California

A regularly recurring issue in California politics is whether the state should continue to aggressively expand its freeway network or concentrate on improving mass transit networks in urban areas. LRY had drifted away from the Unitarian Universalist Association, and had severe internal problems that led to its collapse. The rapidly growing population of the state is straining all of its transportation networks. Common Ground was called after the collapse of LRY (Liberal Religious Youth), the youth organization that preceded YRUU. Both Greyhound and Amtrak provide intercity bus service. It was created in 1981 and 1982, at two conferences, Common Ground 1 & 2. Nearly all counties operate bus lines, and many cities operate their own bus and light rail lines as well. YRUU (Young Religious Unitarian Universalists) is the youth organization that exists inside the Unitarian Universalist Association.

San Diego has Trolley light rail and Coaster commuter rail services. A comprehensive discussion of Unitarian Universalism can be found in the book Challenge of a Liberal Faith by George N. Marshall (ISBN 0933840314). Altamont Commuter Express (ACE) connects Tracy, Livermore and other edge cities with Silicon Valley. These are often termed "seventh principle" activities because of the seventh principle quoted above. Metrolink commuter rail serves much of Southern California, and Caltrain commuter rail connects San Jose to San Francisco. Many congregations are heavily involved in projects and efforts aimed at supporting environmental causes and sustainability. San Jose and Sacramento have only light rail. Gays and lesbians are regularly ordained as UU ministers, and services are performed recognizing committed same-sex relationships.

San Francisco and Los Angeles both have rapid rail/subway networks, in addition to light rail. Many UU congregations have undertaken a series of organizational and practical steps to be acknowledged as a "Welcoming Congregation", a congregation which has taken specific steps to welcome and integrate gay and lesbian members. Intercity rail travel is provided by Amtrak. Politically conservative Unitarian Universalists point out that neither religious liberalism nor the Principles and Purposes of the UUA require liberal politics. The Port of Oakland handles most of the ocean containers passing through Northern California. But the principles of compassion, respect, justice, and diversity are the foundation of all UU politics. The giant seaport complex formed by the Port of Los Angeles and the Port of Long Beach in Southern California is the largest in the country and responsible for handling about a fourth of all container cargo traffic in the United States. Like the beliefs of Unitarian Universalists, their politics are decided by individuals.

California also has several excellent seaports. This is not to say that the politics of UUs are uniform. There are about a dozen important commercial airports and many more general aviation airports throughout the state's 58 counties. Others work to end homelessness, racism, domestic violence, homophobia, sexual assault, and HIV/AIDS. As for air travel, San Francisco International Airport and Los Angeles International Airport are major hubs for trans-Pacific and transcontinental traffic. Some work for causes such as environmental protection, peace, feminism, gun control, free speech, safe and legal abortion, and animal rights. only by New York City for severe traffic congestion. Most Unitarian Universalists oppose the death penalty and many are active in political movements to end it in the US.

Most Californians usually resort to the roads for their commutes, errands, and vacations, which is why California's cities have a reputation equalled in the U.S. William Sinkford, is African-American, making Unitarian Universalism the first traditionally white religion to be headed by a member of an ethnic minority. California's vast terrain is connected by an extensive system of freeways, expressways, and highways, all maintained by Caltrans and patrolled by the California Highway Patrol. The current head of the Unitarian Universalist Association, Rev. One thing they all have in common is a state mandate to teach fourth grade students about the history of California, including the role of the early missions; most schools implement this by requiring students complete a multiple medium project. The Selma to Montgomery marches for voting rights are best known as Bloody Sunday, although technically that refers only to September 7, the most violent day of the three. In poor regions, literacy rates may fall below 70%. Reeb and approximately 20% of UU ministers marched with Martin Luther King in the three marches from Selma, Alabama, to Montgomery.

In some regions, administrative costs divert a significant amount of educational monies from instructional purposes. Two weeks after his death, Viola Fauver Gregg Liuzzo, a Unitarian Universalist civil rights activist, was murdered by white supremacists after her participation in the protest march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama. The quality of the local schools depends strongly on the local tax base, and the size of the local administration. and a member of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, was clubbed in Selma, Alabama on March 8, 1965, and died two days later of massive head trauma. The primary schools are of varying effectiveness. Reeb, a minister at All Souls Church, Unitarian, in Washington, D.C. Mandatory full-time instruction begins at age 6. James J.

