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California Portal This article is about the U.S. califorina State. For other uses, see California (disambiguation). State of California Flag of California Seal of California Nickname(s): The Golden State Motto(s): Eureka Official language(s) English Capital Sacramento Largest city Los Angeles Area  Ranked 3rd  - Total 158,302 sq mi (410,000 californi km²)  - Width 250 miles (400 km)  - Length 770 miles (1,240 km)  - % californie califoria water 4.7  - Latitude 32°30'N to 42°N  - Longitude 114°8'W to califronia 124°24'W Population  Ranked 1st  - Total (2000) 33,871,648  - Density 217.2/sq mi  83.85/km² (12th)  - Median claifornia income  $49,894 (13th) Elevation    - Highest point Mount Whitney 14,505 ft  californai (4421 m)  - Mean 2,900 ft  (884 m)  - Lowest point Badwater -282 ft  (-86 m) Admission to Union  September 9, 1850 (31st) Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) U.S. Senators Dianne Feinstein alifornia (D) Barbara Boxer (D) Time zone Pacific: UTC-8/-7 Abbreviations CA Calif. US-CA Web site www.ca.gov California is californua a state spanning the southern half of californis the west coast of the contiguous United States. With a population of 37 million clifornia and an area of 158,402 square miles caifornia (410,000 km²), California is the largest U.S. state in population and the third largest in cakifornia area. The region was inhabited by Native califirnia Americans before European explorers started to make sporadic visitations during the 16th century. California had the highest califrnia density and greatest diversity of indigenous peoples in what is now the United States. Spain colonized the cailfornia coastal areas of the territory starting in 1769. As calirornia a result of the Mexican War of Independence, California became califfornia a part of the Mexican Republic in 1821. It was captured by the ccalifornia United States in the Mexican-American War (1846-1848) which was concluded with the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. The calufornia California Gold Rush of califonria 1848-1849 brought about 90,000 additional U.S. immigrants into the state, and iformation on california California became the 31st state of the Union in 1850. Although the state's sunny climate has given it a historic reputation for being southern california avg. rainfall laid back compared to the East Coast, the $1.55 trillion (as kalifornia of 2005) California economy cali is larger than all but the top 7 national economies in the world [1] and is responsible for 13% of the dani california United States' $12 trillion california gross domestic product (GDP). The state's major predominant industries include agriculture, entertainment, light manufacturing, and tourism. California hotel california is also the home of several significant economic regions such as Hollywood (entertainment), the California california fires Central california lottery Valley (agriculture), Silicon Valley (computers and high tech), and the Wine Country (wine). Contents 1 Name 2 Geography 2.1 Climate 2.2 Ecology 2.3 National map of california california map Parks and Monuments 3 History 4 Demographics 4.1 Population 4.2 Racial state of california and ancestral california girls makeup 4.3 Languages 4.4 Religion 5 Economy 6 Transportation 7 Law central coast california real estate three rivers california real estate and government 7.1 Ballot qualified california mls political parties 8 Important cities and towns 8.1 25 california houses featured wealthiest places in California 8.2 30 poorest places in folsom california real estate California 9 Education 10 Professional sports teams 10.1 Major league teams 11 See california real estate also 12 References 13 External links Name Main article: Origin of the name California California originally referred to the entire region danny california composed of the Mexican peninsula now known as Baja California and land in the current U.S. state of California. The california real estate ray and peggy states of Nevada, Utah, Arizona, and Wyoming, were california dreaming claimed by Spain and Mexico california closets but were almost totally undeveloped, with about 100 settlers in Arizona. The name California is most commonly believed california secretary of state derived from a storied paradise peopled california department of motor vehicles by black Amazons and ruled by Queen Califia. The myth of Califia is recorded in a 1510 work The Exploits hotel california eagles of Esplandian, written as a sequel to Amadís de hollister california ray and peggy pierce Gaula by Spanish adventure writer García Ordonez Rodriguez de Montalvo.[1] The kingdom of Queen Califia, according to Montalvo, was said to be a remote land inhabited by griffons truckee california and other strange beasts and rich california highway patrol in gold. Know ye that at the right hand of the red hot chilli peppers dani california Indies there is an island named California, very close to southern california edison that part of the terrestrial Paradise, which was inhabited by black women, without a single modular homes in california man among them, and that they lived in the manner of Amazons. They were robust university of southern california of body, with strong and passionate hearts and great virtues. The island itself is one california state fair of the wildest in the eagles hotel california world on account of the bold and craggy rocks. Their weapons were all made of gold. The island california lotto everywhere abounds with gold and precious stones, and upon it no other california pizza kitchen metal was found.[2] It is orangevale california thought that the myth of Califia later helped fuel Spanish exploration in the New World. Others suggest the orangevale california realtor word California may come from the early Spanish explorers who entered California orangevale california homes via the hot southern regions and referred to California real estate stockton california as being "hot as an oven" or california reverse mortgage a "lime oven" ("cali > hot", "fornus->forno > oven" + ending "ia" for a place; or with "cal > lime"). It may be disneyland california derived from caliente fornalia, Spanish for hot furnace, or it california state parks may come from calida fornax, Latin for hotel california mp3 hot climate. Geography A Wikipedian has nominated this california reverse mortgage broker agreement article to be checked for its neutrality. Discussion california department of corrections of this nomination can be found on the talk page. Main article: tulare california real estate Geography of California California California borders the Pacific Ocean, Oregon, Nevada, Arizona, and the Mexican real estate in visalia california state of Baja California. california and senior homeowners The state has many natural features, including an expansive central valley, tall mountains, arid deserts, and hundreds sacramento california real estate of miles of scenic coastline. With an area of 160,000 square miles (411,000 km²) it is california dreamin the third largest state in the U.S and is larger mendocino california real estate than Germany in size. Most major cities are at or near dani california lyrics the Pacific coastline, notably Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Jose, california super lotto Long Beach, Oakland, Santa Ana/Orange County, Riverside/Moreno home for sale visalia california Valley, San Bernardino and San Diego. However, the capital, Sacramento, california department of real estate is in the Central Valley. The geographic center of the state is located in North Fork, California. California's geography gualala california real estate is rich, complex, and varied. In the middle of the state lies the university of california California Central Valley, a huge, fertile valley bounded california department of education by the coastal mountain ranges in the west, the granite Sierra Nevada to the east, california gold rush the volcanic Cascade Range in the north and the Tehachapi Mountains in the south. Mountain-fed rivers, dams, and california home loans services canals provide water to irrigate the Central Valley. The water supply california state map for much of the state california wildfires is provided by the State Water Project. The Central Valley Project california health insurance supports some municipal water supplies, though it primarily provides water to irrigated agriculture. With dredging, several rivers california health insurance plans have become sufficiently large and map of cities in california deep that several inland cities (notably Stockton and Sacramento) are seaports. The hot, fertile Central Valley is california bar association California's agricultural heartland and grows a large portion of danni california America's food, yet near freezing temperatures are not uncommon during winter which sometimes wipe out portions of crops. elk grove california real estate The southern part of the valley, which is part desert, is known as the San california spiders Joaquin Valley (drained blue cross of california by the San Joaquin River), while the northern