow. At about {{convert|10500|ft|m}}, begins the Arctic zone, a treeless region whose flora include a number of wildflowers, including [[Primula suffrutescens|Sierra primrose]], [[Aquilegia flavescens|yellow columbine]], [[Ranunculus|alpine buttercup]], and [[Dodecatheon alpinum|alpine shooting star]].<ref name="California: flora and fauna" /><ref name="Life Zones of the Central Sierra Nevada">{{Cite web |title=Life Zones of the Central Sierra Nevada |url=http://www.sierrahistorical.org/archives/lifezones.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120301063716/http://www.sierrahistorical.org/archives/lifezones.html |archive-date=March 1, 2012 |access-date=October 5, 2010 |publisher=sierrahistorical.org}}</ref>

[[Palm trees]] are a well-known feature of California, particularly in [[Southern California]] and [[Los Angeles]]; many species have been imported, though the ''Washington filifera'' (commonly known as the ''California fan palm'') is native to the state, mainly growing in the [[Colorado Desert]] oases.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.kcet.org/shows/lost-la/a-brief-history-of-palm-trees-in-southern-california |title= A Brief History of Palm Trees in Southern California |last= Masters|first= Nathan |date=December 7, 2011 |website= kcet.org |publisher= Public Media Group of Southern California/[[KCET]]/[[PBS]] |access-date= August 16, 2023}}</ref> Other common plants that have been introduced to the state include the [[eucalyptus]], [[acacia]], [[Schinus|pepper tree]], geranium, and [[Scotch broom]]. The species that are federally classified as endangered are the [[Erysimum capitatum|Contra Costa wallflower]], [[Oenothera deltoides subsp. howellii|Antioch Dunes evening primrose]], [[Tuctoria mucronata|Solano grass]], [[Delphinium variegatum|San Clemente Island larkspur]], [[Cordylanthus maritimus|salt marsh bird's beak]], [[Arabis blepharophylla|McDonald's rock-cress]], and [[Dudleya traskiae|Santa Barbara Island liveforever]]. {{As of|1997|12}}, 85 plant species were listed as threatened or endangered.<ref name="California: flora and fauna" />

In the deserts of the lower Sonoran zone, the mammals include the [[jackrabbit]], [[kangaroo rat]], squirrel, and opossum. Common birds include the [[owl]], [[roadrunner]], [[cactus wren]], and various species of hawk. The area's reptilian life include the [[Crotalus cerastes|sidewinder viper]], [[desert tortoise]], and [[horned toad]]. The upper Sonoran zone boasts mammals such as the [[Pronghorn|antelope]], [[Dusky-footed woodrat|brown-footed woodrat]], and [[ring-tailed cat]]. Birds unique to this zone are the [[California thrasher]], [[Psaltriparus minimus|bushtit]], and [[California condor]].<ref name="California: flora and fauna" /><ref name="California Condor">{{Cite web |date=2009 |title=California Condor |url=http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/California_Condor/id |access-date=October 3, 2010 |publisher=The Cornell Lab of Ornithology}}</ref><ref name="CalPhotos: Browse Mammal Common Names">{{Cite web |date=October 2, 2010 |title=CalPhotos: Browse Mammal Common Names |url=http://calphotos.berkeley.edu/fauna/com-Mammal.html |access-date=October 3, 2010 |publisher=calphotos.berkeley.edu (BSCIT University of California, Berkeley)}}</ref><ref name="Quail Ridge Reserve: UC Davis Natural Reserve System">{{Cite web |date=April 5, 2007 |title=Quail Ridge Reserve: UC Davis Natural Reserve System |url=http://nrs.ucdavis.edu/quail/natural/birds_bushtit.htm |access-date=October 5, 2010 |publisher=nrs.ucdavis.edu (University of California at Davis: Natural Reserve System) |archive-date=June 10, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100610063556/http://nrs.ucdavis.edu/quail/Natural/Birds_bushtit.htm }}</ref>

In the transition zone, there are Colombian [[black-tailed deer]], [[American black bear|black bears]], [[gray fox]]es, [[cougar]]s, [[bobcat]]s, and [[Roosevelt elk]]. Reptiles such as the garter snakes and rattlesnakes inhabit the zone. In addition, amphibians such as the [[Proteidae|water puppy]] and [[Batrachoseps attenuatus|redwood salamander]] are common too. Birds such as the [[kingfisher]], chickadee, [[towhee]], and hummingbird thrive here as well.<ref name="California: flora and fauna" /><ref name="Black-tailed Deer of California">{{Cite web |date=2000 |title=Black-tailed Deer of California |url=http://www.westernhunter.com/Pages/Vol02Issue24/blacktail.html |access-date=October 7, 2010 |publisher=westernhunter.com}}</ref>

The Canadian zone mammals include the [[mountain weasel]], [[snowshoe hare]], and several species of chipmunks. Conspicuous birds include the [[Steller's jay|blue-fronted jay]], [[mountain chickadee]], [[hermit thrush]], [[American dipper]], and [[Townsend's solitaire]]. As one ascends into the Hudsonian zone, birds become scarcer. While the [[gray-crowned rosy finch]] is the only bird native to the high Arctic region, other bird species such as [[Anna's hummingbird]] and [[Clark's nutcracker]]. Principal mammals found in this region include the Sierra coney, [[white-tailed jackrabbit]], and the [[bighorn sheep]]. {{As of|2003|04}}, the bighorn sheep was listed as endangered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The fauna found throughout several zones are the [[mule deer]], [[coyote]], [[mountain lion]], [[northern flicker]], and several species of hawk and sparrow.<ref name="California: flora and fauna" />
[[File:Methuselah Walk USA Ca.jpg|thumb|[[Methuselah (pine tree)|Methuselah]] is the [[List of oldest trees|oldest tree in the world]], found in the [[Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest]] of [[Inyo National Forest]].]]
Aquatic life in California thrives, from the state's mountain lakes and streams to the rocky Pacific coastline. Numerous trout species are found, among them [[Rainbow trout|rainbow]], [[Golden trout|golden]], and [[Cutthroat trout|cutthroat]]. Migratory species of salmon are common as well. Deep-sea life forms include [[White seabass|sea bass]], [[yellowfin tuna]], [[barracuda]], and several types of whale. Native to the cliffs of northern California are seals, sea lions, and many types of shorebirds, including migratory species.<ref name="California: flora and fauna" />

{{as of|2003|April}}, 118 California animals were on the federal endangered list; 181 plants were listed as endangered or threatened. Endangered animals include the [[Vulpes macrotis|San Joaquin kitfox]], [[Aplodontia rufa nigra|Point Arena mountain beaver]], [[Pacific pocket mouse]], [[salt marsh harvest mouse]], [[Morro Bay kangaroo rat]] (and five other species of kangaroo rat), [[California vole#Subspecies|Amargosa vole]], [[California least tern]], [[California condor]], [[loggerhead shrike]], [[Bell's sparrow|San Clemente sage sparrow]], [[San Francisco garter snake]], five species of salamander, three species of chub, and two species of pupfish. Eleven butterflies are also endangered<ref>{{Cite web |title=California's Endangered Insects—Formally Listed Insects |url=http://essig.berkeley.edu/endins/listed.htm |access-date=August 25, 2015 |website=berkeley.edu}}</ref> and two that are threatened are on the federal list.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Threatened and Endangered Invertebrates |url=http://www.dfg.ca.gov/wildlife/nongame/t_e_spp/invertebrates.html |access-date=May 8, 2017 |website=DFG.CA.gov |publisher=California Department of Fish and Wildlife |archive-date=May 24, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170524215006/http://www.dfg.ca.gov/wildlife/nongame/t_e_spp/invertebrates.html }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Species Search Results |url=https://ecos.fws.gov/ecp0/pub/SpeciesReport.do?groups=I&listingType=L&mapstatus=1 |access-date=May 8, 2017 |website=Environmental Conservation Online System |publisher=U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service}}</ref> Among threatened animals are the coastal [[California gnatcatcher]], [[Paiute cutthroat trout]], [[Sea otter#Subspecies|southern sea otter]], and [[northern spotted owl]]. California has a total of {{convert|290821|acre|km2}} of National Wildlife Refuges.<ref name="California: flora and fauna" /> {{As of|2010|09}}, 123 California animals were listed as either endangered or threatened on the [[US Fish & Wildlife Service|federal list]].<ref name="U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service: Species Reports: Listings and occurrences for California">{{Cite web |date=September 7, 2010 |title=U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service: Species Reports: Listings and occurrences for California |url=http://ecos.fws.gov/tess_public/pub/stateListingAndOccurrenceIndividual.jsp?state=CA&s8fid=112761032792&s8fid=112762573902&s8fid=24012838822503 |access-date=September 7, 2010 |publisher=ecos.fws.gov}}</ref> Also, {{as of|2010|alt=as of the same year}}, 178 species of California plants were listed either as endangered or threatened on this federal list.<ref name="U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service: Species Reports: Listings and occurrences for California" />

===Rivers===
{{main|List of rivers of California}}

[[File:View of the Bay Area and the Californian Delta.jpg|thumb|left|[[San Francisco Bay]] (center left) and the [[Sacramento–San Joaquin River Delta|California Delta]] (top right)]]
The most prominent river system within California is formed by the Sacramento River and [[San Joaquin River]], which are fed mostly by snowmelt from the west slope of the Sierra Nevada, and respectively drain the north and south halves of the Central Valley. The two rivers join in the [[Sacramento–San Joaquin River Delta]], flowing into the Pacific Ocean through [[San Francisco Bay]]. Many major tributaries feed into the Sacramento–San Joaquin system, including the [[Pit River]], [[Feather River]] and [[Tuolumne River]].

The [[Klamath River|Klamath]] and [[Trinity River (California)|Trinity Rivers]] drain a large area in far northwestern California. The [[Eel River (California)|Eel River]] and [[Salinas River (California)|Salinas River]] each drain portions of the California coast, north and south of San Francisco Bay, respectively. The [[Mojave River]] is the primary watercourse in the Mojave Desert, and the [[Santa Ana River]] drains much of the [[Transverse Ranges]] as it bisects Southern California. The [[Colorado River]] forms the state's southeast border with Arizona.

Most of California's major rivers are dammed as part of two massive water projects: the [[Central Valley Project]], providing water for agriculture in the Central Valley, and the [[California State Water Project]] diverting water from Northern to Southern California. The state's coasts, rivers, and other bodies of water are regulated by the [[California Coastal Commission]].

===Regions===
{{Main|List of regions of California}}

{{see also|List of places in California}}
[[File:Ca-regions.svg|thumb|upright=1.4|Map of the [[List of regions of California|regions of California]]]]
[[File:Southern California counties in red noshade.png|thumb|upright=1.2|Map showing the division between [[Northern California]] (top white) and [[Southern California]] (bottom red)]]
California is traditionally separated into [[Northern California]] and [[Southern California]], divided by a straight border which runs across the state, separating the northern 48 counties from the southern 10 counties. Despite the persistence of the northern-southern divide, California is more precisely divided into many regions, multiple of which stretch across the northern-southern divide.

; Major divisions
* '''[[Northern California]]'''
* '''[[Southern California]]'''

; Regions
{{div col|colwidth=20em|content=
* '''[[Shasta Cascade]]'''
** [[Klamath Basin]]
** [[Modoc Plateau]]
* '''[[North Coast (California)|North Coast]]'''
** [[Lost Coast]]
* '''[[San Francisco Bay Area|Bay Area]]'''
** [[North Bay (San Francisco Bay Area)|North Bay]]
** [[San Francisco Peninsula]]
** [[Santa Clara Valley|South Bay (Santa Clara Valley)]]
** [[East Bay (San Francisco Bay Area)|East Bay]]
* '''[[Central Valley (California)|Central Valley]]'''
** [[Sacramento Valley]]
*** [[Sacramento metropolitan area|Greater Sacramento]]
** [[San Joaquin Valley]]
*** [[Metropolitan Fresno]]
** [[Sacramento–San Joaquin River Delta|California Delta]]
*'''[[Sierra Nevada]]'''
**[[Gold Country]]
**[[Eastern Sierra]]
* '''[[Central Coast (California)|Central Coast]]'''
** [[Monterey Bay Area]]
** [[Big Sur]]
** [[Gaviota Coast]]
* '''[[Southern California]]'''
** [[Los Angeles metropolitan area|Greater Los Angeles]]
*** [[Antelope Valley]]
*** [[Los Angeles Basin]]
*** [[San Fernando Valley]]
*** [[San Gabriel Valley]]
*** [[Santa Clarita Valley]]
** [[Channel Islands (California)|Channel Islands]]
** [[Orange Coast]]
** [[Inland Empire]]
** [[San Diego–Tijuana]]
*'''[[Deserts of California|California Deserts]]'''
**[[Mojave Desert]]
**[[Great Basin Desert]]
**[[Colorado Desert]] ([[Sonoran Desert]])
***[[Calexico–Mexicali]]
}}

=== Cities and towns ===
{{see also|List of cities and towns in California|List of largest California cities by population}}

The state has 483 [[Municipal corporation|incorporated]] cities and towns,<ref name="483rd city"/> of which 461 are cities and 22 are towns. Under California law, the terms "city" and "town" are explicitly interchangeable; the name of an incorporated [[municipality]] in the state can either be "City of (Name)" or "Town of (Name)".<ref name="Cal Gov Code 34502">{{Cite web |title=CA Codes (gov:34500-34504) |url=http://info.sen.ca.gov/cgi-bin/displaycode?section=gov&group=34001-35000&file=34500-34504 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090827062453/http://info.sen.ca.gov/cgi-bin/displaycode?section=gov&group=34001-35000&file=34500-34504 |archive-date=August 27, 2009 |access-date=January 29, 2010 |publisher=California State Senate}}</ref>

[[Sacramento, California|Sacramento]] became California's first incorporated city on February 27, 1850.<ref name="Sacramento Charter">{{Cite web |title=Instant City: Sacramento |url=http://www.library.ca.gov/goldrush/sec08.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100128231357/http://www.library.ca.gov/goldrush/sec08.html |archive-date=January 28, 2010 |access-date=January 29, 2010 |publisher=[[California State Library]]}}</ref> [[San Jose, California|San Jose]], [[San Diego]], and [[Benicia, California|Benicia]] tied for California's second incorporated city, each receiving incorporation on March 27, 1850.<ref name="San Jose Inc">{{Cite web |title=San Jose at a Glance |url=http://www.sanjoseca.gov/about.asp |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100208201852/http://www.sanjoseca.gov/about.asp |archive-date=February 8, 2010 |access-date=January 29, 2010 |publisher=City of San Jose}}</ref><ref name="History of San Diego">{{Cite web |title=A History of San Diego Government |url=http://www.sandiego.gov/city-clerk/geninfo/history.shtml |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100528081607/http://www.sandiego.gov/city-clerk/geninfo/history.shtml |archive-date=May 28, 2010 |access-date=January 29, 2010 |publisher=City of San Diego}}</ref><ref name="Benicia Inc">{{Cite web |date=May 23, 2007 |title=California State Parks: 1846 to 1854 |url=http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=1096 |access-date=January 29, 2010 |publisher=California State Parks}}</ref> [[Mountain House, California|Mountain House]] became the state's most recent and 483rd incorporated municipality on July 1, 2024.<ref name="483rd city">{{Cite web |date=July 1, 2024 |title=Mountain House officially becomes California's 483rd city |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/sacramento/news/mountain-house-officially-becomes-california-city/ |access-date=July 4, 2024 |publisher=CBS News}}</ref>
The majority of these cities and towns are within one of five [[metropolitan area]]s: the [[Los Angeles Metropolitan Area]], the [[San Francisco Bay Area]], the [[Riverside-San Bernardino Area]], the [[San Diego metropolitan area]], or the [[Sacramento metropolitan area]].

{{Largest cities
 |country=California
 |stat_ref=Source:<ref name="2020Census">{{Cite web |title=Census QuickFacts: California |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/CA/PST045219 |access-date=September 24, 2021 |publisher=U.S. Census Bureau}}</ref>
 |list_by_pop=
 |div_name=
 |div_link=Counties of California{{!}}County
 |city_1=Los Angeles
 |div_1=Los Angeles County, California{{!}}Los Angeles
 |pop_1=3,898,747
 |city_2=San Diego
 |div_2=San Diego County, California{{!}}San Diego
 |pop_2=1,386,932
 |city_3=San Jose, California{{!}}San Jose
 |div_3=Santa Clara County, California{{!}}Santa Clara
 |pop_3=1,013,240
 |city_4=San Francisco
 |div_4=San Francisco
 |pop_4=873,965
 |city_5=Fresno, California{{!}}Fresno
 |div_5=Fresno County, California{{!}}Fresno
 |pop_5=542,107
 |city_6=Sacramento, California{{!}}Sacramento
 |div_6=Sacramento County, California{{!}}Sacramento
 |pop_6=524,943
 |city_7=Long Beach, California{{!}}Long Beach
 |div_7=Los Angeles County, California{{!}}Los Angeles
 |pop_7=466,742
 |city_8=Oakland, California{{!}}Oakland
 |div_8=Alameda County, California{{!}}Alameda
 |pop_8=440,646
 |city_9=Bakersfield, California{{!}}Bakersfield
 |div_9=Kern County, California{{!}}Kern
 |pop_9=403,455
 |city_10=Anaheim, California{{!}}Anaheim
 |div_10=Orange County, California{{!}}Orange
 |pop_10=346,824
 |city_11=Stockton, California{{!}}Stockton
 |div_11=San Joaquin County, California{{!}}San Joaquin
 |pop_11=320,804
 |city_12=Riverside, California{{!}}Riverside
 |div_12=Riverside County, California{{!}}Riverside
 |pop_12=314,998
 |city_13=Santa Ana, California{{!}}Santa Ana
 |div_13=Orange County, California{{!}}Orange
 |pop_13=310,227
 |city_14=Irvine, California{{!}}Irvine
 |div_14=Orange County, California{{!}}Orange
 |pop_14=307,670
 |city_15=Chula Vista, California{{!}}Chula Vista
 |div_15=San Diego County, California{{!}}San Diego
 |pop_15=275,487
 |city_16=Fremont, California{{!}}Fremont
 |div_16=Alameda County, California{{!}}Alameda
 |pop_16=230,504
 |city_17=Santa Clarita, California{{!}}Santa Clarita
 |div_17=Los Angeles County, California{{!}}Los Angeles
 |pop_17=228,673
 |city_18=San Bernardino, California{{!}}San Bernardino
 |div_18=San Bernardino County, California{{!}}San Bernardino
 |pop_18=222,101
 |city_19=Modesto, California{{!}}Modesto
 |div_19=Stanislaus County, California{{!}}Stanislaus
 |pop_19=218,464
 |city_20=Moreno Valley, California{{!}}Moreno Valley
 |div_20=Riverside County, California{{!}}Riverside
 |pop_20=208,634