Elementary schools teach pure skills, history and social studies, with optional half-day kindergartens beginning at age 5. UUs were and are still very involved in the fight to end racism in the US. In many districts, junior high schools or middle schools teach electives with a strong skills-based curriculum, for ages from 11 to 13. It is therefore common to see Unitarian Universalists and Quakers working together. They accept students from roughly age 14 to 18, with mandatory education ceasing at age 16. Unitarian Universalists and Quakers still share certain principles, notably that they are creedless religions with a long-standing commitment to social justice. Secondary education consists of high schools that teach elective courses in trades, languages and liberal arts with tracks for gifted, college-bound and industrial arts students. Anthony was a Unitarian and Quaker, and was extremely influential in the women's suffrage movement.

Near Los Angeles, there are numerous art and film institutes, including the prestigious Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and the CalArts Institute. Susan B. For example, Southern California, with one of the highest densities of post-secondary institutions in the world, has a very large base of classically trained vocalists that compete in large choir festivals. In the nineteenth century, Unitarians and Universalists were active in abolitionism, the women's movement, and other liberal social reform movements. This leads to many unique entertainment and educational opportunities for residents. Unitarian Universalists have often been active in liberal political activism, notably the civil rights movement, the gay rights movement, the social justice movement, and the feminist movement. California has hundreds of private colleges and universities, including many religious and special-purpose institutions. Another common covenant is as follows:.

Preeminent private institutions include Stanford University, the University of Southern California (USC), and the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) (which administers the Jet Propulsion Laboratory for NASA). Paul Beedle, former minister of the Universalist Unitarian Church of Riverside (http://www.uuchurchofriverside.org), discusses the foundations of the faith, quoting a common Unitarian Universalist affirmation:. The system serves a student population of over 2.9 million. In his sermon Rev. It is composed of 109 colleges organized into 72 districts. While the circumstances of this service were not ordinary, it is an excellent example of a Unitarian Universalist service in many ways. It also provides lower division general-education courses, whose credit units are transferable to the CSU and UC systems. One UU service that was held the week after the September 11 attack is posted online (http://members.aol.com/revpaulbeedle/20010916.html).

It awards certificates and associate degrees. But there are also UU congregations which have liked the term fellowship and retained it even though they have grown much larger. The California Community Colleges system provides vocational education, remedial education, and continuing education programs. These congregations tend to be younger and smaller than other UU societies and may favor less traditional service forms. Lower-division course credits are frequently transferable to the University of California. Some congregations are explicitly known not as churches but as fellowships. It is intended to accept most college-bound high-school students, while carrying out some research, especially in applied sciences. Music is not limited to traditional hymns, but often includes instrumental music or singing songs from other traditions.

With over 400,000 students, the CSU system is the largest university system in the United States. Teenagers often participate in "Coming of Age," a program in which they explore their own personal beliefs and spirituality. The California State University system provides education for teachers, the trades, agriculture and industry. Other rituals replace these traditions, including Water Communion, Flower Communion, and dedications of children and babies. The University of California also administers federal laboratories for the Federal Department of Energy: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, and Los Alamos National Laboratory. However, most UU churches do not perform the traditional Christian rites, such as baptism, or communion or confirmation, though many that continue these practices are also members of the Council of Christian Churches within the Unitarian Universalist Association (CXCUUA). An eleventh campus, in Merced, is scheduled to open in 2005.[1] (http://www.universityofcalifornia.edu/campuses/welcome.html) The UC system is intended to accept students from the top 12.5% of college-bound students, and provide most graduate studies and research. There is usually a structured service that includes the singing of hymns and a sermon by the minister of the congregation.

A tenth campus, in San Francisco, teaches only law. Religious services are usually held on Sundays and often resemble, to a certain extent, the form and format of Protestant worship. A ninth campus, in San Francisco, teaches only graduate health-sciences students. Other symbols include a slightly off center cross within a circle (a Universalist symbol associated with the Humiliati movement in the mid twentieth century) and a pair of open hands releasing a dove. The eight general campuses are in Berkeley, Los Angeles, Davis, Santa Cruz, Santa Barbara, Irvine, Riverside, and San Diego. The most common symbol of Unitarian Universalism is the flaming chalice, often framed by two overlapping rings that represent Unitarianism and Universalism. The preeminent state university is the 9-campus University of California, which employs more Nobel Prize winners than any other institution in the world and is considered one of the finest public higher-education systems in the country. Some churches might be difficult to distinguish from a liberal Protestant church, while others might not seem like a church at all to members of more traditional faiths.

