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Table of Contents
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is the most populated U.S. state, home to one out of eight people who live in the U.S. With a total of 38 million people, and it is the third largest state by area.
See the fact file below for more information about California or download the comprehensive worksheet collection to utilize within the classroom or home environment.
Quick Facts
Capital
Sacramento
Became a State
September 9, 1850 (31st)
Location
West coast of the United States
Area
163,707 sq. miles (3rd)
Population
33,871,648 (1st)
Major Cities
Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose
Products
Fruits, vegetables, dairy, wine, oil, tourism
Climate
Mediterranean – sub-arctic
Yearly Precipitation
Cimate varies widely, from arid to sub-arctic, depending on latitude, elevation, and proximity to the coast – coastal and southern parts of the state have Mediterranean climate, with somewhat rainy winters and dry summers
Professional Sports Teams
San Francisco 49ers (National Football League)
Oakland Raiders (National Football League)
San Diego Chargers (National Football League)
Los Angeles Dodgers (Mayor Baseball League)
Los Angeles Angels (Major Baseball League)
Oakland Athletics (Major Baseball League)
San Diego Padres (Major Baseball League)
Los Angeles Lakers (National Basketball Association)
Los Angeles Clippers (National Baseball Association)
Sacramento Kings, (National Basketball Association)
Golden State Warriors (National Basketball Association)
Anaheim Ducks (National Hockey League)
Chivas USA (Major League Soccer)
Los Angeles Galaxy (Major League Soccer)
Los Angeles Sparks (Women’s National Basketball Association)
Sacramento Monarchs (Women’s National Basketball Association)
Los Angeles Riptide (Major League Lacrosse)
San Francisco Dragons (Major League Lacrosse)
California Cougars (Major Indoor Soccer League)
San Jose Stealth (National Lacrosse League)
Major Waterways
Sacramento River, Pacific Ocean, Colorado River, San Joaquin River, Klamath River
Most Famous Citizens
John Muir (naturalist)
William Randolph Hearst (publisher)
Earl Warren (Chief Justice of the Supreme Court)
Adlai Stevenson (public Official)
William Saroyan (author)
Richard Nixon (U.S. President)
Joe DiMaggio (baseball player)
State symbols
Bird – California Quail
Flower – Poppy
Animal – Grizzly Bear
Tree – Redwood
Insect – Dogface Butterfly
State Facts & Information
- California is an extensive western US state.
- The southern end of California shares an international border with Mexico and it is bordered by Oregon to the north. Nevada and Arizona border it on the east, and on the west are nearly 900 miles of Pacific Ocean.
- The Spaniards initially named the peninsula of Baja California Las Californias and the rest of the area Alta California.
- It became the US State of California on September 9, 1850.
- It is geographically diverse, and its terrain includes cliff-lined beaches, redwood forests, the Sierra Nevada Mountains, Central Valley farmland, and the Mojave Desert.
- With over 39 million residents, it is the US’s most populous state.
- It is also the third largest US state, with an area of approximately 163,696 square miles (423,970 km2).
- California’s climate varies widely, from arid to subarctic, depending on latitude, elevation, and proximity to the coast. The coastal and southern parts of the state have a Mediterranean climate with rainy winters and dry summers.
Cities of Note
- California is divided into 58 counties, and the state has 482 cities and towns.
- Sacramento is the capital of California and the state’s political center.
- San Francisco is well known for
- Cable cars which are a significant tourist attraction in the city.
- Alcatraz Island, a small island in San Francisco Bay, developed in the mid-19th century and used as a military prison.
- The Golden Gate Bridge, a suspension bridge connecting San Francisco Bay and the Pacific Ocean.
- Hollywood is a large city of Los Angeles, California, and one of the world’s most thriving film industries. It is said that more films are shot in California than in any other state.
- Other major cities are San Diego and San José.
California History
- California’s mild, conducive climate was home to over 100 different tribes, including the Shasta, Maidu, Miwok, Mohave, Pomo, Chumash, and Serrano people, whose languages included the Athapaskan, Penutian, and Uto-Aztecan dialects.