}}
{| class="wikitable mw-collapsible"
|+ Largest metropolitan statistical areas in California
|-
| CA rank
| U.S. rank
![[List of metropolitan statistical areas|Metropolitan statistical area]]<ref name="OMB_17-01">{{Cite web |date=August 15, 2017 |title=OMB Bulletin No. 17-01: Revised Delineations of Metropolitan Statistical Areas, Micropolitan Statistical Areas, and Combined Statistical Areas, and Guidance on Uses of the Delineations of These Areas |url=https://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/whitehouse.gov/files/omb/bulletins/2017/b-17-01.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/whitehouse.gov/files/omb/bulletins/2017/b-17-01.pdf |archive-date=October 9, 2022 |url-status=dead |access-date=March 6, 2018 |publisher=[[United States Office of Management and Budget]]}}</ref>
!2020 census<ref name="2020Census" />
!2010 census<ref name="2020Census" />
!Change
!Counties<ref name="OMB_17-01" />
|-
| align="center" |{{nts|1}}
| align="center" |{{nts|2}}
|[[Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA MSA]]
 |{{change|invert=on|13200998|12828837}}
 |[[Los Angeles County, California|Los Angeles]], [[Orange County, California|Orange]]
|-
| align="center" |{{nts|2}}
| align="center" |{{nts|12}}
|[[San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA MSA]]
 |{{change|invert=on|4749008|4335391}}
 |[[Alameda County|Alameda]], [[Contra Costa County|Contra Costa]], [[Marin County|Marin]], [[San Francisco]], [[San Mateo County|San Mateo]]
|-
| align="center" |{{nts|3}}
| align="center" |{{nts|13}}
|[[Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA MSA]]
 |{{change|invert=on|4599839|4224851}}
 |[[Riverside County, California|Riverside]], [[San Bernardino County, California|San Bernardino]]
|-
| align="center" |{{nts|4}}
| align="center" |{{nts|17}}
|[[San Diego-Carlsbad, CA MSA]]
 |{{change|invert=on|3298634|3095313}}
 |[[San Diego County, California|San Diego]]
|-
| align="center" |{{nts|5}}
| align="center" |{{nts|26}}
|[[Sacramento–Roseville–Arden-Arcade, CA MSA]]
 |{{change|invert=on|2397382|2149127}}
 |[[El Dorado County, California|El Dorado]], [[Placer County, California|Placer]], [[Sacramento County, California|Sacramento]], [[Yolo County, California|Yolo]]
|-
| align="center" |{{nts|6}}
| align="center" |{{nts|35}}
|[[San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA MSA]]
 |{{change|invert=on|2000468|1836911}}
 |[[San Benito County, California|San Benito]], [[Santa Clara County, California|Santa Clara]]
|-
| align="center" |{{nts|7}}
| align="center" |{{nts|56}}
|[[Fresno, CA MSA]]
 |{{change|invert=on|1008654|930450}}
 |[[Fresno County, California|Fresno]]
|-
| align="center" |{{nts|8}}
| align="center" |{{nts|62}}
|[[Bakersfield, CA MSA]]
 |{{change|invert=on|909235|839631}}
 |[[Kern County, California|Kern]]
|-
| align="center" |{{nts|9}}
| align="center" |{{nts|70}}
|[[Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA MSA]]
 |{{change|invert=on|843843|823318}}
 |[[Ventura County, California|Ventura]]
|-
| align="center" |{{nts|10}}
| align="center" |{{nts|75}}
|[[Stockton-Lodi, CA MSA]]
 |{{change|invert=on|779233|685306}}
 |[[San Joaquin County, California|San Joaquin]]
|}
{| class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible"
|+ Largest combined statistical areas in California
|-
| CA rank
| U.S. rank
![[List of Combined Statistical Areas|Combined statistical area]]<ref name="2020Census" />
!2020 census<ref name="2020Census" />
!2010 census<ref name="2020Census" />
!Change
!Counties<ref name="OMB_17-01" />
|-
| align="center" |{{nts|1}}
| align="center" |{{nts|2}}
|[[Los Angeles-Long Beach, CA Combined Statistical Area]]
 |{{change|invert=on|18644680|17877006}}
 |[[Los Angeles County, California|Los Angeles]], [[Orange County, California|Orange]], [[Riverside County, California|Riverside]], [[San Bernardino County, California|San Bernardino]], [[Ventura County, California|Ventura]]
|-
| align="center" |{{nts|2}}
| align="center" |{{nts|4}}
|[[San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, CA Combined Statistical Area]]
 |{{change|invert=on|9714023|8923942}}
 |[[Alameda County, California|Alameda]], [[Contra Costa County, California|Contra Costa]], [[Marin County, California|Marin]], [[Merced County, California|Merced]], [[Napa County, California|Napa]], [[San Benito County, California|San Benito]], [[San Francisco]], [[San Joaquin County, California|San Joaquin]], [[San Mateo County, California|San Mateo]], [[Santa Clara County, California|Santa Clara]], [[Santa Cruz County, California|Santa Cruz]], [[Solano County, California|Solano]], [[Sonoma County, California|Sonoma]], [[Stanislaus County, California|Stanislaus]]
|-
| align="center" |{{nts|3}}
| align="center" |{{nts|23}}
|[[Sacramento-Roseville, CA Combined Statistical Area]]
 |{{change|invert=on|2680831|2414783}}
 |[[El Dorado County, California|El Dorado]], [[Nevada County, California|Nevada]], [[Placer County, California|Placer]], [[Sacramento County, California|Sacramento]], [[Sutter County, California|Sutter]], [[Yolo County, California|Yolo]], [[Yuba County, California|Yuba]]
|-
| align="center" |{{nts|4}}
| align="center" |{{nts|45}}
|[[Fresno-Madera, CA Combined Statistical Area]]
 |{{change|invert=on|1317395|1234297}}
 |[[Fresno County, California|Fresno]], [[Kings County, California|Kings]], [[Madera County, California|Madera]]
|-
| align="center" |{{nts|5}}
| align="center" |{{nts|125}}
|[[Redding-Red Bluff, CA Combined Statistical Area]]
 |{{change|invert=on|247984|240686}}
 |[[Shasta County, California|Shasta]], [[Tehama County, California|Tehama]]
|}

== Demographics ==
{{Main|Demographics of California}}

===Population===
{{US Census population
| 1850 = 92597
| 1860 = 379994
| 1870 = 560247
| 1880 = 864694
| 1890 = 1213398
| 1900 = 1485053
| 1910 = 2377549
| 1920 = 3426861
| 1930 = 5677251
| 1940 = 6907387
| 1950 = 10586223
| 1960 = 15717204
| 1970 = 19953134
| 1980 = 23667902
| 1990 = 29760021
| 2000 = 33871648
| 2010 = 37253956
| 2020 = 39538223
| estyear = 2024
| estimate = 39431263
| footnote = Sources: 1790–1990, 2000, 2010, 2020, 2024<ref name="dof.ca.gov">{{Cite web |title=California Grew By 356,000 Residents in 2013 |url=http://www.dof.ca.gov/research/demographic/reports/estimates/e-1/documents/E-1_2014_Press_Release.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140502002520/http://www.dof.ca.gov/research/demographic/reports/estimates/e-1/documents/E-1_2014_Press_Release.pdf |archive-date=May 2, 2014 |access-date=September 26, 2016}}</ref><ref name="census_1790_1990">{{Cite web |date=August 20, 1993 |title=1990 Census of Population and Housing, Unit Counts, United States, 1990 CPH-2-1 |url=https://www.census.gov/prod/cen1990/cph2/cph-2-1-1.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://www.census.gov/prod/cen1990/cph2/cph-2-1-1.pdf |archive-date=October 9, 2022 |url-status=live |access-date=January 1, 2012 |website=Population and Housing Unit Counts, Population Estimates 1790–1990, pages 26–27 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]], U.S. Department of Commerce Economics and Statistics Administration}}</ref><ref name="Census2020">{{Cite web |title=Population, Population Change, and Estimated Components of Population Change: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2020 (NST-EST2020-alldata) |url=http://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/technical-documentation/research/evaluation-estimates.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201222173239/https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/technical-documentation/research/evaluation-estimates.html |archive-date=December 22, 2020 |access-date=April 26, 2021 |website=census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=QuickFacts: California |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/CA | website=Census.gov | publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=December 20, 2024}}</ref>{{break}}Chart does not include indigenous population figures.{{break}}Studies indicate that the Native American{{break}}population in California in 1850 was close to 150,000{{break}}before declining to 15,000 by 1900.<ref name="americanindiantah1">{{Cite web |title=American Indian Civics Project: Indians of Northern California: A Case Study of Federal, State, and Vigilante Intervention, 1850–1860 |url=http://americanindiantah.com/lesson_plans/ml_indians_in_northern_california.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120317041607/http://americanindiantah.com/lesson_plans/ml_indians_in_northern_california.html |archive-date=March 17, 2012 |access-date=March 21, 2012 |publisher=Americanindiantah.com}}</ref>
}}

Presently, close to one out of every nine U.S. residents live in California.<ref name="PPIC">{{cite web |last1=Johnson |last2=Mejia |last3=McGhee |first1=Hans |first2=Marisol |first3=Eric |title=California's Population |url=https://www.ppic.org/publication/californias-population/ |website=Public Policy Institute of California |access-date=March 14, 2024}}</ref><ref name=40Mill>{{Cite news |url=https://calmatters.org/explainers/california-population-migration-census-demographics-immigration/ |first1=Judy |last1=Lin |first2=Adria |last2=Watson |title=Explainer: California migration: The story of 40 million |date=June 24, 2022 }}</ref> According to the [[2020 U.S. census]], the population of California was 39.54 million on April 1, 2020, a 6.13% increase since [[2010 United States census|2010]].<ref name=Census2020/> During that decade, the state's population grew more slowly than the rest of the nation, resulting in the loss of one seat on the U.S. House of Representatives, the first loss in its entire history.<ref name=PPIC/> The estimated state population in 2023 was 38.94 million.<ref name=40Mill/> For well over a century (1900&ndash;2020), California experienced steady population growth. Even while the rate of growth began to slow by the 1990s, some growth continued into the first two decades of the 21st century; California added an average of around 400,000 people per year to its population during the period 1940–2020.<ref>{{Cite news|first1=Eric |last1=McGhee |first2=Marisol Cuellar |last2=Mejia |first3=Hans|last3=Johnson|url=https://www.ppic.org/blog/californias-stalled-population-growth/|title=California's Stalled Population Growth|date=April 26, 2021|publisher=[[Public Policy Institute of California]]}}</ref><ref name=Byler>{{Cite news|first=David|last=Byler|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2021/03/31/why-californias-population-boom-has-stalled/|title=Why California's population boom has stalled|newspaper=Washington Post|date=March 31, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=California's shrinking population has big impacts|first=Dan|last=Walters|url=https://calmatters.org/commentary/2022/04/california-population-decline/|work=CalMatters|date=April 10, 2022}}</ref> Then in 2020, the state began to experience population declines continuing every year, attributable mostly to moves out of state but also due to declining [[birth rate]]s, [[COVID-19 pandemic deaths]], and less internal migration from other states to California.<ref name = PPIC/><ref>{{Cite news|author=Staff and agencies|url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/may/02/california-population-decline-trend-covid|title=California's population shrinks for second year in a row|newspaper=The Guardian|date=May 2, 2022}}</ref> According to the U.S. Census Bureau, between 2021 and 2022, 818,000 California residents moved out of state<ref>{{Cite news |author=Rodriguez |first1=Angela |last2=Reese |first2=Phillip |date=November 2, 2023 |title=Again, more people are leaving California than moving in, data shows. Where are they going? |url=https://www.uniondemocrat.com/lifestyle/article_8e11bc68-79a4-11ee-998f-c71cde977c08.html |access-date=November 4, 2023 |newspaper=The Union Democrat |language=en}}</ref> with emigrants listing high cost of living, [[California housing shortage]]<ref>{{Cite news |title=Nearly half of California residents are considering leaving the state, a poll finds. Many cite the cost of living as the main reason. |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2023/06/28/california-population-decline-costs-of-living-state/70363036007/ |first1=Itzel |last1=Luna |date=Jun 28, 2023 |access-date=November 5, 2023 |newspaper=USA TODAY |language=en-US}}</ref> rise of remote work,<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Blake |last2=Suzanne |date=November 25, 2024 |title=Californians who left for remote work have shown 'signs of returning' |url=https://www.newsweek.com/california-sees-surge-people-moving-state-1986685 |access-date=May 20, 2025 |website=Newsweek |language=en}}</ref> high taxes, and a difficult business environment as the motivation.{{Citation needed|date=May 2025}} The net loss of population in California between July 2020 and July 2023 was 433,000.<ref name=PPIC/>

[[File:California population density 2020.png|thumb|upright=1.4|left|California's population density, 2020]]

The [[Greater Los Angeles Area]] is the second-largest [[metropolitan area]] in the U.S., while Los Angeles is the [[List of United States cities by population|second-largest city in the U.S.]] [[Los Angeles County]] has held the title of most populous U.S. county for decades and it alone is more populous than 42 U.S. states.<ref name="LA County DPSS">{{Cite web |date=December 2005 |title=About DPSS |url=https://dpss.lacounty.gov/dpss/about_dpss/dpss_overview.cfm  |access-date=December 26, 2009 |publisher=Los Angeles County Department of Public Social Services |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071009151113/https://dpss.lacounty.gov/dpss/about_dpss/dpss_overview.cfm |archive-date= Oct 9, 2007 }}</ref><ref name="Baby Slump In L.A. County">{{Cite news |last=Barrett |first=Beth |date=September 19, 2003 |title=Baby Slump in L.A. County |pages=N4 |work=Los Angeles Daily News |publisher=Los Angeles Newspaper Group |url=http://www.redorbit.com/news/science/7215/baby_slump_in_la_county/index.html |via=redOrbit |access-date=December 26, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100715060356/http://www.redorbit.com/news/science/7215/baby_slump_in_la_county/index.html |archive-date=July 15, 2010}}</ref> San Francisco is the most densely populated city in California and [[List of United States cities by population density|one of the most densely populated cities in the U.S.]]. Four of the [[List of United States cities by population|top 20 most populous cities in the U.S.]] are in California: Los Angeles (2nd), [[San Diego]] (8th), [[San Jose, California|San Jose]] (13th), and San Francisco (17th). The [[center of population]] of California is located four miles west-southwest of the city of [[Shafter, California|Shafter]], [[Kern County, California|Kern County]].{{refn|The coordinates of the center of population are at {{Coord|35.491035|-119.347852|display=inline}}.<ref name="popCentersByState">{{Cite web |date=November 17, 2021 |title=Centers of Population for the 2020 Census |url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/reference/cenpop2020/CenPop2020_Mean_ST.txt |publisher=United States Census Bureau |website=United States Census}}</ref>
|group="note"}}

As of 2020, California ranked [[List of U.S. states and territories by life expectancy|fourth among states by life expectancy]], with a life expectancy of 79.0 years.<ref>{{Cite journal|url=https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr71/nvsr71-02.pdf |access-date=January 2, 2025 |title=U.S. State Life Tables, 2020|first1=Elizabeth |last1=Arias |first2=Jiaquan |last2=Xu |first3=Betzaida |last3=Tejada-Vera |first4=Sherry |last4=Murphy |first5=Brigham|last5=Bastian|publisher=Centers for Disease Control and Prevention|journal=National Vital Statistics Reports|volume=71|number=2|date=August 23, 2022|pages=1–18 |pmid=36043888 }}</ref>

Starting in 2010, for the first time since the [[California Gold Rush]], California-born residents made up the majority of the state's population.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Watanabe |first1=Teresa |last2=Becerra |first2=Hector |date=April 1, 2010 |title=Native-born Californians regain majority status |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2010-apr-01-la-me-homegrown1-2010apr01-story.html |access-date=January 19, 2013 |work=Los Angeles Times}}</ref> Along with the rest of the U.S., California's immigration pattern has also shifted over the course of the late 2000s to early 2010s.<ref name="Pew Mexican Immigration">{{Cite web |title=Net Migration from Mexico Falls to Zero—and Perhaps Less |url=http://www.pewhispanic.org/files/2012/04/PHC-04-23-Mexican-Migration.pdf |access-date=July 19, 2015 |publisher=Pew Hispanic Center |archive-date=September 24, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924072108/http://www.pewhispanic.org/files/2012/04/PHC-04-23-Mexican-Migration.pdf }}</ref> Immigration from [[Latin America]]n countries has dropped significantly with most immigrants now coming from Asia.<ref name="SacBee17JAN2013" /> In total for 2011, there were 277,304 immigrants; 57% came from Asian countries versus 22% from Latin American countries.<ref name="SacBee17JAN2013">{{Cite news |last1=Magagnini |first1=Stephen |last2=Reese |first2=Phillip |date=January 17, 2013 |title=Census shows Asians eclipse Latino arrivals to California |url=http://www.sacbee.com/2013/01/17/5120459/asian-immigrants-to-california.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130118232108/http://www.sacbee.com/2013/01/17/5120459/asian-immigrants-to-california.html |archive-date=January 18, 2013 |access-date=January 19, 2013 |work=Sacramento Bee}}</ref> [[Net immigration]] from Mexico, previously the most common country of origin for new immigrants, has dropped to zero / less than zero since more Mexican nationals are departing for their home country than immigrating.<ref name="Pew Mexican Immigration" />

The state's population of [[undocumented immigrants]] has been shrinking in recent years, due to increased enforcement and decreased job opportunities for lower-skilled workers.<ref>{{Cite web |date=December 6, 2012 |title=Unauthorized Immigrants: 11.1 Million in 2011 |url=http://www.pewhispanic.org/2012/12/06/unauthorized-immigrants-11-1-million-in-2011/ |access-date=August 25, 2015 |website=Pew Research Center's Hispanic Trends Project}}</ref> The number of migrants arrested attempting to cross the Mexican border in the Southwest decreased from a high of 1.1{{spaces}}million in 2005 to 367,000 in 2011.<ref name="BusinessWeek">{{cite web |url=http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2012-05-03/californias-illegal-immigrant-shortage |title=California's Illegal Immigrant Shortage |website=Bloomberg BusinessWeek |date=May 3, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120510045259/http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2012-05-03/californias-illegal-immigrant-shortage |archive-date=May 10, 2012 }}</ref> Despite these recent trends, [[Illegal immigration to the United States|illegal]] [[Alien (law)|aliens]] constituted an estimated 7.3% of the state's population, the third highest percentage of any state in the [[Illegal immigrant population of the United States|country]],<ref>{{Cite news |last=Slevin |first=Peter |date=April 30, 2010 |title=New Arizona law puts police in 'tenuous' spot |pages=A4 |newspaper=The Washington Post |location=Washington, DC |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/graphic/2010/04/29/GR2010042904397.html}}</ref><ref group="note">Behind [[Nevada]] and [[Arizona]]</ref> totaling nearly 2.6{{spaces}}million.<ref name="SDUT19042011">{{Cite news |last=Gardner |first=Michael |date=April 19, 2011 |title=Cutting services to illegal immigrants isn't easy |url=http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sdut-cutting-services-to-illegal-immigrants-isnt-easy-2011apr19-htmlstory.html |access-date=August 8, 2017 |work=[[The San Diego Union-Tribune]]}}</ref> In particular, illegal immigrants tended to be concentrated in [[Los Angeles County, California|Los Angeles]], [[Monterey County, California|Monterey]], [[San Benito County, California|San Benito]], [[Imperial County, California|Imperial]], and [[Napa County, California|Napa Counties]]—the latter four of which have significant agricultural industries that depend on manual labor.<ref name="PPIC2011II">{{Cite web |last1=Johnson |first1=Hans |last2=Hill |first2=Laura |date=July 2011 |title=Illegal Immigration |url=http://www.ppic.org/content/pubs/atissue/AI_711HJAI.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/http://www.ppic.org/content/pubs/atissue/AI_711HJAI.pdf |archive-date=October 9, 2022 |url-status=live |access-date=January 15, 2013 |website=Publications |publisher=[[Public Policy Institute of California]]}}</ref> More than half of illegal immigrants originate from Mexico.<ref name="SDUT19042011" /> The state of California and some California cities, including [[Los Angeles]], [[Oakland]], and [[San Francisco]],<ref>{{Cite news |date=April 15, 2019 |title=Officials in Sanctuary Cities Condemn Trump's Proposal To Move Immigrant Detainees |url=https://www.npr.org/2019/04/15/713616857/officials-in-sanctuary-cities-condemn-trumps-proposal-to-move-immigrant-detainee?t=1567429578598}}</ref> have adopted [[Sanctuary city|sanctuary policies]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Cities, States Resist—and Assist—Immigration Crackdown in New Ways |url=https://pew.org/2O8sa9I |website=pew.org|date=August 3, 2018 }}</ref>

According to [[United States Department of Housing and Urban Development|HUD]]'s 2022 [[Annual Homeless Assessment Report to Congress|Annual Homeless Assessment Report]], there were an estimated 171,521 [[Homelessness|homeless]] people [[Homelessness in California|in California]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=2007-2022 PIT Counts by State |url=https://view.officeapps.live.com/op/view.aspx?src=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.huduser.gov%2Fportal%2Fsites%2Fdefault%2Ffiles%2Fxls%2F2007-2022-PIT-Counts-by-State.xlsx&wdOrigin=BROWSELINK}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.huduser.gov/portal/sites/default/files/pdf/2022-AHAR-Part-1.pdf|title=The 2022 Annual Homelessness Assessment Report (AHAR) to Congress}}</ref>

===Race and ethnicity===

[[File:Ethnicity in California (2020).jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|Map of counties in California by racial and ethnic plurality, per the 2020 U.S. census]]

