50 Interesting & Fun Facts About California State to Discover

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California is a big, beautiful place, and it is unique in that it has everything from national parks to big cities. With so much to explore, there is a lot of history and fun facts you probably don't know about the state. So what is California known for?

California, also known as the Golden State, became the 31st US state after the United States acquired the land from Mexico. Most of California's population growth is attributed to the Gold Rush and the migration from the Dust Bowl.

California also produces a large number of raisins and avocados. But, it still has some massive cities where hundreds of thousands and even millions of people live. Today, you can visit the first Disney theme park, catch one of the 21 professional sports teams, or visit a ghost town.

Read on for even more interesting and fun facts about California state and the places and people who live here. These 50 facts cover the state's history and agriculture, and there are even some facts that are just weird!

• 50 California facts

50 California State Facts

Fun Facts for California

First up, here are some fun facts of California!

The name California comes from a novel

The 1510 book "Las Sergas de Esplandián" by Garci Rodriguez is about warriors living on the island of California. The book was popular among the Spanish explorers, so they named the land they explored after the one in the book.

The state capital of Sacramento is only the sixth largest city

Sacramento has a population of 525,041 people, which is much less than the biggest cities in the state. The five cities larger by population than the state capital, Sacramento, are Los Angeles, San Diego, San Jose, San Francisco, and Fresno.

When measuring land area, California is the third largest state

California covers a total area of 163,695 square miles. It covers 155,779 square miles of land. It is significantly smaller than the largest state, Alaska, with 665,384 square miles. The second largest is the 268,596 square mile state of Texas.

California has the most major league sports team of any state

There are 21 professional sports teams in the state. There are five MLB teams, four NBA teams, three NFL teams, three NHL teams, three MLS teams, two NWSL teams, and one WNBA team.

California has more US National Parks than any other state

California is home to nine national parks, one more than Alaska, which has the second most parks. A few of the national parks in California include Channel Islands National Park, Joshua Tree National Park, Pinnacles National Park, and much more.

The most famous park, Yosemite, is a globally recognized landmark. The park stands out for its lush valley surrounded by mountains and the well-known Yosemite Falls, which is 2,425 feet tall.

San Bernardino County is the largest in the country

It is not the most populated, but it is the biggest, covering 20,160 square miles. The county is larger than Switzerland, and more than two million people live here.

California has hosted the winter and summer Olympics

It is the only US state to have held both games. The 1932 Summer Olympics were held in Los Angeles. Then they hosted the games again in 1984. The 1960 Winter Olympics were also in California in Squaw Valley. Los Angeles is also set to host the 2028 Summer Olympics.

Disneyland Anaheim was the first Disney Park to open in the world

Disneyland in Anaheim opened on July 17, 1955, and Walt Disney supervised the design and construction of the park. Anaheim park is the only Disneyland park Walt Disney helped create. Walt Disney was inspired to build it when Disney lovers wanted to visit the movie studios.

The largest tree by volume in the world is in California

There is a giant sequoia tree in Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Park. It's called the General Sherman Tree, and it is 274 feet tall and has a circumference of 102 feet. While this is not the tallest, it is the widest. And if you calculate the volume of the tree, it is the largest known tree in the world.

A 380-foot-tall Redwood tree in California is the tallest in the world

Even taller than General Sherman is the Hyperion, which is a 380-foot-tall Redwood tree. The tree is in Redwood National Park, and it is the tallest in the world.

The Hyperion is a famous landmark in California. The national park that it resides within, Redwood National Park, is equally renowned for its hikes and trails through lush forest. Unfortunately, Hyperion's life is at risk due to all the tourism in the forest surrounding it.

The largest economy of any state in the US is California's

The high economic production comes from various industries and places, including technology, entertainment, and agriculture. In 2022, California had a gross domestic product (GDP) of over $3 trillion, which made up about 15% of the United States GDP.

Many inventions come from California

Some of the most popular items include Barbie, Nicotine Patches, and the Hula Hoop. Others include the Shirley Temple drink, the Orange Julius, and the WD-40 spray.

Interesting Facts About California

Now it's time for some interesting California facts.

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There are cable cars in San Francisco dating back to the 1870s

The cars were one of the biggest inventions in transportation history. The cars were designated a National Historic Landmark in 1964, and they still run today as one of the most popular attractions in the hilly city of San Francisco.

The grizzly bear is the official animal of California

However, there are actually no wild grizzly bears living in California. They used to be a prominent part of the state's wildlife, with more bears than anywhere else in the US. But, they were all hunted down and killed off following the Gold Rush, and the last one was killed in 1922.

Kings Canyon National Park has the largest grove of sequoia trees in the world

The grove is in the Redwood Canyon park section. The other part of the park is Grant Grove, where General Grant, the largest tree in the world, is.

