Welcome to California
"The Golden State" No state has captured the imagination of the country—and the world—quite like California. A land of milk and honey (and, at one time, plentiful gold reserves), California conjures images of sun-drenched beaches, unlimited opportunity, and the realization of lifelong dreams. In the middle of the 19th century, people flocked to the state to get rich quick. The trend hasn't really abated, only now instead of gold, those arriving might hope to hit it big in the state's innovative tech industry or fulfill dreams of stardom in Hollywood. While California’s economy has been consistently ranked in the top ten worldwide (treating it as if it were an independent nation), it has fallen on hard times recently, being affected by the economic downturn more than almost any other state. But most would still agree California "has it all": cultural diversity, rich history, envious topography (including mountains, beaches, forests, and deserts), and world-class industry. Above all, its spirit of independence and nonconformity could only be described as a "California state of mind." State Name: California State Nickname: The Golden State State Motto: Eureka! Name for Residents: Californians Abbreviation: CA Time Zone: Pacific, GMT/UTC -8 / -7 (Daylight Savings Time) Capital City: Sacramento Date of Statehood: September 9, 1850 Statehood Rank: 31st State Area: 163,700 square miles (423,970 km²) Area Rank: 3 of 50 Number of Counties: 58 State Population: 36,756,600 (2008 estimate) Largest Cities:     Los Angeles - 3,833,900 (July 2008)     San Diego - 1,279,300 (July 2008)     San Jose - 948,200 (July 2008) Major Rivers:     Colorado River - Length: 1,450 mi (2,333 km)     Sacramento River - Length: 320 mi (515 km)     San Joaquin River - Length: 330 mi (530 km) Highest Point: Mount Whitney, 14,505 ft (4,421 m) Lowest Point: Death Valley, -282 ft (-86 m) Bordering States and Countries:     Oregon (North)     Nevada (East)     Arizona (Southeast)     Mexico (South) Record High Temperature:     134°F (56°C)     July 10, 1993 at Death Valley Record Low Temperature:     -45°F (-42°C)     January 20, 1937 at Boca
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	Author: World Trade Press