California: Facts and Figures

Area, 158,693 sq mi (411,015 sq km). Pop. (2020) 39,528,223 a 6.1% increase since the 2010 census. As of the 2020 census, the state's population was: White alone, 71.9%; Black alone, 6.5%; Hispanic or Latino, 39.4%; American Indian and Alaska native alone, 1.6%; Asian alone, 15.5%; Two or More Races, 4%. Capital, Sacramento. Largest city, Los Angeles. Statehood, Sept. 9, 1850 (31st state). Highest pt., Mt. Whitney, 14,491 ft (4,417 m); lowest pt., Death Valley, 282 ft (86 m) below sea level. Nickname, Golden State. Motto, Eureka [I Have Found It]. State bird, California valley quail. State flower, California poppy. State tree, California redwood. Abbr., Calif.; CA

Sections in this article:

• Introduction
• Growing Pains and Natural Disasters
• Industrialization and Increased Settlement
• Statehood and Immigration
• The Gold Rush
• Russian and U.S. Settlement
• European Exploration and Colonization
• Government, Politics, and Higher Education
• Economy
• Geography
• Facts and Figures

The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2024, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.

See more Encyclopedia articles on: U.S. Political Geography