Maps of California, U.S.A.

Maps Of The Most Populous State In The Country Can Provide Lots Of Information.

California is the most populous state in the United States, having over 36 million citizens within it's borders according to census data collected in 2008.  The state is also one of the most diverse in the nation, holding almost every type of land you can experience.  You can go from coastal beauty in Los Angeles, straight out to Death Valley, one of the hottest deserts on the planet, up north to the redwood forests.  California has a little bit of everything, which is probably why it has such a large population, even though it is the third largest state in the nation. 

Facts About California

California's state capitol is Sacramento, located a few hundred miles northeast of San Francisco.  The state is also home to several other well known large cities, including Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, Oakland, and Fresno.  California hold most of the larger cities located on the West Coast.  These cities make up a small fraction of the total landmass of the state, which is 163,707 square miles.  There are only two larger states in the U.S.A, those being Alaska and Texas.  The state is also the second most populated sub-national region, with only Sao Paulo, Brazil being larger.  California is actually larger and more populated than many nations. 

California is bordered by Nevada to the east, Oregon to the north, the Mexican state Baja California to the south and the Pacific Ocean to the west.  The diversity of these different states converge in California.  The southwest area of the state is dominated by desert, which is a combination of Mojave desert and Death Valley, which takes up the center of the southern part of the state.  The coastal areas are a blend of desert areas and lush exotic beach scape.  The more north you go, the greener things become, with the Sierra Nevada mountains, the great Pine and Redwood Forests, and lush landscapes that look a world away from Southern California.

History Of California

California originally began as a Spanish colony, but when Mexico broke away from Spanish rule, California went with it, becoming a part of Mexico.  The Mexican-American War, which Mexico lost, meant that California was set to become a U.S. state.   This happened in 1850.  From here, California began to boom, first with the Gold Rush.  This brought out the people and the state started to develop.  Then the big oil boom, which brought out both more people and more money.  This is where the state started to take shape, with Los Angeles becoming one of the main centers for commerce and trade.  Then came Hollywood.  The movie business solidified the economic status of the state, turning it into a force to be reckoned with.  Years later, still riding high on Hollywood, the technology sector developed, along with Silicon Valley.  Many of the major economic booms of recent memory have started in California.  California is currently one of the top ten economies of the world, with a GDP that rivals Italy.

California Quick-facts