As one the largest states in the America,
California is an excellent
moving destination that encompasses a wide range of climates and lifestyles. It has four distinct regions: the temperate coast, the desert, the mountains, and the Central Valley - all of which were populated for thousands of years by Native Americans. Russia, Spain and Mexico have all laid claim to California, and for a few years it even declared itself an independent republic, but it joined the United States in 1850 as the 31st state.
Origin of state's name: California was named by Spanish conquistadores. Its name refers to a fictional earthly paradise described in the romantic novel "Las Serges de Esplandian."
Capital city: The capital of California is
Sacramento. The city grew up around Sutter's Fort, which was established by a Swiss immigrant named John Sutter and his friend James Marshall. The fort was an important distribution point during the California Gold Rush. The city's population is more than 480,000 residents. It is located in Central Valley, where the Sacramento River meets the American River. The first European to discover this area was Gabriel Moraga, a Spanish explorer who traveled through the Central Valley at the turn of the nineteenth century.
Population: According to 2009 estimates by the U.S. Census Bureau, California has nearly 37 million residents.
Driving: Driver's license information, applications, testing requirements, driver's manuals and testing locations can all be found on the
California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) website.
Agriculture and Industry: California is an important part of U.S. agriculture, generating more farm income than any of the other U.S. states. Its unique climate allows local farmers to grow crops that aren't grown anywhere else in the nation. Important foods include grapes, almonds, walnuts, oranges, strawberries, avocados, lemons, lettuce and tomatoes. Of course, the famous film studios are another key industry, and so are the tourist revenues that they generate. There are also many factories in California; their output includes electrical equipment, computer machinery and processed foods. The state also has a large fishing industry (swordfish and tuna are the most valuable catches) and a strong mining industry.
State Bird: The state bird is the California Quail, which is also called the valley quail. It is a game bird known for its hardiness.
State Tree: The California redwood is the state tree. It is among the largest tree species in the world, and although it was once common throughout North America, it is now only found on the Pacific coast.
State Flower: The poppy is the state flower of California. It grows wild throughout the state, and Native Americans cherished it for its seeds and oil.
State Song: "I Love You, California" is the official state song. Its lyrics were written by a Los Angeles merchant named F. B. Silverwood. Its tune was written by Alfred Frankenstein, who was a former conductor of the Los Angeles Symphony Orchestra.