half is known as the Sacramento Valley (drained by full state map of california the Sacramento River). The Sacramento-San Joaquin Bay Delta is a major estuary that health insurance california supports a brackish ecosystem while serving as the water supply hub california department of insurance for much of the state's population. The Channel Islands are northern california real estate located in the southern part of the state, stretching california penal code from Santa Barbara to Orange County. These islands have few inhabitants, but the northernmost islands are a national park. They real estate dublin california and the largest island, Santa Catalina Island are california speedway attractive to visitors. In the center and california state bar east of the state are the Sierra Nevada (meaning Snowy Range in california state university Spanish), which include the highest peak in the contiguous 48 states, Mount Whitney, active fires in california at 14,505 feet (4421 m). Also located in the Sierra are california counties the world-famous Yosemite National Park and a deep freshwater lake, Lake Tahoe, the largest lake in the state by volume. To the refinance your california home mortgage east of the Sierra are Owens Valley and Mono Lake, an essential long beach california accident seabird habitat. To the west is Clear Lake, California's union bank of california largest freshwater lake by area. bank of america online banking california The Sierra Nevada reaches arctic temperatures in the winter and has several dozen small glaciers, including the most southern glacier in the US(Palisade california real estate professionals Glacier). About 35% real estate martinez california of the state's total surface area is covered by forests. California's diversity of pine species is unmatched by any northern california real estate agents other state. Though other states have california state lottery a higher percentage of their land area covered by forests, in terms of total area, California california residential real estate contains more forestland than any other state except Alaska. Most of the forest is california health insurance quotes found in 2 areas: the california state flag northwestern part of the state and along the western slope of the Sierra Nevada. Smaller forests, mainly consisting of oaks, can be california wildcats found along the coast ranges of California closer to the coast, and california medical insurance also in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada. Smaller areas southern california fires of pine the eagles hotel california forests can be found in the San Gabriel and San Bernardino mountains of Southern California and also in california maps the mountain areas of central San Diego walnut creek california real estate County. Deserts in California make up about 25% of the total surface area. In the south lay the Transverse Ranges and california state personnel board a large salt lake, the Salton Sea. The lake tahoe california real estate south-central desert is called the Mojave. To the northeast of the palm springs california real estate Mojave lies Death Valley, which contains the lowest, hottest point in North America, san francisco california real estate Badwater Flat. The lowest point of Death Valley and california babes the peak of Mount Whitney are less than 200 phantom planet california miles apart. Indeed, almost all of southeastern California is arid, hot desert, with the Coachella Valley and Imperial Valley routinely experiencing extreme high temperatures los angeles california real estate during the summer. These large deserts sell real estate california kept travel between California and Mexico to a bare minimum during the colonial period. The Coachella Valley ventura california real estate in Riverside County is famous for its popular california real estate loan tourist destination Palm Springs, California. Other Coachella Valley communities include Bermuda Dunes, Desert northern california Hot Springs, Indian Wells, sacramento california mls Palm Desert, La Quinta, Rancho Mirage, Indio, Coachella and Cathedral City. Along the densely populated and long California coast are several major business for sale in california metropolitan areas, including San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, Los Angeles-Long Beach, Santa Ana-Irvine-Anaheim, Riverside-San california boat shows Bernardino, California and San Diego. Climates near the Pacific Ocean are remarkably moderate compared with menifee california real estate inland climates. Winter temperatures seldom reach freezing and real estate agents california summer temperatures rarely reach above the high 80's Fahrenheit roseville california real estate (low 30's Celsius). California is famous for earthquakes california medical board due to the presence of a number of faults, in particular the San Andreas Fault. While powerful earthquakes in the california business broker United States have occurred in other states such as Alaska, temecula california real estate Washington, Oregon, and Missouri (along the New Madrid fault), people are more aware of California's earthquakes california colleges due to their frequency and tendency to strike in highly populated areas. California is california death records also home livermore california real estate to several volcanoes, some active such as Mammoth Mountain. Other volcanoes include Lassen Peak, which erupted from corona california real estate 1914 and 1921, and Mount Shasta. California state insignia Common california naplex exam to nearly all states Motto Eureka! (I've found it!) Slogan Find Yourself Here Bird California Quail Animal California grizzly bear; marine - Gray Whale Fish Golden Trout; marine california real estate loans - Garibaldi Insect California dogface butterfly Flower California Poppy Tree California Redwood Song "I Love You, California" Quarter 2005 Less common Butterfly California dogface carlsbad california real estate butterfly Grass Purple Needlegrass Reptile Desert Tortoise Wildflower California Poppy Beverage Wine Colors Blue & real estate los angeles california Gold Dance West Coast Swing; folk - Square dance Fossil Saber-toothed cat Gemstone Benitoite Mineral Gold Rock Serpentine Soil San Joaquin soil Tartan California State Tartan Climate Different regions of California have very different california zip codes climates, varying from subtropic to subarctic depending on their latitude, elevation, and murrieta california real estate proximity to the coast. Most of the state has a Mediterranean dani california red hot chilli peppers climate, with rainy winters and dry summers. el dorado hills california realestate The influence of the ocean generally moderates temperature extremes, creating warmer orange county california homes winters and substantially cooler summers. The cool California Current offshore, enhanced rancho cordova california real estate by upwelling of cold sub-surface waters, often creates summer fog near the coast. Further inland, the climate orange county california mls becomes more continental with colder winters and markedly ventura california realestate hotter summers. The temperature gradient between immediate coast and low-lying inland hotel california lyrics valleys in the north is about 7 °F (4 °C) in oceanside california real estate winter (the coast being warmer) and in summer roughly 25 °F (14 °C) retirement homes california (the interior being warmer). In the south, the figures are approximately 4 °F and 23 °F (2 °C and bad credit home loans california refinance mortgage loan new 13 °C), respectively; however 4 °F and 35 °F (2 °C and 20 california attorney general °C) between Santa Barbara california california and Death Valley. Westerly winds from the ocean also bring moisture, and the northern parts of the coldwell banker northern california state generally receive higher annual rainfall amounts than the south. California's mountain refinance in california ranges influence the climate as well: moisture-laden real estate alamo california air from the west cools as it ascends the mountains, dropping moisture; california second mortgages some of the rainiest parts of the state are home loan mortgage rate california west-facing mountain slopes. Northwestern California has a temperate climate with rainfall of 15–50 inches (400–1270 mm) real estate agent in california per year. Some areas of Coast Redwood forest receive over 100 inches of precipitation per year (2540 mm). The Central long beach california Valley has a Mediterranean climate but real estate northern california with greater temperature extremes than the coastal baja california areas: parts of the valley are often filled with thick fog, similar to that found in the coastal valleys. The high california cities mountains, including the Sierra Nevada, have a mountain climate with real estate walnut creek california snow in winter and mild to moderate heat in summer. On the east better business bureau california side of the mountains is a drier rain shadow. California's desert climate regions lie east vacaville california real estate of the high Sierra Nevada and Southern California's