Full Answer
What is the most famous thing in California?
The state is also home to famous cultural institutions and national parks including: Hollywood, Disneyland, Yosemite National Park, Alcatraz, Angel Island and the Golden Gate Bridge. Nickname (s): The Golden State; The Land of Milk and Honey; The El Dorado State; The Grape State
What are the 5 periods of history in California?
e The history of California can be divided into: the Native American period (about 10,000 years ago until 1542), the European exploration period (1542–1769), the Spanish colonial period (1769–1821), the Mexican period (1821–1848), and United States statehood (September 9, 1850–present).
How did the United States get California?
Mexico ceded California to the United States in 1848 after the Mexican-American War, and it was officially annexed as a free, non-slave state in the Compromise of 1850. During the California Gold Rush from 1848 to 1858, about 300,000 people flocked to the Western state and its mines.
What is the nickname of California?
The state is also home to famous cultural institutions and national parks including: Hollywood, Disneyland, Yosemite National Park, Alcatraz, Angel Island and the Golden Gate Bridge. Nickname (s): The Golden State; The Land of Milk and Honey; The El Dorado State; The Grape State Why Did the Beatles Break Up?

Is California blue or red 2020?
Biden carried California with 63.5% of the vote and a margin of 29.2% over Trump. Biden earned the highest percentage of the vote in the state for any candidate since Franklin D.
How many votes was California worth in 2008?
2008 United States presidential election in CaliforniaHome stateIllinoisArizonaRunning mateJoe BidenSarah PalinElectoral vote550Popular vote8,274,4735,011,781Percentage61.01%36.95%3 more rows
How many votes does California have?
Current allocationsAlabama - 9 votesKentucky - 8 votesCalifornia - 55 votesMassachusetts - 11 votesColorado - 9 votesMichigan - 16 votesConnecticut - 7 votesMinnesota - 10 votesDelaware - 3 votesMississippi - 6 votes12 more rows
How does California decide electoral votes?
The formula for determining the number of votes for each state is simple: each state gets two votes for its two US Senators, and then one more additional vote for each member it has in the House of Representatives.
Who lost against Obama in 2008?
The Democratic ticket of Barack Obama, the junior senator from Illinois, and Joe Biden, the senior senator from Delaware, defeated the Republican ticket of John McCain, the senior senator from Arizona, and Sarah Palin, the governor of Alaska.
Who went against Obama in 2008?
On November 4, 2008, Obama defeated the Republican nominee, Senator John McCain of Arizona, making him the President-elect and the first African American elected President. He was the third sitting U.S. Senator, after Warren G. Harding and John F. Kennedy, to be elected president.
Is Texas a red or blue state?
Since 1980 Texas has voted Republican in every election.
Is Washington a blue state?
At the presidential level, Washington is part of the "blue wall", having voted for all Democratic nominees since 1988. Prior to statehood, the President of the United States appointed a territorial governor and secretary of state, who served as acting governor when the governor was absent from the state.
Who did Texas vote for in 2008?
Voters chose 34 representatives, or electors to the Electoral College, who voted for president and vice president. Texas was won by Republican nominee John McCain by an 11.8% margin of victory despite "failing to deliver written certification of their nominations" on time to appear on the ballot.
What type of voting system does California use?
Dominion Voting Systems ImageCast Evolution It is the only voting machine that allows all voters – regardless of their ability – to use the same paper ballot on the same machine to cast their vote.
What kind of voting system does California have?
As with every other state in the United States, California participates in federal elections including electing representatives to the House of Representatives, and senators to the Senate. Additionally, the state (as of 2010) casts 55 votes in the Electoral College during presidential elections.
Which U.S. States split electoral votes?
Under the District Method, a State's electoral votes can be split among two or more candidates, just as a state's congressional delegation can be split among multiple political parties. As of 2022, Nebraska and Maine are the only states using the District Method of distributing electoral votes.
Who won California in 2012?
