California – General info

California General Information

Area: about 424,000 km² (the 410,000 km² mentioned in the original are a common, slightly different older rounding).

Population: around 39.5 million (as of 2025/26) – significantly more than the previously mentioned 36 million (as of 2005). California remains by far the most populous US state, ahead of Texas (around 31 million) and Florida (around 23 million).

Population density: around 93 inhabitants per km².

Capital: Sacramento.

Largest city: Los Angeles.

Nickname: The Golden State.

Geography: California borders Oregon to the north, Nevada and Arizona to the east, the Mexican state of Baja California to the south, and the Pacific Ocean to the west. The Colorado River forms the border with Arizona. California is part of several large scenic areas: The narrow coastal plain is bordered by the Coast Ranges, followed to the east by the California Longitudinal Valley, which is bounded to the east by the Sierra Nevada and to the north by the Cascade Range and the Klamath Mountains. The coastal area is tectonically very unstable, earthquakes are not uncommon here. In the southeast, California is part of the Great Basin, which includes Death Valley and the Mojave Desert.

The longest rivers in California are the Sacramento River and the San Joaquin River, which, together with their tributaries, drain the Sierra Nevada, parts of the Cascade Range and the California Longitudinal Valley. The largest lakes include Lake Tahoe, Clear Lake, Honey Lake and Mono Lake. The highest mountain in the USA outside Alaska, Mount Whitney (4,421 m), is located in California; only about 136 km away is the Badwater Basin in Death Valley, which is also the lowest point in North America (86 m below sea level) – a remarkable geographical contrast in a very small area.

Form of government: California is governed by the Constitution of 1879. The executive branch is headed by the governor, elected for a four-year term, with a maximum of two consecutive terms. The legislative branch consists of a bicameral legislature (Senate, 40 members, four-year term; House of Representatives/State Assembly, 80 members, two-year term). At the federal level, California is represented by two senators and 52 representatives in the U.S. House of Representatives; in presidential elections, the state has 54 electoral votes.

Current governor: Gavin Newsom (Democratic Party), in office since January 2019 – the former mayor of San Francisco is in his second and, according to the constitution, last possible term; in November 2026, the gubernatorial election to succeed him will take place.

Population: California’s ethnic composition has continued to change since the turn of the millennium: Hispanics are now around 40%, making them the largest population group in the state, followed by the white population (around 34–35%), Asian-born Californians (around 15–16%) and Black Californians (around 6%). The proportion of the urban population remains around 94–95%.

Education and culture: The first state schools were established in California in 1866. The University of California, founded in 1868, remains the most important university with campuses spread throughout the state (including Berkeley, UCLA, San Diego) – one of the largest and most renowned public higher education systems in the world. The private Stanford University was founded in 1885 and opened in 1891. The most visited cultural institutions continue to include the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the Museum of Contemporary Art and the J. Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles (with the Getty Center above Brentwood, next to the original Getty Villa in Malibu, which has been in existence since 1997). Also worth seeing are the Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles and the Mount Palomar Observatory northeast of San Diego.

Economy: In addition to crude oil and natural gas, important raw materials continue to be mercury, tungsten, gravel, copper and iron ores; however, the relative importance of the classic raw materials sector has continued to decline compared to technology and services. California remains the most agriculturally productive US state, with grapes, almonds, strawberries, vegetables, wine, rice, cotton, wheat and corn as important products. In addition to the aerospace industry as well as the classic computer and electronics industry, California – above all Silicon Valley – is now the world’s most important center of the technology and AI industry, home to many of the world’s most valuable companies.

Language: The official language is English; Spanish is the most widely spoken second language spoken or understood by a very large part of the population.

Time zone: Pacific Time (UTC−8 or UTC−7 during daylight saving time).

Mains voltage: 110/120 V, 60 Hz; American two-pin flat plug, adapter required.

Money – Currency: US dollars.

California – Climate

In California, there are three main climate zones:

On the coast, temperatures are lower than in the interior due to the influence of the cool Pacific. North of San Francisco, winters are usually very rainy; San Francisco, as well as large parts of the northern and central California coast, are often foggy and cool in summer.

In the Sierra Nevada, it can get quite hot during the day in summer, while temperatures drop quickly after sunset due to the high altitude. From November onwards, larger amounts of snow fall here.

In the deserts, it is sunny and mild even in winter, with around 20 °C and more during the day; however, in the evenings and at night, as in most desert areas, it cools down considerably. Los Angeles and San Diego are also favored by a mild climate – San Diego’s climate is considered almost ideal for year-round outdoor activities.

The third highest temperature ever recorded on Earth was recorded in Death Valley in 1913 at 56.7 °C. North of Lake Tahoe, the lowest temperature ever recorded in California was −42.8 °C in 1937.

A common phenomenon in California is coastal fog. Climate awareness in the state has also been increasingly influenced by the more frequent and intense dry periods and forest fire seasons in recent years (see history section).

Best time to visit: California’s peak season is clearly in summer. In winter, the weather from Los Angeles south is usually very mild, moderate – but long pants and a jacket are still recommended. Further south in San Diego, you will find the climate that is often described as almost perfect, with pleasantly warm winters.

