Geography & Travel
California
state, United States
Category:
Geography & Travel
- Capital:
- Sacramento
- Population:
- (2020) 39,538,223; (2023 est.) 38,965,193
- Governor:
- Gavin Newsom (Democrat)
- Date Of Admission:
- September 9, 1850
- U.S. Senators:
- Dianne Feinstein (Democrat)
- Alex Padilla (Democrat)
Recent News
Mar. 11, 2024, 7:08 AM ET (AP)
Disney seeks major expansion of California theme park to add more immersive attractions
Mar. 10, 2024, 7:37 AM ET (AP)
Katie Porter's star dims in failed US Senate bid, leaving the Californian facing an uncertain future
Mar. 9, 2024, 5:30 PM ET (AP)
Stratolaunch conducts first powered flight of new hypersonic vehicle off California coast
Mar. 6, 2024, 8:24 PM ET (AP)
Gov. Gavin Newsom's campaign donor says his Panera Bread restaurants will follow minimum wage law
Mar. 6, 2024, 7:31 PM ET (AP)
Republican Garvey will target independents, soft Democrats, in bid against Schiff for Senate seat
California, constituent state of the United States of America. It was admitted as the 31st state of the union on September 9, 1850, and by the early 1960s it was the most populous U.S. state. No version of the origin of California’s name has been fully accepted, but there is wide support for the contention that it derived from an early 16th-century Spanish novel, Las sergas de Esplandián (“The Adventures of Esplandián”), that described a paradisiacal island full of gold and precious stones called California. The influence of the Spanish settlers of the 18th and 19th centuries is evident in ...(100 of 10123 words)