According to Secretary of State Debra Bowen's website, the President won the popular vote with 60.24 percent, with Mitt Romney in second place at 37.12%, and Libertarian candidate Gary Johnson in third place at 1.10%. The Democrats have won the state in every presidential election after Republican George H. W.
Who won California in 2004?
California was won by Democratic nominee John Kerry by a 9.95% margin of victory.
Who did Texas vote for in 2008?
Voters chose 34 representatives, or electors to the Electoral College, who voted for president and vice president. Texas was won by Republican nominee John McCain by an 11.8% margin of victory despite "failing to deliver written certification of their nominations" on time to appear on the ballot.
When was California the 31st state?
Shortly thereafter, the discovery of gold at Sutter’s Mill in 1848 inspired a wave of settlers to head to the west coast in search of fortune. In 1850 California became the 31st state, and is now the third largest state behind Alaska and Texas.
When was gold discovered in California?
Interesting Facts. Following James Marshall’s discovery of gold at Sutter’s Mill in Coloma in 1848, California’s population leaped from 14,000 to 250,000 in only four years. Between 1850 and 1859, miners extracted 28,280,711 fine ounces of gold.
How much wine does California grow?
California grows more than 3.3 million tons of winegrapes on over 540,000 acres each year and produces roughly 90 percent of all U.S. wine.
What is the nickname for the Golden State?
Nickname (s): The Golden State; The Land of Milk and Honey; The El Dorado State; The Grape State
What is California's history?
Offers a chronological timeline of important dates, events, and milestones in California history. California's earliest inhabitants were Asians who traveled the Bering Strait into North America using a now-vanished land bridge. More than 10,000 years ago, they settled throughout the region's diverse geographic areas and climates. Deserts and high mountains helped to separate these groups, and they lived peacefully in relative isolation from one another. Over many years, distinctive differences in lifestyle and culture developed among these groups, which included the Hupa, the Maidu, the Pomo, the Modic, and the Mohave tribes. More than 135 language dialects emerged.
Who was the first European to explore California?
1542 - The Portuguese-born sailor, Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo, became the first European to explore California, landing at San Diego on September 28. He went on to discover the Catalina Islands, the sites of San Pedro and Santa Monica and the Santa Barbara Channel Islands.
What is the oldest church in San Francisco?
The Mission Church is the oldest intact building in San Francisco, and one of the oldest Mission Churches in California. The first mass celebrated at the Mission was on June 29, 1776 (5 days before the signing of the Declaration of Independence). Mission Dolores was the sixth of 21 missions established by the Franciscans.
Where did Cabrillo land?
November - Cabrillo lands on San Miguel island in the Santa Barbara Channel . The sailors get into a fight with the inhabitants - no word on casualties, but Cabrillo is noted as having broken a leg. The party continues to sail north almost to present day Fort Ross, 42°N. At Morro Bay, they spot the 534 foot rock.
When was the first mass celebrated in San Francisco?
The Mission Church is the oldest intact building in San Francisco, and one of the oldest Mission Churches in California. The first mass celebrated at the Mission was on June 29, 1776 (5 days before the signing of the Declaration of Independence). Mission Dolores was the sixth of 21 missions established by the Franciscans. Mission Dolores established.
When was California the 31st state?
Shortly thereafter, the discovery of gold at Sutter's Mill in 1848 inspired a wave of settlers to head to the west coast in search of fortune. In 1850 California became the 31st state, and is now the third largest state behind Alaska and Texas.
Who discovered the San Francisco Bay?
The entrance to San Francisco Bay, La Boca del Puerto (The mouth of the Port) is discovered on November 1 by Sergeant Jose Ortega. San Diego De Alcala, the first of 21 missions established by Franciscan padres under the leadership of Father Junipero Serra, was founded.
Why is California so popular?