Transverse california city real estate Ranges and Peninsular Ranges. The flower preservation california low deserts east of the southern California mountains, including the Imperial and Coachella valleys and the lower Colorado River, are part home makeover northern california of the Sonoran Desert, with hot summers and nearly frostless mild california lottery results winters; the higher california state facts elevation deserts of eastern California, including the Mojave Desert, Owens Valley, and the Modoc Plateau, are part of the Great Basin vallejo california real estate region, with hot summers and cold winters. During the summer pleasant hill california real estate months, especially from July through early September, the region is affected by eureka california the Mexican Monsoon (also called the fresno california real estate "southwest monsoon"), which drives moisture from the tropical Pacific, Gulf of California, and/or Gulf of Mexico into the deserts, setting off brief, wedding flowers california but often torrential thunderstorms, particularly california central valley homes over mountainous terrain. In the northern portion of the Mojave Desert on the east side of california franchise tax board the state is Death Valley, which is the california real estate agent hottest spot on the Western Hemisphere. It is common in the summer for temperatures in the southern california home for sale valley to reach 120 °F (49 °C). The highest temperature in the Western Hemisphere, 134 °F california newspapers (56.6 °C), california second mortgage home loan was recorded in Death Valley on July 10, 1913. Temperatures of 130 °F (54 °C) or higher modesto california real estate have been recorded as recently as 2005. The 24-hour real estate in fresno california average July temperature in Death Valley is 101 °F (38 °C) (1961—1990 standard). Ecology Main article: Ecology of chico california California Ecologically, California is one orange county california real estate of the richest and most diverse parts of the world and includes some of the most real estate palm springs california endangered ecological communities. California's diverse geography, geology, big bear california soils and climate have generated a tremendous diversity of plant and animal life. The california home loan mortgage broker State of California is part of the Nearctic ecozone, and spans a number of terrestrial ecoregions, and is perhaps the map of southern california most california uber alles ecologically diverse state in the United States. California has a rather high percentage of endemic species. California endemics include relic species that have health plans california died out orange county california elsewhere, including the redwoods and the Catalina Ironwood (Lyonothamnus floribundus). Many other endemics originated through differentiation or adaptive radiation, whereby multiple species denair california real estate develop from a common ancestor to take home mortgage loans california advantage of diverse ecological conditions. California's great abundance of species of California lilac (Ceanothus) is second mortgage bad credit home loans california refinance an example of adaptive radiation. Many California endemics have become endangered, as urbanization, redding california logging, overgrazing, and red hot chili peppers california the introduction of exotic species have encroached on their habitat. Furthermore, California is home to the largest trees in the world, california home equity loans the Giant Sequoias. California's native grasses were perennials, which stayed california home loan mortgage rate refinance green year-round in most of the state's subclimates.[3] After European contact, these were generally affordable california health insurance replaced by invasive species of European annual grasses; and, in modern times, california mp3 California's hills turn a characteristic california real estate in carlsbad golden brown in summer. California's nickname The Golden State is in reference to carmel california the golden brown summer hillsides and not to the California Gold Rush, modular homes california as is sometimes stated.[1] National Parks and Monuments Yosemite Valley Main articles: List of areas california equity home loans in the National Park System of the United States, List of United States national parks by state, and california flag List of National Monuments of the United States. To protect and preserve the state's biological diversity, california home equity loan natural beauty, and historic heritage, the california jobs U.S. National Park System has acquired control over a california pimp huge number of places within California. Please see the lists above for more information. Some of the oldest and most northern california ranches for sale popular national parks in the United States are located in mobile homes in california California. The most prominent by far is Yosemite National Park (which protects Yosemite Valley), real estate agents in california followed closely southern california by the Kings Canyon-Sequoia National Park complex (which protects the most massive trees in the world) and california best refinance mortgage rate california home loan Redwood National Park (which protects the tallest la quinta california homesale trees in the world). Half Dome, in Yosemite, figures prominently on the reverse side of the California state quarter. History Main articles: History of California to 1899 and History of california adventure California 1900 to present The area was inhabited by more than home loan mortgage california 70 distinct groups of Native Americans before European contact. On September 28, 1542, Juan oakland california real estate Rodríguez Cabrillo landed in what is now San Diego Bay claiming it 2pac california love for Spain. Spanish traders made sporadic visits california rest in peace with the Manila Galleons as early as 1565. The British explorer Sir Francis Drake made contact in benicia california real estate 1579. Sebastián Vizcaíno explored and mapped the coast of California california labor laws in 1602. Spain colonized the territory with the 1769 expedition of Gaspar de Portolà in conjunction california lottery numbers with the creation of the system california state campgrounds of Military Districts and Spanish Missions in California between 1769 and 1823. youth basketball league in southern california California ceded from Spain and became part of Mexico resultant to the Mexican War of Independence (1810-21). During the california real estate properties outset of the Mexican-American War (1846-1848), in the town of Sonoma forty U.S. settlers revolted loands california refinance mortgage loan bad credit home and established the California Republic, an independent republic, June california boating 14, 1846. This short lived independent republic was annexed home mortgage loan california by the United States on July 9, 1846. The Mexican officials fled without a fight. gualala, california The California Gold Rush of 1849 brought a huge population of immigrants into the area, palmdale california real estate and California became the 31st state of the United States in california businesses for sale 1850. The entire realtors in sacramento california region originally known as California was composed of the Mexican peninsula now known as Baja timber cove california California and much of the land in the current california health insurance quote states of California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona and Wyoming, known as Alta California. In these early times, the boundaries of the Sea california luxury homes of Cortez and the Pacific coast modular homes in northern california were only partially explored and California was shown on early maps as an island. The name real estate in california comes from Las sergas de san clemente california real estate Esplandián (Adventures of Splandian), a 16th century novel, by Garci Rodríguez de spreckels california Montalvo, where there is an island paradise called California. (For further discussion, see: Origin california department of forestry of the name California.) Pre-European California was one of the most culturally and linguistically diverse areas in Native northern America. Large, settled california fire populations lived california refinance mortgage loan bad credit home loans on the West Coast and hunted sea mammals, fished for salmon, and gathered shellfish, while more mobile hunters and california state bird gathering groups in the California interior hunted terrestrial game and gathered nuts, acorns, and berries. California california state government groups also were diverse in their political organization with going to california bands, tribes, tribelets, and on northern california modular homes the resource-rich coasts large chiefdoms, such as the Chumash, Pomo and Salinan. Trade, southern california mold inspection testing intermarriage, and military alliances fostered many social and economic relationships among affordable health insurance california the diverse groups. Except for the Mojave Indians living along the Colorado River