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Information and history of the state of California

California became a U.S. territory in 1847 when Mexico surrendered it to John C. Fremont.

California's historic Bear Flag was raised at Sonomaon June 14, 1846, by a group of American settlers in revolt against Mexican rule. The flag was designed by William Todd on a piece of new unbleached cotton. The star imitated the lone star of Texas. A grizzly bear represented the many bears seen in the state. The word, "California Republic" was placed beneath the star and bear. It was adopted by the 1911 State Legislature as the State Flag.

On Jan. 24, 1848, James W. Marshall discovered gold at Sutter's Mill, starting the California Gold Rush and bringing settlers to the state in large numbers. On September 9, 1850, California became a U.S. State.

Some California Symbols

1. State Bird: California Valley Quail - California designated the California valley quail as official state bird in 1931. Known for their hardiness and adaptability, the native California valley quail is a plump bird, smaller than a pigeon, with a distinctive black plume on its head and a black bib with a white stripe under its beak.
2. State Mammal: California Grizzly Bear- The California grizzly bear was designated as the official state animal of California in 1953.
3. State Flower: California Poppy - The California poppy was designated the state flower of California in 1903. Also known as the flame flower, la amapola, and copa de oro (cup of gold), the poppy grows wild throughout California. California Indians valued the poppy as a food source and for the oil extracted from the plant.
4. State Insect: California Dogface Butterfly - In 1929 California became the first state to designate a state insect. The California dogface butterfly, also called "dog head butterfly," is found only in California.
5. State Mineral: Gold - California designated gold as the official state mineral in 1965. The gold rush that followed the discovery of gold at Sutter's Mill in 1848 is an integral part of the history and culture of California.
6. State Tree: California Redwood - California designated redwood as the official state tree in 1937 (the coast redwood: Sequoia sempervirens, and the giant sequoia: Sequoia gigantea). The giant sequoia is the most massive tree in the world, with 30- foot diameter trunks not uncommon. They reach ages of over 3,000 years.
7. State Reptile: Desert Tortoise - California recognized the desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii) as the official state reptile in 1972. The desert tortoise lives in the deserts of southern California to southern Nevada, western Arizona, and northern Mexico. It spends about 95 percent of its life in burrows that allow escape from heat or cold.
8. State Gemstone: Benitoite - California designated benitoite as the official state gemstone in 1985. Benitoite is sometimes called the "blue diamond." First discovered near the headwaters of the San Benito River (hence the name) in 1907, benitoite is a very rare gem that ranges in color from a light transparent blue to dark, sapphire blue, or occasionally a violet shade.
9. State Fish: California Golden Trout - The California golden trout (Salmo agua- bonita) was designated the official state fish of California in 1947. The golden trout is native to California, originally found only in a few icy streams of the headwaters of the Kern River.
10. State Soil: San Joaquin Soil - San Joaquin soil series was designated the official state soil of California in 1997 through the efforts of students and teachers at Martin Luther King, Jr. Middle School in Madera, natural resource professionals, the Professional Soil Scientists Association of California, legislators, and several state universities. 

Did you know?

Death Valley, in the southeast, is 282 ft below sea level, the lowest point in the nation while Mt. Whitney (14,491 ft) is the highest point in the contiguous 48 states.

California was the country's top state in cash farm receipts in 2008, growing nearly half of all fruits, nuts and vegetables. Almonds are the biggest export (in dollars), followed by dairy products, wine, table grapes, cotton, walnuts, pistachios and rice.

California is home to the world's largest tree (General Sherman Tree in Sequoia National Park) and the tallest (a coastal redwood whose identity is withheld). California is host to 278 state parks and beaches a total of 1.5 million acres.

Invented in California: fortune cookies, Apple computers, theme parks (Disneyland), blue jeans and the Barbie doll.

California is a minority majority state, with 58% of its population Asian, Hispanic, Native American or other groups. 26% of its people were born outside the U.S.