San Francisco’s weather is often foggy, especially in the mornings. In summer, when it can get very hot further south, San Francisco has a pleasant spring-like climate. The best time to travel is April/May and September/October – not only because of the climate, but also to avoid the peak travel season between Memorial Day (end of May) and Labor Day (early September).

California – Fauna & Flora

About 40% of all plant species in the USA are native to California. Common tree species include the sequoia and the Douglas fir.

The oldest known tree in the world, a long-lived pine (awn pine) in the Great Basin, is over 4,800–4,900 years old. The sequoia populations in the Sierra Nevada reach an age of up to 2,000 to over 3,000 years.

In the deserts of the southeast, indigo shrubs, various cactus and shrub species, creosote bushes and the striking Joshua Tree can be found. In addition to numerous other animal species, skunks and rattlesnakes live in the forests, of which there are six different species in the state. Especially in the north and in remote mountainous regions, bears (black bears; the Californian grizzly bear, formerly depicted in the state coat of arms, has been considered extinct since the 1920s) find a suitable habitat.

California – History, Culture, Art

California was originally populated by an estimated 100 to 150 indigenous peoples and language groups – one of the highest densities of indigenous cultures in the world.

Hernán Cortés marked the beginning of the Spaniards’ efforts to establish a colony in California. In 1542, the Viceroy of New Spain, Antonio de Mendoza, ordered Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo to explore the territories north of Mexico. The Spanish explorer Sebastián Vizcaíno explored the entire California coast in 1602/03, but a supply port in San Diego was not established until 1769. After Mexico’s independence in 1821, California became a Mexican province.

In June 1846, a group of American settlers captured the city of Sonoma and declared California independent at the outbreak of the Mexican-American War. In 1848, Mexico ceded its claims to the territory to the United States in the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo.

The discovery of gold by James W. Marshall in Coloma in January 1848 triggered the famous California Gold Rush and led to a massive influx of population. On September 9, 1850, California became the 31st state to join the United States; in 1854, Sacramento became the capital. The completion of the transcontinental railroad in 1869 brought growing prosperity.

In 1890, San Francisco became the largest city on the Pacific coast and an internationally important trading center; in Los Angeles, the economic upswing reached its first peak in 1887. The stock market crash of 1893 triggered a serious economic crisis before a new upswing began before the outbreak of the First World War.

In the 1920s, around two million immigrants flocked to California; the population of Los Angeles exceeded the million mark by 1924. Oil production became increasingly important (in 1925, more than a fifth of the world’s oil production came from California), and during this time the film industry in Hollywood also established itself as an important economic sector.

During the Second World War, numerous aircraft factories and shipyards were built; between 1940 and 1945, the population increased by almost two million. The influx continued after the end of the war; between 1950 and 1990, the population tripled, and since 1962 California has been the most populous US state.

In October 1989, the Loma Prieta earthquake shook the Bay Area/San Francisco, and in January 1994, the Northridge earthquake (6.7 on the Richter scale) shook the Los Angeles region, causing an estimated $15 billion to $30 billion in damage. By the fall of 1993, severe bushfires had destroyed more than 80,000 acres of land and more than 1,000 homes in Southern California.

Important recent addition – the Los Angeles wildfires, January 2025: In early January 2025, a series of devastating wildfires, fueled by strong Santa Ana winds and extreme drought, devastated large parts of the Los Angeles region, especially the Pacific Palisades and Altadena neighborhoods. The fires claimed at least 30 lives, destroyed over 16,000 buildings and caused economic damage in the range of $250 billion to $275 billion – one of the costliest natural disasters in U.S. history. Governor Newsom declared a state of emergency and initiated extensive reconstruction and relief efforts, which are still ongoing more than a year later. For travelers who want to visit corresponding neighborhoods, it is advisable to do up-to-date research on the status of reconstruction in advance, as individual areas may still be affected and partially closed.

The events of 2025 underscore a longer-term trend: wildfires have become more frequent and intense in California in recent years, which experts attribute to increasing droughts related to climate change, among other things.

California – Food & Drink

Just as false as the prejudice that Americans only eat pizza and fast food is the claim that Californians have reinvented cooking with their “Californian cuisine”. In the kitchens of many top restaurants in the L.A. area, influences from European, Asian and Creole cuisine can be found, with ingredients mostly fresh from the fertile fruit and vegetable growing areas of the north. On the coasts, seafood dishes such as crabs, crabs and various saltwater fish are often on the menu.

The culinary diversity of North America is fed by numerous ethnic culinary traditions – Creole, Chinese, Thai, Southern, Tex-Mex or Californian cuisine – which are not found everywhere, but are particularly diverse in large cities such as Los Angeles and San Francisco. Many fast food chains are better than their reputation; in the west of the USA, Denny’s branches, among others, have established themselves with continuous operation.

The trend towards meatless or plant-based diets has intensified significantly in California since the 2000s – vegan and vegetarian options are now part of the standard offer practically everywhere, far beyond the “veggie burgers” that were common in the past.