no California Indians grew any domesticated beachfront property northern california crops. The first European to explore parts of the california fiery bearded dragons coast was the Portuguese João Rodrigues Cabrilho in 1542 working for the Spanish Hernan Cortes. The california homes for lease first to explore the cheap california ranch for sale entire coast and claim possession of it was the English man condo san diego california Francis Drake in 1579. Beginning in 1769, Spanish missionaries set up California Missions along the California coast. In addition four small towns fabricated homes california or presidos were set hanford california houses up. Upon Mexican independence from Spain, the chain of missions became the property of the Mexican government, and lease homes in california were quickly dissolved and abandoned in 1832. Friends of the Mexican government officials lease purchase homes in california got most of the livestock and property. The total Spanish speaking population in lien sale redlands california California in 1846, mendocino california rental houses when the U.S. took over, was about 4000. Many of California's major cities were settled by new homes in hanford california non-Spanish immigrants around these missions and presidios. They preserved only their religious names (Los Angeles for point arena california real estate the Virgin Mary. San Francisco for St. Francis of Assisi, San Jose for St. prefab homes southern california Joseph of Nazareth and San Diego for property humbolt county california St. Didacus). For a quarter century after the achievement of Mexican independence in 1821, California was a remote real estate timber cove california northern province of the nation of Mexico. Cattle and horses introduced ventura california rental into California in the wholesale manufactored homes california 1770's doubled in population with minimal care about every five years. Cattle wholesale properties in california ranches, or ranchos, emerged as the dominant institutions of Mexican California. Beginning in the 1820s, trappers auburn california and settlers from the United States and Canada began maps of california to arrive, harbingers of the great changes that would sweep California. These blue shield of california new arrivals used the Siskiyou Trail, California Trail, and Old Spanish Trail to cross the rugged mountains and california refinance mortgage loan home improvement loans harsh deserts surrounding California. In this group affordable health insurance california period, some nobles of Imperial Russia made brief attempts to explore and claim parts of health insurance plans in california California, particularly at Fort Ross, but these were limited by a southern california gas company lack of Imperial interest. California was poorly settled until modern public virtual office california health eliminated the endemic outbreaks of yellow fever, malaria and plague, california dreamin' caused from the area’s lack of frosts, which kills mosquitoes and fleas. In 1846, at the outset of the medical insurance california Mexican-American War (1846-1848), the California Republic was founded and the paradise california Bear Flag was flown, which featured a golden bear and a real estate in palmdale california star. The Republic came to a sudden end, however, when Commodore John boat shows california D. Sloat of the United States Navy sailed into San Francisco Bay and claimed California for the United States. california department of fish and game Following fairfield california realtor the war, the region was divided between Mexico and the United States. The Mexican portion, Baja (lower) group health insurance california California was later divided into the states of Baja California and Baja California Sur. The western part of hotel california the eagles the U.S. portion, Alta (upper) California, was to become the U.S. state rancho cucamonga california real estate of California. In 1848, the Spanish-speaking population of distant upper california boat dealers California numbered around 4,000. But after gold was discovered, the population california closet burgeoned with U.S. citizens, Europeans, and other immigrants during the great California Gold california farm loan Rush. In 1850, the state was admitted to the union fremont california real estate USA as a free state (one in which slavery was prohibited). At first, travel between la quinta california real estate the far Pacific West real estate palmdale california to the eastern population centers was time consuming and dangerous, requiring either long ocean big bear lake california voyages or difficult transcontinental passages by stagecoach and on foot. A more direct connection came in boat repair california 1869 with the completion of the first transcontinental railroad. After this rail california travel link was established, hundreds of thousands of U.S. health insurance plans california citizens came west, where new Californians were discovering that land in the state, if irrigated monterey california during the dry summer months, was extremely well suited to fruit cultivation and agriculture in general. northern california boat show Citrus was widely grown (especially in the form ramona california of oranges), and the foundation was laid for the state's prodigious agricultural production of today. During the early 20th automobile club of southern california century, california coast credit union migration to California accelerated with the completion of major transcontinental highways like the Lincoln Highway and Route 66. In the period california home improvement loans from 1900 to 1965 the population grew from fewer than california low cost health insurance one million to become the most populous state california refinance mortgage loan bad credit home loan in the Union. From 1965 to the present, the population demographic california refinance mortgage loan home equity loans home changed radically and became one of the most diverse in the world. The state is generally liberal-leaning, technologically and culturally savvy, and ohio mortgage rates california home loan mortgage refinance a world center of engineering palmdale california property businesses, the film and television industry, music industry, and as mentioned refinancing home equity loans california refinance mortgage above, U.S. agricultural production. Demographics This section appears to contradict itself. Please see discussion on the talk page. The factual california birth certificate accuracy of this article or section is disputed. Please see the relevant discussion on the talk page. Population Historical populations Census Pop. %± 1850 92,597 1860 379,994 310.4% 1870 560,247 47.4% 1880 864,694 54.3% 1890 1,213,398 40.3% 1900 1,485,053 22.4% 1910 2,377,549 60.1% 1920 3,426,861 44.1% 1930 5,677,251 65.7% 1940 6,907,387 21.7% 1950 10,586,223 53.3% 1960 15,717,204 48.5% 1970 19,953,134 27.0% 1980 23,667,902 18.6% 1990 29,760,021 25.7% 2000 33,871,648 13.8% 2006 california attorneys california home refinance rate california home loan mortgage california mortgage rates california phantom planet riverside california real estate est. 37,172,015 9.7% As of 2006, California has an estimated population of 37,172,015. California bad credit home loans mortgage refinance california is the 13th fastest-growing state (after Nevada, Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Utah, Idaho, Texas, Colorado, North Carolina, california mortgage Delaware, Virginia, and Washington State). This california refinance home mortgage home equity loan includes a natural increase since the last census of 1,557,112 people (that is 2,781,539 births minus 1,224,427 california fish and game deaths) and an increase due to net california unemployment migration of 751,419 people into the state. Immigration from outside the United States resulted in a net increase california vehicle code of 1,415,879 people, and migration within the country produced a net increase of 564,100 cheapest home loans california people, and a decrease of 21,669. California Population Density Map California is the most east bay california real estate populous state—more than 12 percent of U.S. citizens live fairfield california real estate in the state. California's population is larger than all but 33 countries. About four million more real estate east bay california people live in California than in all of Canada. California has eight sacramento california of the top 50 US cities california minimum wage in terms of population. Los Angeles is the nation's second largest city with a home equity loans california population of 3,845,541 people, followed by San Diego (8th), San Jose (10th), San Francisco (14th), Long Beach (34th), Fresno (37th), home loans company california Sacramento (38th) and Oakland mobile offices california (44th). Racial and ancestral makeup California lacks a majority ethnic group. palmdale california mls It is one of four majority-minority states. Demographics of California (csv) By race White Black AIAN Asian NHPI AIAN is realestate in sacramento california American Indian or Alaskan Native   -   NHPI is Native Hawaiian