[[File:Map of Californian Counties by Percentage of Hispanics or Latinos.png|thumb|[[Hispanics and Latinos in California|Hispanic and Latino Californians]] make up the state's largest ethnic group. The map displays California's counties by percentage of Hispanics and Latinos in the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]]:<br />{{legend|#26619C|50% or more}}{{legend|#0087BD|25–49%}}{{legend|#6699CC|15–24%}}{{legend|#9EB9D4|5–15%}}]]
{| class="wikitable sortable collapsible"; text-align:right;"
|+ Racial and ethnic composition as of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]]
|-
! class="unsortable"|Race and ethnicity<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov/library/visualizations/interactive/race-and-ethnicity-in-the-united-state-2010-and-2020-census.html |title=Race and Ethnicity in the United States: 2010 Census and 2020 Census |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=August 12, 2021 |website=census.gov |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=September 26, 2021}}</ref>
! colspan="2" data-sort-type=number |Alone
! colspan="2" data-sort-type=number |Total
|-
| [[Hispanics and Latinos in California|Hispanic or Latino]]<ref group="note">Persons of Hispanic or Latino origin are not distinguished between total and partial ancestry.</ref>
|align=right| {{bartable}}
|align=right| {{bartable|39.4|%|2||background:green}}
|-

| [[White Americans in California|White (non-Hispanic)]]
|align=right| {{bartable|34.7|%|2||background:gray}}
|align=right| {{bartable|38.3|%|2||background:gray}}
|-
| [[Asian Americans in California|Asian (non-Hispanic)]]
|align=right| {{bartable|15.1|%|2||background:purple}}
|align=right| {{bartable|17.0|%|2||background:purple}}
|-
| [[African Americans in California|African American (non-Hispanic)]]
|align=right| {{bartable|5.4|%|2||background:mediumblue}}
|align=right| {{bartable|6.4|%|2||background:mediumblue}}
|-
| [[Native Americans in California|Native American (non-Hispanic)]]
|align=right| {{bartable|0.4|%|2||background:gold}}
|align=right| {{bartable|1.3|%|2||background:gold}}
|-
| [[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander (non-Hispanic)]]
|align=right| {{bartable|0.3|%|2||background:pink}}
|align=right| {{bartable|0.7|%|2||background:pink}}
|-
| Other (non-Hispanic)
|align=right| {{bartable|0.6|%|2||background:brown}}
|align=right| {{bartable|1.3|%|2||background:brown}}
|}
{| class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible"
|+ California Racial Breakdown of Population<ref>{{Cite web |title=Population by Race |url=https://censusscope.org/us/s6/chart_race.html |access-date=May 2, 2025 |website=censusscope.org}}</ref>
!class="unsortable"|Racial composition
!1950<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=California – Race and Hispanic Origin: 1850 to 1990 |url=http://www.census.gov/population/www/documentation/twps0056/tab19.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100327163812/http://www.census.gov/population/www/documentation/twps0056/tab19.pdf |archive-date=March 27, 2010 |website=US Census Bureau}}</ref>
!1960<ref name=":0" />
!1970<ref name=":0" />
!1980<ref name=":0" />
!1990<ref name=":0" />
!2000<ref>{{Cite web |publisher=United States Census Bureau |title=Decennial Census (2020, 2010, 2000) |url=https://www.census.gov/data/developers/data-sets/decennial-census.html |access-date=June 28, 2024 |website=Census.gov}}</ref>
!2010<ref>{{Cite web |title=2010 Census: California State Profile |url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/dc10_thematic/2010_Profile/2010_Profile_Map_California.pdf |website=US Census Bureau}}</ref>
!2020<ref>{{Cite web |title=Explore Census Data |url=https://data.census.gov/table?g=040XX00US06&y=2020&d=DEC%20Redistricting%20Data%20(PL%2094-171) |access-date=June 28, 2024 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref>
|-
|[[White American|White]]
|93.7%
|92%
|89%
|76.2%
|69%
|59.6%
|57.6%
|41.2%
|-
|[[African American|Black]]
|4.4%
|5.6%
|7%
|7.7%
|7.4%
|6.7%
|6.2%
|5.6%
|-
|[[Asian American|Asian]]
|1.7%
|2%
|2.8%
|5.3%
|9.6%
|10.9%
|13%
|15.4%
|-
|[[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]]
|0.2%
|0.2%
|0.5%
|0.9%
|0.8%
|1%
|1%
|1.6%
|-
|[[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]]
|—
|—
|—
|—
|—
|0.4%
|0.4%
|0.4%
|-
|[[Race and ethnicity in the United States Census|'Some other race']]
|—
|0.1%
|0.7%
|10%
|13.2%
|16.8%
|17%
|21.2%
|-
|[[Multiracial American|Two or more races]]
|—
|—
|—
|—
|—
|4.8%
|4.9%
|14.6%
|-
|[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|'''Hispanic or Latino''']] '''(Any race)'''
|'''7.2%<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=Population Characteristics of Selected Ethnic Groups in the Five Southwestern States |url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1960/pc-s1-supplementary-reports/pc-s1-55.pdf |website=US Census Bureau}}</ref>'''
|'''9.1%<ref name=":2" />'''
|'''13.7%'''
|'''19.2%'''
|'''25.8%'''
|'''32.4%'''
|'''37.6%'''
|'''39.4%'''
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic whites|''Non-Hispanic White'']]
|86.5%<ref name=":2" />
|82.9%<ref name=":2" />
|''76.3%''
|''66.6%''
|''57.2%''
|''46.7%''
|''40.2%''
|''34.7%''
|-
|''Non-Hispanic Black''
|''—''
|''—''
|''—''
|''7.5%''
|''7.0%''
|''6.4%''
|''5.8%''
|''5.4%''
|-
|''Non-Hispanic Asian''
|''—''
|''—''
|''—''
|''5.3%''
|''9.1%''
|''10.8%''
|''12.8%''
|''15.1%''
|-
|''Non-Hispanic Native American''
|''—''
|''—''
|''—''
|''0.9%''
|''0.6%''
|''0.5%''
|''0.4%''
|''0.4%''
|-
|''Non-Hispanic Pacific Islander''
|''—''
|''—''
|''—''
|''—''
|''—''
|''0.3%''
|''0.3%''
|''0.3%''
|-
|''Non-Hispanic 'some other race'''
|''—''
|''—''
|''—''
|''0.5%''
|''0.2%''
|''0.2%''
|''0.2%''
|''0.6%''
|-
|''Non-Hispanic two or more races''
|''—''
|''—''
|''—''
|''—''
|''—''
|''2.7%''
|''2.4%''
|''4.1%''
|}
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, in 2022 the population self-identified as (alone or in combination): 56.5% [[White Americans|White]] (including [[Hispanic White Americans|Hispanic Whites]]),<ref>{{Cite web |title=Grid View: Table B02008 |url=https://censusreporter.org/data/table/?table=B02008&geo_ids=04000US06&primary_geo_id=04000US06 |access-date=June 28, 2024 |website=censusreporter.org}}</ref> 33.7% [[non-Hispanic whites|non-Hispanic white]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Grid View: Table B03002 |url=https://censusreporter.org/data/table/?table=B03002&geo_ids=04000US06&primary_geo_id=04000US06 |access-date=June 28, 2024 |website=censusreporter.org}}</ref> 18.1% [[Asian American|Asian]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Grid View: Table B02011 |url=https://censusreporter.org/data/table/?table=B02011&geo_ids=04000US06&primary_geo_id=04000US06 |access-date=June 28, 2024 |website=censusreporter.org}}</ref> 7.3% Black or [[African American]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Grid View: Table B02009 |url=https://censusreporter.org/data/table/?table=B02009&geo_ids=04000US06&primary_geo_id=04000US06 |access-date=June 28, 2024 |website=censusreporter.org}}</ref> 3.2% [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] and [[Alaska Native]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Grid View: Table B02010 |url=https://censusreporter.org/data/table/?table=B02010&geo_ids=04000US06&primary_geo_id=04000US06 |access-date=June 28, 2024 |website=censusreporter.org}}</ref> 0.9% [[Native Hawaiian]] or [[Pacific Islander American|Pacific Islander]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Grid View: Table B02012 |url=https://censusreporter.org/data/table/?table=B02012&geo_ids=04000US06&primary_geo_id=04000US06 |access-date=June 28, 2024 |website=censusreporter.org}}</ref> and 34.3% [[Some Other Race|some other race]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Grid View: Table B02013 |url=https://censusreporter.org/data/table/?table=B02013&geo_ids=04000US06&primary_geo_id=04000US06 |access-date=June 28, 2024 |website=censusreporter.org}}</ref> These numbers add up to more than 100% because respondents can select multiple racial identities. 19% of Californians identified as two or more races in 2022, although excluding respondents who selected "some other race", only 5% identified as two or more races.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Grid View: Table B02001 |url=https://censusreporter.org/data/table/?table=B02001&geo_ids=04000US06&primary_geo_id=04000US06#valueType%7Cpercentage |access-date=June 28, 2024 |website=censusreporter.org}}</ref>

By ethnicity, in 2018 the population was 60.7% non-Hispanic (of any race) and 39.3% [[Hispanics and Latinos in California|Hispanic or Latino]] (of any race). Hispanics are the largest single ethnic group in California.<ref name="2018CensusDemo">[https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/table/RHI125215/06 2018 U.S. Census QuickFacts], [[United States Census Bureau]], 2018.</ref> [[Non-Hispanic whites]] constituted 36.8% of the state's population.<ref name=2018CensusDemo/> ''[[Californio]]s'' are the [[Hispanic]] residents native to California, who make up the [[Spanish language in California|Spanish-speaking]] community that has existed in California since 1542, of varying [[Mexican American]]/[[Chicano]], [[Criollo people|Criollo Spaniard]], and Mestizo origin.<ref>as quoted in Clark, Donald T. (2008). ''Santa Cruz County Place Names'' p.442, Scotts Valley, California, Kestrel Press.</ref> However, they make up only a small part of California's Hispanic population today, estimated at 500,000. California has the largest Mexican, [[Salvadoran Americans|Salvadoran]], and [[Guatemalan Americans|Guatemalan]] populations in the U.S., together making up over 90% of the state's Latino population.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/library/stories/2023/09/2020-census-dhc-a-hispanic-population.html|title=Colombian and Honduran Populations Surpassed a Million for First Time; Venezuelan Population Grew the Fastest of all Hispanic Groups Since 2010 |publisher=US Census Bureau}}</ref>

According to 2022 estimates from the [[American Community Survey]], 32.4% of the population had [[Mexican Americans|Mexican]] ancestry, 6.6% had [[German Americans|German]] ancestry, 6.1% had [[English Americans|English]] ancestry, 5.6% had [[Irish people|Irish]] ancestry, 4.9% had [[Chinese Americans|Chinese]] ancestry, 4.3% had [[Filipino Americans|Filipino]] ancestry, 4% had [[Central America]]n ancestry (Mostly [[Salvadoran Americans|Salvadoran]] and [[Guatemalan Americans|Guatemalan]]), 3.4% had [[Italian Americans|Italian]] ancestry, 2.8% listed themselves as [[American ancestry|American]], and 2.5% had [[Indian Americans|Indian]] ancestry.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Grid View: Table B04006 |url=https://censusreporter.org/data/table/?table=B04006&geo_ids=04000US06&primary_geo_id=04000US06#valueType%7Cestimate |access-date=June 28, 2024 |website=censusreporter.org}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Grid View: Table B03001 |url=https://censusreporter.org/data/table/?table=B03001&geo_ids=04000US06&primary_geo_id=04000US06 |access-date=June 28, 2024 |website=censusreporter.org}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Grid View: Table B02018 |url=https://censusreporter.org/data/table/?table=B02018&geo_ids=04000US06&primary_geo_id=04000US06 |access-date=June 28, 2024 |website=censusreporter.org}}</ref>

[[File:Ethnic Origins in California.png|thumb|upright=2|Ethnic origins in California]]

{{as of|2011}}, 75.1% of California's population younger than age 1 were minorities, meaning they had at least one parent who was not non-Hispanic white (white Hispanics are counted as minorities).<ref>{{Cite web |last=Exner |first=Rich |date=June 3, 2012 |title=Americans under age 1 now mostly minorities, but not in Ohio: Statistical Snapshot |url=http://www.cleveland.com/datacentral/index.ssf/2012/06/americas_under_age_1_populatio.html |access-date=September 20, 2016 |website=cleveland.com |publisher=Advance Ohio}}</ref>

In terms of total numbers, California has the largest population of White Americans in the U.S., an estimated 22,200,000 residents including people identifying as white in combination with any other race. The state has the 5th largest population of African Americans in the U.S., an estimated 2,250,000 residents. California's Asian American population is estimated at 7.1{{spaces}}million, constituting a third of the nation's total. California's Native American population of 504,000 is the most of any state, with 103,030 identifying as Non-Hispanic and belonging mostly to the [[Indigenous peoples of California]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Grid View: Table B03002 |url=https://censusreporter.org/data/table/?table=B03002&geo_ids=04000US06&primary_geo_id=04000US06#valueType%7Cestimate |access-date=June 28, 2024 |website=censusreporter.org}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Grid View: Table B02001 |url=https://censusreporter.org/data/table/?table=B02001&geo_ids=04000US06&primary_geo_id=04000US06#valueType%7Cestimate |access-date=June 28, 2024 |website=censusreporter.org}}</ref> Most of the state's Native American population identifies as Hispanic and belongs to Indigenous Mexican or Central American ethnic groups, including 185,200 identifying as [[Indigenous peoples of Mexico|Mexican American Indian]] and 67,904 identifying as [[Central american indians|Central American Indian]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Grid View: Table B02014 |url=https://censusreporter.org/data/table/?table=B02014&geo_ids=04000US06&primary_geo_id=04000US06#valueType%7Cestimate |access-date=June 28, 2024 |website=censusreporter.org}}</ref>

According to estimates from 2011, California has the largest [[Majority-minority state|minority population]] in the U.S. by numbers, making up 60% of the state population.<ref name="CensusQuickFacts">{{Cite web |title=California QuickFacts from the US Census Bureau |url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/06000.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091228054319/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/06000.html |archive-date=December 28, 2009 |access-date=December 26, 2009 |publisher=US Census Bureau}}</ref> Over the past 25 years, the population of [[non-Hispanic whites]] has declined, while [[Hispanic and Latino American|Hispanic]] and [[Asian American|Asian]] populations have grown. Between 1970 and 2011, non-Hispanic whites declined from 80% of the state's population to 40%, while [[Hispanic and Latino American|Hispanics]] grew from 32% in 2000 to 38% in 2011.<ref>"[http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/06/05/MNSG1DQ1BL.DTL Whites in state 'below the replacement' level]". [[San Francisco Chronicle]]. June 5, 2010.</ref> It is currently projected that Hispanics will rise to 49% of the population by 2060, primarily due to domestic births rather than immigration.<ref name="Economist CA Hispanics">{{Cite news |date=June 20, 2015 |title=Latino mojo |newspaper=The Economist |url=https://www.economist.com/news/united-states/21654583-latino-mojo}}</ref> With the decline of immigration from Latin America, Asian Americans now constitute the fastest growing racial/ethnic group in California; this growth is primarily driven by immigration from [[China]], [[India]], and the [[Philippines]], respectively.<ref name="Asians CA">{{Cite web |last=Wendell Cox |title=Asians: America's Fastest Growing Minority |url=http://www.newgeography.com/content/004825-asians-americas-fastest-growing-minority |access-date=July 19, 2015 |publisher=NewsGeography}}</ref>

The majority of California's immigrants were born in Latin America (49%) or Asia (41%). Most of California's immigrant population were born in Mexico (3.8 million), the Philippines (821,136), China (795,450), India (574,498), and Vietnam (525,455) and more than half (55%) of California's immigrants were naturalized US citizens in 2023 which has increased consistently since 1990, when only 31% of immigrants were naturalized.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Immigrants in California |url=https://www.ppic.org/publication/immigrants-in-california/#:~:text=The%20vast%20majority%20of%20California's,)%20and%20Vietnam%20(502,600) |access-date=May 20, 2025 |website=Public Policy Institute of California |language=en-US}}</ref>
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===Languages===
{{main|Languages of California}}

{{see also|California English|Spanish language in California}}
{|class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible mw-open" style="margin-left:1em; float:right"
|+ '''Languages spoken in California by more than 100,000 persons'''
|-
! Language !! Population{{break}}<small>({{as of|2021|lc=y}})</small><ref name="Language2021">{{Cite web |title=American Community Survey: LANGUAGE SPOKEN AT HOME BY ABILITY TO SPEAK ENGLISH FOR THE POPULATION 5 YEARS AND OVER|url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=punjabi&g=040XX00US06&tid=ACSDT1Y2021.B16001&moe=false|access-date=July 23, 2023|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref> !! [[Percentage|%]]
|-
|[[California English|English]]
|20,763,638
|{{Percentage|20,763,638|37,027,601|2}}
|-
|[[Spanish language in California|Spanish]]
|10,434,308
|{{Percentage|10,434,308|37,027,601|2}}
|-
|[[Chinese language in the United States|Chinese]]
|1,244,445
|{{Percentage|1,244,445|37,027,601|2}}
|-
|[[Tagalog language in the United States|Tagalog]]
|757,488
|{{Percentage|757,488|37,027,601|2}}
|-
|[[Vietnamese language in the United States|Vietnamese]]
|544,046
|{{Percentage|544,046|37,027,601|2}}
|-
|[[Korean Americans|Korean]]
|356,901
|{{Percentage|356,901|37,027,601|2}}
|-
|[[Arabic language in the United States|Arabic]]
|231,612
|{{Percentage|231,612|37,027,601|2}}
|-
|[[Persian language in the United States|Persian]]
|221,650
|{{Percentage|221,650|37,027,601|2}}
|-
|[[Armenian language in the United States|Armenian]]
|211,614
|{{Percentage|211,614|37,027,601|2}}
|-
|[[Hindi]]
|208,148
|{{Percentage|208,148|37,027,601|2}}
|-
|[[Russian language in the United States|Russian]]
|178,176
|{{Percentage|178,176|37,027,601|2}}
|-
|[[Punjabi American|Punjabi]]
|156,763
|{{Percentage|156,763|37,027,601|2}}
|-
|[[Japanese American|Japanese]]
|135,992
|{{Percentage|135,992|37,027,601|2}}
|-
|[[French language in the United States|French]]
|126,371
|{{Percentage|126,371|37,027,601|2}}
|}

[[California English|English]] serves as California's [[de jure]] and [[de facto]] [[official language]]. According to the 2021 [[American Community Survey]] conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau, 56.08% (20,763,638) of California residents age{{spaces}}5 and older spoke only [[English language|English]] at home, while 43.92% spoke another language at home. Some 60.35% of California residents who speak a language other than English at home are able to speak English "well" or "very well", with this figure varying significantly across the different linguistic groups.<ref name="Language2021"/> Like most U.S. states (32 out of 50), California law enshrines English as its [[official language]], and has done so since the passage of [[1986 California Proposition 63|Proposition 63]] by California voters in 1986. Various government agencies do, and are often required to, furnish documents in the various languages needed to reach their intended audiences.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Driver's License or ID Card Renewal |url=http://www.dmv.ca.gov/dl/dl_info.htm#languages |publisher=California Department of Motor Vehicles}}</ref><ref name="AB 800 Analysis">{{Cite web |last=Wesson |first=Herb |author-link=Herb Wesson |date=July 17, 2001 |title=AB 800 Assembly Bill—Bill Analysis |url=http://info.sen.ca.gov/pub/01-02/bill/asm/ab_0751-0800/ab_800_cfa_20020116_162757_sen_comm.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101123142018/http://info.sen.ca.gov/pub/01-02/bill/asm/ab_0751-0800/ab_800_cfa_20020116_162757_sen_comm.html |archive-date=November 23, 2010 |access-date=December 27, 2009 |publisher=California State Assembly |page=3 |quote=In 1986, California voters amended the state constitution to provide that the Legislature and officials of the State of California shall take all steps necessary to insure that the role of English as the common language of the State of California is preserved and enhanced. The Legislature shall make no law which diminishes or ignores the role of English as the common language of California.}}</ref><ref name="Hull English already official">{{Cite news |last=Hull |first=Dana |date=May 20, 2006 |title=English already is 'official' in California |work=[[San Jose Mercury News]]}}</ref>

{{multiple image
| align             = left
| width             = 250
| image1            = California Constitution 1849 title page.jpg
| image2            = Proclama al Pueblo de California (1849) (cropped).jpg
| footer            = The [[Constitution of California]] was written in both [[California English|English]] (left) and [[Spanish language in California|Spanish]] (right) by both American and [[Californio]] delegates.
}}

[[Spanish language in California|Spanish]] is the most commonly spoken language in California behind English, spoken by 28.18% (10,434,308) of the state's population in 2021.<ref name="Language2021"/> The Spanish language has been spoken in California since 1542 and is deeply intertwined with California's cultural landscape and history.<ref>{{cite journal | last1=Gifford | first1=Bernard R. | last2=Valdés | first2=Guadalupe | title=The Linguistic Isolation of Hispanic Students in California's Public Schools: The Challenge of Reintegration | journal=Teachers College Record: The Voice of Scholarship in Education | volume=108 | issue=14 | date=2006 | issn=0161-4681 | doi=10.1177/016146810610801408 | pages=125–154 |url=https://www.ousd.org/cms/lib07/CA01001176/Centricity/Domain/3542/Linguistic%20Isolation%20gifford%20valdes.pdf| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211015233107/https://www.ousd.org/cms/lib07/CA01001176/Centricity/Domain/3542/Linguistic%20Isolation%20gifford%20valdes.pdf | archive-date=October 15, 2021 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.zocalopublicsquare.org/2016/12/15/california-losing-ability-hablar-espanol/ideas/connecting-california/|title=Is California Losing Its Ability to Hablar Español? &#124; Connecting California|first=Joe|last=Mathews |date=December 15, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|quote=Spanish is deeply intertwined in our society | last=Good | first=Greta | title=10.4 million people speak Spanish in California–here's how you can learn, too | website=SFGATE | date=March 31, 2021 | url=https://www.sfgate.com/shopping/article/10-4-million-people-speak-Spanish-in-16067234.php}}</ref> Spanish was the official administrative language of California through the Spanish and Mexican eras, until 1848. Following the U.S. [[Conquest of California]] and the [[Treaty of Guadalupe-Hidalgo]], the U.S. federal government guaranteed the rights of Spanish-speaking Californians. The first [[Constitution of California]] was written in both languages at the [[California Constitutional Conventions|Monterey Constitutional Convention of 1849]] and protected the rights of Spanish speakers to use their language in government proceedings and mandating that all government documents be published in both English and Spanish.<ref>{{cite web | last=Edwards | first=Andrew | title=English, Spanish share long history in California | website=Los Angeles Daily News | date=July 18, 2010 | url=https://www.dailynews.com/2010/07/18/english-spanish-share-long-history-in-california/}}</ref>

