California
California is our nation's most populous state, with an estimated 36,961,664 residents in 2009 (U.S. Census). California encompasses 155,959.34 square miles, making CA the third largest state in the United States. Spanning such a large area, California has a varied geography, ranging from the Pacific Coastal region, to the Sierra Nevada and other mountain ranges, to flat deserts, and heavily wooded forests.
California became a U.S. territory in 1847 and the 31st state on September 9, 1850. On Jan. 24, 1848, James W. Marshall discovered gold at Sutter's Mill, starting the California Gold Rush. Large numbers of settlers from across the United States and throughout the entire world traveled to California by land and sea, hoping to strike it rich. The effects of the Gold Rush were substantial for California as roads, churches, schools and towns were built.
California has three branches of government: the executive, legislative, and judicial branches. The executive branch consists of the Governor and the other elected officers; the legislative branch consists of the State Assembly and State Senate; the judicial branch consists of the Supreme Court of California and lower courts. Typically, a California resident's first and only dealings with the California Judicial Branch are in one of the 58 trial courts, called Superior Courts. These courts are located in each county of the state. Superior courts hear civil and criminal cases including felonies, as well as family, probate, and juvenile cases. The Courts of Appeal are the next highest judicial authority within California. The Courts of Appeal review contested decisions of the Superior Courts.
The Supreme Court of California has the highest judicial authority within the California judicial branch and reviews decisions from the Courts of Appeal, especially decisions in which the death penalty is imposed. The California Courts' Online Self-Help Center provides California residents with helpful information regarding the California Judicial Branch. In California, personal injury cases are decided in the civil courts.
The four largest cities in California are Los Angeles, San Diego, San Jose, and San Francisco. Los Angeles is the second largest city in the United States, with a 2006 estimated population of 3,849,378, (U.S. Census ). Sacramento, the state's 7th largest city, is the state capital and the county seat of Sacramento County.
California is commonly divided into Northern and Southern regions, each with their own distinct features. Northern California contains the cities of San Francisco, San Jose, Oakland, and Sacramento; it boasts the famous redwood forests, the Big Sur coastline area, the Sierra Nevada including Yosemite Valley and Lake Tahoe, and the Central Valley, one of the world's most productive agricultural regions. Southern California is the home of three major metropolitan areas, the Los Angeles area, the Riverside-San Bernardino area, and the San Diego area. Southern California is known for its multitude of prestigious colleges and universities, including five University of California campuses, 10 California State University campuses, Caltech, the University of Southern California, Pepperdine University, and Loyola Marymount University.
Southern California is considered the entertainment capital of the world. Headquartered in Southern California are the Walt Disney Company, ABC, Sony Pictures, Universal Studios, MGM, Paramount Pictures, 20th Century Fox and Warner Brothers. Tourism plays a major role in California's economy. CA is an ideal vacation destination, with year-round sunny weather and numerous beaches and mountains. California boasts hundreds of beaches with diverse landscapes, activities, and attractions. Other popular attractions include Disneyland, the wines of the Napa Valley, shopping at the upscale stores on Rodeo Drive, Yosemite National Park, and Sequoia National Park.
The Los Angeles International Airport and the San Francisco International Airport, in addition to numerous other public and private airports, provide convenient transportation options for both residents and tourists. The majority of California's residents use the vast network of freeways, expressways, and highways to traverse the state.