The Mojave Desert in CA is the smallest desert in North America

The desert covers 25,000 square miles in California, Nevada, Arizona, and Utah. It is the largest desert in California despite being the smallest on the continent.

California is over 170 years old

It became the 31st state in the United States in 1850. However, the United States acquired the land from Mexico in 1848, so it is sometimes considered to be two years older.

California's State Water Project runs for more than 705 miles through the state

It covers over two-thirds of the state, running from Oroville in the Central Valley south to Southern California near Los Angeles. It brings clean water to people, businesses, and farms in the state.

Silicon Valley is the world's technology headquarters

The area is in San Jose and the surrounding area south of San Francisco Bay. It is home to many of the biggest tech companies in the world, like Apple, Google, Netflix, Intel, Oracle, and Meta. The name, given to the area in the 1970s, comes from the silicon chips used in a lot of technology.

The population of California is over 39 million people

Two cities in the state have millions of people living in them. Los Angeles has 3.8 million people, and San Diego has 1.3 million. Los Angeles county has 9.9 million people. San Diego county has 3.3 million people, making them the largest county. Orange County is the third largest, with 3.1 million people.

California has a diverse population

The state does not have a majority ethnic group. The most prominent group is Latinos, who make up 39% of the state's population. Whites are a close second at 35%, and Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders are the third largest ethnic group making up 15% of California's population.

California has some of the highest costs of living

It is one of the top three highest costs of living states after Hawaii and Washington, DC. The average cost of living in California is $46,636 per year. That number includes housing, health care, food, gas, energy, and other personal expenses.

Many famous foods were created in California

Some of the delicious foods made in California include the Egg McMuffin, California Rolls, and Cobb Salad. The French Dip Sandwich was made in Los Angeles.

Funny Facts About California

California is big, so there are even some funny and amazing facts about California to learn.

The state slogan of California is "Eureka"

The Greek word meaning "I found it" was used often during the Gold Rush by miners. The term was coined by Archimedes, who figured out how to determine the purity of gold, so it was fitting to use it during the Gold Rush. The word was added to the state seal in 1849. Then it became the official motto of the state in 1963.

California has "watermelon snow" in the Sierra Nevada Mountains

When the snow builds up on the mountains, usually in the summer, it looks pink and reddish. If you step in the snow or get it on your clothes, it might stain them. Some people even report smelling watermelon when they are in the snow.

Fresno is often called the "Raisin Capital of the World"

All the raisins produced within the United States are within a 60-mile radius of Fresco. The value of raisin industry here is valued at 232 million dollars. Fresno is perfect for producing raisins because the climate here grows good grapes for drying.

California is called the avocado capital of the world

California grows 90% of the avocados grown in the United States. The state produced 135,500 tons of avocados in 2021. The only other two states that grow avocados are Hawaii and Florida.

California produces the most almonds in the United States

California produces many types of nuts, including walnuts, pistachios, and pecans, but the most popular is the almond. Eight out of ten almonds eaten around the world are grown in California. A close second is walnuts, of which California produces 99% of the US's commercial walnuts and 75% of the world's.

Weird Facts About California

Ready for some weird California facts and history? Read on for more information!

The Golden Gate Bridge was not supposed to be red

It was supposed to be painted with bright blue and yellow stripes to be visible. But, the red primer caught the architect's eye, and he decided to keep it as the final color.

The color is not called golden, as the name suggests, but International Orange. The Golden Gate bridge is also one of the most famous landmarks in North America.

For less than one month in 1846, California was the Independent California Republic

After the Bear Flag Revolt, the American settlers in California created the Independent California Republic, which lasted for 25 days starting on June 14, 1846. The United States took over the territory and ended the republic.

Death Valley has the lowest point in North America

The Badwater Basin, part of the valley, is the lowest point in the park at 282 feet below sea level. The ground at this point in the valley is covered in a layer of salt that looks like snow. The salt build-up comes from rainwater which leaves behind the salt when it evaporates.

There are animals that only live in California

The animals include the tule elk, the California clapper rail bird, the San Francisco garter snake, the California newt, and the golden trout.

These animals live in the state because they found a good environment to survive in and have not expanded elsewhere. We as humans have also not transported them elsewhere.

The highest and lowest points are within 100 miles of each other

Mount Whitney and Death Valley are just 85 miles from each other in Inyo County, California. The 85 miles is the crows' distance, meaning straight between the two points. But, the actual distance to walk between them is 135 miles. Some of the world's best athletes and hikers race the route called the Badwater 135.

History Facts About California

With such a detailed past, there are a lot of historical facts about California, too.

Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo went on the first European expedition to the West Coast

Cabrillo left Mexico and landed in what is now San Diego. He continued exploring up the coast to present-day Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, and so on until he died along the expedition. His crew made it as far as Oregon. The Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo National Monument, a famous landmark in San Diego, honors Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo and his crew.

