The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to the U.S. state of California:
California is the most populous and the third most extensive of the 50 states of the United States of America. California is home to Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, and Sacramento, respectively the 2nd, 6th, 17th, and 23rd most populous metropolitan areas of the United States.
California borders the North Pacific Ocean and Baja California in the Southwestern United States. California includes both Mount Whitney, the highest (4,421 m) mountain peak in the contiguous United States, and Death Valley, the lowest (−86 m) and hottest (56.7 °C) place in North America. California joined the Union as the 31st state on September 9, 1850.
General reference
California state names Common name: California Pronunciation: Etymology: Etymology of California Official name: State of California Abbreviations and name codes Postal symbol: CA ISO 3166-2 code: US-CA Internet second-level domain: .ca.us Historic: Cal, Cali, or Calif Nickname(s) The Golden StateCalifornia Government Code Section 420.75 Retrieved Feb. 28, 2011 (previously used on license plates) The Bear Republic Adjectival: California Demonym: Californian, Californio California state symbols Flag of California Seal of California List of California state symbols, including Motto and Song See also: :Category:Symbols of California
Geography of California Geography of California California is: a U.S. state, a federated state within the United States of America Location Northern Hemisphere Western Hemisphere Americas North America Anglo America Northern America United States of America Western United States West Coast of the United States Southwestern United States Population of California: 37,253,956 (2010 U.S. Census) Area of California: 163,700 sq mi (423,970 km2) Atlas of California
Places in California Places in California Ghost towns in California List of California Historical Landmarks National Historic Landmarks in California National Register of Historic Places listings in California Bridges on the National Register of Historic Places in California Category: Historic districts in California National Natural Landmarks in California Category:National parks in California State parks in California Category: Regional parks in California Category: Municipal parks in California List of museums in California
Environment of California Environment of California Climate of California Climate change Natural history of California Protected areas in California State forests of California Superfund sites in California Wildlife of California Flora of California California Floristic Province California native plants California chaparral and woodlands Fauna of California Birds of California Mammals of California Repopulation of wolves in California
Natural geographic features of California Arches of California (natural arches) Canyons and gorges of California Caves of California Coastal features of California Bays of California Beaches in California Southern California Bight Headlands of California Peninsulas of California Reefs of California Straits of California Deserts of California Dunes of California Forests of California Grasslands of California Islands of California Bodies of water in California Glaciers of California Lakes of California Oases of California Rivers of California Springs of California Waterfalls in California Watersheds of California Wetlands of California Mesas of California Mountains of California Hills of California Mountain passes in California Mountain ranges of California Mountain peaks of California Ridges of California Volcanoes of California Rock formations of California Salt flats of California Valleys of California
Regions of California Northern California Central California Central Coast (North) Big Sur Monterey Bay Area Salinas Valley Santa Cruz Mountains Central Valley (North) Sacramento Valley Chico Area Greater Sacramento Yuba–Sutter area Sutter Buttes Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta San Joaquin Valley (North) Metropolitan Fresno Merced Area Modesto Area Stockton Area North Coast Lost Coast Emerald Triangle Klamath Mountains Mendocino Mountains San Francisco Bay Area East Bay Oakland–Alameda County Tri-Valley Area Amador Valley Livermore Valley San Ramon Valley North Bay Marin County Wine Country Napa Valley Russian River Valley Sonoma Valley Telecom Valley The Peninsula City and County of San Francisco San Mateo County South Bay Santa Clara Valley San Jose–Santa Clara County Silicon Valley Sierra Nevada Gold Country Lake Tahoe Yosemite Shasta Cascade Mount Shasta Redding Area Trinity Alps Tricorner Region/Surprise Valley Modoc Plateau Warner Mountains Southern California Central Coast (South) /Tri-Counties San Luis Obispo Area Five Cities Santa Barbara Area Ventura Area Oxnard Plain Central Valley (South) San Joaquin Valley (South) Bakersfield Area Visalia Area Channel Islands South Coast Greater Los Angeles Los Angeles Basin Gateway Cities Los Angeles City East Los Angeles Harbor Area South Los Angeles Westside Palos Verdes Peninsula South Bay Beach Cities Conejo Valley San Gabriel Valley Crescenta Valley Peninsular Ranges (North) San Jacinto Mountains Santa Rosa Mountains Pomona Valley Puente Hills Santa Clarita Valley San Gabriel Mountains San Fernando Valley Santa Monica Mountains Hollywood Hills Orange County Area Santa Ana-Anaheim-Irvine, CA Santa Ana South Coast Metro Santa Ana Valley Saddleback Valley Santa Ana Mountains San Diego–Tijuana San Diego metropolitan area North County North County Coastal North County Inland East County South Bay Mountain Empire Desert Region Eureka Valley Ivanpah Valley Antelope Valley Rainbow Basin Saline Valley Inland Empire (Riverside & San Bernardino Counties) Death Valley Mojave Desert (High Desert) Victor Valley Morongo Basin Coachella Valley (Palm Springs, Indio, and Mecca area) Eastern Coachella Valley (Mecca and vicinity) West Valley Region Cucamonga Valley Chino Valley Big Cities Region Riverside Area San Bernardino Area San Bernardino Valley San Jacinto Valley Mountain Areas San Bernardino Mountains Little San Bernardino Mountains Imperial Valley El Centro metropolitan area Sonoran Desert (Low Desert) Colorado Desert Salton Sink/Salton Sea Owens Valley