or Pacific california campgrounds Islander 2000 (total population) 79.75% 7.65% 1.99% 12.39% 0.69% 2000 (hispanic only) 30.79% 0.61% 0.85% 0.45% 0.13% 2005 (total california group health insurance population) 79.07% 7.45% 1.93% 13.47% 0.71% 2005 (hispanic california history only) 33.59% 0.67% 0.84% 0.47% 0.13% Growth 2000-2005 (total population) 5.76% 3.90% 3.58% 16.01% 10.13% Growth 2000-2005 california search engine optimization (non-hispanic only) -0.91% 2.80% 1.87% 16.18% 9.65% Growth 2000-2005 (hispanic only) 16.36% 16.48% 5.87% 11.68% 12.29% The largest home improvement loans california refinance mortgage loan named ancestries in California are Mexican (25%), Filipino, German, Irish, state bar of california california home mortgage lenders and Asiancitation needed]. Mexican Americans and Chicanos predominate in Southern California such as the Imperial Valley, the Central Valley, Salinas, and california tourism parts of the San Francisco Bay Area. Spanish and German ancestries are dominant in laguna niguel california real estate the eastern Sierra california home loan mortgage refinance Nevada, the far north, and the North Coast. San Francisco has the greatest concentration of Asian Americans in the continental United california refinance mortgage States, with Chinese Americans numerous in San Francisco, Alameda, San Mateo, and Santa Clara counties. fha home mortgage loan bad credit loan california refinance The San Francisco Bay Area has homes palmdale california a greater concentration of Cantonese-speaking Chinese. Southern California has perhaps the largest Taiwanese red hot chilli peppers california American community in the United States particularly in blue cross california San Gabriel Valley, and communities such as Cerritos, Irvine (in Orange california community colleges County), and some in the South Bay, Los Angeles Area. Filipino Americans are particularly numerous in San Mateo and Solano counties, california health insurance plan and in california home mortgage lender communities such as Baldwin Park, Covina, West Covina, and the community of Eagle lake forest california real estate Rock in Los Angeles. There are large Korean American communities in Koreatown of Los Angeles as well as mission viejo california real estate East San Gabriel Valley, Cerritos, South Bay, Los Angeles, and in North starcrest of california Orange County. South Bay, Los Angeles also has a large california health care insurance Japanese American community too. The City of Long Beach california home loan purchase has one of the largest Cambodian American communities in the United States. california muscle Westminster has one of the largest Vietnamese American communities and is often dubbed "Little Saigon". The community california parks recreation of Artesia and nearby Cerritos, as well as Fremont in california real estate school the Bay Area have a large Asian Indian/South california sales tax Asian American community. In 2000, California also had the largest number of Bulgarian Americans than any other U.S. state, according to the california schools 2000 Census. California also has one of the largest gretchen wilson california girls numbers of Armenian Americans and Persian Americans, with mortgage broker in california estimates of up to 500,000 persons in Southern California, and 20% of Beverly Hills california code of regulations being of Persian descent.[4] Languages As of 2000, 60.5% california home loan refinance of California residents age 5 and older speak English at home and 25.8% speak california home loan refinance rate california mortgage Spanish. Chinese is the third most spoken language at 2.6%, followed by Tagalog at 2.5% california refinance home mortgage rate california home loan and Vietnamese at camping in california 1.3%. The indigenous languages of California number more than one hundred and show great diversity making California one canyon lake california real estate of the most linguistically diverse areas in the world. All of California's indigenous languages are endangered, although auto insurance california there are california bad credit mortgages now efforts toward language revitalization. Since 1986, the California Constitution has specified home equity loans california refinance mortgage loan that English is the common and official language of the state. The politics of language is a major political san ramon california real estate issue in the state, especially in tupac california love regard to language policy controlling the teaching and official use of immigrant languages. In actual practice, however, California's official-English law is california art not strictly enforced; many state, city, and local government loan home mortgage rate in california agencies continue to print official public documents in numerous languages.[5] Religion The religious affiliations of the people of California:citation needed] Christian Protestant – 40% Baptist – 8% Presbyterian – 3% Methodist – 2% Lutheran – commercial real estate southern california 2% Mormon 1% other Protestant or general Protestant – 23% Roman Catholic – 34% other Christian mortgage brokers in california – 3% Jewish – california health insurance providers 2% Muslim – 2% other Religions – 3% non-Religious – 19% The majority danville california real estate of California's Roman Catholic membership are of Filipino, Irish and Hispanic ancestry. As with california state flower many other western states, the percentage of California's population identifying themselves as "non-religious" is comparatively high in relation to the rest of home equity loans california refinance mortgage loan hime the U.S.citation needed] Economy Main article: Economy of California los angeles california The Hollywood Sign is the best-known symbol of California's huge entertainment more bounce in california industry. Silicon Valley is the center of California's orange county california home computer industry, just south of San Francisco. Vineyards are popular in ramona california real estate California as both status symbols and sources san diego california of fine wine As of 2005, California's economy is larger than all but california college grants seven national economies in the world. [2] California is responsible for 13% of california death index the United States gross domestic product (GDP), while the state population constitute only 12% of the United san diego, california States population. The gross state product (GSP) is about $1.55 trillion ($1,550,000,000,000, as of santa cruz california 2004), making it greater than that of every other U.S. state, and three rivers california most countries in the world universal studios california (by Purchasing Power Parity). California is also the home of several significant economic regions such as Hollywood (entertainment), the california small claims court California Central laguna hills california real estate Valley (agriculture), Silicon Valley (computers and high tech), and wine producing regions such as Santa Barbara and Northern California's Wine Country. The predominant industry, mortgage lender in california more than twice as large as the next, is agriculture, palm springs california (including fruit, vegetables, dairy, and rhcp dani california wine). This is followed by aerospace; entertainment, primarily television by dollar volume, although many movies are still made in California; light manufacturing, small business for sale california including computer hardware and software; california health insurance companies and the mining of borax. Per capita personal income was $33,403 as of california realtor 2003, ranking 12th in the nation. Per capita income varies widely by geographic region and profession. The carmel california real estate Central Valley has colleges in california the most extreme contrasts of income, with migrant farm workers making less health insurance quotes california than minimum wage. Recently, the San Joaquin Valley was characterized [3] as one of business broker in california the most economically depressed regions in the U.S., on par business valuation california with the region of Appalachia. Many coastal cities include some of the wealthiest buy california business per-capita areas in the U.S., notably San Francisco and Marin County. The high-technology sectors in Northern California, specifically california dental insurance Silicon Valley, in Santa Clara and San california divorce Mateo counties, are currently emerging from economic downturn caused by the dot.com california dreaming mp3 bust, which caused the loss of over 250,000 jobs in Northern California alone. Recent (Spring 2005) california edd economic data indicate that economic growth has resumed in California, although still slightly below the national annualized forecast california raisins of 3.9%. The international boom in housing prices has been sell a business california most pronounced in California, with the median property price in california forestry maps the state rising to california national guard about the half-million dollar mark in April 2005. California levies a 9.3% maximum variable california prisons rate income