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{bmc 3nick_cp.shg} Nickname
{bmc 3pop_cap.shg} Population
{bmc 3bird_cp.shg} State Bird
{bmc 3flow_cp.shg} State Flower
{bmc 3tree_cp.shg} State Tree

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Population
Pop. (1986 est.) 26,981,000, a 14.0% increase over 1980 pop.

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State Capital
Sacramento.

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Highest Point
Mt. Whitney, 14,491 ft (4,417 m).

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Lowest Point
Death Valley, 282 ft (86 m) below sea level.

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Nickname
The Golden State

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State Bird
{ewl MVDIB12, MVDIB12, !CA_BIRDP.BMP}California Quail

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State Flower
{ewl MVDIB12, MVDIB12, !CA_FLOWP.BMP}Golden Poppy

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State Tree
{ewl MVDIB12, MVDIB12, !CA_TREEP.BMP}Redwood

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{ewr MVDIB12, MVDIB12, !CA_HISTP.BMP}The Spanish first explored the southern coast in 1542. Father Junípero Serra, a Franciscan missionary, founded (1769) the first of many missions. American settlers began to move to California during the 1840s. After Mexico's defeat in the Mexican War, California was ceded (1848) to the U.S. In the same year gold was discovered, bringing thousands of new settlers. Many Chinese laborers came to work on the Transcontinental Railroad (completed 1869), which linked the state with the East. Industry expanded rapidly during World War II. California is the nation's center of defense-related industries and of motion picture and television film production {bmc ca_videp.shg}. Since the 1960s the area around San Jose, the so-called Silicon Valley, has become a center for high-technology industries. Although the state's future prosperity seems assured, it faces environmental problems, especially involving the allocation of scarce water resources.

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California, most populous state in the U.S., located in the Far West; bordered by Oregon (N), Nevada and Arizona, across the Colorado R. (E), Mexico (S), and the Pacific Ocean (W).

Area, 158,693 sq mi (411,015 sq km).

{ewr MVDIB12, MVDIB12, !CA_LANDP.BMP}The Coast Ranges extend along the Pacific, and in the north are the famous giant redwood forests. The San Andreas Fault has caused severe earthquakes and tremors in the coastal region. To the west of the Coast Ranges is the fertile Central Valley, drained by the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers. Farther east is the dramatic Sierra Nevada range, location of Kings Canyon, Sequoia, and Yosemite national parks, and of Mt. Whitney. California is also the site of Channel Islands, Lassen Volcanic, and Redwood national parks. The state's eastern section, largely desert, includes Death Valley and Joshua Tree national monuments. The climate of California is extremely varied. In general, there are two seasons: a rainy period from October to April and a dry period from May to September. Temperatures, mainly mild, are warmer in the south than in the central and northern sections, extremely hot in the deserts, and cold in the mountains. Almost 93% of the population lives in metropolitan areas. Los Angeles proper is the country's third-largest city, while Los Angeles-Long Beach is the second-largest metropolitan area in the U.S. Other major California cities are San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose, Long Beach, Oakland, and Sacramento. California has large, well-established Hispanic and Asian populations. In 1984 84% of the population was white, 16% was black, Asian, or others.

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{ewr MVDIB12, MVDIB12, !CA_ECONP.BMP}California's economy is dominated by manufacturing. California is also known as the film capitolof the world. Leading products are transportation equipment, including materials for the aerospace industry and for ships; electronic and electrical equipment; machinery; and processed foods. Leading the states in the value of its agricultural output, California produces a wide variety of fruits and vegetables, including grapes for wine and citrus fruits. More than two-thirds of the farms are irrigated. The raising of cattle and the growing of cotton are also important. The most profitable minerals extracted are oil and natural gas, and California leads the nation in the production of asbestos, boron, gypsum, tungsten, and other minerals. Fishing is important along the coast. The state--and in particular, Disneyland--is a favorite destination for tourists.

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{ewl MVDIB12, MVDIB12, !HOLLYWDP.BMP}

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{ewr MVDIB12, MVDIB12, !CA_GOVTP.BMP}The constitution of 1879 provides for a governor serving a four-year term. The legislature is composed of a senate whose 40 members serve four-year terms and an assembly with 80 members elected every two years. California elects 2 senators and 45 representatives to the U.S. Congress and has 47 electoral votes.