10 Essential Facts About California
- Population: ~39.5 million (largest US state).
- Area: 163,696 sq mi (3rd largest after AK, TX).
- Economy: $3.9T GDP (2023) – 5th largest globally if independent.
- Geography: Sierra Nevada, Mojave Desert, Redwood forests, 840 mi coastline, Central Valley ag heartland.
- Major Cities: Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, San Jose, Sacramento (capital).
- Innovation Hubs: Silicon Valley (tech), Hollywood (entertainment), Napa (wine), Imperial Valley (solar).
- Politics: Strongly Democratic; pioneering climate, labor, privacy laws.
- Universities: Stanford, Caltech, UC Berkeley, UCLA, USC – world-class research.
- Tourism Magnets: Disneyland, Yosemite, Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, Big Sur, Joshua Tree.
- Climate: Mediterranean (coast), alpine (mountains), desert (SE); drought & wildfire risks rising.
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