tax, with 6 tax brackets. It collects about 40 Billion dollars in Income california public records tax. California's minimum combined state, county and local sales and use california refinance home mortgage home equity loan pay tax is 7.25%. It collects about 28 Billion in sales tax. The rate eagles - hotel california is higher in cities and counties with special taxing districts. All real property is taxable and kaiser permanente california shall be assessed at fair market value. California collects a total of 33 Billion dollars in tooth bleaching california property tax. Any homestead exemptions are handled at the county level and residents must contact the local County Tax Assessors office to inquire. The property tax postponement program allows eligible homeowners (senior citizens and blind or disabled residents) to postpone payment of property taxes on their principal place of residence. To secure the postponed amount, a lien is recorded against the property. Interest is charged on the postponed taxes. The state offers a homeowner and renter assistance program under which a once-a-year payment is allowed to qualified individuals based on part of the property taxes assessed and paid on their homes or paid indirectly as part of their rent. See also: California unemployment statistics Transportation California's most famous bridge, the Golden Gate Bridge Caltrans builds tall "stack" interchanges with soaring ramps that offer stunning views. California's vast terrain is connected by an extensive system of freeways, expressways, and highways, all maintained by Caltrans and patrolled by the California Highway Patrol, except for the numbered expressways in Santa Clara County which were built and maintained by the county itself. The main north-south arteries are U.S. Route 101, which runs close to the coast from the state's border with Oregon to downtown Los Angeles, and Interstate 5, which runs inland from the Oregon to Mexico borders, bisecting the entire state. California is known for its car culture, and its residents typically take to the roads for their commutes, errands, and vacations, giving California's cities a reputation for severe traffic congestion. Almost all California highways are non-toll roads; however, there are a few toll roads, and most major bridges have toll plazas. The state's most famous highway bridge is the Golden Gate Bridge, though there are major bridges elsewhere at Sacramento, Los Angeles, and San Diego. As for air travel, Los Angeles International Airport and San Francisco International Airport are major hubs for trans-Pacific and transcontinental traffic. There are about a dozen important commercial airports and many more general aviation airports throughout the state's 58 counties. California also has several important seaports. The giant seaport complex formed by the Port of Los Angeles and the Port of Long Beach in Southern California is the largest in the country and responsible for handling about a fourth of all container cargo traffic in the United States. The Port of Oakland handles most of the ocean containers passing through Northern California. Intercity rail travel is provided by Amtrak. Los Angeles and San Francisco both have subway networks, in addition to light rail. San Jose, San Diego and Sacramento have only light rail, though portions of San Jose light rail serve as EL Trains. Metrolink commuter rail serves much of Southern California, and Caltrain commuter rail connects San Jose and Gilroy (commute hour only) to San Francisco. Altamont Commuter Express (ACE) connects Tracy, Livermore and other edge cities with San Jose. BART, an express rail service, connects San Francisco and Oakland to Millbrae in the southwest, Fremont in the southeast, Dublin and Pleasanton in the east, Richmond in the north, and Pittsburg in the northeast. Despite its name, it does not encompass the entire Bay Area; the North Bay and South Bay regions are not currently included in the system. San Diego has Trolley light rail and Coaster commuter rail services. Nearly all counties operate bus lines, and many cities operate their own bus lines as well. Both Greyhound and Amtrak provide intercity travel services. The rapidly growing population of the state is straining all of its transportation networks. A regularly recurring issue in California politics is whether the state should continue to aggressively expand its freeway network or concentrate on improving mass transit networks in urban areas. The California High Speed Rail Authority was created some years back by the state to implement an extensive 700 mile (1127 km) rail system. Construction is pending approval of the voters during next November's general election, in which a $9 billion state bond would have to be approved. If built, the system would provide a TGV-style high-speed link between the state's four major cities, and would allow travel between Los Angeles' Union Station and San Francisco's Transbay Terminal in two and one half hours. Law and government Main article: California government and politics The State Capitol in Sacramento, which is the home of the California State Legislature The Earl Warren Building and Courthouse in San Francisco, which is the home of the Supreme Court of California California is governed as a republic, with three branches of government: the executive branch consisting of the Governor of California and the other independently elected constitutional officers; the legislative branch consisting of the Assembly and Senate; and the judicial branch consisting of the Supreme Court of California and lower courts. The state also allows direct participation of the electorate by initiative, referendum, recall, and ratification. The Governor of California and the other state constitutional officers serve four-year terms and may be re-elected only once. The California State Legislature consists of a 40 member Senate and 80 member Assembly. Senators serve four year terms and Assembly members two. The terms of the Senators are staggered so that half the membership is elected every two years. The Senators representing the odd-numbered districts are elected in years evenly divisible by four, which corresponds to presidential election years. The Senators from the even-numbered districts are elected in the intervening even-numbered years, in the gubernatorial election cycle. California's legislature is organized in such that the party caucus leaders wield great power and can usually speak on behalf of their caucuses. Many important legislative decisions are thus not made on the floor of the legislature but in back-room deals by the "Big Five," which comprises the governor and the Democratic and Republican leaders of each chamber. Members of the Assembly are subject to term limits of 3 terms, and members of the Senate are subject to term limits of 2 terms. For the 2005–2006 session, there are 48 Democrats and 32 Republicans in the Assembly. In the Senate, there are 25 Democrats and 15 Republicans. The current governor is action film star Arnold Schwarzenegger, whose current term lasts through January 2007. Most government elected offices are not considered competitive due to extensive gerrymandering. Schwarzenegger was only the second governor in the history of the United States to be put into office by a recall of a sitting governor (the first was the 1921 recall of North Dakota Governor Lynn J. Frazier). Schwarzenegger replaced Governor Gray Davis (1999–2003), who was removed from office by the October 2003 California recall election. The state's capital is Sacramento. During California's early history under European control, the capital was successively located in Monterey (1775–1849), San Jose (1849–1851), Vallejo (1852–1853), Benicia (1853–1854), and San Francisco (1862). The capital moved to Sacramento temporarily in 1852 when construction on a State House could not be completed in time in Vallejo. The capital's final move to Sacramento was on February 25, 1854 where it has been located since, except for a four-month temporary move in 1862 to San Francisco, which was due to severe flooding in Sacramento. California's judiciary is the largest in the United States (with a total of 1,600 judges, while the state's federal system has only about 840). It is supervised by the seven Justices of the Supreme Court of California. Justices of the Supreme Court and Courts of Appeal are appointed by the Governor, but are subject to retention by the electorate every 12 years. Judges of the trial courts, the Superior Courts in each county, may be appointed by the Governor or elected directly by the voters, depending on when the vacancy occurs. Superior Court judges serve six-year terms, after which they may run for re-election. Unlike the retention elections for Supreme Court and Court of Appeal justices, Superior Court judges run for re-election in open races, in which other qualified candidates may run as challengers. Presidential elections results Year Republican Democratic 2004 44.36% 5,509,826 54.31% 6,745,485 2000 41.65% 4,567,429 53.45% 5,861,203 1996 38.21% 3,828,380 51.10% 5,119,835 1992 32.61% 3,630,574 46.01% 5,121,325 1988 51.13% 