Despite the initial recognition of Spanish by early American governments in California, the revised 1879 state constitution stripped the rights of Spanish speakers and the official status of Spanish.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.languagepolicy.net/archives/1879con.htm|title=Spanish Language Rights in California: Debates over the 1879 Constitution|website=languagepolicy.net}}</ref> The growth of the [[English-only movement]] by the mid-20th century led to the passage of [[1986 California Proposition 63]], which enshrined English as the only official language in California and ended Spanish as a language of instruction in public schools.<ref name="Time Bilingual">{{Cite magazine|url=https://time.com/4041224/history-california-bilingual-education/|title=The Complicated History Behind California's Vote on Bilingual Education|date=November 2, 2016|magazine=Time}}</ref> [[2016 California Proposition 58]] reversed the prohibition on [[bilingual education]], though there are still many barriers to the proliferation of Spanish bilingual education, including a shortage of teachers and lack of funding.<ref>{{cite web | last=Garcia | first=Karen | title=How second- and third-generation Latinos are reclaiming the Spanish language | website=Los Angeles Times | date=January 31, 2023 | url=https://www.latimes.com/lifestyle/story/2023-01-31/how-language-affects-identity-for-latinos }}</ref><ref name="Time Bilingual"/><ref>{{cite web | last=Sanchez | first=Claudio | title=After Nearly 2 Decades, Californians Revisit Ban On Bilingual Education | website=NPR | date=October 29, 2016 | url=https://www.npr.org/sections/ed/2016/10/29/499867678/the-debate-over-bilingual-education-in-california }}</ref> The [[government of California]] has since made efforts to promote Spanish language access and bilingual education,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ksbw.com/article/dollar178-million-grant-uplifts-california-spanish-speaking-students/41236323|title=$1.78 million grant uplifts California Spanish-speaking students|first=Christian|last=Balderas|date=September 16, 2022|website=KSBW}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | last=Kelley | first=Cindy | title=California wants most students to be bilingual by 2040. Here's why. | website=San Diego Union-Tribune | date=March 10, 2022 | url=https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2022/03/10/california-wants-most-students-to-be-bilingual-by-2040-heres-why/ }}</ref> as have private educational institutions in California.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.vcstar.com/story/news/2021/03/10/el-eco-leads-more-spanish-language-courses-california-lutheran/4551110001/|title=California Lutheran University staff create more Spanish-language options|first=Shivani|last=Patel|website=Ventura County Star}}</ref> Many businesses in California promote Spanish language skills for their employees, to better serve both California's Hispanic population and the larger [[Hispanophone|Spanish-speaking world]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.smdailyjournal.com/sponsored/will-spanish-overtake-english-as-the-most-spoken-language-of-california/article_0a193d8e-88f9-11ec-b067-bbf4bca11bba.html|title=Will Spanish Overtake English as the Most Spoken Language of California?|date=February 8, 2022|website=San Mateo Daily Journal}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://janerosenthal.com/live-in-california-learn-spanish/|title=Should You Lean Spanish If You Live in California? &#124; Jane Rosenthal Author|first=Janes|last=Team|date=January 17, 2023|website=Jane Rosenthal}}</ref>

California has historically been one of the most linguistically diverse areas in the world, with more than 70 indigenous languages derived from 64 root languages in six language families.<ref name="Native Languages 1770">{{Cite map |publisher=Coyote Press |title=Native Tribes, Groups, Language Families and Dialects of California in 1770 |url=http://www.californiaprehistory.com/tribmap.html |edition=1966 |access-date=December 27, 2009 |archive-date=April 30, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110430112732/http://www.californiaprehistory.com/tribmap.html }}</ref><ref name="Indian Root Languages 1994">{{Cite map |publisher=California State Parks |title=California Indians Root Languages and Tribal Groups |url=http://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=23545 |edition=1994 |access-date=December 27, 2009}}</ref> A survey conducted between 2007 and 2009 identified 23 different indigenous languages among California farmworkers.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2013 |title=Indigenous Farmworker Study—Indigenous Mexicans in California Agriculture. Section V. Language and Culture |url=http://indigenousfarmworkers.org/final_report_section_v.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/http://indigenousfarmworkers.org/final_report_section_v.pdf |archive-date=October 9, 2022 |url-status=live |access-date=July 1, 2013}}</ref> All of California's indigenous languages are [[endangered language|endangered]], although there are now efforts toward [[language revitalization]].<ref group="note">The following are a list of the indigenous languages: Root languages of California: Athabaskan Family: Hupa, Mattole, Lassik, Wailaki, Sinkyone, Cahto, Tolowa, Nongatl, Wiyot, Chilula; Hokan Family: Pomo, Shasta, Karok, Chimiriko; Algonquian Family: Whilkut, Yurok; Yukian Family: Wappo; Penutian Family: Modok, Wintu, Nomlaki, Konkow, Maidu, Patwin, Nisenan, Miwok, Coast Miwok, Lake Miwok, Ohlone, Northern Valley Yokuts, Southern Valley Yokuts, Foothill Yokuts; Hokan Family: Esselen, Salinan, Chumash, Ipai, Tipai, Yuma, Halchichoma, Mohave; Uto-Aztecan Family: Mono Paiute, Monache, Owens Valley Paiute, Tubatulabal, Panamint Shoshone, Kawaisu, Kitanemuk, Tataviam, Gabrielino, Juaneno, Luiseno, Cuipeno, Cahuilla, Serrano, Chemehuevi</ref> California has the highest concentration nationwide of [[Chinese language in the United States|Chinese]], [[Vietnamese language in the United States|Vietnamese]] and [[Punjabi American|Punjabi]] speakers.

As a result of the state's increasing diversity and migration from other areas across the country and around the globe, linguists began noticing a noteworthy set of emerging characteristics of spoken [[American English]] in California since the late 20th century. This variety, known as [[California English]], has a [[vowel shift]] and several other phonological processes that are different from varieties of American English used in other regions of the U.S.<ref name="Bucholtz">{{Cite journal |last1=Bucholtz |first1=Mary |display-authors=etal |date=December 2007 |title=Hella Nor Cal or Totally So Cal?: The Perceptual Dialectology of California |journal=Journal of English Linguistics |volume=35 |issue=4 |pages=325–352 |citeseerx=10.1.1.516.3682 |doi=10.1177/0075424207307780 |s2cid=64542514}}</ref>

=== Religion ===
{{Main|Religion in California}}

{{see also|List of cathedrals in California}}
{{Pie chart
| thumb = right
| caption = Religious self-identification, per [[Public Religion Research Institute]]'s 2021 ''American Values Survey''<ref>{{Cite web |last=Staff |date=February 24, 2023 |title=American Values Atlas: Religious Tradition in California|url=https://ava.prri.org/#religious/2021/States/religion/m/US-CA|access-date=April 4, 2023 |website=[[Public Religion Research Institute]]}}</ref>
| label1 = [[Catholic Church in the United States|Catholicism]]
| value1 = 34
| color1 = Purple
| label2 = [[Protestantism in the United States|Protestantism]]
| value2 = 27
| color2 = Blue
| label3 = [[Jehovah's Witnesses|Jehovah's Witness]]
| value3 = 1
| color3 = Teal
| label4 = [[Mormonism]]
| value4 = 1
| color4 = Lightblue
| label5 = [[Irreligion in the United States|Unaffiliated]]
| value5 = 28
| color5 = White
| label6 = [[Buddhism in the United States|Buddhism]]
| value6 = 2
| color6 = Yellow
| label7 = [[American Jews|Judaism]]
| value7 = 1
| color7 = Pink
| label8 = [[Hinduism in the United States|Hinduism]]
| value8 = 1
| color8 = Orange
| label9 = Other
| value9 = 5
| color9 = Black
}}
The largest [[religious denomination]]s by number of adherents as a percentage of California's population in 2014 were the Catholic Church with 28%, Evangelical Protestants with 20%, and Mainline Protestants with 10%. Together, all kinds of Protestants accounted for 32%. Those unaffiliated with any religion represented 27% of the population. The breakdown of other religions is 1% Muslim, 2% Hindu and 2% Buddhist.<ref name="pew2014">{{Cite web |last=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=May 12, 2015 |title=America's Changing Religious Landscape, ''Appendix D: Detailed Tables'' |url=http://www.pewforum.org/files/2015/05/Appendix-D-Detailed-Tables.pdf |access-date=June 5, 2015 |publisher=Pew Research Center |archive-date=May 28, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150528123026/http://www.pewforum.org/files/2015/05/Appendix-D-Detailed-Tables.pdf }}</ref> This is a change from 2008, when the population identified their religion with the Catholic Church with 31%; Evangelical Protestants with 18%; and Mainline Protestants with 14%. In 2008, those unaffiliated with any religion represented 21% of the population. The breakdown of other religions in 2008 was 0.5% Muslim, 1% Hindu and 2% Buddhist.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Religious Affiliation by State in the U.S |url=http://religions.pewforum.org/pdf/report-religious-landscape-study-full.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/http://religions.pewforum.org/pdf/report-religious-landscape-study-full.pdf |archive-date=October 9, 2022 |url-status=live |access-date=June 24, 2010 |website=U.S. Religious Landscape Study |publisher=[[Pew Research Center]] |page=103}}</ref> The ''[[American Jewish Year Book]]'' placed the total [[American Jews|Jewish]] population of California at about 1,194,190 in 2006.<ref>Ira M. Sheskin and Arnold Dashefsky, "Jewish Population of the United States, 2006", ''[[American_Jewish_Year_Book]] 2006'', Volume 106 [https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/US-Israel/usjewpop.html].</ref> According to the [[Association of Religion Data Archives]] (ARDA) the largest denominations by adherents in 2010 were the [[Catholic Church]] with 10,233,334; [[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in California|The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]] with 763,818; and the [[Southern Baptist Convention]] with 489,953.<ref name="www.thearda.com">{{Cite web |title=The Association of Religion Data Archives &#124; State Membership Report |url=http://www.thearda.com/rcms2010/r/s/06/rcms2010_06_state_adh_2010.asp |access-date=December 16, 2013 |publisher=thearda.com |archive-date=December 17, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131217000142/http://www.thearda.com/rcms2010/r/s/06/rcms2010_06_state_adh_2010.asp }}</ref>
[[File:Cathedral of San Carlos Borromeo (cropped2).jpg|thumb|The [[Cathedral of San Carlos Borromeo (Monterey, California)|Cathedral of San Carlos Borromeo]] in Monterey, built 1791–94, is the oldest [[parish]] in California.<ref>Clark, Donald T., Monterey County Place Names: A Geographical Dictionary (Kestrel Press, Carmel Valley, CA, 1991).</ref>|left]]
California has a large Catholic population due to the large numbers of Mexicans and Central Americans living within its borders. California has twelve dioceses and two archdioceses, the [[Archdiocese of Los Angeles]] and the [[Archdiocese of San Francisco]], the former being the largest archdiocese in the U.S.

A [[Pew Research Center]] survey revealed that California is somewhat less religious than the rest of the states: 62% of Californians say they are "absolutely certain" of their belief in God, while in the nation 71% say so. The survey also revealed 48% of Californians say religion is "very important", compared to 56% nationally.<ref name="Helfland 2008">{{Cite news |last=Helfand |first=Duke |date=June 24, 2008 |title=State has a relaxed view on religion—Survey finds Californians are less certain about the existence of God than others in the U.S |work=Los Angeles Times |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2008-jun-24-me-faith24-story.html |access-date=December 27, 2009}}</ref>

==Culture==
{{Main|Culture of California}}

{{see also|Cuisine of California}}
[[File: Hollywood Sign (Zuschnitt).jpg|thumb|right|The [[Hollywood Sign]] in [[Los Angeles]]]]
The culture of California is a [[Western culture]] and has its modern roots in [[U.S. culture]], but also, historically, many [[Hispanic]] [[Californio]] and [[Culture of Mexico|Mexican]] influences. As a border and coastal state, California culture has been greatly influenced by several large immigrant populations, especially those from Latin America and Asia.<ref name="World of Opportunity">{{Cite web |last=Park |first=Bborie |date=December 2003 |title=A World of Opportunity—Which New Languages Davis Students Would Like to Study and Why |url=http://www.sariweb.ucdavis.edu/downloads/311AWorldOfOpportunity.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100611013350/http://www.sariweb.ucdavis.edu/downloads/311AWorldOfOpportunity.pdf |archive-date=June 11, 2010 |access-date=December 27, 2009 |publisher=[[UC Davis]] Student Affairs Research and Information}}</ref>

California has long been a subject of interest in the public mind and has often been promoted by its boosters as a kind of paradise. In the early 20th century, fueled by the efforts of state, the building projects during the [[Great Depression]] and local boosters, many Americans saw the Golden State as an ideal resort destination, sunny and dry all year round with easy access to the ocean and mountains. In the 1960s, popular music groups such as [[the Beach Boys]] promoted the image of Californians as laid-back, tanned beach-goers.

===Media and entertainment===
{{further|Media in Los Angeles|Media in the San Francisco Bay Area|Music in California}}
{{see also|List of amusement parks in the Americas#California|List of newspapers in California|List of radio stations in California}}
[[File:Walt_Disney_Studios_Alameda_Entrance.jpg|thumb|left|[[The Walt Disney Company|Disney]], headquartered in [[Burbank, California|Burbank]], is one of the world's largest media and entertainment companies.]]
[[Hollywood, Los Angeles|Hollywood]] and the rest of the Los Angeles area is a major global center for entertainment, with the [[cinema in the United States|U.S. film industry]]'s [[Major film studio|"Big Five" major film studios]] ([[Columbia Pictures|Columbia]], [[Walt Disney Pictures|Disney]], [[Paramount Pictures|Paramount]], [[Universal Pictures|Universal]], and [[Warner Bros.]]) as well as many minor film studios being based in or around the area. Many [[animation]] studios are also headquartered in the state. The four major American television commercial broadcast networks ([[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]], [[CBS]], [[NBC]], and [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]]) as well as other networks all have production facilities and offices in the state. All the four major commercial broadcast networks, plus the two major Spanish-language networks ([[Telemundo]] and [[Univision]]) each have at least three [[Owned-and-operated television stations in the United States|owned-and-operated TV stations]] in California, including at least one in Los Angeles and at least one in San Francisco.{{refn|group="note"|[[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] has the least amount of owned-and-operated TV stations with three: [[KABC-TV]] in Los Angeles, [[KGO-TV]] in San Francisco, and [[KFSN-TV]] in Fresno.}}

{{multiple image
| align             = right
| perrow            = 1
| total_width       = 220
| header            = 
| image1            = Googleplex HQ (cropped).jpg
| caption1          = [[Google]], headquartered in [[Mountain View, California|Mountain View]], is one of the largest [[technology companies]] in the world.
| image2            = State Fair 2014.jpg
| caption2          = The [[California State Fair]] is held annually during the summer at [[Cal Expo]] in northeastern [[Sacramento]].
}}

One of the oldest radio stations in the U.S. still in existence, [[KCBS (AM)]] in the [[Media in the San Francisco Bay Area|San Francisco Bay Area]], was founded in 1909. [[Universal Music Group]], one of the "[[Music market|Big Four]]" record labels, is based in [[Santa Monica, California|Santa Monica]], while [[Warner Records]] is based in [[Los Angeles, California|Los Angeles]]. Many independent record labels, such as [[Mind of a Genius Records]], are also headquartered in the state. California is also the birthplace of several international music genres, including the [[Bakersfield sound]], [[Bay Area thrash metal]], [[alternative rock]], [[g-funk]], [[nu metal]], [[glam metal]], [[thrash metal]], [[psychedelic rock]], [[stoner rock]], [[punk rock]], [[hardcore punk]], [[metalcore]], [[pop punk]], [[surf music]], [[third wave ska]], [[west coast hip hop]], [[west coast jazz]], [[jazz rap]], and many other genres. Other genres such as [[pop rock]], [[indie rock]], [[hard rock]], [[hip hop]], [[pop music|pop]], [[rock music|rock]], [[rockabilly]], [[country music|country]], [[Heavy metal music|heavy metal]], [[grunge]], [[New wave music|new wave]] and [[disco]] were popularized in the state. In addition, many British bands, such as [[Led Zeppelin]], [[Deep Purple]], [[Black Sabbath]], and [[the Rolling Stones]] settled in the state after becoming internationally famous.

As the home of [[Silicon Valley]], the Bay Area is the headquarters of several prominent [[internet media]], [[social media]], and other technology companies. Three of the [[Big Tech|"Big Five" technology companies]] ([[Apple Inc.|Apple]], [[Meta Platforms|Meta]], and [[Google]]) are based in the area as well as other services such as [[Netflix]], [[Pandora Radio]], [[Twitter]], [[Yahoo!]], and [[YouTube]]. Other prominent companies that are headquartered here include [[HP inc.]] and [[Intel]]. [[Microsoft]] and [[Amazon (company)|Amazon]] also have offices in the area.

California, particularly [[Southern California]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.speedhunters.com/2022/03/car-culture-southern-california/ |title=Car Culture: Does Anywhere Do It Better Than Southern California? |last=Ryan|first=Sara|date=March 18, 2022|website= speedhunters.com|publisher=[[Electronic Arts Inc.]] |access-date= August 17, 2023|quote=Ask anyone who's involved in the automotive hobby where they'd suggest heading for some really thick car culture, and Southern California would surely be mentioned.}}</ref> is considered the birthplace of modern [[car culture]].<ref>{{cite journal | doi=10.2307/25591577 | jstor=25591577 | last1=Lutz | first1=R. C. | title=On the Road to Nowhere? California's Car Culture | journal=California History | date=August 28, 2023 | volume=79 | issue=1 | pages=50–55 }}</ref>

Several [[fast food]], [[fast casual restaurant|fast casual]], and [[List of casual dining restaurant chains|casual dining]] chains were also founded California, including some that have since expanded internationally like [[California Pizza Kitchen]], [[Denny's]], [[IHOP]], [[McDonald's]], [[Panda Express]], and [[Taco Bell]].

===Sports===
{{Main|Sports in California}}

{{see also|List of professional sports teams in California}}

{{multiple image
| align             = left
| perrow            = 1
| total_width       = 220
| header            = 
| image1            = Pebble-Beach-CA.jpg
| caption1          = [[Pebble Beach Golf Links]], one of the best ranked [[golf course]]s in the world
| image2            = LBGP05.jpg
| caption2          = The [[Grand Prix of Long Beach]] is the longest running major [[street race]] in North America.
}}

California has 18 [[major professional sports leagues in the United States and Canada|major professional sports league]] franchises, far more than any other state. The [[San Francisco Bay Area]] has five major league teams, while the [[Greater Los Angeles Area]] is home to ten. San Diego has two major league teams and Sacramento has one. The NFL [[Super Bowl]] has been hosted in California 12 times at five different stadiums: [[Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum]], the Rose Bowl, Stanford Stadium, [[Levi's Stadium]], and [[San Diego Stadium]]. A thirteenth, [[Super Bowl LVI]], was held at [[SoFi Stadium]] in [[Inglewood, California|Inglewood]] on February 13, 2022.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Naranjo |first=Candice |date=March 28, 2014 |title=The Super Bowl is Coming to Levi's Stadium in 2016 |url=http://news.kron4.com/news/the-super-bowl-is-coming-to-levis-stadium-in-2016/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140329080701/http://news.kron4.com/news/the-super-bowl-is-coming-to-levis-stadium-in-2016/ |archive-date=March 29, 2014 |access-date=March 28, 2014 |newspaper=Kron4 – San Francisco Bay Area News |publisher=KRON 4}}</ref>

California has long had many respected collegiate sports programs. California is home to the oldest college bowl game, the annual [[Rose Bowl Game|Rose Bowl]], among others.

The [[National Football League|NFL]] has three teams in the state: the [[Los Angeles Rams]], [[Los Angeles Chargers]], and [[San Francisco 49ers]].

[[Major League Baseball|MLB]] has four teams in the state: the [[San Francisco Giants]], [[Los Angeles Dodgers]], [[Los Angeles Angels]], and [[San Diego Padres]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.loscerritosnews.net/2021/06/14/how-many-mlb-teams-are-in-california/ |title=How many MLB teams are in California? |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=June 14, 2021 |website=loscerritosnews.net |publisher=Hews Media Group, [[Cerritos Community News]] |access-date=August 17, 2023 |quote=There are a total of five different MLB franchises that are currently located on the west coast, with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Los Angeles Angels, Oakland Athletics, San Diego Padres and the San Francisco Giants.}}</ref>

The [[National Basketball Association|NBA]] has four teams in the state: the [[Golden State Warriors]], [[Los Angeles Clippers]], [[Los Angeles Lakers]], and [[Sacramento Kings]]. Additionally, the [[Women's National Basketball Association|WNBA]] also has two teams in the state: the [[Los Angeles Sparks]] and [[Golden State Valkyries]].

The [[National Hockey League|NHL]] has three teams in the state: the [[Anaheim Ducks]], [[Los Angeles Kings]], and [[San Jose Sharks]].

[[Major League Soccer|MLS]] has four teams in the state: the [[Los Angeles Galaxy]], [[San Jose Earthquakes]], [[Los Angeles FC]], and [[San Diego FC]].

[[Major League Rugby|MLR]] has one team in the state: the [[San Diego Legion]].