California's educational system is supported by a unique constitutional amendment that requires 40% of state revenues to be spent on education. As in theology, Unitarian Universalist worship and ritual are often a combination of elements derived from other faith traditions alongside original practices and symbols. Main article: List of colleges and universities in California. At first the new organization called themselves the "American Unitarian Association", but since the UUA is the owner of that name, they eventually agreed to call themselves the "American Unitarian Conference.". 1 Belvedere, California - Marin County - $113,595
2 Rancho Santa Fe, California - San Diego County - $113,132
3 Atherton, California - San Mateo County - $112,408
4 Rolling Hills, California - Los Angeles County - $111,031
5 Woodside, California - San Mateo County - $104,667
6 Portola Valley, California - San Mateo County - $99,621
7 Newport Coast, California - Orange County - $98,770
8 Hillsborough, California - San Mateo County - $98,643
9 Diablo, California - Contra Costa County - $95,419
10 Fairbanks Ranch, California - San Diego County - $94,150
11 Hidden Hills, California - Los Angeles County - $94,096
12 Los Altos Hills, California - Santa Clara County - $92,840
13 Tiburon, California - Marin County - $85,966
14 Sausalito, California - Marin County - $81,040
15 Monte Sereno, California - Santa Clara County - $76,577
16 Indian Wells, California - Riverside County $76,187
17 Malibu, California - Los Angeles County - $74,336
18 Del Monte Forest, California - Monterey County - $70,609
19 Piedmont, California - Alameda County - $70,539
20 Montecito, California - Santa Barbara County - $70,077
21 Palos Verdes Estates, California - Los Angeles County - $69,040
22 Emerald Lake Hills, California - San Mateo County - $68,966
23 Loyola, California - Santa Clara County - $68,730
24 Blackhawk-Camino Tassajara, California - Contra Costa County - $66,972
25 Los Altos, California - Santa Clara County - $66,776
See complete list of California places. In 2000, a few Unitarian Universalists founded the American Unitarian Conference (AUC) for the purpose of promoting classical Unitarianism. The following list is ranked by per capita income:. In 1995 the UUA helped establish the International_Council_of_Unitarians_and_Universalists (ICUU).

Thanks to the state's powerful economy, certain California cities are among the wealthiest on the planet, as evidenced by large numbers of extravagant mansions, sports cars, and beautiful people. In 2002, the CUC split off from the UUA. The state of California has many cities, and the majority of them are within one of the large metropolitan areas below. In the same year, the Canadian Unitarian Council (CUC) formed and became an arm of the UUA to service the needs and interest of Canadian Unitarian Universalists. The three largest Protestant denominations in California are: Baptist (30% of total state population), Methodist (10%), and Lutheran (6%). In 1961, the American Unitarian Association (AUA) merged with the Universalist Church of America (UCA), thus forming the Unitarian Universalist Association. The religious affiliations of the people of California are as follows:. Both Unitarianism and Universalism evolved over time into inclusive, tolerant religions, without strict dogmas.

Religion. One observation made years ago about Unitarianism and Universalism, long before their merger, was that (paraphrase) "Universalists believe that God is too good to condemn man, while Unitarians believe that man is too good to be condemned by God.". Among the 50 states and the District of Columbia, California ranks:. These two religious bodies always had a great deal of commonality and communication between them; they were often associated in the public eye. Rankings. In 1793, Universalism emerged as a particular denomination in the United States, eventually called the Universalist Church in America. California has the second-largest Asian population (percentage-wise) of any state, Hawaii having the largest. It denied the doctrine of eternal damnation; instead, it proclaimed that a loving God would redeem all souls.