5,054,917 47.56% 4,702,233 1984 57.51% 5,467,009 41.27% 3,922,519 1980 52.69% 4,524,858 35.91% 3,083,661 1976 49.35% 3,882,244 47.57% 3,742,284 1972 55.00% 4,602,096 41.54% 3,475,847 1968 47.82% 3,467,664 44.74% 3,244,318 1964 40.79% 2,879,108 59.11% 4,171,877 1960 50.10% 3,259,722 49.55% 3,224,099 California's legal system, like all other states (except Louisiana), is explicitly based on English common law but carries a few features from Spanish civil law, such as community property. Capital punishment is a legal form of punishment and the state has the largest "Death Row" population in the country (though Texas is far more active in carrying out executions). At the national level, California is represented by two senators and 53 representatives, as of 2005. It has 55 electoral votes in the U.S. Electoral College. (Since California is the most populous state in the Union, its counts of Congressmen and Presidential Electors are also the largest.) The two U.S. Senators from California are Democrats Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer. 33 Democrats and 20 Republicans represent the state in the U.S. House of Representatives. California is considered a reliably Democratic state. Once very conservative, having elected conservatives such as Ronald Reagan as governor and William Knowland as senator, California has flipped sides in recent decades and became a Democrat voting state, having elected statewide liberals such as Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer to the Senate. The latter is known for being one of the most liberal members of the U.S. Senate and has been vibrant in left-leaning operations and progressive campaigns. Even some recent Republican politicians elected statewide, such as Governors Pete Wilson and Arnold Schwarzenegger are considered members of the more moderate wing of the national party. In general however, Californians tend to be middle of the road politically. Having been the second state to legalize abortion in the 1960s and one of the first states to legalize domestic partnerships for gay couples, California also was the first state where voters said that only marriage between a man and a woman would be recognized. Other recent initiatives passed by voters eliminated racial preferences. The voters of the state approved California Proposition 187 (1994) to prevent illegal aliens from receiving benefits or public services in the State of California (later overturned by a federal court). California's Republican dominance in the mid-20th century had to do with strong GOP support outside San Francisco, San Jose and Los Angeles; however, these counties, especially in the Bay Area, now lean strongly Democratic. This is due to a number of factors from more "left leaning" Americans moving to the California coast from the Northeast to immigrants who now have become citizens and vote mostly Democratic. The state's politics actually mirror the rest of the nation geographically. California is politically conservative inland of the coastal counties, notably the Central Valley, the Inland Empire, and most inland, eastern, and rural areas (although Orange and San Diego counties, are coastal urban areas noted for their conservatism). Liberal bastions are mostly located on the coast, including the entire San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles, and Santa Barbara (although Salinas and Imperial County are rural inland areas noted for their liberalism). The state has supported Democrats in the last four presidential elections. In 2004, Republican President George W. Bush received a majority of votes in more than half the state's 58 counties, but still lost California's 55 electoral votes to John Kerry, who won 54.3% of the popular vote, by a margin of 9 percentage points due to Kerry's overwhelming totals in the Bay Area and Los Angeles. In August 2006 Governor Schwarzenegger went against the Bush administration, in passing the strictest anti-pollution laws anywhere in the world.citation needed] Ballot qualified political parties American Independent Party: link Democratic Party: link Green Party: link Libertarian Party: link Peace and Freedom Party:link Republican Party: link See also: List of California Governors, U.S. Congressional Delegations from California, and List of California ballot propositions Important cities and towns Sacramento Los Angeles San Diego San Francisco San Jose Long Beach Oakland Anaheim The state of California has 478 cities, the majority of which are within one of the large metropolitan areas. Sixty-eight percent of California's population lives in its two largest metropolitan areas, Greater Los Angeles and the San Francisco Bay Area. Rank City Population within city limits Land Area sq. miles Population Density per sq mi County 1 Los Angeles 3,976,071 469.1 7,876.8 Los Angeles 2 San Diego 1,305,736 324.3 3,771.9 San Diego 3 San Jose 945,000 174.9 5,117.9 Santa Clara 4 San Francisco 799,263 46.7 16,634.4 San Francisco 5 Long Beach 491,564 50.5 9,149.8 Los Angeles 6 Fresno 464,727 104.4 4,097.7 Fresno 7 Sacramento 452,959 97.2 4,189.2 Sacramento 8 Oakland 412,318 56.1 7,126.6 Alameda 9 Santa Ana 351,697 27.1 12,451.9 Orange 10 Anaheim 345,317 48.9 6,702.0 Orange Rank County Population within county limits Land Area sq. miles Population Density per sq mi Largest city 1 Los Angeles 10,245,572 4,061 2,344 Los Angeles 2 Orange 3,072,336 789 3,606 Santa Ana 3 San Diego 3,066,820 4,200 670 San Diego 4 San Bernardino 1,991,829 20,052 85 San Bernardino 5 Riverside 1,953,330 7,207 214 Riverside 6 Santa Clara 1,773,258 1,291 1,304 San Jose 7 Alameda 1,510,303 738 1,957 Oakland 8 Sacramento 1,385,607 966 1,267 Sacramento 9 Contra Costa 1,029,377 720 492 Concord 10 Fresno 899,514 5,963 134 Fresno Note: table was compiled using California State estimates from 2006 for population and Census 2000 for area and density For a list of important suburbs within the above areas, see List of urbanized areas in California (by population). See also: List of cities in California and List of cities in California (by population) 25 wealthiest places in California Thanks to the state's powerful economy, certain California cities are among the wealthiest on the planet. Please note that this statistical measure can be misleading. The following list is ranked by per capita income: Belvedere, California – Marin County – $113,595 Rancho Santa Fe, California – San Diego County – $113,132 Atherton, California – San Mateo County – $112,408 Rolling Hills, California – Los Angeles County – $111,031 Woodside, California – San Mateo County – $104,667 Portola Valley, California – San Mateo County – $99,621 Newport Coast, California – Orange County – $98,770 Hillsborough, California – San Mateo County – $98,643 Diablo, California – Contra Costa County – $95,419 Fairbanks Ranch, California – San Diego County – $94,150 Hidden Hills, California – Los Angeles County – $94,096 Los Altos Hills, California – Santa Clara County – $92,840 Tiburon, California – Marin County – $85,966 Sausalito, California – Marin County – $81,040 Monte Sereno, California – Santa Clara County – $76,577 Indian Wells, California – Riverside County $76,187 Malibu, California – Los Angeles County – $74,336 Del Monte Forest, California – Monterey County – $70,609 Piedmont, California – Alameda County – $70,539 Montecito, California – Santa Barbara County – $70,077 Palos Verdes Estates, California – Los Angeles County – $69,040 Emerald Lake Hills, California – San Mateo County – $68,966 Loyola, California – Santa Clara County – $68,730 Blackhawk-Camino Tassajara, California – Contra Costa County – $66,972 Los Altos, California – Santa Clara County – $66,776 Further information: California locations by per capita income Note: Marin County ranks as the wealthiest county in the United States based on per capita personal income. 