State of California

California conjures up images of glorious sunshine, golden beaches, glowing orchards and vineyards, topnotch education, entertainment and high technology. All of this is true and much more. It can be most honestly said that California leads and the rest of America follows. Admitted into the Union as the thirty-first state in September 1850, California has only grown in stature over the past one hundred and fifty years and led in the fields of economic, social, and political growth. With a population of around thirty-five million and a trillion dollar-plus economy, California is an international force in trade and commerce, higher education, scientific research, entertainment and technology.

California Information

California owes a lot to its diversity. One out of every four Californians has been born outside the United States. People from every part of the globe have made it their home and added to its cultural richness. There are more than a million Chinese-American Californians and even more Filipino-Americans. Los Angeles has among the largest Mexican populations in the world. Add to this, Iranian, Armenian, Asian-Indian, Vietnamese, the vast majority of them first-generation immigrants you have a mini United Nations.

The Hispanic founders of California in both the Spanish and the Mexican eras from 1769 to 1848 included diverse strains of European, African, Native American, and mixed populations. The Gold Rush of the 1850s brought the world to California, Anglo- and African-Americans from the Atlantic states, Chileans, Mexicans, Chinese, French, English, German, Irish and Australian, Hawaiian Islanders, Filipinos, and other groups.

Over the years agriculture replaced mining in the state’s economy and even today Californian grapes and oranges are world famous. The early twentieth century brought the aviation industry to California, which heralded the state’s role as a world center of technology development. Education has always been a source of great pride here and in the 1850s, San Francisco was one of the pioneer American cities in the public school movement. An impressive array of colleges grew here, from the state university to the private Stanford University and the famous University of Southern California. Caltech or, California Institute of Technology was a leader in science education and research from the start.

California is the entertainment capital of the world and is the inspiration for numerous television shows based here. Hollywood, a Southern California-centered motion picture industry, provides the entire world with an international culture that know no boundaries. The technological revolution of the world is nestled in Silicon Valley, in San Diego, and on the campuses of the great universities. The Californian lifestyle is a legend in its own right and Californians have shown the American people how to live their daily lives, and introduced new ways of enjoying and celebrating the gift of life.

California is blessed with a beautiful landscape, natural resources and rich culture. All of this is reflected in its architecture, landscaping, entertainment, and recreational activities. Their great love for the outdoors and water sports has brought numerous leisure activities to the rest of the world. Nowhere else is the American Dream of hard work, rich rewards and exciting leisure fulfilled more completely than in California.

California History

Before the arrival of the Europeans, California was occupied by Native Americans. The native settlers of California were one of the most diverse groups both culturally and linguistically. Most the natives were nomadic tribes and their livelihood revolved around the sea. The first Europeans to land in California were the Portuguese in 1542. Although most of the European powers visited the area, none of them settled here. The first colonial power to settle in California was Spain in the 17th century. Spanish missionaries built small settlements in the region of California and most of the present day major cities in California grew around these tiny settlements.

Spain colonized the entire area of California in 18th century. After the Mexican War of Independence, it became a part of the new nation, Mexico. Large scale migration from different parts of North America to California took place during this period. The cornerstone of some of the prominent cities of the present day was laid at this time. The important turning point in the history of California was during the Mexican-American War (1846 – 1848). After the war, the region was divided between Mexico and United States. Before the discovery of gold, the population of California was scanty. The discovery of gold initiated the famous California Gold Rush. In 1850, California was admitted into the fold of the United States. Rapid infrastructure development saw California emerging as an ideal destination for investment and industry. Soon large scale migration took place and California became the most populous state in the United States.