Interesting California Facts

Author Richard Dana (1851-1882) wrote the novel "Two Years Before the Mast." He inspired the name for the beach community of Dana Point.

In Atwater the Castle Air Museum has the largest display of military aircraft in the state.

The Country Store in Baker has sold more winning California State Lottery tickets than any outlet in the state.

Reputed to be the most corrupt politician in Fresno County history, Vice-leader Joseph Spinney was mayor for only ten minutes.

The Iron Door Saloon in Groveland claims to be the oldest drinking establishment in the state. It was constructed in 1852.

The Hollywood Bowl is the world's largest outdoor amphitheater.

The first person to personally receive a star on the Walk of Fame in Hollywood was actress Joanne Woodward. She received it in 1960.

Death Valley is recognized as the hottest, driest place in the United States. It isn't uncommon for the summer temperatures to reach more than 115 degrees.

The first motion picture theater opened in Los Angeles on April 2, 1902.

Inyo National Forest is home to the bristle cone pine, the oldest living species. Some of the gnarled trees are thought to be over 4,600 years old.

San Francisco Bay is considered the world's largest landlocked harbor.

Sequoia National Park contains the largest living tree. Its trunk is 102 feet in circumference.

Yorba Linda is home to the Richard Nixon Library.

The Coachella Valley is nicknamed The Date Capital of the world and The Playground of Presidents.

One out of every eight United States residents lives in California.

California is the first state to ever reach a trillion dollar economy in gross state product.

California has the largest economy in the states of the union.

If California's economic size were measured by itself to other countries, it would rank the 7th largest economy in the world.

Los Angeles is ranked the fourth largest economy in the United States compared to other states.

Simi Valley is the home of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and Museum.

It is estimated there are approximately 500,000 detectable seismic tremors in California annually.

During his engagement at the Fillmore West in San Francisco, Otis Redding stayed on a houseboat in Sausalito. While there he wrote his last song and greatest hit: "The Dock of the Bay."

The state motto is Eureka!, a Greek word translated "I have found it!" The motto was adopted in 1849 and alludes to the discovery of gold in the Sierra Nevada.

California is known variously as The Land of Milk and Honey, The El Dorado State, The Golden State, and The Grape State.

There are more than 300,000 tons of grapes grown in California annually.

California produces more than 17 million gallons of wine each year.

The redwood is the official state tree. Some of the giant redwoods in Sequoia National Park are more than 2,000 years old.

The California poppy is the official state flower. The California grizzly bear (Ursus californicus) is the official state animal.

California holds two of the top ten most populous cities: Los Angeles and San Diego.

Fresno proclaims itself the Raisin Capital of the World.

The highest and lowest points in the continental United States are within 100 miles of one another. Mount Whitney measures 14,495 feet and Bad Water in Death Valley is 282 feet below sea level.

Castroville is known as the Artichoke Capital of the World. In 1947 a young woman named Norma Jean was crowned Castroville's first Artichoke Queen. She went on to become actress Marilyn Monroe.