30 poorest places in California Many California communities rank among the poorest in the western world according to the measure of per capita income. The following list is ranked by increasing per capita income, first number is state ranking: 1076 Tobin, California - Plumas County - $2,584 1075 Belden, California - Plumas County - $3,141 1074 East Orosi, California - Tulare County - $4,984 1073 London, California - Tulare County - $5,632 1072 Cantua Creek, California - Fresno County - $5,693 1071 Indian Falls, California - Plumas County - $5,936 1070 Westley, California - Stanislaus County - $6,137 1069 Cutler, California - Tulare County - $6,254 1068 Mecca, California - Riverside County - $6,389 1067 Richgrove, California - Tulare County - $6,415 1066 San Joaquin, California - Fresno County - $6,607 1065 Woodville, California - Tulare County - $6,824 1064 Kennedy, California - San Joaquin County $6,876 1063 Mettler, California - Kern County - $6,919 1062 Mendota, California - Fresno County - $6,967 1061 Terra Bella, California - Tulare County - $7,034 1060 Parlier, California - Fresno County -$7,078 1059 Orange Cove, California - Fresno County - $7,126 1058 Parksdale, California - Madera County - $7,129 1057 Earlimart, California - Tulare County - $7,169 1056 South Dos Palos, California - Merced County - $7,170 1055 Winterhaven, California - Imperial County - $7,220 1054 Shackelford, California - Stanislaus County - $7,250 1053 Palo Verde, California - Imperial County - $7,275 1052 Biola, California - Fresno County - $7,375 1051 Kettleman City, California - Kings County - $7,389 1050 Arvin, California - Kern County - $7,408 1049 Coachella, California - Riverside County - $7,416 1048 Bret Harte, California - Stanislaus County - $7,481 1047 Traver, California - Tulare County - $7,642 Further information: California locations by per capita income Education Main article: List of colleges and universities in California UC Berkeley Stanford UCLA USC California's public educational system is supported by a unique constitutional amendment that requires 40% of state revenues to be spent on education. The elementary schools are of varying effectiveness. The quality of the local schools depends strongly on the local tax base, and the size of the local administration. In some regions, administrative costs divert a significant amount of educational monies from instructional purposes. In poor regions, literacy rates may fall below 70%. One thing they all have in common is a state mandate to teach fourth grade students about the history of California, including the role of the early missions; most schools implement this by requiring students to complete a multiple medium project. Public secondary education consists of high schools that teach elective courses in trades, languages and liberal arts with tracks for gifted, college-bound and industrial arts students. They accept students from roughly age 14 to 18, with mandatory education ceasing at age 16. In many districts, junior high schools or middle schools teach electives with a strong skills-based curriculum, for ages from 11 to 13. Elementary schools teach pure skills, history and social studies, with optional half-day kindergartens beginning at age 5. Mandatory full-time instruction begins at age 6. The preeminent state research university is the University of California, which employs more Nobel Prize winners than any other institution in the world and is considered the world's finest public university system. The nine general UC campuses are in Berkeley, Los Angeles, San Diego, Davis, Santa Cruz, Santa Barbara, Irvine, Riverside, and Merced. The University of California, San Francisco, teaches only graduate health-sciences students, and the Hastings College of Law, also in San Francisco, is one of UC's four law schools. The UC system is intended to accept students from the top 12.5% of college-bound students, and provide most graduate studies and research. The University of California also administers federal laboratories for the Federal Department of Energy: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, and Los Alamos National Laboratory. The California State University system is also considered one of the better educational systems in the world. With over 400,000 students, the CSU system is the largest university system in the United States. It is intended to accept the top ⅓ of high school students. The universities within CSU are primarily intended for undergraduate education, although many of the larger campuses, such as CSU Long Beach, CSU Fullerton, CSU Fresno, San Diego State, and San José State, are becoming more research oriented, especially in applied sciences. A marked change and a shift from the Kerr Master Plan of 1960 is to begin in 2007 as the CSU will now begin granting doctoral level degrees (Ed.D.) in education. Kevin Starr (the State Librarian) and others have argued that this small change is the beginning of a larger reorganization of higher education in California. The California Community Colleges system provides lower division "General Education" courses, whose credit units are transferable to the CSU and UC systems, as well as vocational education, remedial education, and continuing education programs. It awards certificates and associate degrees. It is composed of 109 colleges organized into 72 districts, serving a student population of over 2.9 million. Notable private universities and colleges include Stanford University, the University of Southern California (USC), Santa Clara University, the University of the Pacific, the Claremont Colleges, Occidental College and the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) (which administers the Jet Propulsion Laboratory for NASA). California has hundreds more private colleges and universities, including many religious and special-purpose institutions. This leads to many unique entertainment and educational opportunities for residents. For example, Southern California, with one of the highest densities of post-secondary institutions in the world, has a very large base of classically trained vocalists that compete in large choir festivals. Near Los Angeles, there are numerous art and film institutes, including the CalArts Institute. Professional sports teams California's large population has helped to make it home to many professional sports teams, including fifteen major professional sports league franchises, far more than any other state. Since the re-location of the Los Angeles Raiders and Los Angeles Rams in the 1990s, Greater Los Angeles Area is the largest metropolitan area not to have at least one team in each of the four major sports league. The San Francisco Bay Area has their four major league teams spread in three cities, San Francisco, Oakland and San Jose. California hosted the 1960 Winter Olympics at Squaw Valley, the 1932 and 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, as well as the 1994 FIFA World Cup and several Super Bowls. Each year, the California State Games take place here. Major league teams Major League Baseball Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim Los Angeles Dodgers Oakland Athletics San Diego Padres San Francisco Giants National Basketball Association Golden State Warriors Los Angeles Clippers Los Angeles Lakers Sacramento Kings National Football League Oakland Raiders San Diego Chargers San Francisco 49ers National Hockey League Anaheim Ducks Los Angeles Kings San Jose Sharks Major League Soccer Club Deportivo Chivas USA Los Angeles Galaxy National Lacrosse League San Jose Stealth Major League Lacrosse San Francisco Dragons Los Angeles Riptide Arena Football League San Jose Sabercats Los Angeles Avengers arena football2 San Diego Riptide American Basketball Association Beijing Aoshen Olympian Carson Buzz Fresno Heatwave San Diego Wildcats Women's National Basketball Association Los Angeles Sparks Sacramento Monarchs See also Find more information on California by searching Wikipedia's sister projects: Dictionary definitions from Wiktionary Textbooks from Wikibooks Quotations from Wikiquote Source texts from Wikisource Images and media from Commons News stories from Wikinews List of California-related topics List of California state highways California English Cuisine of California List of California counties List of California politicians List of California state prisons List of cities in California List of cities in California (by population) List of professional sports teams in California List of songs about California Lists of school districts in California by county Music of California Origin of the name California Protected areas of California USS California Northern California Scouting in California References This article or section does not cite its references or sources. You can help Wikipedia by introducing appropriate citations. ^ Person-Lynn, Dr. Kwaku. "California Named For Black Woman." Global Black News, February 22, 2004. Retrieved 2006-09-19. ^ Person-Lynn, 2004. ^ United States Department of Agriculturearticle on California's perennial native grasses ^ Montagne, Renee (2006-06-08). Living in Tehrangeles: L.A.'s Iranian Community. National Public Radio. Retrieved on 2006-06-28. ^ Hull, Dana. "English already is "official" in California", San Jose Mercury News, 2006-05-20. Retrieved on 2006-06-28. Chartkoff, Joseph L., Chartkoff, Kerry Kona (1984). The archaeology of California. Stanford: Stanford University Press. Fagan, Brian (2003). Before California: An archaeologist looks at our earliest inhabitants. Lanham, MD: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers. Moratto, Michael J., Fredrickson, David A. (1984). California archaeology. Orlando: Academic Press. External links Find more information on California by searching Wikipedia's sister projects: Dictionary definitions from Wiktionary Textbooks from Wikibooks Quotations from Wikiquote Source texts from Wikisource Images and media from Commons News stories from Wikinews California travel guide from Wikitravel State of California Official Web site U.S. Census Bureau Native Tribes, Groups, Language Families and Dialects of California Counting California California Department of Motor Vehicles California Historical Society cultural sites index Economic Research Service, USDA - California State List of official California State Insignia (symbols) from the California State Library Map of California watersheds. 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