Etiquette: Before eating in a restaurant, the rule “wait to be seated” usually applies – you wait for a table to be assigned instead of sitting yourself. Standing in line is a firmly anchored cultural ritual that also applies at the reception, bank counters or cinema box offices.

Portions are often generous, especially in the evening; sharing dishes or packing leftovers as a “doggy bag” is completely common and socially accepted.

Compared to Europe, people in North America eat dinner early, often from or before 9 p.m., in smaller towns sometimes even earlier.

The minimum age for consuming and buying alcohol is 21 years nationwide and is usually strictly controlled in bars, clubs and casinos; a valid driver’s license or passport serves as proof of age.

Indoor smoking bans have long been implemented very consistently in California: Smoking is prohibited throughout restaurants, bars, offices and most indoor public spaces.

The coffee culture, significantly influenced by the Seattle-based Starbucks chain, is now firmly established, supplemented by a broad, often very high-quality third-wave coffee scene in many Californian cities.

Restaurant recommendations: The original article contained a list of specific restaurants with addresses and telephone numbers (including Domenico’s on the Wharf in Monterey, Musso & Frank Grill and Spago in Los Angeles). Since the opening status, addresses and contact details of individual restaurants change frequently over the years and some of them may no longer exist in the same form, it is advisable to check this information individually before republishing it – Musso & Frank Grill in Hollywood (since 1919), for example, is still a well-known, historic traditional restaurant.

California – Sightseeing

Big Sur: The coastal strip about 100 miles south of Monterey is known for its dramatic landscape, where the coastal mountains fall directly into the Pacific Ocean. Highway 1, which winds around the mountain slopes, surprises with ever new views.

Yosemite National Park: The famous Yosemite Valley is located about 150 miles east of San Francisco in the Sierra Nevada. The valley, which is only about 12 miles long and about 1.5 km wide, is surrounded by granite walls over 600 m high, over which nine waterfalls tumble, including the 740 m high Yosemite Falls – an extremely popular destination for tourists, hikers and mountaineers.

Sequoia National Park: Located in the Sierra Nevada between Los Angeles and San Francisco, along with neighboring Kings Canyon National Park, less crowded than Yosemite and ideal for hiking and viewing the impressive redwoods.

Lake Tahoe: Surrounded by dense forests and mountain peaks, the mountain lake (around 1,900 m above sea level) on the border between California and Nevada is one of the most popular holiday regions in California – in summer for water sports and hiking, in winter for skiing. The best time to travel is usually June to September (average around 26 °C), and May and October also often offer pleasant temperatures of around 19 °C.

Death Valley: Located about 150 miles east of Los Angeles near the Nevada border, with some of the most impressive desert landscapes in the USA; in summer, daytime temperatures of well over 45 °C are regularly reached. Despite the hostile conditions, the rugged, colorful rock formations and bright white salt lakes are fascinating.

Joshua Tree National Park: Located east of Palm Springs, with the striking flora and fauna of the Mojave Desert, including thousands of the eponymous Joshua Trees – still more of an insider tip for serious hikers and climbers than a mass tourism destination.

San Diego: Located on California’s southern border near the Mexican border, known for its extraordinarily pleasant climate and more relaxed atmosphere compared to larger Los Angeles. San Diego has one of the best zoos in the world; the Mexican border city of Tijuana is a short distance away.

California Wine Country: California is the largest wine producer in the USA. Napa Valley and Sonoma Valley, about 50 miles north of San Francisco, are among the best-known wine-growing areas, closely followed by the central coast between Monterey and Santa Barbara. Numerous smaller wine-growing areas can be found throughout the state; many wineries continue to offer guided tours and wine tastings (some for a fee).

California – Palm Springs

The city of Palm Springs, located in a desert valley about 100 miles east of Los Angeles, has long been a popular retreat for movie stars and wealthy Californians, attracted by the warmth and year-round sunshine.

Palm Springs and its neighboring communities are located on Interstate 10 and Route 111 (also known as Palm Canyon Drive). Even in the days of silent movies, Palm Springs was a retreat for Hollywood’s rich and famous; some of the historic mansions remain to this day, and many streets bear the names of well-known former residents (including Frank Sinatra Drive, Dinah Shore Drive, Gene Autry Trail, Bob Hope Cultural Center).

Several places have grown together around the original desert bath: Palm Springs, Desert Hot Springs, Cathedral City, Rancho Mirage, Palm Desert, Indian Wells and Indio. Along Route 111 you will find elegant estates, green golf courses and exclusive shopping malls.

The range of accommodation options ranges from luxury resort hotels to budget motels. The main attractions remain the weather, the numerous golf courses and the elegant resorts. Rain is rare, the sun shines practically all year round; the months of January to May are particularly recommended because of the lower tourist flows and pleasant temperatures.

Golf is played year-round, with over a hundred courses in the region – a circumstance that has been increasingly critically discussed in recent years in view of the increasingly scarce water in the southwest of the USA; many golf courses and municipalities in the region have now introduced water-saving measures.

Note: All information on population figures, political offices and current events is subject to change and has been researched to the best of our knowledge as of August 2026. For up-to-date information, especially on the status of reconstruction after the forest fires in 2025, it is advisable to do up-to-date research before travelling.