California is the only U.S. state to have hosted both the [[Summer Olympic Games|Summer]] and [[Winter Olympic Games|Winter]] Olympics. The [[1932 Summer Olympics|1932]] and [[1984 Summer Olympics|1984]] summer games were held in [[Los Angeles]]. Squaw Valley Ski Resort (now [[Palisades Tahoe]]) in the Lake Tahoe region hosted the [[1960 Winter Olympics]]. Los Angeles will host the [[2028 Summer Olympics]], marking the fourth time that California will have hosted the Olympic Games.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Nagourney |first1=Adam |author-link=Adam Nagourney |last2=Longman |first2=Jeré |date=July 31, 2017 |title=Los Angeles Makes Deal to Host the 2028 Summer Olympics |work=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/31/sports/olympics/los-angeles-2028-summer-olympics.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170802233825/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/31/sports/olympics/los-angeles-2028-summer-olympics.html |archive-date=August 2, 2017}}</ref> Multiple games during the [[1994 FIFA World Cup]] took place in California, with the [[Rose Bowl Stadium|Rose Bowl]] hosting eight matches (including the [[1994 FIFA World Cup Final|final]]), while [[Stanford Stadium]] hosted six matches.

In addition to the Olympic games, California also hosts the [[California State Games]].

Many sports, such as [[surfing]], [[snowboarding]], and [[skateboarding]], were invented in California, while others like [[volleyball]], [[beach soccer]], and [[skiing]] were popularized in the state.

Other sports that are big in the state include [[golf]], [[rodeo]], [[tennis]], [[mountain climbing]], [[Marathon|marathon running]], [[horse racing]], [[bowling]], [[mixed martial arts]], [[boxing]], and [[motorsports]], especially [[NASCAR]] and [[Formula One]].
[[File:The "Olympic Gateway" arch and male and female statues at the entrance to the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, California LCCN2013631630.tif|right|thumb|[[Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum]] hosted the [[Summer Olympics]] in [[1932 Summer Olympics|1932]] and [[1984 Summer Olympics|1984]], and will also host in [[2028 Summer Olympics|2028]].]]
{|class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible"
|-
! Team
! Sport
! League
|-
|[[Los Angeles Rams]]
|[[American football]]
|[[National Football League]] (NFL)
|-
|[[Los Angeles Chargers]]
|American football
|National Football League
|-
|[[San Francisco 49ers]]
|American football
|National Football League
|-
|[[Los Angeles Dodgers]]
|[[Baseball]]
|[[Major League Baseball]] (MLB)
|-
|[[Los Angeles Angels]]
|Baseball
|Major League Baseball
|-
|[[San Diego Padres]]
|Baseball
|Major League Baseball
|-
|[[San Francisco Giants]]
|Baseball
|Major League Baseball
|-
|[[Golden State Warriors]]
|[[Basketball]]
|[[National Basketball Association]] (NBA)
|-
|[[Los Angeles Clippers]]
|Basketball
|National Basketball Association
|-
|[[Los Angeles Lakers]]
|Basketball
|National Basketball Association
|-
|[[Sacramento Kings]]
|Basketball
|National Basketball Association
|-
|[[Golden State Valkyries]]
|Basketball
|[[Women's National Basketball Association]] (WNBA)
|-
|[[Los Angeles Sparks]]
|Basketball
|[[Women's National Basketball Association]]
|-
|[[Anaheim Ducks]]
|[[Ice hockey]]
|[[National Hockey League]] (NHL)
|-
|[[Los Angeles Kings]]
|Ice hockey
|National Hockey League
|-
|[[San Jose Sharks]]
|Ice hockey
|National Hockey League
|-
|[[Los Angeles Galaxy]]
|[[Association football|Soccer]]
|[[Major League Soccer]] (MLS)
|-
|[[San Jose Earthquakes]]
|Soccer
|Major League Soccer
|-
|[[Los Angeles FC]]
|Soccer
|Major League Soccer
|-
|[[San Diego FC]]
|Soccer
|Major League Soccer
|-
|[[Angel City FC]]
|Soccer
|[[National Women's Soccer League]] (NWSL)
|-
|[[San Diego Wave FC]]
|Soccer
|National Women's Soccer League
|-
|[[San Diego Legion]]
|Rugby union
|Major League Rugby
|}

==Education==
{{Main|Education in California}}

{{see also|Spanish bilingual education in California}}
[[File:Santa Barbara Senior High School (cropped).jpg|thumb|left|[[Santa Barbara High School]], one of the oldest high schools in continuous use in Southern California]]
California has the most school students in the country, with over 6.2 million in the 2005–06 school year, giving California more students in school than 36 states have in total population and one of the highest projected enrollments in the country.<ref>{{CongRec|2000|S2337|April 6, 2000}}</ref>
Public [[Secondary education in the United States|secondary education]] consists of [[High schools in California|high schools]] that teach elective courses in trades, languages, and liberal arts with tracks for gifted, college-bound and industrial arts students. California's public educational system is supported by a [[California Proposition 98 (1988)|unique constitutional amendment]] that requires a minimum annual funding level for grades K–12 and [[List of California Community Colleges|community colleges]] that grows with the economy and student enrollment figures.<ref name="Prop 98">{{Cite web |date=February 2005 |title=Proposition 98 Primer |url=http://www.lao.ca.gov/2005/prop_98_primer/prop_98_primer_020805.htm |access-date=January 29, 2010 |website=LAO.ca.gov |publisher=California Legislative Analyst's Office}}</ref>

In 2016, California's K–12 public school per-pupil spending was ranked 22nd in the nation ($11,500 per student vs. $11,800 for the U.S. average).<ref name="Governing_State_Ed_data">{{Cite magazine |date=June 1, 2018 |title=Education Spending Per Student by State |url=http://www.governing.com/gov-data/education-data/state-education-spending-per-pupil-data.html |url-status=live |magazine=[[Governing (magazine)|Governing]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180702004654/http://www.governing.com/gov-data/education-data/state-education-spending-per-pupil-data.html |archive-date=July 2, 2018 |access-date=July 18, 2018 |quote=NOTE: Adult education, community services and other nonelementary-secondary program expenditures are excluded.}}</ref>

For 2012, California's K–12 public schools ranked 48th in the number of employees per student, at 0.102 (the U.S. average was 0.137), while paying the 7th most per employee, $49,000 (the U.S. average was $39,000).<ref name="Urban_study">{{Cite web |last1=Gordon |first1=Tracy |last2=Iselin |first2=John |date=January 1, 2017 |title=What Everyone Should Know about Their State's Budget |url=http://apps.urban.org/features/what-drives-state-spending/ |access-date=July 16, 2018 |publisher=[[Urban Institute]] |quote=This chart includes two places, District of Columbia, and the U.S. average, so the number rankings rank 52 total entities; this needs to be understood when viewing these rankings.}}</ref><ref name="Urban_study_notes">{{Cite web |last1=Gordon |first1=Tracy |last2=Iselin |first2=John |date=January 1, 2017 |title=What Everyone Should Know about Their State's Budget |url=http://apps.urban.org/features/what-drives-state-spending/spending-drivers-documentation.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202025027/http://apps.urban.org/features/what-drives-state-spending/spending-drivers-documentation.pdf |archive-date=February 2, 2017 |access-date=July 16, 2018 |publisher=[[Urban Institute]] |page=7 |quote=For state and local government spending, we rely primarily on the U.S. Census Bureau's Census of Governments Annual Survey of State and Local Government Finances for fiscal year 2012, as revised and released on October 23, 2015.1 For state and local government employment and payroll, we draw from the U.S. Census Bureau's Census of Governments Government Employment and Payroll survey for full-time equivalent employees in March 2012.}}</ref><ref name="MN_state_comparison">{{Cite news |last=Woolfolk |first=John |date=January 15, 2018 |title=Why do Californians pay more state and local taxes than Texans? |work=[[The Mercury News|San Jose Mercury News]] |url=https://www.mercurynews.com/2018/01/13/why-do-californians-pay-more-state-and-local-taxes-than-texans/ |url-status=live |access-date=July 16, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180208202805/https://www.mercurynews.com/2018/01/13/why-do-californians-pay-more-state-and-local-taxes-than-texans/ |archive-date=February 8, 2018 |quote=California spending per resident on K-12 schools was about average among the states, but while teacher pay was among the highest, the state trailed others in teachers and support staff per student.}}</ref>

===Higher education===
{{main|List of colleges and universities in California}}

{{multiple image
| align             = right
| perrow            = 1
| total_width       = 220
| header            = 
| image1            = Berkeley glade afternoon.jpg
| caption1          = [[University of California, Berkeley|UC Berkeley]] is the oldest campus of the [[University of California]], and the state's flagship public university.
| image2            = Stanford University Main Quad - 7 June 2009.jpg
| caption2          = [[Stanford University]] is a private university that is one of the top-ranked universities in the world.<ref>{{Cite web |title=QS World University Rankings 2023: Top Global Universities |url=https://www.topuniversities.com/university-rankings/world-university-rankings/2023 |access-date=November 28, 2022 |website=Top Universities |language=en}}</ref>
}}

California public [[postsecondary education]] is organized into three separate systems:
* The state's [[Public university|public]] [[research university]] [[State university system|system]] is the [[University of California]] (UC). As of fall 2011, the University of California had a combined [[student]] body of 234,464 students.<ref name="About">{{Cite web |title=Log In—Confluence |url=https://confluence.ucop.edu/login.action?os_destination=%2Fpages%2Fviewpage.action%3FspaceKey%3DUC101%26title%3DAbout%2Bthe%2BUniversity%2Bof%2BCalifornia&permissionViolation=true |website=confluence.ucop.edu}}</ref> There are ten UC campuses; nine are general campuses offering both undergraduate and graduate programs which culminate in the award of bachelor's degrees, master's degrees, and doctorates; there is one specialized campus, [[UC San Francisco]], which is entirely dedicated to graduate education in [[Health care in California|health care]], and is home to the [[UCSF Medical Center]], the highest-ranked [[Hospitals in California|hospital in California]].<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=July 15, 2007 |title=America's Best Hospitals 2007 |url=http://health.usnews.com/usnews/health/best-hospitals/honorroll.htm |magazine=[[U.S. News & World Report]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070711023109/http://health.usnews.com/usnews/health/best-hospitals/honorroll.htm |archive-date=July 11, 2007 |access-date=July 15, 2007}}</ref> The system was originally intended to accept the top one-eighth of California high school students, but several of the campuses have become even more selective.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gilmore |first=Janet |date=December 19, 2016 |title=85,000 students seek admission to Berkeley's 2017–18 freshman class |url=http://news.berkeley.edu/2016/12/19/85000-students-seek-admission-to-berkeleys-2017-18-freshman-class/ |access-date=May 8, 2017 |website=Berkeley News}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Kendall |first=Rebecca |title=UCLA breaks several records with 2017 freshman applications |url=http://newsroom.ucla.edu/releases/ucla-breaks-several-records-with-2017-freshman-applications |access-date=May 8, 2017 |website=UCLA Newsroom}}</ref><ref name="Powell">Powell, Farran. "California Students Face Competition for College Options". ''U.S. News & World Report''. N.p., February 6, 2017. Web. May 7, 2017.</ref> The UC system historically held exclusive authority to award the doctorate, but this has since changed and CSU now has limited statutory authorization to award a handful of types of doctoral degrees independently of UC.
* The [[California State University]] (CSU) system has almost 430,000 students. The CSU (which takes the definite article in its abbreviated form, while UC does not) was originally intended to accept the top one-third of California high school students, but several of the campuses have become much more selective.<ref name="Powell" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Rising number of rejections raises fears that Long Beach is becoming 'elite' university |url=https://edsource.org/2016/rising-number-of-rejections-raise-fears-that-long-beach-is-becoming-elite-university/95431 |access-date=May 8, 2017 |website=EdSource}}</ref> The CSU was originally authorized to award only bachelor's and master's degrees, and could award the doctorate only as part of joint programs with UC or private universities. Since then, CSU has been granted the authority to independently award several doctoral degrees (in specific academic fields that do not intrude upon UC's traditional jurisdiction).
* The [[California Community Colleges]] system provides lower-division coursework culminating in the associate degree, as well as basic skills and workforce training culminating in various kinds of certificates. (Fifteen California community colleges now award four-year bachelor's degrees in disciplines which are in high demand in their geographical area.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Baccalaureate Degree Program {{!}} California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office |url=https://www.cccco.edu/About-Us/Chancellors-Office/Divisions/Educational-Services-and-Support/What-we-do/Curriculum-and-Instruction-Unit/Curriculum/Baccalaureate-Degree-Program |access-date=October 8, 2022 |website=www.cccco.edu}}</ref>) It is the largest network of higher education in the U.S., composed of 112 colleges serving a student population of over 2.6{{spaces}}million.

California is also home to notable private universities such as [[Stanford University]], the [[California Institute of Technology]] (Caltech), the [[University of Southern California]], the [[Claremont Colleges]], [[Santa Clara University]], [[Loyola Marymount University]], the [[University of San Diego]], the [[University of San Francisco]], [[Chapman University]], [[Pepperdine University]], [[Occidental College]], and [[University of the Pacific (United States)|University of the Pacific]], among numerous other private colleges and universities, including many religious and special-purpose institutions. California has a particularly high density of arts colleges, including the [[California College of the Arts]], [[California Institute of the Arts]], [[San Francisco Art Institute]], [[Art Center College of Design]], and [[Academy of Art University]], among others.

==Economy==
{{Main|Economy of California}}

[[File:SJ skyline at night horizontal.jpg|thumb|upright=1.3|[[Silicon Valley]] is the largest [[List of technology centers|tech hub]] in the world and home to [[Big Tech]] companies like [[Apple Inc.|Apple]], [[Alphabet Inc.|Alphabet]], [[Meta Platforms, Inc.|Meta]], [[Nvidia Corporation|Nvidia]], [[Intel Corporation|Intel]], [[HP Inc.|HP]], [[Netflix, Inc.]], [[Uber Technologies, Inc.|Uber]], and many more.]]
California's economy ranks among the largest in the world. {{as of|2024}}, the [[gross state product]] (GSP) is $4.172{{spaces}}[[1000000000000 (number)|trillion]] ($102,500 per capita), the [[List of U.S. states and territories by GDP|largest of any U.S. state]].<ref name="GDPByState"/> California is responsible for one seventh of the nation's gross domestic product (GDP).<ref name="gdp">{{Cite web |title=GDP by State |website=Bureau of Economic Analysis |url=https://bea.gov/newsreleases/regional/gdp_state/qgdpstate_newsrelease.htm |access-date=May 18, 2018}}</ref> {{as of|2025}}, California's nominal GDP is larger than all but four countries.<ref name=":1" /> In terms of [[purchasing power parity]] (PPP),<ref name="8large">{{Cite web |date=December 2, 2010 |title=Calif. retains economy that would be 8th largest |url=http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9JS1MLO0.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101206151318/http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9JS1MLO0.htm |archive-date=December 6, 2010 |access-date=September 2, 2012 |website=Bloomberg BusinessWeek}}</ref> it is larger than all but eight countries.<ref name="worldbank2012">{{Cite web |title=GDP, PPP (current international $) |url=http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NY.GDP.MKTP.PP.CD?order=wbapi_data_value_2012+wbapi_data_value+wbapi_data_value-last&sort=desc |access-date=June 14, 2014 |publisher=World Bank, International Comparison Program database}}</ref> California's economy is larger than [[Economy of Africa|Africa]] and [[Economy of Australia|Australia]] and is almost as large as [[Economy of South America|South America]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=October 2019 |title=GDP, current prices |url=https://www.imf.org/external/datamapper/NGDPD@WEO/OEMDC/ADVEC/WEOWORLD |access-date=January 22, 2020 |website=World Economic Outlook |publisher=International Monetary Fund}}</ref> The state recorded total, non-farm employment of 16,677,800<ref name="bls.gov" /> {{As of|2021|09|lc=y}} among 966,224 employer establishments.<ref>{{Cite web|title=U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: California|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/CA|url-status=live|access-date=December 6, 2021|website=www.census.gov|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201115306/https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/CA |archive-date=December 1, 2017 }}.</ref> As of 2024, California is home to 57 of the [[Fortune 500|''Fortune'' 500]] companies, the [[List of U.S. states by number of Fortune 500 companies|highest number of any U.S. state]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Burleigh |first=Emma |date=June 4, 2024 |title=California beats out Texas and New York as home to the most Fortune 500 companies |url=https://fortune.com/2024/06/04/fortune-500-california-most-companies/ |access-date=February 17, 2025 |website=Fortune |language=en}}</ref>
[[File:The port of Long Beach 2 by Don Ramey Logan.jpg|thumb|left|The combined [[Port of Los Angeles]]-[[Port of Long Beach]] is the largest port in the U.S. by import volume and one of the [[List of busiest container ports|busiest ports in the world]].]]
As the largest and second-largest U.S. ports respectively, the [[Port of Los Angeles]] and the [[Port of Long Beach]] in Southern California collectively play a pivotal role in the global supply chain, together hauling in about 40% of all imports to the U.S. by [[Twenty-foot equivalent units|TEU]] volume.<ref name="Karlamangla"/> The [[Port of Oakland]] and [[Port of Hueneme]] are the 10th and 26th largest seaports in the U.S., respectively, by number of TEUs handled.<ref name=Burnson>Patrick Burnson, [https://www.logisticsmgmt.com/article/top_30_u.s._ports_trade_tensions_determine_where_cargo_goes_next Top 30 U.S. Ports 2019: Trade tensions determine where cargo goes next], ''Logistics Management'' (May 10, 2019).</ref>

The five largest sectors of employment in California are trade, transportation, and utilities; government; professional and business services; education and health services; and leisure and hospitality. In output, the five largest sectors are financial services, followed by trade, transportation, and utilities; education and health services; government; and manufacturing.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2011 CalFacts |url=http://www.lao.ca.gov/reports/2011/calfacts/calfacts_010511.aspx |access-date=April 22, 2011 |publisher=Lao.ca.gov}}</ref> California has an [[California unemployment statistics|unemployment]] rate of 3.9% {{as of|2022|9|lc=y}}.<ref name="bls.gov">{{Cite web|title=California Economy at a Glance|url=https://www.bls.gov/regions/west/california.htm|url-status=live|access-date=December 6, 2021|website=bls.gov|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141121114732/http://www.bls.gov/regions/west/california.htm|archive-date=November 21, 2014}}</ref>

California's economy is dependent on trade and international related commerce accounts for about one-quarter of the state's economy, and representing 7% of their GDP; California's biggest trade partner is Mexico. In 2008, California exported $144{{spaces}}billion worth of goods, up from $134{{spaces}}billion in 2007 and $127{{spaces}}billion in 2006.<ref name="Cal Trade Statistics 2008">{{Cite web |title=Trade Statistics |url=http://www.calchamber.com/international/trade/pages/tradestatistics.aspx |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100209095504/http://www.calchamber.com/international/trade/pages/tradestatistics.aspx |archive-date=February 9, 2010 |access-date=January 29, 2010 |publisher=California Chamber of Commerce}}</ref> Vehicles, computers and electronic products are California's top exports, accounting for 42% of all the state's exports in 2008; over 50 car companies operate in California, such as [[Tesla, Inc.|Tesla]] and [[Mazda]].<ref name="Cal Trade Statistics 2008" />

=== Agriculture ===
{{main|Agriculture in California}}

{{further|Strawberry cultivation in California|Production of peaches in California|Walnuts in California}}
{{see also|California nut crimes}}
[[File:Autumn in Napa Valley vineyards.jpg|right|thumb|[[California wine|California vineyards]] in [[Wine Country]]. The [[Agriculture in California|agricultural industry in California]] is the largest [[Agriculture in the United States|in the U.S.]]]]

