California Map

Description: This map shows states boundaries, the state capital, counties, county seats, cities and towns, islands, lakes and national parks in California.
Size: 1566x1686px / 754 Kb
Author: Ontheworldmap.com

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Description: This map shows governmental boundaries of countries, states boundaries, islands, lakes, the state capital, counties, county seats, cities, towns, and national parks in California.
Size: 1242x1401px / 240 Kb
Author: Ontheworldmap.com

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Other Maps of California

Google Map of California
OpenStreetMap
Bing Maps
USGS National Map
California National Map (National Atlas of the United States)(pdf)

California, located on the west coast of the United States, extends from the Pacific Ocean to the Sierra Nevada mountain range. It borders Oregon to the north, Nevada to the east, Arizona to the southeast, and Mexico to the south. Sacramento is the state capital, situated in the northern part of the Central Valley.

With a population exceeding 39 million, California ranks as the most populous state in the United States. Major cities include Los Angeles, a global hub for entertainment and culture; San Francisco, known for its finance and technology sectors; San Diego, notable for its maritime and military presence; and San Jose, the heart of Silicon Valley and a center for innovation.

Tourism constitutes a significant economic sector in California. Renowned attractions include Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, drawing millions annually. Yosemite National Park, located in the Sierra Nevada, offers iconic landscapes and outdoor recreational activities. The Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco remains a prominent architectural marvel. Coastal destinations like Malibu and Santa Monica attract visitors with their beaches and pier attractions.

In Southern California, Palm Springs provides a well-known resort getaway famous for its golf courses and spas. Napa Valley, situated north of the San Francisco Bay Area, serves as a premier wine country recognized globally for its vineyards and wineries. Additionally, Lake Tahoe, straddling the border between California and Nevada, offers year-round attractions, including skiing in winter and water sports in summer.

The Facts:

Flag of California	Great Seal of California
Capital:	Sacramento
Largest city:	Los Angeles
Area:	163,696 sq mi (423,970 sq km)
Dimensions:	Length 760 mi (1,220 km) Width 250 mi (400 km)
Latitude:	32°32′ N to 42° N
Longitude:	114°8′ W to 124°26′ W
Population (2023):	38,965,193 [1]
Density:	251.3/sq mi (97/sq km)
Elevation:	Highest elevation (Mount Whitney) - 14,505 ft (4,421 m)[2] Lowest elevation (Badwater Basin) −279 ft (−85 m)[3]
Official language:	English
Spoken language:[4]	56.1% English 28.3% Spanish 15.6% Other
Religion:	32% - Protestantism 28% - Catholicism 27% - No religion 2% - Judaism 2% - Hinduism 2% - Buddhism
Racial/ethnic groups (2020):[5]	39.40% Hispanic or Latino 34.69% White 15.12% Asian 5.36% Black or African American 4.12% Mixed Race/Multi-Racial 0.57% Some Other Race 0.39% Native American or Alaska Native 0.35% Pacific Islander
Median household income:	[6]
USPS abbreviation:	CA
ISO 3166 code:	US-CA
Time zone:	UTC−08:00 (PST) Summer (DST) UTC−07:00 (PDT)
Official website:	www.ca.gov

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List of Largest Cities in California by population

List of Largest Cities in California by population (July 1, 2022)^[7]

Rank	City	Population (July 1, 2022)[7]
1	Los Angeles	3,822,238
2	San Diego	1,381,162
3	San Jose	971,233
4	San Francisco	808,437
5	Fresno	545,567
6	Sacramento	528,001
7	Long Beach	451,307
8	Oakland	430,553
9	Bakersfield	410,647
10	Anaheim	344,461
11	Stockton	321,819
12	Riverside	320,764
13	Irvine	313,685
14	Santa Ana	308,189
15	Chula Vista	279,170
16	Fremont	223,871
17	Santa Clarita	221,345
18	San Bernardino	220,328
19	Modesto	218,069
20	Fontana	212,475
21	Moreno Valley	211,924
22	Oxnard	200,415
23	Huntington Beach	194,310
24	Glendale	189,221
25	Ontario	179,061

List of Cities in California Alphabetically

California Beach Towns

Main sights in California

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Counties of California

The state of California, consists of 58 counties. Los Angeles County, with over 10 million residents, ranks as the most populous, while Alpine County, with fewer than 1,200 residents, remains the least populous. Geographically, San Bernardino County spans more than 20,000 square miles, making it the largest, whereas San Francisco encompasses just 47 square miles as both a city and county.

List of counties in California

California County Map

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Regions of California:

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List of National Parks in California

California National Parks Map


State Parks in California

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Geography of California

California, located on the west coast of the United States, . It encompasses approximately 163,696 square miles, making it the third-largest state by area. The state stretches from the Pacific Ocean to the Sierra Nevada mountain range, and from the southern Mojave Desert to the dense forests of the northern Coast Ranges.

Key geographical regions include the Coastal Range, home to iconic locations such as Big Sur and the Redwood National Park. The Central Valley, a major agricultural hub, lies between the Sierra Nevada and the Coast Ranges. The Sierra Nevada mountains, which include Mount Whitney—the highest peak in the contiguous United States—extend along the eastern edge of the state. The state also contains significant desert regions, such as Death Valley, which holds the record for the highest temperature on Earth.

California's coastline runs for approximately 840 miles, featuring numerous bays, beaches, and cliffs. Major rivers like the Sacramento and San Joaquin run through the Central Valley, providing essential water resources. These varied landscapes contribute to California's unique climate zones, from Mediterranean along the coast to alpine in the Sierra Nevada, supporting its rich biodiversity and varied ecosystems.

Islands of California

Major Rivers in California

Lakes of California

Mountain Ranges

The 15 highest mountain peaks of California

^{Reference [8]}

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Brief History of California

California’s history encompasses indigenous cultures, colonial periods, and rapid development. Indigenous peoples, including the Chumash, Miwok, and Yurok, inhabited the region for thousands of years before European contact. Spanish explorers claimed California in the 16th century, establishing missions and settlements by the 18th century. Mexico inherited control after its independence in 1821, maintaining governance until the 1848 Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo ceded California to the United States following the Mexican-American War.

The 1848 discovery of gold at Sutter's Mill propelled the Gold Rush, leading to significant population growth and economic expansion. California attained statehood on September 9, 1850, as the 31st state. Subsequent development included the rise of the agricultural industry, establishment of major urban centers, and the growth of the entertainment and technology sectors.

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Page Navigation

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References

1. ^ US Census Quickfacts, Population Estimates, July 2023" (PDF)
2. ^ National Geodetic Survey
3. ^ United States Geological Survey
4. ^ Languages Spoken at Home. United States Census Bureau
5. ^ Race and Ethnicity. United States Census Bureau
6. ^ Median Annual Household Income. The US Census Bureau
7. ^ Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places in California: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2022". United States Census Bureau.
8. ^ United States Geological Survey (USGS)

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Last Updated: May 15, 2024