This document provides information about the U.S. state of California in 3 sentences or less per topic. It discusses California's state symbols, flag, nickname, history of exploration and statehood, current governor, population growth, chief agricultural and manufactured products, average weather, natural resources, places to visit like San Francisco, famous people from the state including Ronald Reagan and John Steinbeck, the state motto of "Eureka!", and sources cited.

1. Our 50 States:
California
Mr. Gipson
April 21, 2008

2. Symbols of California
• The state bird is the California Valley Quail.
• The state flower is the Golden Poppy.
• The state tree is the Giant Sequoia.
California California California
Valley Golden Giant
Quail Poppy Sequoia

3. State Flag
• The flag originated during the Bear Flag Revolt.
The star is a salute to Texas and the Bear
represents the many bears in California.
Original Present-
California Day
Flag California
Flag

4. State Nickname
• California is called the “Golden
State” because gold was discovered
in 1848, and by the next year, many
thousands of “forty-niners” came to
get rich in the great California Gold
Rush of 1849.

5. State History
• First Inhabitants
− The first inhabitants of California were probably the Asian
people who crossed the land bridge from present-day
Siberia to North America. Some early Indian tribes were
the Hupa, Maidu, Quechan, Ohlone, Pomo, Cahuilla,
Karok, Mojave, Yokut, Paiute, and Modoc.
• Exploration
− Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo, a Portuguese explorer working for
Spain, was the first European to sight what is now the state
of California.
• Settlement
− The first settlement was a Spanish mission in present-day
San Diego. It was started by Junipero Serra.

6. State History, continued
• Colonial Days
− California was not one of the original colonies.
During the colonial period, the Spanish sent
missionaries to California to build missions up and
down the California coast.
• Territorial Days
− Californians slowly moved into California and
declared California a territory in an event called The
Bear Flag Revolt. After the Mexican-American War,
Mexico officially gave the territory, which included
California, to the U.S.

7. Statehood
This state became the 31st state in the United States in
1850.
The first Governor of the state was Peter H. Burnett.

8. Government
• National Government
− Senators
2. Dianne Feinstein
3. Barbara Boxer
• State Government
− Arnold Schwarzenegger is the current governor.
− The state legislature’s job is to make state laws. It is
composed of two houses, or chambers: the State
Senate and the State Assembly. Senators and
Assembly members are elected from districts that
are mapped out according to the number of
residents.

9. Map
Sacramento

10. Population
CA Population
• 1950: 10,586,223 35,000,000
• 1960: 15,717,204 30,000,000
25,000,000
• 1970: 19,971,069 20,000,000
• 1980: 23,667,826 15,000,000
10,000,000
• 1990: 29,839,250
5,000,000
• 2000: 33,871,648 0
1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000
Over the past fifty years the
population has increased.

11. Economy
• Chief products of the state include:
− Agricultural
2. Milk and Cream
3. Grapes
4. Greenhouse and Nursery Products
5. Beef Cattle
− Mining products
7. Petroleum
8. Natural Gas
− Manufactured goods
10. Transportation Equipment
11. Food Products
12. Electrical Equipment
13. Machinery

12. Weather
• The average high temperature in July is: 75° F
• The average high temperature in January is: 44° F
• The average yearly precipitation is: 22 inches

13. Natural Resources
• Water
− Sacramento River
− San Joaquin River
− Lake Tahoe
− Salton Sea
• Minerals
− Gold
− Sodium Sulfate
− Boron
− Asbestos

14. Natural Resources, continued
• Plant Life
− The creosote bush is a shrub whose poisonous roots
kill off any nearby vegetation.
− Barrel, cholla, and prickly pear are some of the
many cactus varieties. They soak up water during
rare rainfalls and store it for months or even years.
• Animal Life
− Beavers, wildcats, muskrats, deer, black bears,
mountain lions, and foxes roam the forests of
California.
− Desert animals include coyotes, long-eared
jackrabbits, tortoises, lizards, and rattlesnakes.

15. Places to Visit
San Francisco is a very interesting place to visit in
California. It was one of the first major cities in
California and was home to many “forty-niners.” It
has historic landmarks like the Golden Gate Bridge,
Pier 39, Alcatraz Island, Chinatown, and Coit Tower.
San Francisco is right next to the Pacific Ocean and
has amazing views of the bay. There are great
theatrical plays in San Francisco and lots of great
places to eat. You can shop at hundreds of retail
stores that can’t be found anywhere else in the world.

16. Famous People
• Ronald Reagan – Was the 40th president of the
United States and the 33rd governor of California.
He was an actor before getting into politics.
• John Steinbeck – one of the most well known and
widely read writers of the 20th century. His most
famous books were Of Mice and Men and The
Grapes of Wrath.
• Joe DiMaggio Jr. – a baseball player who played
his entire Major League career for the New York
Yankees. He won 3 MVPs and was selected to 13
consecutive All Star Games.

17. State Motto
• Eureka! – Eureka means “I Have Found It.” It
comes from the miners who came to California to
find gold. The word can be found on the state’s
seal.

18. Works Cited
• www.wikipedia.com
• Heinrichs, Ann, California, Children’s Press, 1998
• Pictures found on www.google.com