The surroundings of the beaches are beautiful for all nature lovers. The water on the beaches is clear blue, and the beaches in California are the cleanest beaches in the whole world. Many of the beaches have rock formations in the water perfect for swimmers and surfers, and in Sea Ranch, you will find shell beach, and ocean beach in San Francisco and Malibu lagoon state beach in Malibu.
Which city is the most popular in California?
Los Angeles is the most popular city in California and in all the United States. In the article below you can read about the few things that make California the best known, and so popular.
What is the most popular sport in California?
Surfing. When you have the most beautiful beaches in the world it is logical that surfing will be the most famous sport in the region. The massive waves on the beaches gather surfers all around the world. All types of surfers come to California, and the most popular beach for surfing is the Trestles in San Clemente.
How many wineries are there in California?
The wine is producing in California since the 18 th century, and there are 1,200 wineries in the state at the moment. In California, you can find both large scale and small-scale plants, and the wine regions are called American Viticultural Areas, Napa Valley, the Russian River Valley, and the Central Valley.
How many people visited Disneyland in 1955?
This park has millions of visitors annually, and from the opening in 1955 theme park welcomed around 709 million visitors. For example, in 2017 the theme park received 13.8 million guests. Only the Magic Kingdom is more popular than the Disneyland Park. The theme park has around 65,700 employees.
What is the biggest tree in California?
Redwood Trees. California is well known as the home of the Redwood National and State Parks, the massive complex of forests, which protect about 45% of the global population of the trees. The famous Sequoia sempervirens, the tallest and biggest trees in the world, covers an area of 60 square miles in California.
Where does California's wine come from?
For almost 90% of the total wine production in the nation come from Napa Valley in California. The wine is producing in California since the 18 th century, and there are 1,200 wineries in the state at the moment.
What happened to California in 1848?
5.1 Earthquake Strikes off Northern California Coast. [ SEE: What California Is Doing to Combat the Coronavirus] Mexico ceded California to the United States in 1848 after the Mexican-American War, and it was officially annexed as a free, non-slave state in the Compromise of 1850.
How many people were in California during the gold rush?
During the California Gold Rush from 1848 to 1858, about 300,000 people flocked to the Western state and its mines. California's shipping, agriculture, construction and transportation industries boomed as the state became a land of economic opportunity for settlers.
Which state has the most stars?
Overview of California. California, the most populous state in the nation, is home to Hollywood's stars, Silicon Valley's technology, Napa Valley's wines and ancient Redwood and Sequoia forests. The Golden State also is one of the country's wealthiest and most socially and politically influential.
Who won the 1936 California election?
Franklin D. Roosevelt handily captured California in all four of his victories, winning by a larger majority of the popular vote in 1936 than any candidate has since. His second term marked the last time Orange County voted for a Democrat. The New Deal led to higher employment rates and the creation of several of California’s most notable landmarks.
Who was the vice president of California?
He won reelection in a landslide against a liberal Democrat. After Nixon's 1974 resignation, Gerald Ford won California but lost the election.
What was the impact of Proposition 187 on California?
After the party closely tied itself to Proposition 187, a controversial California ballot measure that denied public services to people in the country illegally, Republicans struggled to win back the state's immigrant population. Democratic candidates have won decisively in every election since 1992 by performing well in the most populous areas. Despite failing to win the presidency, Hillary Clinton won a higher percentage of votes than any candidate since Franklin D. Roosevelt.
Is California a blue state?
After decades of Republican victories, here’ s how California became a blue state again. California hasn’t always been a lock for the Democratic presidential nominee. Republicans won the state in nearly every presidential election between 1952 and 1988.

Overview
Growth after World War II
After the war, hundreds of land developers bought land cheap, subdivided it, built on it, and got rich. Real estate development replaced oil and agriculture as southern California's principal industry. In 1955, Disneyland opened in Anaheim. In 1958, Major League Baseball's Dodgers and Giants left New York City and came to Los Angeles and San Francisco, respectively. The population of California expanded dramatically, to nearly 20 million by 1970.