- The California Native Americans lived in the Californian Central Valley area, between the Pacific coast and the Sierra Nevada.
- The physical characteristics of California Indians are dark brown eyes, dark skin color, prominent cheekbones, straight black hair, and little facial hair.
- Different tribes of Native Americans lived in the area that is now California for an estimated 13,000 to 15,000 years, and they spoke over 300 dialects of approximately 100 distinct languages.
- The mild, temperate climate describes the geography and environment of the state.
- The natural resources of California include redwood forests, cedar and oak trees, buckeye, mushrooms, roots, acorns, nuts and grasses, and seaweed.
- Salt was a valuable trading commodity, which was gathered from mineral deposits, seaweed, grass, and saline water.
- Acorns are a traditional primary food throughout much of California.
- The different types of houses and shelters depended on the materials available to the California Native Americans and whether the home was permanent or temporary. Grass mat houses were built near the ocean areas and cedar bark lodges in forest areas. Tribes that inhabited the northwest forest areas, such as the Yurok, Karok, and Hupa, lived in cedar or redwood plank houses. Central Californian tribes such as the Maidu and Miwok lived in semi-subterranean pit houses or earth lodges.
- Animism was a commonly shared doctrine, or belief, of the indigenous people of North America and Canada, including the California Indian tribes. Animism is all about the spiritual or religious idea that the universe and all natural objects have souls or spirits.
- The indigenous people practiced various forms of sophisticated forest gardening in the forests, grasslands, mixed woodlands, and wetlands to ensure the availability of food and medicinal plants.
- In the 19th century, the population of the Native Americans in California was reduced by 90%, from 200,000 down to approximately 15,000, due to a malaria epidemic.
- In the twentieth century, thousands of Asian people migrated to California and the US to purchase, develop, and own land in the state. In 1913 California passed the Alien Land Act, excluding Asian immigrants from owning land. Only in 1952 was this law invalidated.
Did You Know?
- California is the only US state to have hosted both the Winter and Summer Olympics, and Los Angeles is the only North American city to have hosted the Olympics twice.
- The Hollywood Bowl is the largest outdoor amphitheater in the United States.
- There have been several hit songs written about California, including California Girls by The Beach Boys, California Dreamin’ by The Mamas & The Papas, Hotel California by The Eagles, and I Left My Heart In San Francisco by Tony Bennett.
California Worksheets
This bundle contains 11 ready-to-use California Worksheets that are perfect for students who want to learn more about California which is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is the most populated U.S. state, home to one out of eight people who live in the U.S., with a total of 38 million people, and it is the third largest state by area.
Download includes the following worksheets:
- California Facts
- California Tribes
- All About California
- Home Sweet Home
- Say Why
- Gold Rush (+) Effects
- National Parks
- Gold Rush (-) Effects
- Cool Mc-California
- Know, Wonder & Learn!
- Visit California
Frequently Asked Questions
Does California have a flag?
California got its own state flag on February 3, 1911. The flag has a white background with a grizzly bear walking on a patch of green grass in the flag’s center above the words “California Republic”. There is a red stripe along the bottom, and the flag is also called the “Bear Flag”.
What is Silicon Valley famous for?
Silicon Valley is a region in Northern California and is the hub for major technology companies, including Apple, Meta, Cisco, and Visa. The region is home to some of the world’s richest people.
What is California known for?
California is known for many things besides the Hollywood film industry. Did you know that California has the world’s largest living tree? The Sherman Tree (a Sequoia) is over 274 ft (83 m) high with a diameter of 36.5 feet (11.1 m). It is estimated to be between 1800-2700 years old.
What produce grows in California?
California produces almost all of USs apricots, almonds, figs, kiwi fruit, nectarines, olives, pistachios, prunes, dates, and walnuts. It also leads in the production of avocados, grapes, lemons, melons, peaches, strawberries, and plums.
Was the first McDonald’s restaurant opened in California?
Yes, the first McDonald’s restaurant was opened in San Bernardino, California, in 1940 by two brothers, namely Richard and Maurice McDonald.
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Link will appear as California Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, November 8, 2017
Use With Any Curriculum
These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.