Agriculture is an important sector in California's economy. According to the [[U.S. Department of Agriculture]], in 2011, the three largest California agricultural products by value were [[California dairy industry|milk and cream]], shelled [[Almond cultivation in California|almonds]], and [[Grape cultivation in California|grapes]].<ref name="Jason Gibson-2012"/> Farming-related sales more than quadrupled over the past three decades, from $7.3{{spaces}}billion in 1974 to nearly $31{{spaces}}billion in 2004.<ref name="Cal Facts 2006 State Economy">{{Cite web |date=August 6, 2007 |title=Cal Facts 2006 State Economy |url=http://www.lao.ca.gov/2006/cal_facts/2006_calfacts_econ.htm |access-date=January 29, 2010 |publisher=Legislative Analyst's Office of California}}</ref> This increase has occurred despite a 15% decline in acreage devoted to farming during the period, and water supply suffering from chronic instability. Factors contributing to the growth in sales-per-acre include more intensive use of active farmlands and technological improvements in crop production.<ref name="Cal Facts 2006 State Economy" /> In 2008, California's 81,500 farms and ranches generated $36.2{{spaces}}billion products revenue.<ref name="California Agricultural Production Statistics">{{Cite web |date=2010 |title=California Agricultural Production Statistics 2009–2010 |url=http://www.cdfa.ca.gov/statistics/ |access-date=October 5, 2010 |publisher=cdfa.ca.gov (California Department of Food and Agriculture)}}</ref> In 2011, that number grew to $43.5{{spaces}}billion products revenue.<ref name="California Agricultural Production Statistics"/> The agriculture sector accounts for 2% of the state's GDP and employs around 3% of its total workforce.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Venton |first=Danielle |date=June 5, 2015 |title=A Better Way for California to Water Its Farms |magazine=Wired |url=https://www.wired.com/2015/06/farming-and-drought/ |access-date=June 5, 2015}}</ref>

=== Income ===
{{See also|California locations by per capita income}}
[[File:Sleeping Beauty Castle 2019.jpg|thumb|left|California is the most visited state in the country.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/the-most-popular-us-states-for-tourism-2014-10|title=A Detailed Look At How Americans Travel Within The US|first=Jennifer|last=Polland|website=Business Insider}}</ref> [[Disneyland]] in [[Anaheim]] is a major tourist destination, with 16.9 million annual visits in 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |url = https://aecom.com/wp-content/uploads/documents/reports/AECOM-Theme-Index-2022.pdf |title = TEA/AECOM 2022 Global Attractions Attendance Report |date = 2023 |access-date = August 16, 2023 }}</ref>]]
[[List of U.S. states by GDP per capita|Per capita GDP]] in 2021 was $85,546, ranking fourth in the nation. [[California locations by per capita income|Per capita income]] varies widely by geographic region and profession.<ref name="BEA State Personal Income 2006">{{Cite press release |title=State Personal Income 2006 |date=March 27, 2007 |publisher=[[Bureau of Economic Analysis]] |url=https://www.bea.gov/newsreleases/regional/spi/2007/spi0307.htm |access-date=January 29, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070704133957/http://www.bea.gov/newsreleases/regional/spi/2007/spi0307.htm |archive-date=July 4, 2007}}</ref> The Central Valley is the most impoverished, with [[migrant worker|migrant farm workers]] making less than [[minimum wage]]. According to a 2005 report by the [[Congressional Research Service]], the [[San Joaquin Valley]] was characterized as one of the most economically depressed regions in the U.S., on par with the region of [[Appalachia]].<ref name="CRS San Joaquin Valley">{{Cite web |last=Cowan |first=Tadlock |date=December 12, 2005 |title=California's San Joaquin Valley: A Region in Transition |url=http://www.centralvalleybusinesstimes.com/links/CRS%20San%20Joaquin%20Valley%20Report.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090324221541/http://www.centralvalleybusinesstimes.com/links/CRS%20San%20Joaquin%20Valley%20Report.pdf |archive-date=March 24, 2009 |access-date=January 29, 2010 |publisher=Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress |page=2}}</ref>

Using the supplemental poverty measure, California has a [[Poverty in the United States|poverty rate]] of 23.5%, the highest of any state in the country.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Berlinger |first=Joshua |date=November 12, 2012 |title=A New Poverty Calculation Yields Some Surprising Results |work=[[Business Insider]] |url=http://www.businessinsider.com/new-census-data-on-poverty-rates-yields-some-pretty-shocking-results-2012-11 |access-date=October 7, 2013}}</ref> However, using the official measure the poverty rate was only 13.3% as of 2017.<ref>{{Cite web |title=U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: United States |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/US |access-date=August 2, 2019 |website=www.census.gov}}</ref> Many coastal cities include some of the wealthiest per-capita areas in the U.S. The high-technology sectors in Northern California, specifically [[Silicon Valley]], in [[Santa Clara County, California|Santa Clara]] and [[San Mateo County, California|San Mateo counties]], have emerged from the economic downturn caused by the [[dot-com bubble|dot-com bust]].

In 2019, there were 1,042,027 millionaire households in the state, more than any other state in the nation.<ref>{{Cite web |last=May |first=Patrick |title=How many millionaires do we have in California? Hint: It's a big number |url=https://www.chicoer.com/2019/02/05/how-many-millionaires-do-we-have-in-california-hint-its-a-big-number/ |access-date=May 3, 2020 |website=Enterprise Record|date=February 5, 2019 }}</ref> In 2010, California residents were ranked first among the states with the best average credit score of 754.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bukszpan |first=Daniel |date=March 29, 2012 |title=States With the Best Credit Scores |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2012/03/29/States-With-the-Best-Credit-Scores.html |website=Cnbc.com}}</ref>

<gallery mode="packed" heights="250">
File:USA-World Nominal GDP.PNG|If California was an independent country, its gross domestic product (nominal) would rank [[List of U.S. states and territories by GDP|fifth in the world]] (2022).<ref>{{Cite web |title=5. Report for Selected Countries and Subjects |url=https://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2016/01/weodata/weorept.aspx?pr.x=69&pr.y=15&sy=2018&ey=2018&scsm=1&ssd=1&sort=country&ds=.&br=1&c=512%2C672%2C914%2C946%2C612%2C137%2C614%2C546%2C311%2C962%2C213%2C674%2C911%2C676%2C193%2C548%2C122%2C556%2C912%2C678%2C313%2C181%2C419%2C867%2C513%2C682%2C316%2C684%2C913%2C273%2C124%2C868%2C339%2C921%2C638%2C948%2C514%2C943%2C218%2C686%2C963%2C688%2C616%2C518%2C223%2C728%2C516%2C558%2C918%2C138%2C748%2C196%2C618%2C278%2C624%2C692%2C522%2C694%2C622%2C142%2C156%2C449%2C626%2C564%2C628%2C565%2C228%2C283%2C924%2C853%2C233%2C288%2C632%2C293%2C636%2C566%2C634%2C964%2C238%2C182%2C662%2C359%2C960%2C453%2C423%2C968%2C935%2C922%2C128%2C714%2C611%2C862%2C321%2C135%2C243%2C716%2C248%2C456%2C469%2C722%2C253%2C942%2C642%2C718%2C643%2C724%2C939%2C576%2C644%2C936%2C819%2C961%2C172%2C813%2C132%2C199%2C646%2C733%2C648%2C184%2C915%2C524%2C134%2C361%2C652%2C362%2C174%2C364%2C328%2C732%2C258%2C366%2C656%2C734%2C654%2C144%2C336%2C146%2C263%2C463%2C268%2C528%2C532%2C923%2C944%2C738%2C176%2C578%2C534%2C537%2C536%2C742%2C429%2C866%2C433%2C369%2C178%2C744%2C436%2C186%2C136%2C925%2C343%2C869%2C158%2C746%2C439%2C926%2C916%2C466%2C664%2C112%2C826%2C111%2C542%2C298%2C967%2C927%2C443%2C846%2C917%2C299%2C544%2C582%2C941%2C474%2C446%2C754%2C666%2C698%2C668&s=NGDPD&grp=0&a= |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190323111307/https://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2016/01/weodata/weorept.aspx?pr.x=69&pr.y=15&sy=2018&ey=2018&scsm=1&ssd=1&sort=country&ds=.&br=1&c=512%2C672%2C914%2C946%2C612%2C137%2C614%2C546%2C311%2C962%2C213%2C674%2C911%2C676%2C193%2C548%2C122%2C556%2C912%2C678%2C313%2C181%2C419%2C867%2C513%2C682%2C316%2C684%2C913%2C273%2C124%2C868%2C339%2C921%2C638%2C948%2C514%2C943%2C218%2C686%2C963%2C688%2C616%2C518%2C223%2C728%2C516%2C558%2C918%2C138%2C748%2C196%2C618%2C278%2C624%2C692%2C522%2C694%2C622%2C142%2C156%2C449%2C626%2C564%2C628%2C565%2C228%2C283%2C924%2C853%2C233%2C288%2C632%2C293%2C636%2C566%2C634%2C964%2C238%2C182%2C662%2C359%2C960%2C453%2C423%2C968%2C935%2C922%2C128%2C714%2C611%2C862%2C321%2C135%2C243%2C716%2C248%2C456%2C469%2C722%2C253%2C942%2C642%2C718%2C643%2C724%2C939%2C576%2C644%2C936%2C819%2C961%2C172%2C813%2C132%2C199%2C646%2C733%2C648%2C184%2C915%2C524%2C134%2C361%2C652%2C362%2C174%2C364%2C328%2C732%2C258%2C366%2C656%2C734%2C654%2C144%2C336%2C146%2C263%2C463%2C268%2C528%2C532%2C923%2C944%2C738%2C176%2C578%2C534%2C537%2C536%2C742%2C429%2C866%2C433%2C369%2C178%2C744%2C436%2C186%2C136%2C925%2C343%2C869%2C158%2C746%2C439%2C926%2C916%2C466%2C664%2C112%2C826%2C111%2C542%2C298%2C967%2C927%2C443%2C846%2C917%2C299%2C544%2C582%2C941%2C474%2C446%2C754%2C666%2C698%2C668&s=NGDPD&grp=0&a= |archive-date=March 23, 2019 |access-date=December 15, 2018}}</ref>
File:California counties by GDP 2021.png|California counties by GDP (2021)<ref>{{Cite web|title=GDP by county in 2021|url=https://www.bea.gov/sites/default/files/2022-12/lagdp1222.pdf}}</ref>
</gallery>

===State finances===
{{Main|California state finances|2008–12 California budget crisis}}

[[File:California economic regions map (labeled and colored).svg|thumb|upright=1.4|[[economic regions of California|California economic regions]]]]
State spending increased from $56{{spaces}}billion in 1998 to $127{{spaces}}billion in 2011.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Nunes |first=Devin |date=January 10, 2009 |title=California's Gold Rush Has Been Reversed |page=A9 |work=The Wall Street Journal |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB123154816733469917 |access-date=January 29, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-california-budget-idUSTRE7095FB20110110 |title=California's Brown proposes "painful" budget cuts |last=Christie |first=Jim |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151015211702/http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/01/10/us-california-budget-idUSTRE7095FB20110110 |archive-date=October 15, 2015 |url-status=live |website=Reuters |date=January 10, 2011}}</ref> California has the third highest per capita spending on welfare among the states, as well as the highest spending on welfare at $6.67{{spaces}}billion.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Gardner |first=Michael |date=July 28, 2012 |title=Is California the welfare capital?: Delving into why California has such a disproportionate share of the nation's recipients |url=http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2012/jul/28/welfare-capital-of-the-us/?page=1#article |access-date=August 6, 2012 |work=U-T San Diego}}</ref> In January 2011, California's total debt was at least $265{{spaces}}billion.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.sfgate.com/opinion/openforum/article/How-much-does-California-owe-2478624.php |title=How much does California owe? |last=Nation |first=Joe |website=[[Sfgate.com]] |date=January 19, 2011}}</ref> On June 27, 2013, Governor Jerry Brown signed a balanced budget (no deficit) for the state, its first in decades; however, the state's debt remains at $132{{spaces}}billion.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Gov-Brown-proudly-signs-balanced-state-budget-4628307.php |title=Gov. Brown proudly signs balanced state budget |last=Buchanan |first=Wyatt |website=[[Sfgate.com]] |date=June 27, 2013 |access-date=July 29, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=California's current debt load: $132 billion |url=http://www.bizjournals.com/sacramento/news/2013/09/06/californias-current-debt-load-132.html}}</ref>

With the passage of [[California Proposition 30 (2012)|Proposition 30 in 2012]] and [[2016 California Proposition 55|Proposition 55 in 2016]], California now levies a 13.3% maximum marginal [[income tax]] rate with ten [[tax bracket]]s, ranging from 1% at the bottom tax bracket of $0 annual individual income to 13.3% for annual individual income over $1,000,000 (though the top brackets are only temporary until Proposition 55 expires at the end of 2030). While Proposition 30 also enacted a minimum [[sales taxes in the United States#California|state sales tax]] of 7.5%, this sales tax increase was not extended by Proposition 55 and reverted to a previous minimum state sales tax rate of 7.25% in 2017. Local governments can and do levy additional sales taxes in addition to this minimum rate.<ref>{{Cite web |title=California Proposition 30, Sales and Income Tax Increase (2012) |url=http://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php/California_Proposition_30,_Sales_and_Income_Tax_Increase_(2012)#cite_note-taxfoundation_states-6 |access-date=January 16, 2013 |publisher=Ballotpedia}}</ref>

All [[real property]] is taxable annually. Property tax increases are capped at 2% annually or the rate of inflation (whichever is lower), per [[California Proposition 13 (1978)|Proposition 13]].

===Energy===
{{Main|Energy in California}}

{{further|Solar power in California|Wind power in California}}
{{see also|History of oil in California through 1930|Plug-in electric vehicles in California}}
[[File:Moss Landing Power Plant p1270026.jpg|thumb|left|[[Moss Landing Power Plant]], located on the coast of [[Monterey Bay]]]]
Because it is the most populous state in the U.S., California is one of the country's largest users of energy. The state has extensive hydro-electric energy generation facilities, however, moving water is the single largest energy use in the state. Also, due to high energy rates, conservation mandates, mild weather in the largest population centers and strong [[environmental movement]], its ''per capita'' energy use is one of the smallest of any state in the U.S.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Mufson |first=Steven |date=February 17, 2007 |title=In Energy Conservation, Calif. Sees Light |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/02/16/AR2007021602274.html |access-date=February 28, 2010}}</ref> Due to the high electricity demand, California imports more electricity than any other state, primarily hydroelectric power from states in the Pacific Northwest (via [[Path 15]] and [[Path 66]]) and coal- and natural gas-fired production from the desert Southwest via [[Path 46]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=October 20, 2011 |title=California—U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) |url=http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/state/state_energy_profiles.cfm?sid=CA |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101229175513/http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/state/state_energy_profiles.cfm?sid=CA |archive-date=December 29, 2010 |access-date=October 28, 2011 |publisher=Tonto.eia.doe.gov}}</ref>

The [[California oil and gas industry|state's crude oil and natural gas deposits]] are located in the Central Valley and [[Offshore oil and gas in California|along the coast]], including the large [[Midway-Sunset Oil Field]]. Natural gas-fired [[List of power stations in California|power plants]] typically account for more than one-half of state electricity generation.

[[File:Ho 000155 170593 515241 4578 (35974057893) (cropped).jpg|thumb|[[Ivanpah Solar Power Facility]], located in the [[Mojave Desert]]]]

As a result of the state's strong environmental movement, California has some of the most aggressive [[Renewable energy in California|renewable energy]] goals in the U.S. The Clean Energy, Jobs and Affordability Act of 2022 commits the state to running its operations on clean, renewable energy resources by 2035, and SB 1203 also requires the state to achieve net-zero operations for all agencies. Currently, several [[Solar power in California|solar power plants]] such as the [[Solar Energy Generating Systems]] facility are located in the [[Mojave Desert]]. [[Wind power in California|California's wind farms]] include [[Altamont Pass Wind Farm|Altamont Pass]], [[San Gorgonio Pass Wind Farm|San Gorgonio Pass]], and [[Tehachapi Pass Wind Farm|Tehachapi Pass]]. The Tehachapi area is also where the [[Tehachapi Energy Storage Project]] is located.<ref name="International2">{{Cite web |last=Edison International |title=SCE Unveils Largest Battery Energy Storage Project in North America |url=https://newsroom.edison.com/releases/sce-unveils-largest-battery-energy-storage-project-in-north-america |access-date=May 10, 2020 |website=Edison International}}</ref> Several dams across the state provide [[Hydroelectricity|hydro-electric power]]. It would be possible to convert the total supply to 100% renewable energy, including heating, cooling and mobility, by 2050.<ref>{{cite journal | last1=Jacobson | first1=Mark Z. |authorlink1=Mark Z. Jacobson | last2=Delucchi | first2=Mark A. | last3=Ingraffea | first3=Anthony R. | last4=Howarth | first4=Robert W. | last5=Bazouin | first5=Guillaume | last6=Bridgeland | first6=Brett | last7=Burkart | first7=Karl | last8=Chang | first8=Martin | last9=Chowdhury | first9=Navid | last10=Cook | first10=Roy | last11=Escher | first11=Giulia | last12=Galka | first12=Mike | last13=Han | first13=Liyang | last14=Heavey | first14=Christa | last15=Hernandez | first15=Angelica | last16=Jacobson | first16=Daniel F. | last17=Jacobson | first17=Dionna S. | last18=Miranda | first18=Brian | last19=Novotny | first19=Gavin | last20=Pellat | first20=Marie | last21=Quach | first21=Patrick | last22=Romano | first22=Andrea | last23=Stewart | first23=Daniel | last24=Vogel | first24=Laura | last25=Wang | first25=Sherry | last26=Wang | first26=Hara | last27=Willman | first27=Lindsay | last28=Yeskoo | first28=Tim | title=A roadmap for repowering California for all purposes with wind, water, and sunlight | journal=Energy | volume=73 | date=2014 | doi=10.1016/j.energy.2014.06.099 | pages=875–889| bibcode=2014Ene....73..875J |display-authors=1}}</ref>

California has one major [[nuclear power]] plant ([[Diablo Canyon Power Plant|Diablo Canyon]]) in operation. The [[San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station|San Onofre nuclear plant]] was shut down in 2013. More than 1,700{{spaces}}tons of [[radioactive waste]] are stored at San Onofre,<ref>{{Cite news |date=August 28, 2018 |title=How a nuclear stalemate left radioactive waste stranded on a California beach |work=The Verge |url=https://www.theverge.com/2018/8/28/17765538/san-onofre-nuclear-generating-station-radioactive-spent-fuel-waste-yucca-mountain}}</ref> and sit on the coast where there is a record of past [[tsunami]]s.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Brown |first=Kate |date=November 19, 2019 |title=Opinion: California's San Onofre nuclear plant is a Chernobyl waiting to happen |work=Los Angeles Times |url=https://www.latimes.com/opinion/story/2019-11-19/san-onofre-nuclear-plant-waste-radioactive}}</ref> Voters [[Anti-nuclear movement in California|banned the approval of new nuclear power plants]] since the late 1970s because of concerns over [[High-level radioactive waste management|radioactive waste disposal]].<ref name="Doyle 2009">{{Cite news |last=Doyle |first=Jim |date=March 9, 2009 |title=Nuclear power industry sees opening for revival |page=A-1 |work=San Francisco Chronicle |url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/03/08/MN3H16ANEN.DTL |access-date=January 29, 2010}}</ref>{{refn|Minnesota also has a moratorium on construction of nuclear power plants, which has been in place since 1994.<ref name="Minnesota Nuclear Moratorium">{{cite news |last1=Richert |first1=Catharine |last2=Brown |first2=Gretchen |title=Why nuclear energy is a political minefield in Minnesota |url=https://www.mprnews.org/episode/2023/11/13/why-nuclear-energy-is-a-political-minefield-in-minnesota |access-date=March 26, 2024 |work=MPR News |date=November 13, 2023}}</ref>|group="note"}} Several cities such as Oakland, [[Berkeley, California|Berkeley]] and [[Davis, California|Davis]] have declared themselves as [[nuclear-free zone]]s.

===Transportation===
{{Main|Transportation in California}}

{{see also|History of rail transportation in California}}
[[File:GoldenGateBridge-001.jpg|thumb|left|The [[Golden Gate Bridge]] in the [[San Francisco Bay Area]], is one of the most famous bridges in the world.]]

====Highways====
California's vast terrain is connected by [[California Freeway and Expressway System|an extensive system]] of [[controlled-access highways]] ('freeways'), [[limited-access road]]s ('expressways'), and [[State highways in California|highways]]. California is known for its [[car culture]], giving California's cities a reputation for severe [[traffic congestion]]. Construction and maintenance of state roads and statewide transportation planning are primarily the responsibility of the [[California Department of Transportation]], nicknamed "Caltrans". The rapidly growing population of the state is straining all of its transportation networks, and California has some of the worst roads in the U.S.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mieszkowski |first=Katharine |date=September 2, 2010 |title=California Is Tops in Worst Roads—Pulse of the Bay |url=http://www.baycitizen.org/blogs/pulse-of-the-bay/read-while-you-are-waiting-traffic-clear |access-date=April 22, 2011 |publisher=The Bay Citizen |archive-date=July 22, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110722041103/http://www.baycitizen.org/blogs/pulse-of-the-bay/read-while-you-are-waiting-traffic-clear/ }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=August 9, 2007 |title=A bridge too far gone |newspaper=The Economist |url=https://www.economist.com/united-states/2007/08/09/a-bridge-too-far-gone}}</ref> The [[Reason Foundation]]'s 19th Annual Report on the Performance of State Highway Systems ranked California's highways the third-worst of any state, with Alaska second, and Rhode Island first.<ref>{{Cite web |title=19th Annual Report on the Performance of State Highway Systems (1984–2008) |url=http://reason.org/files/19th_annual_highway_report.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/http://reason.org/files/19th_annual_highway_report.pdf |archive-date=October 9, 2022 |url-status=live |website=Reason.org}}</ref>

[[File:San Francisco Bay Ferry Hydrus May 2017 (cropped).jpg|thumb|right|[[San Francisco Bay Ferry]] is a public [[water taxi]] system in the [[Bay Area]].]]