California demographics
California is now the most populous state in the United States. If it were an independent country, California would rank 34th in population in the world. California has had waves of immigration and emigration over the years. The first big wave was the California Gold Rush starting in 1848 of miners, businessmen, farmers, loggers, etc. as well as their many supporters.
There were fewer than 10,000 females in a total California population (not including Native Amer…
California earthquakes
Earthquakes in California are common occurrences since the state is traversed by six major strike-slip fault systems with hundreds of related faults, many of which are "brother faults" of the infamous San Andreas Fault that runs nearly the full length of California at the juncture of the Pacific Plate and the North American Plate. The fault systems include the Hayward Fault Zone, Calaveras F…
California oil industry
California pioneers after 1848 discovered an increasing number of oil seeps—oil seeping to the surface, especially in Humboldt, Colusa, Santa Clara, and San Mateo counties, and in the asphaltum seeps and bituminous residues in Mendocino, Marin, Contra Costa, Santa Clara, and Santa Cruz counties. In southern California, large seeps in Ventura, Santa Barbara, Kern, and Los Angeles counties …
California businessmen
In 1911 a new California Assembly created a new railroad commission with vastly enlarged powers and brought public utilities under state supervision. Organized businessmen were the leaders of both of these reforms. The driving force for railroad regulation came less from an outraged public seeking lower rates than from shippers and merchants who wanted to stabilize their businesses. Public utility officers spearheaded campaigns for the passage, and later the enlargement of the …
California women
California women had the right to own property in their own name since the first California Constitution in 1850. In 1911 California voters, in a special election, narrowly granted women the right to vote, nine years before the 19th Amendment enfranchised women nationally in 1920, but over 41 years later than the women of Wyoming had been granted the right to vote. Women's clubs flourished and turned a spotlight on issues such as public schools, dirt and pollution, and public h…
Progressive Era
California played a major role in the Progressive Movement. It was the only state where the Progressives took control of the Republican Party.
California was a leader in the Progressive Movement from the 1890s into the 1920s. A coalition of reform-minded Republicans, especially in southern California, coalesced around Thomas Bard (1841–1915). Bard's election in 1899 as United States senator enabled the anti-machine Republi…
Beaches
Hollywood
- Hollywood is located in the central spot of the state, and it is the home of the most famous film industry. California is the home for many media houses and studios such as Dolby Theater, MTV, Comedy Central, CBS Studios, NBC Studios, BET, NBC, and others. The first film ever made in Hollywood was in 1911, and the Nestor Motion Picture Company film...
Surfing
- When you have the most beautiful beaches in the world it is logical that surfing will be the most famous sport in the region. The massive waves on the beaches gather surfers all around the world. All types of surfers come to California, and the most popular beach for surfing is the Trestles in San Clemente. On the beaches across California, there are water-sporting events suc…
Wine
- The Californian state drink is wine, so you can guess that this drink is very popular in this region. For almost 90% of the total wine production in the nation come from Napa Valley in California. The wine is producing in California since the 18thcentury, and there are 1,200 wineries in the state at the moment. In California, you can find both large scale and small-scale plants, and the wine r…
Death Valley
- On the northern side of the Mojave Desert close to the Great Basin Desert is the Death Valley, and California is famous for this desert valley. This is the hottest place in the whole world with the highest temperature recorded on July 10, 1913.
Disneyland
- This is the most popular theme park in the whole world, and Walt Disney’s supervision opened this park in California in 1955. This park has millions of visitors annually, and from the opening in 1955 theme park welcomed around 709 million visitors. For example, in 2017 the theme park received 13.8 million guests. Only the Magic Kingdom is more popular than the Disneyland Park. The the…
Redwood Trees
- California is well known as the home of the Redwood National and State Parks, the massive complex of forests, which protect about 45% of the global population of the trees. The famous Sequoia sempervirens, the tallest and biggest trees in the world, covers an area of 60 square miles in California. These are many reasons to visit California if you have not yet, and those are t…