The Bear Flag Revolt is how California came under the control of American settlers

The revolt started when American settlers and the Mexican people who initially controlled the territory started fighting over the land. In June 1846, the American settlers made their own flag with a bear on it, and their side of the revolt became known as the Bears.

More than 300,000 people came to the Sacramento area during the California Gold Rush

Although digging for gold was difficult, the people here found more than two billion dollars worth of gold during the Rush. When the period ended, the territory's population had tripled, and settlers outnumbered the Native Americans by 2:1.

California was divided during the Civil War

It was divided similarly to how the US was divided, with the north and south on opposite sides. Northern California was pro-Union and wanted to abolish slavery. The south of the state was pro-secession and wanted to leave the US.

The largest mass migration in the US brought 200,000 people to California

The Dust Bowl in the 1930s caused millions of people to migrate out of the middle of the United States. Around 200,000 of these people moved to California by 1940. The native Californians were not welcoming of these people, and the migrants had difficulty settling in their new homes.

Cool Facts About California

There are also a lot of cool California facts to discover.

California's nickname is the "Golden State"

It was designated the official nickname in 1968. Part of the name comes from the Gold Rush and the Golden Gate, which is the nickname for the Gold Gate Bridge, which marks the entrance of San Francisco Bay from the Pacific Ocean. It is also the nickname because of all the opportunities that California has to offer, which is why many people live and move here.

Redwood National Park has the tallest trees on Earth

The Redwood trees grow to be more than 380 feet tall and have lived in California for millions of years. They are as old as the dinosaurs, but humans are putting them at risk by developing the land they grow on.

Sequoia National Park is the second oldest US national park

The park opened on September 25, 1890. The state created the park to protect the area's trees, some of the biggest in the world. The park is home to the General Grant Tree, the Nation's official Christmas Tree, established in 1926.

Yosemite National Park has one of the tallest waterfalls in the world

Yosemite Falls is 2,425 feet tall, putting it in the top 20 tallest waterfalls in the world. Three smaller waterfalls make up the bigger falls. It is broken up into Upper Yosemite Fall, Lower Yosemite Fall, and the middle cascades.

Scary Facts About California

Next up are some scary fun facts on California.

Bodie is the official ghost town of California

The town thrived during the Gold Rush, but it was abandoned once all the gold was gone at the end of the 19th century. It was named a National Historic Site in 1962. Then, in 2002 it was designated as the official state Gold Rush ghost town.

Death Valley National Park is one of the hottest places on Earth

The hottest temperature recorded at the park was 134 degrees Fahrenheit in July 1913. There have been other hotter record temperatures since then, but Death Valley continues to have some of the hottest temperatures ever experienced on Earth.

California experiences over 175,000 earthquakes every year

There is an earthquake in California every three minutes. But nearly all of them are so weak that we do not even notice them. Only a few each year are big enough to be seen, and the rest are too small but still occurring.

California's biggest earthquake had a magnitude of 7.2

The earthquake happened on January 9, 1857, in Fort Tejon. It left two dead and left a 220-mile surface scar behind.

Random Facts About California

Finally, this article will end with some random facts about California.

The largest natural outdoor amphitheater is The Hollywood Bowl

The amphitheater holds 17,500 people, and it opened more than a century ago on July 11, 1922. It hosts many outdoor shows, including ballet, classical music, jazz, opera, fireworks, and salsa dancing. There is also a museum, kids' festivals, and many concessions. The amphitheater is one of the many famous landmarks in Los Angeles.

Clear Lake is California's largest natural lake

It is a freshwater lake that covers 68 square miles. Native Americans settled in the lake area an estimated 12,000 years ago. Many animals live around the lake, with a vast population of bass, bluegill, carp, catfish, and crappie fish. Two-thirds of the fish caught in the lake are bass, and many fishing tournaments are held at Clear Lake.

The California state flag has a grizzly bear on it that symbolizes strength

It was first flown in 1846 when the state declared itself as the California Republic, which is also typed on the flag. It was flown for less than a month, and it wasn't until 1911 that it became the official state flag.

The highest point in the lower 48 states is in California at Mount Whitney

The peak of the mountain is 14,494 feet high. It was named after Josiah Dwight Whitney, who was a geologist. The first successful attempt to climb the mountain was in 1873 by three men who discovered the mountain's tablelike slope.

Conclusion

California has a lot of history, which is exemplified in its state flag and nickname. The land and the massive Redwood trees that live in the state also date back to the age of the dinosaurs. These were just a couple of the interesting facts on California included above. Hopefully, this article helped sharpen your California trivia skills!

This article was edited by Henry Grahame.

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