The state has been a pioneer in road construction. One of the state's more visible landmarks, the [[Golden Gate Bridge]], was the [[List of longest suspension bridge spans|longest suspension bridge main span]] in the world at {{convert|4200|ft|m}} between 1937 (when it opened) and 1964. With its orange paint and panoramic views of the bay, this highway bridge is a popular tourist attraction and also accommodates pedestrians and bicyclists. The [[San Francisco–Oakland Bay Bridge]] (often abbreviated the "Bay Bridge"), completed in 1936, transports about 280,000 vehicles per day on two-decks. Its two sections meet at [[Yerba Buena Island]] through the world's largest diameter transportation bore tunnel, at {{convert|76|ft}} wide by {{convert|58|ft}} high.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The San Francisco—Oakland Bay Bridge Facts at a glance |url=http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/esc/tollbridge/SFOBB/Sfobbfacts.html |access-date=April 5, 2012 |publisher=[[California Department of Transportation]]}}</ref> The [[Arroyo Seco Parkway]], connecting Los Angeles and [[Pasadena, California|Pasadena]], opened in 1940 as the first freeway in the Western U.S.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Pool |first=Bob |date=June 25, 2010 |title=Pasadena Freeway getting a new look and a new name |work=Los Angeles Times |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2010-jun-25-la-me-parkway-20100625-story.html |access-date=April 5, 2012}}</ref> It was later extended south to the [[Four Level Interchange]] in downtown Los Angeles, regarded as the first [[stack interchange]] ever built.<ref>{{Cite web |date=September 22, 2011 |title=L.A.'s Famous Four-Level Freeway Interchange, 'The Stack', Turns 58 |url=http://www.kcet.org/updaily/socal_focus/history/la-as-subject/navigating-the-stack-the-four-level-turns-58.html |access-date=April 5, 2012 |publisher=[[KCET]]}}</ref>

The [[California Highway Patrol]] is the largest statewide police agency in the U.S. in employment with more than 10,000 employees. They are responsible for providing any police-sanctioned service to anyone on California's state-maintained highways and on state property.

By the end of 2021, 30,610,058 people in California held a [[California Department of Motor Vehicles]]-issued [[driver's license]]s or [[Identity documents in the United States|state identification card]], and there were 36,229,205 [[Vehicle registration|registered vehicles]], including 25,643,076 automobiles, 853,368 motorcycles, 8,981,787 trucks and trailers, and 121,716 miscellaneous vehicles (including historical vehicles and farm equipment).<ref>{{Cite web |publisher=State of California—Department of Motor Vehicles|title=Statistics for Publication, January through December 2021|url=https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/file/department-of-motor-vehicles-statistics-pdf/}}</ref>

====Air travel====
[[File:TheThemeBuildingLosAngeles (cropped2).jpg|thumb|left|[[Los Angeles International Airport|Los Angeles Intl. Airport]] (LAX) is the [[World's busiest airports by passenger traffic|4th busiest airport in the world]].]]
[[Los Angeles International Airport]] (LAX), [[World's busiest airports by passenger traffic|the 4th busiest airport in the world in 2018]], and [[San Francisco International Airport]] (SFO), [[World's busiest airports by passenger traffic|the 25th busiest airport in the world in 2018]], are major hubs for trans-Pacific and transcontinental traffic. There are about a dozen important commercial airports and many more [[general aviation]] [[List of airports in California|airports]] throughout the state.

====Railroads====
[[File:Pacific Surfliner @ San Clemente CA..jpg|thumb|right|[[Amtrak California]]'s ''[[Pacific Surfliner]]'' in [[San Clemente, California|San Clemente]], on the [[Orange Coast]]]]
[[Inter-city rail]] travel is provided by [[Amtrak California]]; the three routes, the ''[[Capitol Corridor]]'', ''[[Pacific Surfliner]]'', and ''[[Gold Runner]]'', are funded by Caltrans. These services are the busiest intercity rail lines in the U.S. outside the [[Northeast Corridor]] and ridership is continuing to set records. The routes are becoming increasingly popular over flying, especially on the LAX-SFO route.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Cabanatuan |first=Michael |date=January 8, 2011 |title=Calif. Amtrak ridership rising on state trains |work=The San Francisco Chronicle |url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/01/05/BAMU1GU16Q.DTL}}</ref> Integrated [[Rapid transit|subway]] and [[light rail]] networks are found in Los Angeles ([[Los Angeles Metro Rail]]) and San Francisco ([[Muni Metro]]). Light rail systems are also found in San Jose ([[VTA light rail]]), San Diego ([[San Diego Trolley]]), Sacramento ([[SacRT light rail]]), and Northern San Diego County ([[Sprinter (rail service)|Sprinter]]). Furthermore, [[commuter rail]] networks serve the San Francisco Bay Area ([[Altamont Corridor Express]], [[Bay Area Rapid Transit]], [[Caltrain]], [[Sonoma–Marin Area Rail Transit]]), Greater Los Angeles ([[Metrolink (California)|Metrolink]]), and San Diego County ([[Coaster (rail service)|Coaster]]).

The [[California High-Speed Rail Authority]] was authorized in 1996 by the state legislature to plan a [[California High-Speed Rail]] system to put before the voters. The plan they devised, [[2008 California Proposition 1A]], connecting all the major population centers in the state, was approved by the voters at the November 2008 general election.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Cabanatuan |first=Michael |date=August 17, 2010 |title=Plan for high-speed rail system released |work=The San Francisco Chronicle |url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/11/08/BAV6140IK5.DTL}}</ref> The first phase of construction was begun in 2015, and the first segment {{convert|171|mi}} long, is planned to be put into operation by the end of 2030. Planning and work on the rest of the system is continuing, with funding for completing it is an ongoing issue.<ref>{{cite web |title=2023 Project Update Report |url=https://hsr.ca.gov/about/project-update-reports/2023-project-update-report/ |publisher=California High-Speed Rail Authority |access-date=September 6, 2023}}</ref> California's 2023 integrated passenger rail master plan includes a high speed rail system.<ref>[https://dot.ca.gov/-/media/dot-media/programs/rail-mass-transportation/documents/california-state-rail-plan/20230309-casrp-public-dor-guidance.pdf"California State Rail Modernization Plan 2023 Draft"]''Caltrans'' March 2023</ref>

====Busses====
Nearly all counties operate [[bus]] lines, and many cities operate their own city bus lines as well. Intercity bus travel is provided by [[Greyhound Lines|Greyhound]], [[Megabus (North America)|Megabus]], and [[Amtrak Thruway]].

===Water===
{{Main|Water in California}}

[[File:Aerial view of Shasta Dam and Shasta Lake (2019).jpg|thumb|left|[[Lake Shasta]], in the [[Shasta Cascade]] region, is California's largest reservoir.]]
California's interconnected water system is the world's largest, managing over {{convert|40000000|acre.ft|km3|lk=in}} of water per year, centered on six main systems of aqueducts and infrastructure projects.<ref>Hundley, N. (2001). The great thirst: Californians and water. Berkeley, Calif.: University of California Press.</ref> Water use and conservation in California is a politically divisive issue, as the state experiences periodic droughts and has to balance the demands of its large agricultural and urban sectors, especially in the arid southern portion of the state. The state's widespread redistribution of water also invites the frequent scorn of environmentalists.

The [[California Water Wars]], a conflict between Los Angeles and the Owens Valley over water rights, is one of the most well-known examples of the struggle to secure adequate water supplies.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Reisner, Marc |title=Cadillac Desert: The American West and its Disappearing Water |date=1993 |publisher=Penguin}}</ref> Former California Governor [[Arnold Schwarzenegger]] said: {{blockquote|We've been in crisis for quite some time because we're now 38{{spaces}}million people and not anymore 18{{spaces}}million people like we were in the late 60s. So it developed into a battle between environmentalists and farmers and between the south and the north and between rural and urban. And everyone has been fighting for the last four decades about water.<ref>"[https://www.cbsnews.com/news/why-california-is-running-dry/ Why California Is Running Dry]". CBS News. December 27, 2009.</ref>}}

==Government and politics==
[[File:Sacramento, California State Capitol.jpg|thumb|upright=1.5|The [[California Capitol]] in [[Sacramento, California|Sacramento]], seat of the [[Government of California|California government]], hosts the [[California Legislature]] and the [[Governor of California]].]]

===State government===
{{Main|Government of California}}

The capital city of California is [[Sacramento, California|Sacramento]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=§ 2 of Article III of the California Constitution |url=http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=CONS&sectionNum=SEC.%202.&article=III |access-date=March 5, 2019 |website=[[California Office of Legislative Counsel]]}}</ref> The state is organized into three branches of government: the [[executive branch]] consisting of the [[Governor of California|governor]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=§ 1 of Article V of the California Constitution |url=http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=CONS&sectionNum=SECTION%201.&article=V |access-date=March 5, 2019 |website=[[California Office of Legislative Counsel]]}}</ref> and the other independently elected constitutional officers; the [[legislative branch]] consisting of the [[California State Assembly|Assembly]] and [[California State Senate|Senate]];<ref>{{Cite web |title=§ 1 of Article IV of the California Constitution |url=http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=CONS&sectionNum=SEC.%201.&article=IV |access-date=March 5, 2019 |website=[[California Office of Legislative Counsel]]}}</ref> and the [[judicial branch]] consisting of the [[Supreme Court of California]] and lower courts.<ref>{{Cite web |title=§ 1 of Article VI of the California Constitution |url=http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=CONS&sectionNum=SEC.%201.&article=VI |access-date=March 5, 2019 |website=[[California Office of Legislative Counsel]]}}</ref> The state also allows [[California ballot proposition|ballot propositions]]: direct participation of the electorate by [[Popular initiative|initiative]], [[referendum]], [[recall election|recall]], and [[ratification]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Article II of the California Constitution |url=http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displayText.xhtml?lawCode=CONS&division=&title=&part=&chapter=&article=II |access-date=March 5, 2019 |website=[[California Office of Legislative Counsel]]}}</ref> Before the passage of [[California Proposition 14 (2010)|Proposition 14 in 2010]], California allowed each political party to choose whether to have a [[closed primary]] or a primary where only party members and [[independent (politics)|independents]] vote. After June 8, 2010, when Proposition 14 was approved, excepting only the U.S. president and county central committee offices,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bowen |first=Debra |title=Voter-Nominated Offices Information |url=http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/statewide-elections/2012-primary/new-open-primary-info.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131224014308/http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/statewide-elections/2012-primary/new-open-primary-info.pdf |archive-date=December 24, 2013 |access-date=March 16, 2014 |publisher=California Secretary of State}}</ref> all candidates in the primary elections are listed on the ballot with their preferred party affiliation, but they are not the official nominee of that party.<ref name="DB2">{{Cite web |last=Bowen |first=Debra |title=Voter-Nominated Offices Information |url=http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voter-nominated-offices.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140626162020/http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voter-nominated-offices.htm |archive-date=June 26, 2014 |access-date=March 16, 2014 |publisher=California Secretary of State}}</ref> At the primary election, the two candidates with the top votes will advance to the general election regardless of party affiliation.<ref name="DB2" /> This is known as a [[nonpartisan blanket primary]]. If at a special primary election, one candidate receives more than 50% of all the votes cast, they are elected to fill the vacancy and no special general election will be held.<ref name="DB2" />

====Executive branch====
{{main|California executive branch|Governor of California|List of California state agencies}}

[[File:Stanford Mansion - Sacramento, California (6007570640) (cropped).jpg|thumb|left|The [[Leland Stanford Mansion|Stanford Mansion]] is the official reception center for the California government, as well as one of the workplaces of the governor.]]
The California executive branch consists of the governor and seven other elected constitutional officers: [[Lieutenant Governor of California|lieutenant governor]], [[California Attorney General|attorney general]], [[Secretary of State of California|secretary of state]], [[California State Controller|state controller]], [[California State Treasurer|state treasurer]], [[California Insurance Commissioner|insurance commissioner]], and [[California State Superintendent of Public Instruction|state superintendent of public instruction]]. They serve four-year terms and may be re-elected only once.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Article V of the California Constitution |url=http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displayText.xhtml?lawCode=CONS&division=&title=&part=&chapter=&article=V |access-date=March 6, 2019 |website=[[California Office of Legislative Counsel]]}}</ref>

The many California state agencies that are under the governor's cabinet are grouped together to form cabinet-level entities that are referred to by government officials as "superagencies". Those departments that are directly under the other independently elected officers work separately from these superagencies.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Van Vechten |first1=Renée B. |title=California Politics: A Primer |date=2011 |publisher=SAGE |location=Los Angeles |isbn=978-1-4522-0306-5 |page=63 |edition=2nd |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tatzWQscKmcC&pg=PA63 |access-date=February 25, 2019}}</ref><ref name="Lawrence">{{cite book |last1=Lawrence |first1=David G. |last2=Cummins |first2=Jeffrey |title=California: The Politics of Diversity |date=2019 |publisher=Rowman & Littlefield |location=Lanham |isbn=978-1-5381-2930-2|page=167 |edition=10th |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FwmkDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA167}}</ref>

====Legislative branch====
{{main|California State Legislature}}

The California State Legislature consists of a 40-member Senate and 80-member Assembly.<ref name="leg_members_and_term_limits_first_m_dec">{{Cite web|url=https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=CONS&sectionNum=SEC.%202.&article=IV|title=California Constitution Article IV § 2|work=[[California Office of Legislative Counsel]]|access-date=February 23, 2019|archive-date=February 24, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190224062408/https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=CONS&sectionNum=SEC.|url-status=live}}</ref> Senators serve four-year terms and Assembly members two. Members of the Assembly are subject to [[term limit]]s of six terms, and members of the Senate are subject to term limits of three terms.

====Judicial branch====
{{main|Judiciary of California}}

[[File:Supremecourtofcaliforniamaincourthouse (cropped).jpg|thumb|right|The [[Supreme Court of California]] primarily convenes at the [[Earl Warren Building]] in San Francisco (pictured), but also holds session in Sacramento and Los Angeles.]]
California's legal system is explicitly based upon English [[common law]]<ref name="Cal Civil Code 22.2">{{Cite web |title=California Civil Code § 22.2 |url=https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=CIV&sectionNum=22.2. |access-date=March 6, 2019 |website=[[California Office of Legislative Counsel]]}}</ref> but carries many features from Spanish [[Civil law (legal system)|civil law]], such as [[community property]]. California's prison population grew from 25,000 in 1980 to over 170,000 in 2007.<ref name="Thompson 2007">{{Cite news |last=Thompson |first=Don |date=December 8, 2007 |title=Calif. Struggles with sentencing reform |work=USA Today |url=https://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2007-12-08-2244622424_x.htm |access-date=January 29, 2010}}</ref> [[Capital punishment in California|Capital punishment]] is a legal form of punishment and the state has the largest "[[Death Row]]" population in the country (though Oklahoma and Texas are far more active in carrying out executions).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Death Row Inmates by State and Size of Death Row by Year {{!}} Death Penalty Information Center |url=https://deathpenaltyinfo.org/death-row-inmates-state-and-size-death-row-year |access-date=May 8, 2017 |website=deathpenaltyinfo.org}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=State Execution Rates {{!}} Death Penalty Information Center |url=https://deathpenaltyinfo.org/state-execution-rates |access-date=May 8, 2017 |website=deathpenaltyinfo.org}}</ref> California has performed [[List of people executed in California|13 executions]] since 1976, with the last being in 2006.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Inmates Executed 1978 to Present |url=https://www.cdcr.ca.gov/capital-punishment/inmates-executed-1978-to-present/ |access-date=May 7, 2022 |website=Capital Punishment |language=en-US}}</ref>

California's judiciary system is the largest in the U.S. with a total of 1,600 judges (the federal system has only about 840). At the apex is the seven-member Supreme Court of California, while the [[California Courts of Appeal]] serve as the primary [[appellate court]]s and the [[California Superior Courts]] serve as the primary [[trial court]]s. [[List of justices of the Supreme Court of California|Justices of the Supreme Court]] and Courts of Appeal are appointed by the governor, but are subject to retention by the electorate every 12 years.

The administration of the state's court system is controlled by the [[Judicial Council of California|Judicial Council]], composed of the chief justice of the California Supreme Court, 14 judicial officers, four representatives from the [[State Bar of California]], and one member from each house of the state legislature.

In fiscal year 2020–2021, the state judiciary's 2,000 judicial officers and 18,000 judicial branch employees processed approximately 4.4 million cases.<ref name="2022CourtStatisticsReport">{{cite book |last1=Judicial Council of California |title=2022 Court Statistics Report: Statewide Caseload Trends, 2011–12 Through 2020–21 |date=2022 |publisher=Judicial Council of California |location=San Francisco |page=1 |url=https://www.courts.ca.gov/documents/2022-Court-Statistics-Report.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220704050343/https://www.courts.ca.gov/documents/2022-Court-Statistics-Report.pdf |archive-date=July 4, 2022 |url-status=live |access-date=August 19, 2022}}</ref>

===Local government===
{{Main|Local government in California}}

[[File:San Francisco City Hall September 2013 panorama 3.jpg|left|thumb|[[San Francisco City Hall]] is the seat of government of the consolidated [[Government of San Francisco|City and County of San Francisco]].]]
California has an extensive system of local government that manages public functions throughout the state. Like most states, California is divided into [[County (United States)|counties]], of which there are 58 (including [[San Francisco]]) covering the entire state. Most urbanized areas are incorporated as [[city|cities]]. [[List of school districts in California|School districts]], which are independent of cities and counties, handle public education. Many other functions, such as fire protection and water supply, especially in [[unincorporated area]]s, are handled by [[Special-purpose district|special district]]s.

====Counties====
{{See also|List of counties in California}}

California is divided into [[List of counties in California|58 counties]]. Per Article 11, Section 1, of the [[Constitution of California]], they are the legal subdivisions of the state. The county government provides countywide services such as [[Law enforcement in California|law enforcement]], [[List of California county jails|jails]], elections and voter registration, vital records, property assessment and records, tax collection, public health, health care, social services, libraries, flood control, fire protection, animal control, agricultural regulations, building inspections, ambulance services, and education departments in charge of maintaining statewide standards.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Baldassare |first=Mark |url={{google books|plainurl=y|id=sDs4WZV0SRsC|page=67}} |title=When Government Fails: The Orange County Bankruptcy |date=1998 |publisher=[[Public Policy Institute of California]]/[[University of California Press]] |isbn=978-0-520-21486-6 |pages=67–68 |lccn=97032806}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last1=Janiskee |first1=Brian P. |url={{google books|plainurl=y|id=23Y3Nxs0qWgC|page=105}} |title=Democracy in California: Politics and Government in the Golden State |last2=Masugi |first2=Ken |date=2011 |publisher=Rowman & Littlefield Publishers |isbn=978-1-4422-0338-9 |edition=3rd |page=105 |lccn=2011007585}}</ref> In addition, the county serves as the local government for all [[unincorporated area]]s. Each county is governed by an elected [[board of supervisors]].{{sfn|Baldassare|1998|p=50}}

====City and town governments====
{{see also|List of municipalities in California}}
[[File:Los Angeles City Hall 01 (cropped).jpg|thumb|right|[[Los Angeles City Hall]], seat of the [[Government of Los Angeles]]]]
Incorporated cities and towns in California are either [[Charter city|charter]] or general-law municipalities.<ref name="Cal Gov Code 34502" /> 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. All ten of the state's most populous cities are charter cities. Most small cities have a [[Council–manager government|council–manager]] form of government, where the elected city council appoints a city manager to supervise the operations of the city. Some larger cities have a directly elected mayor who oversees the city government. In many council-manager cities, the city council selects one of its members as a mayor, sometimes rotating through the council membership—but this type of mayoral position is primarily ceremonial. The [[Government of San Francisco]] is the only [[consolidated city-county]] in California, where both the city and county governments have been merged into one unified jurisdiction.

====School districts and special districts====
{{See also|List of school districts in California}}
[[File:LAUSD HQ Bldg.jpg|thumb|left|The [[Los Angeles Unified School District]] is the [[List of the largest school districts in the United States by enrollment|second largest in the U.S. by enrollment]].]]
About 1,102 [[school district]]s, independent of cities and counties, handle California's [[public education]].<ref name="census2012p25" /> California school districts may be organized as elementary districts, high school districts, unified school districts combining elementary and high school grades, or community college districts.<ref name="census2012p25">{{Citation |title=Individual State Descriptions: 2007 |date=November 2012 |url=http://www2.census.gov/govs/cog/isd_book.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/http://www2.census.gov/govs/cog/isd_book.pdf |archive-date=October 9, 2022 |url-status=live |pages=25–26 |series=2007 Census of Governments |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |ref={{harvid|Census|2007}}}}</ref>

There are about 3,400 [[Special district (United States)|special districts]] in California.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Mizany |first1=Kimia |url=http://www.waterplan.water.ca.gov/docs/cwpu2005/vol4/vol4-background-whatssospecialaboutspecialdistricts.pdf |title=What's So Special About Special Districts? A Citizen's Guide to Special Districts in California |last2=Manatt |first2=April |publisher=California Senate Local Government Committee |edition=3 |access-date=March 11, 2014 |archive-date=July 4, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110704180433/http://www.waterplan.water.ca.gov/docs/cwpu2005/vol4/vol4-background-whatssospecialaboutspecialdistricts.pdf }}</ref> A special district, defined by California Government Code § 16271(d) as "any agency of the state for the local performance of governmental or proprietary functions within limited boundaries", provides a limited range of services within a defined geographic area. 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.

