Facts About California Learning About States in Special Ed

Welcome to California

California is located in the westernmost part of the United States. It borders Arizona, Nevada, Oregon, Mexico, and the Pacific Ocean. Sacramento is the capital.

It is the third largest and most populous state, with 40 million people living there.

Let’s learn a little more about this great state.

And be sure to scroll to the end to get a free fact sheet on California.

A brief history of California

California became a state in 1850. It was the 31st state to join the United States.

Initially, California was claimed by Spanish explorers who landed on the shores, thinking they had discovered a new island. The name comes from a popular myth about Queen Califia, who ruled over an island.

Control of the area was later transferred to Mexico.

After the Mexican-American War, California gained independence and became a US territory in 1948 before officially becoming a state.

The California Gold Rush

James Marshall first discovered gold while working at a sawmill in 1848.

This discovery would lead to the largest mass migration ever, as over 100,000 people would come to California looking for gold.

It became known as the California Gold Rush and is essential to this state’s history.

You can check out a complete unit on The California Goldrush HERE.

The geography of California

California is the third largest state in the United States. Its geography varies from snow-covered mountains to arid deserts.

California is unique in that it is home to the highest and lowest points in the United States. The lowest point is Death Valley, which is almost 300 feet below sea level.

Not far away is Mount Whitney, the highest point in the US. It is over 14,000 feet high and is connected to Death Valley by a scenic highway.

California's resources and industries

We get a lot of amazing resources from this state.

California produces over ½ of the country’s fruits, vegetables, and nuts. In fact, California is the largest producer of almonds in the entire world.

California is also known as a leader in the tech industry. Silicon Valley encompasses the area around and south of the San Francisco Bay. Google, as well as many other technology-based companies, has its headquarters in this region.

Finally, more movies are made in California than in any other state. The film industry is very important for this state.

Fun places to visit in California

If you plan to visit California, there are some things you will want to know and make sure you get to see.

One of the most famous landmarks in California is the Golden Gate Bridge. Despite the name, the bridge is not gold. It is painted reddish-orange and is 4200 feet long—almost a mile!

In the Sequoia National Park, you will find the largest and oldest living trees in the world, the Giant Sequoias. They can get to be 300 feet tall and have a trunk that is 40 feet across.

Lake Tahoe is the largest lake in California and a popular vacation spot. It is the country’s second-deepest lake, known for its crystal-clear waters and surrounding views of the Sierra Nevada mountains.

Fun facts about California

Here are a few fun facts you might not know about California. The California Poppy is the state flower, and the California Quail is the state bird.

California is known as the Golden State. It gets its name thanks to the 1948 Gold Rush.

The California Condor is a critically engendered species that lives in California. It has the largest wingspan and is the largest land bird in North America.

If you visit Los Angeles, you will likely see the large Hollywood sign in the distance. This wooden sign is almost 90 years old. It originally said Hollywoodland and was put there not to promote the movie industry, but to bring attention to a new neighborhood being built, Hollywoodland. The last 4 letters were removed in 1949.

Finally, the first-ever McDonalds was opened in San Bernardino, California in 1940.

California is a big state with lots of glitz and glamor (and farms, and deserts, and mountains, and trees….) to see. Next time you go on a trip, consider visiting this state and see what you can find.