Administrative divisions of California
Counties of California The 58 Counties of the state of California
Alameda County, California Alpine County, California Amador County, California Butte County, California Calaveras County, California Colusa County, California Contra Costa County, California Del Norte County, California El Dorado County, California Fresno County, California Glenn County, California Humboldt County, California Imperial County, California Inyo County, California Kern County, California Kings County, California Lake County, California Lassen County, California Los Angeles County, California Madera County, California Marin County, California Mariposa County, California Mendocino County, California Merced County, California Modoc County, California Mono County, California Monterey County, California Napa County, California Nevada County, California Orange County, California Placer County, California Plumas County, California Riverside County, California Sacramento County, California San Benito County, California San Bernardino County, California San Diego County, California San Francisco San Joaquin County, California San Luis Obispo County, California San Mateo County, California Santa Barbara County, California Santa Clara County, California Santa Cruz County, California Shasta County, California Sierra County, California Siskiyou County, California Solano County, California Sonoma County, California Stanislaus County, California Sutter County, California Tehama County, California Trinity County, California Tulare County, California Tuolumne County, California Ventura County, California Yolo County, California Yuba County, California
Municipalities in California Municipalities in California Cities in California State capital of California: Sacramento Largest city in California: Los Angeles (also called "L.A." and "The City of Angels"; second largest city in the United States). City nicknames in California Sister cities in California Towns in California Category: Unincorporated communities in California Category: Census-designated places in California
Special Districts of California :Category:Special districts of California
Demography of California Demographics of California
Geology of California
Geology of California (general reference) Federal Authority: United States Geological Survey State Authority: California Geological Survey Museums: Geology museums in California Timeline: Geologic timeline of Western North America All related articles: Geology of California
Local Geologies of California Geology of California by County Geology of the Death Valley area Geology of the Lassen volcanic area Geology of Point Lobos area Geology of the Yosemite area
Economic Geology of California Mining in California Petroleum in California
Geodynamics of California Tectonic plates Gorda Plate North American Plate Pacific Plate Contributing geodynamic features Cascadia subduction zone Gorda Ridge East Pacific Rise Seismic faults of California List of earthquakes in California
Stratigraphy of California Stratigraphy of California Geologic formations of California Geologic groups of California Fossiliferous stratigraphic units in California Rock formations of California
Physiographic regions of California
California is part of the North American continent on the American Landmass. Specific physiographic Divisions, Provinces, and Sections of California can be divided as follows;
Pacific Coast Ranges division (pacific mountain system) Pacific Border province Klamath Mountains California Trough (Central Valley) Coast Ranges Transverse Ranges Northern Channel Islands Cascade-Sierra province Southern Cascade Mountains Sierra Nevada Baja California peninsula Los Angeles Basin Peninsular Ranges (Los Angeles Range) Southern Channel Islands Intermontane Plateaus division Basin and Range province Modoc Plateau Great Basin Mojave Desert Salton Trough (Colorado Desert)
Government and politics of California
Politics of California Form of government: U.S. state government California's congressional delegations California State Capitol Elections in California Electoral reform in California Political party strength in California
Branches of the government of California Government of California
Executive branch of the government of California Governor of California Lieutenant Governor of California Secretary of State of California State Treasurer of California State departments California Department of Transportation
Legislative branch of the government of California California State Legislature (bicameral) Upper house: California State Senate Lower house: California State Assembly
Judicial branch of the government of California Courts of California Supreme Court of California
Law and order in California Law of California Adoption in California Cannabis in California Capital punishment in California Individuals executed in California California Constitution Crime in California Organized crime in California Gambling in California Gun laws in California Law enforcement in California Law enforcement agencies in California California State Police Same-sex marriage in California
Military in California California Air National Guard California Army National Guard
Local government in California