===Federal representation===
{{main|United States congressional delegations from California}}

{{See also|California's congressional districts}}
[[File:California Congressional Delegation honoring Pete Stark.jpg|thumb|right|Members of the [[United States congressional delegations from California|California Congressional Delegation]] in 2020]]
The state of California sends [[California's congressional districts|52]] members to the [[United States House of Representatives|House of Representatives]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Directory of Representatives |url=http://www.house.gov/representatives/#state_ca |access-date=March 25, 2014 |publisher=House.gov}}</ref> the nation's largest congressional state delegation. Consequently, California also has the largest number of [[Electoral College (United States)|electoral votes]] in national presidential elections, with 54. The former [[Speaker of the United States House of Representatives|speaker of the House of Representatives]] is the representative of California's 20th district, [[Kevin McCarthy]].<ref name="govtrack.us">{{Cite web |title=California Senators, Representatives, and Congressional District Maps |url=https://www.govtrack.us/congress/members/CA |access-date=January 15, 2019 |website=GovTrack.us}}</ref>

California is represented in the [[U.S. Senate]] by [[Alex Padilla]] and [[Adam Schiff]].

In response to the [[2025 Texas redistricting]], Governor Newsom secured legislative approval of [[2025 California Proposition 50|California Proposition 50]] in August 2025, which would redraw the state's congressional districts. The proposition was approved by 64.4% of voters, adding as many as five seats for the Democratic Party for the [[2026 United States elections|2026 midterms]].<ref>Melody Gutierrez and Laura J. Nelson, "Love it or hate it? Poll shows how Californians feel about Newsom’s redistricting fight with Trump", ''Los Angeles Times,'' August 22, 2025, [https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-08-22/la-times-berkeley-poll-on-redistricting online].</ref><ref>Laura J. Nelson et al. "State's voters to decide on new House districts: California lawmakers back a November special election to boost Democrats", ''Los Angeles Times,'' August 22, 2025.</ref><ref>Laurel Rosenhall, "Newsom Signs California Redistricting Plan to Counter Texas Republicans", ''New York Times,'' August 21, 2025, [https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/21/us/politics/california-newsom-redistricting-texas.html?searchResultPosition=2 online].</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Marzorati |first=Guy |date=November 4, 2025 |title=California voters OK new congressional lines, boosting Democrats ahead of midterms |url=https://www.npr.org/2025/11/04/nx-s1-5587742/election-results-california-proposition-50-redistricting |access-date=December 19, 2025 |work=[[NPR]]}}</ref>

===Armed forces===
{{See also|California during World War II}}
[[File:USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70), USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76) and USS John C. Stennis (CVN-74) at NAS North Island in June 2015 (cropped).JPG|thumb|left|View of [[Naval Air Station North Island|NAS North Island]] at [[Naval Base Coronado]] in [[San Diego]]]]
In California, {{as of|lc=y|2009}}, the [[U.S. Department of Defense]] had a total of 117,806 [[active duty]] servicemembers of which 88,370 were [[United States Navy|Sailors]] or [[United States Marine Corps|Marines]], 18,339 were [[United States Air Force|Airmen]], and 11,097 were [[United States Army|Soldiers]], with 61,365 Department of Defense civilian employees. Additionally, there were a total of 57,792 [[Reserve components of the United States Armed Forces|Reservists and Guardsman]] in California.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2012 |title=Table 508. Military and Civilian Personnel in Installations: 2009 |url=https://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/2012/tables/12s0509.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111017094716/http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/2012/tables/12s0509.pdf |archive-date=October 17, 2011 |access-date=June 15, 2013 |website=United States Census Bureau |publisher=United States Department of Commerce}}</ref>

In 2010, [[Los Angeles County]] was the largest origin of military recruits in the U.S. by county, with 1,437 individuals enlisting in the military.<ref>{{Cite web |last=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=June 30, 2011 |title=Military recruitment 2010 |url=http://nationalpriorities.org/analysis/2011/military-recruitment-2010/ |access-date=June 15, 2013 |publisher=National Priorities Project}}
</ref> However, {{as of|2002|lc=y}}, Californians were relatively under-represented in the military as a proportion to its population.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Segal |first1=David R. |last2=Segal |first2=Mady Wechsler |date=2004 |title=America's Military Population |url=http://www.prb.org/Source/ACF1396.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/http://www.prb.org/Source/ACF1396.pdf |archive-date=October 9, 2022 |url-status=live |journal=Population Bulletin |volume=59 |issue=4 |page=10 |issn=0032-468X |access-date=June 15, 2013}}</ref>

In 2000, California, had 2,569,340 veterans of U.S. [[military service]].<ref name="City Data CA Armed Forces">{{Cite web |title=California—Armed forces |url=http://www.city-data.com/states/California-Armed-forces.html |access-date=December 26, 2009 |website=city-data.com}}</ref> {{as of|2010}}, there were 1,942,775 veterans living in California, of which 1,457,875 served during a period of armed conflict, and just over four thousand served [[Interwar period|before World War{{spaces}}II]] (the largest population of this group of any state).<ref>{{Cite web |last=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=September 30, 2010 |title=Table 7L: VETPOP2011 Living Veterans By State, Period of Service, Gender, 2010–2040 |url=http://www.va.gov/VETDATA/docs/Demographics/New_Vetpop_Model/7lVetPop11_POS_State.xlsx |access-date=June 15, 2013 |website=Veteran Population |publisher=Department of Veterans Affairs}}</ref>

California's military forces consist of the [[California National Guard|Army and Air National Guard]], the [[California State Military Reserve|naval and state military reserve]] (militia), and the [[California Cadet Corps]].

{{clear}}

===Politics===
{{Main|Politics of California|Elections in California}}

{{see also|Politics of California before 1900|Political party strength in California}}
{|class="wikitable floatright mw-collapsible"
|+California registered voters {{as of|2025|02|10|lc=y|df=US}}<ref>{{Cite web |title=pdf Report of Registration as of January 5, 2024 Registration by County |url=https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voter-registration/voter-registration-statistics |access-date=May 16, 2024}}</ref>
|-
! colspan=2 |Party
! Number of voters
! Percentage
|rowspan="10" style="font-size:small" |[[File:California party registration by county.svg|160px]]
Party registration by county{{break}}(October 2022):
{{legend|#d3e7ff|Democrat ≥ 30%}}
{{legend|#b9d7ff|Democrat ≥ 40%}}
{{legend|#86b6f2|Democrat ≥ 50%}}
{{legend|#ffccd0|Republican ≥ 30%}}
{{legend|#f2b3be|Republican ≥ 40%}}
{{legend|#e27f90|Republican ≥ 50%}}
|-
| {{party color cell|Democratic Party (United States)}}
|[[California Democratic Party|Democratic]]
|style="text-align:center;" |10,367,321
|style="text-align:center;" |45.27%
|-
| {{party color cell|Republican Party (United States)}}
|[[California Republican Party|Republican]]
|style="text-align:center;" |5,776,356 
|style="text-align:center;" |25.22%
|-
| {{party color cell|Independent (United States)}}
|[[Independent politician (United States)|No Party Preference]]
|style="text-align:center;" |5,116,983
|style="text-align:center;" |22.34%
|-
| {{party color cell|American Independent Party}}
|[[American Independent Party|American Independent]]
|style="text-align:center;" |896,260
|style="text-align:center;" |3.91%
|-
| {{party color cell|Libertarian Party (United States)}}
|[[Libertarian Party of California|Libertarian]]
|style="text-align:center;" |233,052
|style="text-align:center;" |1.02%
|-
| {{party color cell|Peace and Freedom Party}}
|[[Peace and Freedom Party|Peace and Freedom]]
|style="text-align:center;" |141,785 
|style="text-align:center;" |0.62%
|-
| {{party color cell|Green Party (United States)}}
|[[Green Party of California|Green]]
|style="text-align:center;" |110,649 
|style="text-align:center;" |0.48%
|-
|colspan="2" style="text-align:left;" |Other
|style="text-align:center;" |258,490
|style="text-align:center;" |1.13%
|-
! colspan=2 |Total
! style="text-align:center;" |22,900,896
! style="text-align:center;" |100%
|}

California has an idiosyncratic political culture compared to the rest of the country, and is sometimes regarded as a trendsetter.<ref>{{Cite news |date=October 30, 2006 |title=California Is a Political Trendsetter |work=CBS News |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/california-is-a-political-trendsetter/ |access-date=February 22, 2011}}</ref> In socio-cultural mores and national politics, Californians are perceived as more [[Modern liberalism in the United States|liberal]] than other Americans, especially those who live in the inland states. In the [[2016 U.S. presidential election]], California had the third highest percentage of Democratic votes behind the [[District of Columbia]] and [[Hawaii]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/national.php?year=2016&off=0&elect=0&f=0|title=2016 Presidential General Election Results|first=David|last=Leip|website=uselectionatlas.org}}</ref> In the [[2020 U.S. presidential election]], it had the 6th highest behind D.C., [[Vermont]], [[Massachusetts]], [[Maryland]], and Hawaii. According to the Cook Political Report, California contains five of the 15 most Democratic congressional districts in the U.S.

California was the second state [[California gubernatorial recall election, 2003|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 [[California Proposition 8|Proposition{{spaces}}8]] in 2008). Voters also passed [[California Proposition 71 (2004)|Proposition 71 in 2004]] to fund [[stem cell]] research, making California the [[Stem cell laws and policy in the United States#Legalization and funding|second state to legalize stem cell research]], and [[California Proposition 14 (2010)|Proposition 14 in 2010]] to completely change the state's [[Partisan primary|primary election]] process. California has also experienced [[California Water Wars|disputes over water rights]]; and a [[tax revolt]], culminating with the passage of [[California Proposition 13 (1978)|Proposition 13 in 1978]], limiting state [[property tax]]es. California voters have rejected [[affirmative action]] on multiple occasions, most recently in November 2020.

The state's trend towards the [[California Democratic Party|Democratic Party]] and away from the [[California Republican Party|Republican Party]] can be seen in state elections. From 1899 to 1939, California had exclusively Republican governors. Since 1990, California has generally elected Democratic candidates to federal, state and local offices, including current Governor [[Gavin Newsom]]; however, the state has elected Republican Governors, though many of its Republican Governors, such as Arnold Schwarzenegger, tend to be considered moderate Republicans and more [[Centrism|centrist]] than the national party.

[[File:Code Pink and pro-Marine protesters.jpg|thumb|left|[[Anti-war movement|Anti-war]] protesters and pro-military counterprotesters in [[Berkeley, California|Berkeley]] (2008)]]
Several political movements have advocated for [[Partition and secession in California|California independence]]. The [[California National Party]] and the [[California Freedom Coalition]] both advocate for California independence along the lines of [[Progressivism in the United States|progressivism]] and [[civic nationalism]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jim Miller |title=California could see new political party with independence goal |url=https://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article54004530.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160308223549/http://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article54004530.html |archive-date=March 8, 2016 |access-date=March 19, 2016 |website=[[Sacramento Bee]]}}</ref> The [[Yes California]] movement attempted to organize an independence referendum via [[ballot initiative]] for 2019, which was then postponed.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tech Insider |date=November 9, 2016 |title=What is 'Calexit' and how can California secede from the US? |url=http://www.businessinsider.com/calexit-explainer-california-plans-to-secede-2016-11 |access-date=March 31, 2017 |website=Business Insider}}</ref>

The Democrats also hold a supermajority in both houses of the state legislature. There are 62 Democrats and 18 Republicans in the Assembly; and 32 Democrats and eight Republicans in the Senate.

From [[1952 United States presidential election|1952]] through [[1988 United States presidential election|1988]], California was a Republican-leaning state, as the party carried the state's electoral votes in nine of ten elections, with [[1964 United States presidential election|1964]] as the sole exception. Southern California Republicans [[Richard Nixon]] and [[Ronald Reagan]] were both elected twice as the 37th and 40th U.S. Presidents, respectively. However, Democrats have won all of California's electoral votes for the last eight elections,<!--8 thru 2020--> starting in [[1992 United States presidential election|1992]].

In the U.S. House, the Democrats held a 34–19 edge in the California delegation of the [[110th U.S. Congress]] in 2007. As the result of [[gerrymandering]], the districts in California were usually dominated by one or the other party, and few districts were considered competitive. In 2008, Californians passed Proposition 20 to empower a 14-member independent citizen commission to redraw districts for both local politicians and Congress. After the 2012 elections, when the new system took effect, Democrats gained four seats and held a 38–15 majority in the delegation. Following the [[2018 United States House of Representatives elections|2018 midterm House elections]], Democrats won 46 out of 53 congressional house seats in California, leaving Republicans with seven.
[[File:Protest at Los Angeles City Hall (6248466227).jpg|thumb|right|[[Occupy Los Angeles]] movement (2011)]]
In general, Democratic strength is centered in the populous [[Coastal California|coastal regions]] of the [[Los Angeles metropolitan area]] and the [[San Francisco Bay Area]]. Republican strength is still greatest in eastern parts of the state. [[Orange County, California|Orange County]] had remained largely Republican until the 2016 and 2018 elections, in which a majority of the county's votes were cast for Democratic candidates.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2016 Presidential General Election |url=http://www.ocvote.com/fileadmin/live/gen2016/results.htm |access-date=November 10, 2016 |website=Ocvote.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Thornton |first=Paul |date=November 10, 2018 |title=RIP Republican Orange County |work=Los Angeles Times |url=https://latimes.com/la-ol-opinion-newsletter-midterm-election-20181110-htmlstory.html}}</ref> One study ranked [[Berkeley California|Berkeley]], [[Oakland, California|Oakland]], [[Inglewood, California|Inglewood]] and [[San Francisco]] in the top 20 most liberal American cities; and [[Bakersfield, California|Bakersfield]], [[Orange, California|Orange]], [[Escondido, California|Escondido]], [[Garden Grove, California|Garden Grove]], and [[Simi Valley, California|Simi Valley]] in the top 20 most conservative cities.<ref>{{Cite web |date=August 16, 2005 |title=Study Ranks America's Most Liberal and Conservative Cities |url=http://govpro.com/content/gov_imp_31439/index.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110501140306/http://govpro.com/content/gov_imp_31439/index.html |archive-date=May 1, 2011 |access-date=February 20, 2011 |publisher=Bay Area Center for Voting Research}}</ref>

In October 2022, out of the 26,876,800 people eligible to vote, 21,940,274 people were registered to vote.<ref name="SoS2022GenVotRegStats">{{Cite web |date=October 24, 2022 |title=Voter Registration by County |url=https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/report-registration/15day-general-2022 |access-date=February 15, 2023 |website=Elections |publisher=California Secretary of State}}</ref> Of the people registered, the three largest registered groups were Democrats (10,283,258), Republicans (5,232,094), and [[Independent voter|No Party Preference]] (4,943,696).<ref name="SoS2022GenVotRegStats" />

California retains the [[Death penalty in California|death penalty]], though it has not been used since 2006.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.npr.org/2023/01/13/1148846720/california-says-it-will-dismantle-death-row-the-move-brings-cheers-and-anger#:~:text=Technically%2C%20the%20death%20penalty%20still,the%20state%20in%2017%20years. | title = California says it will dismantle death row. The move brings cheers and anger | last = Westervelt | first = Eric | date = January 13, 2023 | website = npr.org | publisher = [[National Public Radio]] | access-date = August 5, 2023 }}</ref>

=== Foreign relations ===
California is a member of the [[Commission of the Californias]], a tri-lateral forum for cooperation between the U.S. state of California and the Mexican states of [[Baja California]] and [[Baja California Sur]].<ref name="Memorandum">{{Cite web|url=https://www.energy.ca.gov/sites/default/files/2019-12/Commisions_CAL_MOU_Signed_12-4-2019_ADA.pdf|title=Memorandum of Understanding Between the Government of the State of California of the United States of America and the Government of the State of Baja California and the Government of the State of Baja California Sur of the United Mexican States for the Establishment of the Commission of the Californias}}</ref>

;Twinned regions
California has [[City twinning|region twinning arrangements]] with:
*{{flagicon|Catalonia}} [[Catalonia]], autonomous community of {{flagicon|Spain}} [[Spain]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 71 |url=http://soir.senate.ca.gov/scr71 |publisher=Senate Office of International Relations}}</ref>
*{{flagicon|Alberta}} [[Alberta]], province of {{flagicon|Canada}} [[Canada]]<ref name="Soir.senate.ca.gov">{{Cite web |title=California's Sister State Relationships &#124; Senate Office of International Relations |url=https://soir.senate.ca.gov/sisterstates |access-date=September 30, 2018 |publisher=Soir.senate.ca.gov}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=California-Alberta Relations |url=http://economic.alberta.ca/documents/California-AB.pdf?0.8097911507356912 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180929233318/http://economic.alberta.ca/documents/California-AB.pdf?0.8097911507356912 |archive-date=September 29, 2018 |access-date=September 29, 2018}}</ref>
*{{flagicon|Jeju Province}} [[Jeju Province]] of {{flagicon|Republic of Korea}} [[South Korea]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=ACR 42 Assembly Concurrent Resolution – CHAPTERED |url=http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/05-06/bill/asm/ab_0001-0050/acr_42_bill_20050718_chaptered.html |access-date=March 2, 2023 |website=www.leginfo.ca.gov}}</ref>
*{{flagicon|China}} [[Guangdong]], province of {{flagicon|China}} [[China]]<ref>{{cite web |title=State of California and Guangdong Province Sister State Agreement |url=https://soir.senate.ca.gov/content/state-california-and-guangdong-province-sister-state-agreement |website=Senate Office of International Relations |access-date=October 27, 2023}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[List of California Counties by Human Development Index]]
* [[Index of California-related articles]]
* [[Outline of California]]
* [[List of people from California]]
{{Clear}}

==Notes==
{{NoteFoot}}

==References==
===Citations===

{{Reflist}}

===Works cited===
* {{Cite book |last=Cohen |first=Saul Bernard |url={{google books|plainurl=y|id=QkMD8HKRlgoC|page=115}} |title=Geopolitics of the World System |date=2003 |publisher=Rowman & Littlefield |isbn=978-0-8476-9907-0}}
* {{Cite book |last=Rolle |first=Andrew |url=https://archive.org/details/californiahisto000roll |title=California: A History |publisher=Harlan Davidson |year=1998 |isbn=0-88295-938-7 |edition=5th |location=Wheeling, IL |orig-date=1963}}
* {{Cite book |last=Starr |first=Kevin |title=California: A History |date=2007 |publisher=Random House Digital, Inc. |isbn=978-0-8129-7753-0 |series=Modern Library Chronicles |volume=23 |author-link=Kevin Starr}}

==Further reading==
{{See also|Bibliography of California history}}
* {{Cite book |last1=Chartkoff |first1=Joseph L. |url=https://archive.org/details/archaeologyofcal00char |title=The archaeology of California |last2=Chartkoff |first2=Kerry Kona |date=1984 |publisher=[[Stanford University Press]] |isbn=978-0-8047-1157-9 |location=Stanford, California |oclc=11351549}}
* {{Cite book |last=Fagan |first=Brian |title=Before California: An archaeologist looks at our earliest inhabitants |date=2003 |publisher=[[Rowman & Littlefield Publishers]] |isbn=978-0-7425-2794-2 |location=Lanham, Maryland |oclc=226025645}}
* Hart, James D. ''A Companion to California'' (2nd ed. U of California Press, 1987), 610pp; excellent encyclopedic coverage of 3000 topics; not online.
* Matthews, Glenna. ''The Golden State in the Civil War: Thomas Starr King, the Republican Party, and the Birth of Modern California''. New York: Cambridge University Press, 2012.
* {{Cite book |last1=Moratto |first1=Michael J. |title=California archaeology |last2=Fredrickson, David A. |date=1984 |publisher=[[Academic Press]] |isbn=978-0-12-506182-7 |location=Orlando |oclc=228668979}}
* {{Cite book |last=Newmark |first=Harris |url=https://archive.org/stream/sixtyyearsinsout00newmrich#page/n7/mode/2up |title=Sixty Years in Southern California 1853-1913 |date=1916 |publisher=The Knickerbacker Press |location=New York}}
*  Pitt, Leonard. ''Los Angeles A to Z: An Encyclopedia of the City and County.'' (University of California Press, 1997) 625 pp.; excellent encyclopedic coverage of 2000 topics; not online.

==External links==
{{Sister project links|auto=1|commonscat=yes|wikt=California|s=Portal:California|b=y|v=y}}
* [http://www.ca.gov/ State of California]
* [https://www.loc.gov/rr/program/bib/states/california/index.html California State Guide, from the Library of Congress]
* {{OSM relation|165475}}
* [http://data.ca.gov/ data.ca.gov: open data portal from California state agencies]
* [http://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/state-fact-sheets/state-data.aspx?StateFIPS=06&StateName=California California State Facts from USDA] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161017081404/http://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/state-fact-sheets/state-data.aspx?StateFIPS=06&StateName=California |date=October 17, 2016 }}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20150422235318/http://www.ers.usda.gov/topics/in-the-news/california-drought-farm-and-food-impacts.aspx California Drought: Farm and Food Impacts from USDA, Economic Research Service]
* [http://diva.sfsu.edu/collections/sfbatv/bundles/188919 1973 documentary featuring aerial views of the California coastline from Mt. Shasta to Los Angeles]
* [http://waterandpower.org/museum/Early_City_Views%20(1800s)_Page_1.html/ Early City Views (Los Angeles)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201013171441/https://waterandpower.org/museum/Early_City_Views%20%281800s%29_Page_1.html |date=October 13, 2020 }}

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