California
Capital: Sacramento · West · The Golden State
State Statistics
| Population | 39.54M |
| GDP | $3.90T |
| Area | 423,970 km² |
| Capital | Sacramento |
| Largest City | Los Angeles |
| Political Lean | Strong Democrat |
About California
California is the most populous state in the nation and the world's fifth-largest economy, producing more output than any country except the United States, China, Germany, and Japan. From the towering redwood forests of the north coast to the sun-scorched Mojave Desert and the fertile breadth of the Central Valley — which grows a third of America's vegetables — the state encompasses a staggering range of landscapes and climates. Home to Silicon Valley's technology empires, Hollywood's entertainment industry, and the nation's busiest seaports, California has been the engine of American innovation and cultural influence for over a century.
Major Cities
Los Angeles
Los Angeles is the entertainment capital of the world and America's second-largest city, a sprawling basin of 10 million people stretching from the Pacific beaches to the San Gabriel Mountains. The...
San Diego
San Diego is a sun-drenched military and biotech hub on the Mexican border, home to the largest naval fleet concentration in the world and a world-class zoo. The city's perfect climate, craft beer ...
San Jose
San Jose is the capital of Silicon Valley, surrounded by the headquarters of Apple, Google, Facebook, and hundreds of tech companies that have made it the wealthiest large city in America by househ...
Key Industries
Technology & Information 22.0% GDP
Silicon Valley anchors the world's most concentrated technology ecosystem, with Apple, Google, Meta, Netflix, and hundreds of unicorn startups. The sector contributes over $860 ...
Finance, Insurance & Real Estate 18.5% GDP
California hosts the headquarters of Wells Fargo, Charles Schwab, and dozens of major insurance and real estate firms. San Francisco's financial district and Los Angeles's Centu...
Entertainment & Media 9.0% GDP
Hollywood's film, television, streaming, music, and video game industries generate over $90 billion annually. Los Angeles is home to Disney, Warner Bros., Paramount, Netflix, an...
Agriculture 3.5% GDP
California is the nation's number-one agricultural state for 50 consecutive years, producing over a third of US vegetables and two-thirds of US fruits and nuts. The Central Vall...
Aerospace & Defense 4.0% GDP
California is the largest defense contracting state in the nation, home to Lockheed Martin's Skunk Works, SpaceX, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon, and major Navy and Air Force instal...
Notable Universities
| University | City | Type | Founded | Students |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of California, Los Angeles | Los Angeles | Public Research University | 1919 | 47K |
| University of Southern California | Los Angeles | Private Research University | 1880 | 48K |
| Stanford University | Stanford | Private Research University | 1885 | 17K |
| University of California, Berkeley | Berkeley | Public Research University | 1868 | 45K |