Because of high levels of immigration from Latin America, especially Mexico, and higher birth rates among the Hispanic population, Hispanics are predicted to become a majority around 2040. Universalism was another Christian heresy with a long history. Hispanics make up almost one-third of the population; in order, other groups are Asian Americans, African Americans and American Indian. In the 19th century, under the influence of Ralph Waldo Emerson (who had been a Unitarian minister) and the other Transcendentalists, Unitarianism began its long journey from liberal Protestantism to its present syncretic form. It is the third minority-majority state, after Hawaii and New Mexico. Non-Hispanic Whites are still the largest group, but are no longer a majority of the population due to high levels of immigration in recent years. In the aftermath of their various historical circumstances, some of these churches became member congregations of the Congregationalist United Church of Christ organization, others became part of the UUA and its predecessor organizations, while a few continue to remain part of both organizations and are explicitly Christian UUA Churches. California lacks a majority ethnic group. After the schism, some of those churches remained Congregationalist, while others voted to become Unitarian.

California's population is:. The dispute culminated in the foundation of the American Unitarian Association as a separate denomination in 1825. Race and Sex. As conflict grew between Unitarian and Trinitarian factions, Unitarians gained a key faculty position at Harvard in 1805. California is the most populous state in the U.S., and contains about 12% of the U.S.'s population. Beginning in the late 18th century, a Unitarian movement began within some of these churches. Census Bureau reports California's 2000 population as 33,871,648, and estimates its 2003 population as 35,484,453. After the American Revolution, they became independent and organized as individual churches, electing their own ministers.

The U.S. In the United States, the Unitarian movement began primarily in the Congregationalist parish churches of New England. These churches, which are still seen today in nearly every New England town square, trace their roots to the division of the Puritan colonies into parishes for the administration of their religious needs. Population. Michael Servetus, a Spanish proto-Unitarian, was burned at the stake in Geneva, in 1553, on the orders of John Calvin. See also: California unemployment statistics. Unitarian churches were formally established in Transylvania and Poland (the Socinians) in the sixteenth century. Recent (Spring 2005) economic data (http://uclaforecast.com) indicates that economic growth has resumed in California, although still slightly below the national annualized forecast of 3.9%. Unitarianism was rejected by orthodox Christianity at the First Council of Nicaea in 325, but it resurfaced subsequently in church history.

The high-technology sectors in Northern California, specifically Silicon Valley, in Santa Clara and San Mateo counties, are currently emerging from economic depression caused by the dot.com bust, which caused the loss of over 250,000 jobs in Northern California alone. The term may refer to any belief about the nature of Jesus that affirms God as a singular entity and rejects the doctrine of the Trinity. While some coastal cities include some of the wealthiest per-capita areas in the U.S., notably San Francisco and Marin County, the non-agricultural central counties have some of the highest poverty rates in the U.S. Traditionally, Unitarianism was a heretical doctrine emerging out of Christianity. Most farm managers are highly educated, most with at least master's degrees. Here are three of the speeches submitted:. The Central Valley has the most extreme contrasts of income, with migrant farm workers making less than minimum wage, contrasted with farmers who frequently manage multimillion-dollar farms. These are short speeches that could be made in the course of an elevator ride.

Per capita income varies widely by geographic region and profession. Recently, the UU World magazine asked for contributions of "elevator speeches" explaining UUism. Per capita personal income is $33,415 as of 2003, ranking 12^th in the nation. The Unitarian Universalist attitude toward the Christian Bible and other sacred works is given in "Our Unitarian Universalist Faith: Frequently Asked Questions". This is followed by aerospace; entertainment, primarily television by dollar volume, although many movies are still made in California; and light manufacturing including computer hardware and software, and the mining of borax. Within weeks, Strayhorn reversed her decision. The predominant industry, more than twice as large as the next largest, is agriculture, (including fruit, vegetables, dairy, and wine). In May 2004, Texas Comptroller Carole Keeton Strayhorn ruled that Unitarian Universalism was not a religion because it "does not have one system of belief," and stripped the Red River Unitarian Universalist Church in Denison, Texas of its tax-exempt status.

If California was considered as an independent self-sufficient economy, it would be ranked the 6th, ahead of France. The lack of creed or dogma has been a cause for ridicule among some who argue that Unitarian Universalism is thus without religious content. state, and every country in the world (by Purchasing Power Parity) save for the other combined 49 United States, China, Japan, Germany, and the United Kingdom. This principle is often referred to as the "seventh principle.". The state's GDP, which at $1.4 trillion USD (as of 2003), is greater than that of every other U.S. Most recently, the last principle (adopted in 1985), "Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part" and the last source (adopted in 1995), "Spiritual teachings of earth-centered traditions which celebrate the sacred circle of life and instruct us to live in harmony with the rhythms of nature" were added to explicitly include members with Neopagan, Native American and other Nature-centered spiritualities. California is responsible for 14% of the United States' gross domestic product (GDP). Unitarian Universalism is often referred to by its adherents as a living tradition, and the principles and purposes have been modified over time to reflect changes in spiritual beliefs among the membership.

