10 Fun Facts about California

First published 20th February 2020 Robin James

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California is often called the ‘Golden State’. Its history includes the famous Gold Rush which began in 1848 – hence its nickname!

You’ll likely know California best for its movies, its famous denizens and even its fruit – the state also tends to be one of the first many people from abroad think of when they consider the USA. And why not?

Cali, or CA, is a state that’s famous for its amazing sunshine, its fantastic history, and its rich trade. Whether or not you live in California, there are plenty of reasons to get into its facts and figures.

Here’s a few of them to help you get started – how much do you know about sunny California? Let’s crack on with some facts and stats.

1. The bridge that couldn’t be built.

The Golden Gate Bridge was often referred to as the bridge that couldn’t be built – because the strong choppy tidal waters of the area cover the San Andreas fault line! It became an engineering wonder at the time of construction.

2. The State Flower is golden too!

The state flower of California is the golden Californian poppy. This grows in abundance there and seeds are available in other countries too – if you want to grow some of your own.

3. You may not realize you have a connection to California!

If you wear Levi jeans, you definitely have a connection to California. The German-born Levi Strauss left his Bavarian home to come to San Francisco. In 1853, he set up shop selling denim jeans. Today, Levi jeans are worn by people all over the world.

16,000 people are employed directly by the Levi jeans company worldwide! Levi products are renowned for quality, style and strength.

Golden Gate Bridge, San Fransisco, California

4. The sky’s not the limit!

Well it wasn’t for a famous astronaut who hailed from California! Jose Hernandez was a Californian farmworker with a dream to travel in space. NASA rejected his applications 11 times over 12 years – but he was finally accepted in 2004.

5. Are you feeling fruity?

Californians love their fruit! You can’t travel far in the state without seeing evidence of home grown favorites. California takes 2nd place after Florida as the biggest cultivator of oranges in the USA.

6. Californians tend to be green-fingered.

Californians know a lot about cultivating fruit and vegetables.The weather helps too! Melons, lemons, raisins, grapes, peaches, nectarines, apricots, avocados, kiwis, plums, figs and dates, olives and pistachios all grow in abundance here!

7. California gives us Good Vibrations.

Well the famous Beach Boys did, and they hailed from California. Their popular music is still played today – other successful artists from the Golden State include The Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Tupac Shakur, The Doors, Metallica, Liza Minelli, Natalie Cole and Kendrick Lamar.

8. What have your fingernails got in common with tectonic plates?

They are moving at the same rate! Your nails and those plates move an average 46 millimeters per year!

9. Be careful with matches in CA…

30 year old Alexandra Souverneva was charged with arson as a result of causing mass forest damage. She had lit a fire with a lighter to boil water in the forest. 10,000 acres of wildfire destroyed much wildlife and many ancient trees very quickly.

Hollywood, Los Angeles, California

10. Forest fires continue to be a big problem.

In October 2021 the Governor of California confirmed that approximately two million acres of land in the state had been burned – in 2021 alone. Natural disasters, sadly, seem to find their way across the state rather easily.

FAQs about California

What is the biggest airport in California?

The biggest airport in California is Los Angeles International. The code letters for this airport are LAX.

Are tourism and business travel economically important to California?

Yes, tourists and business travelers moving in and out of California spent $140.6 billion in 2018!

How many counties does California have?

California has 58 different counties with 482 different municipalities!

Who is the most famous actress to come from California?

The legendary Marilyn Monroe is still considered the most famous, and one of the most beautiful women to have come from California. She was born on June 1st 1926 - but died tragically on August 5th 1962.

Are earthquakes a problem in California?

Yes - it’s tremor country. Earthquakes occur regularly in California - the National Earthquake Centre reports that up to 13,000 earthquakes occur annually in California but most are barely detectable!