California

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The state bird is the California valley quail.

The golden poppy is the state flower of California.

Discover the contrasting landscapes of California from Mount Whitney to Death Valley

For Students

California summary

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California

state, United States

Also known as: Golden State

Written by Neil Morgan, Gregory Lewis McNamee•All

Fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last Updated: Jan 6, 2025 • Article History

News •

After 2 years of shortfalls, California governor proposes $322B budget with no deficit • Jan. 6, 2025, 7:31 PM ET (AP)

Biden will honor tribal requests by designating 2 new national monuments in California • Jan. 6, 2025, 7:19 PM ET (AP)

The Latest: Snow, ice and frigid temperatures make for a dangerous winter mix • Jan. 6, 2025, 6:50 PM ET (AP)

'The Brutalist,' 'Emilia Perez' triumph at Golden Globes • Jan. 6, 2025, 6:21 PM ET (AP)

Biden issues ban on offshore oil and gas drilling in most federal waters. Trump vows to undo it • Jan. 6, 2025, 1:15 PM ET (AP)

California, constituent state of the United States of America. It was admitted as the 31st state of the union on September 9, 1850, and by the early 1960s it was the most populous U.S. state. No version of the origin of California’s name has been fully accepted, but there is wide support for the contention that it derived from an early 16th-century Spanish novel, Las sergas de Esplandián (“The Adventures of Esplandián”), that described a paradisiacal island full of gold and precious stones called California. The influence of the Spanish settlers of the 18th and 19th centuries is evident in ...(100 of 10147 words)

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