Facts You Might Not Know About California

Over the next few months, I'll be posting fun facts on various U.S. states. Such tidbits will touch upon everything from history and geography to culture and wildlife. It's a good opportunity for you to get to know these states a little better, whether or not you've visited any of them. If you have been to any of these states, be sure to share your experiences with us on the blog or via Google +.

I'd like to kick off this "state special" by featuring sun-drenched California, known for having the Golden Gate Bridge, Napa Valley, awful traffic, and a whopping 17 professional teams across the major sports.

Here are some interesting facts about California, one of the most diverse states in the union:

Its name means nothing -- literally
It is the third largest state by area after Alaska and Texas
It joined the union in 1850, making it the 31st state to do so
California is the most populous state in the country. In fact, one out of every eight United States residents lives in California
California has the largest economy in the country. If measured against that of other countries, California's economy alone is the 7th largest in the world
With over 14 million Hispanic residents, California boasts the nation’s largest Hispanic population
It was home to the country's first motel and McDonald’s drive-in restaurant
California holds two of the top ten most populous cities in the U.S.: Los Angeles and San Diego
Both the highest point in the continental U.S. (Mount Whitney) and lowest point (Death Valley) are in California
More turkeys are raised in California than in any other state
Roughly half of all fruits and vegetables in the U.S. come from here, making agriculture the state’s premier industry
Located in Sacramento, the California State Railroad Museum is the largest museum of its kind in North America
With more than 300,000 tons of them grown in California each year, grapes make up the state’s number one cash crop
California produces over 17 million gallons of wine annually
You know about Hollywood, but were you aware that the film and television industries infuse more than $40 billion into the state’s economy?
The first motion picture theater opened in Los Angeles on April 2, 1902
Totaling nearly three million acres, San Bernardino County is the largest county in the country
Levi Strauss was founded in San Francisco
The state motto is Eureka!, a Greek word meaning "I have found it!" The motto was adopted in 1849 and alludes to the discovery of gold in the Sierra Nevada

Are there any facts listed that you already knew? Are there any you'd add? Which ones did you find interesting?

And be sure to check out prior posts by clicking here: How to Understand People

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