It’s time once again to look at another state in our great nation. Hope you are enjoying and benefiting from this series, as I only do one state each quarter.
Our state today is California, and as far back as I can remember this state has been known as a trendsetter state. When I was growing up back in the 1950s, we knew that when something new came along, it was just a matter of time until it would sweep all across the nation and there would not be one square inch that would be spared.
The state of California is known as the “Golden State” because its gold fields attracted thousands of miners known as “Forty Niners” during the gold rush of 1849. The nickname also suggests the brilliant sunshine and the golden grass on California’s pastures in the autumn. Many visitors and new residents alike are attracted by California’s outdoor way of life. The warm, dry climate of Southern California permits lightweight clothing and outdoor recreation almost all the year round.
California stretches along the Pacific Coast and is the westernmost state in the continental United States. It is bordered on the north by Oregon, on the east by Nevada and Arizona, on the south by the Baja Peninsula of Mexico, and its western boundary is the Pacific coastline, which stretches for 913 miles. However, the state is only 780 miles long. The state is made up of 58 counties, the surface area consists of 158,693 square miles, and it ranks third in size in the country — only Alaska and Texas are larger. The state has more people than any other state, with approximately 40 million people. The capital is Sacramento, with Los Angeles being the largest city.
California became a state on Sept. 9, 1850, as the 31st state, shortly after the gold rush of 1849. The state is believed to have been named by Spanish explorers who first sailed along the coast in the 1500s. They called the land California, probably after the name of a treasure island in a popular Spanish tale. The state flower is the Golden Poppy, the state tree is the California Redwood, the state bird is the California Valley Quail, and the state motto is “Eureka”, meaning “I have found it.”
As one might suspect, in addition to being a trendsetter state, California leads the nation in so many things it would be impossible to include them all here. More goods are produced in California than in any other state. It also ranks first among the states in agriculture. Additionally, more than 30 million tourists visit the state each year and spend an estimated $35 billion to aid the state’s economy. A visitor to this beautiful state may wish to visit Disneyland, Knotts Berry Farm, the San Diego Zoo, Death Valley, the motion picture industry in Hollywood, or even travel along U.S. Highway 101 from San Francisco to Oregon and see the magnificent groves of Redwood trees. These trees are the tallest in the world.
I would be remiss if I did not also say that all is not well in California these days. Covid took its toll and thousands of people have died over the past several years. High crime and homelessness are very apparent, and the state is losing population, as many residents are reportedly moving to Florida and Texas.
—(Jim Davidson is an author, public speaker, syndicated columnist, and Founder of the Bookcase for Every Child project. Since its inception in the Log Cabin Democrat in 1995, Jim’s column has been self-syndicated in over 375 newspapers in 35 states. For a personalized copy of “Your Future Begins Today” send $20, which includes postage and handling, to Jim Davidson, 2 Bentley Drive, Conway, AR 72034.)