California QUICK FACTS Name California comes from the name of Queen Califia a character in the Spanish romance novel Las Sergas de Esplandián The Adventures of Esplandián published in 1510 The queen ruled over a golden paradise State Capital Sacramento population 485,199 Date of Statehood September 9 1850 31st state Population 38,802,500 1st-most populous state Area Total Land and Water 163,695 square miles 423,968 sq km 3rd-largest state Largest City Los Angeles population 3,928,864 Nickname The Golden State Motto Eureka I have found it State Animal California Grizzly Bear State Bird California Valley Quail 6 CALIFORNIA
the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA California Poppy State Flower California Poppy State Rock Serpentine State Tree California Redwood State Song I Love You California Serpentine Redwood Trees Mount Whitney Highest Point Mount Whitney 14,505 feet 4,421 m Lowest Point Badwater Basin in Death Valley 282 feet 86 m below sea level lowest point in North America Average July High Temperature 90 F 32 C Record High Temperature 134 F 57 C in Death Valley on July 10 1913 Average January Low Temperature 35 F 2 C Record Low Temperature 45 F 43 C in Boca on January 20 1937 Average Annual Precipitation 23 inches 58 cm Number of U S Senators 2 Richard Nixon Number of U S Representatives 53 U S Presidents Born in California Richard Nixon 1913-1994 37th president U S Postal Service Abbreviation CA QUICK FACTS 7
California GEOGRAPHY California is on the West Coast of the United States bordering the Pacific Ocean It measures 163,695 square miles 423,968 sq km in area It is nearly 800 miles 1,287 km long from north to south It averages 250 miles 402 km wide from east to west California’s long beach-filled coastline includes large bays They make safe harbors for ships The Central Valley is a large flat plain in the middle of California It is one of the most productive places in the world for growing fruits and vegetables More than 230 kinds of crops are grown in its fertile soil California’s beach-filled coastline has many safe bays and harbors for ships 8 CALIFORNIA
the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA OREGON IDAHO CALIFORNIA 80 HSacramento San Francisco MOJAVE DESERT Los Angeles San Diego MEXICO California’s total land and water area is 163,695 square miles 423,968 sq km It is the third-largest state in the country behind only Alaska and Texas The state capital is Sacramento GEOGRAPHY 9
