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Although California was sighted by
Spanish navigator Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo in 1542,
its first Spanish mission (at San Diego) was not
established until 1769. California became a U.S.
territory in 1847 when Mexico surrendered it to John
C. Frémont. On Jan. 24, 1848, James W. Marshall
discovered gold at Sutter's Mill, starting the
California Gold Rush and bringing settlers to the
state in large numbers. By 1964, California had
surpassed New York to become the most populous
state. One reason for this may be that more
immigrants settle in California than any other
state—more than one-third of the nation's total in
1994. Asians and Pacific Islanders led the influx.
Leading industries include
agriculture, manufacturing (transportation
equipment, machinery, and electronic equipment),
biotechnology, aerospace-defense, and tourism.
Principal natural resources include timber,
petroleum, cement, and natural gas.
Death Valley, in the southeast, is
282 ft below sea level, the lowest point in the
nation. Mt. Whitney (14,491 ft) is the highest point
in the contiguous 48 states. Lassen Peak is one of
two active U.S. volcanoes outside of Alaska and
Hawaii; its last eruptions were recorded in 1917.
Other points of interest include
Yosemite National Park, Disneyland, Hollywood, the
Golden Gate Bridge, Sequoia National Park, San
Simeon State Park, and Point Reyes National
Seashore.
California voters soundly rejected
Gov. Schwarzenegger's heavily-supported ballot
measures in the November 2005 elections. |
