Interesting facts about California

• California is the most populous state (36,961,664) in the United States and the third-largest by land area, after Alaska and Texas. 
• California adjoins the Pacific Ocean, Oregon, Nevada, Arizona, and the Mexican state of Baja California. 
• California's first Spanish mission (San Diego) was not established until 1769.
• California became a U.S. territory in 1847.
• When California gained statehood in 1850, San Jose served as its first capital.
• By 1964, California had surpassed New York to become the most populous state.
• Its five largest cities are Los Angeles, San Diego, San Jose, San Francisco, and Long Beach.
• Almost 40 percent of California is forested.
• Death Valley, in the southeast, is -86 m (282 ft) below sea level, the lowest point in the nation.
• Mt. Whitney 4,418 m (14,491 ft) is the highest point in the contiguous 48 states.
• California has a varied climate and geography and a multi-cultural population.
• Gray Davis was the first governor of California, and second governor in American history, to be recalled by voters.
• If California were a country, it would rank among the 10 largest economies in the world, with a GDP similar to that of Italy.
• If it were a country, California would be the 59th-largest in the world in area.
• The Central Valley is California's agricultural heartland and grows approximately one-third of the nation's food.