Many California endemics have become endangered, as urbanization, logging, overgrazing, and the introduction of exotic species have encroached on their habitat. Official permission was granted by the UUA to include them here:. California's great abundance of species of California lilac (Ceanothus) is an example of adaptive radiation. The modern form of these was adopted in 1984 and is presented here, as published in church literature and on the UUA website (http://www.uua.org/aboutuua/principles.html/reg.html). Many other endemics originated through differentiation or adaptive radiation, whereby multiple species develop from a common ancestor to take advantage of diverse ecological conditions. Although they do not have an official creed or dogma, Unitarian Universalist congregations operate from a set of base Principles and Purposes. California endemics include relict species that have died out elsewhere, including the redwoods and the Catalina Ironwood (Lyonothamnus floribundus). RE classes may deal with moral values and the problems of growing up, as well as exploring the teachings and traditions of other religions.

California has a rather high percentage of endemic species. Children who are brought up in the UU faith often, though not necessarily, attend Sunday religious education (RE) classes, which are somewhat akin to Sunday School in Protestant churches. The state of California is part of the Nearctic ecozone, and spans a number of terrestrial ecoregions, and is perhaps the most ecologically diverse state in the United States. Parents who do not subscribe to a particular dogma but who want to give their children some kind of religious background are also drawn to the UU faith. California's diverse geography, geology, soils and climate have generated a tremendous diversity of plant and animal life. Often parents choose to bring up their children in the UU faith as a compromise if the mother and father come from different religious backgrounds. Ecologically, California is one of the richest and most diverse parts of the world, and includes some of the most endangered ecological communities. Unitarian Universalism often draws on adult "refugees" from other faiths.

Main article: Ecology of California. People join the UU faith for a variety of reasons. The low deserts east of the southern California mountains, including the Imperial and Coachella valleys and the lower Colorado River, are part of the Sonoran Desert, with hot summers and mild winters; the higher elevation deserts of eastern California, including the Mojave Desert, Owens Valley, and the Modoc Plateau, are part of the Great Basin region, with hot summers and cold winters. While some people are raised in the UU faith, a greater number of members have come from other religious backgrounds. California's desert climate regions lie east of the high Sierra Nevada and southern California's Transverse Ranges and Peninsular Ranges. One UU minister, the Reverend James Ford, has even been acknowledged as a Zen master. On the east side of the mountains is a drier "rain shadow". Many UU congregations have study groups which study the doctrines and spiritual practices of Neopaganism, Christianity, Buddhism, Judaism, Islam, and other faith traditions.

The high mountains, including the Sierra Nevada, have a mountain climate with snow in winter and moderate heat in summer. This vast diversity of views is considered a strength by the UU faith, since its emphasis is on the common search for meaning among its members rather than adherence to any particular doctrine. The Central Valley has a Mediterranean climate, but with greater temperature extremes than the coastal areas; parts of the valley are often filled with thick fog, similar to that found in the coastal valleys. A large portion of its members consider themselves humanists, and many may hold Christian, Buddhist, Jewish, pagan, atheist, agnostic, pantheist, or other beliefs, or may not choose a particular theological label. Northwestern California has a temperate climate with rainfall of 15-40 inches (38-102 cm) per year. Unitarian Universalist churches welcome gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered people as well as the disabled, and the church does not discriminate on the basis of skin color, national origin, or ethnicity. Westerly winds from the ocean also bring moisture, and the northern parts of the state generally receive higher rainfall than the south. California's mountain ranges influence the climate as well; moisture-laden air from the west cools as it ascends the mountains, dropping moisture; some of the rainiest parts of the state are west-facing mountain slopes. A major difference between Unitarian Universalism and other major religions is a strong emphasis on tolerance and acceptance.

As one moves away from the coast, the climate becomes more continental, with hotter summers and colder winters. It is a syncretic religion, which respects all the major religious traditions, and religious services often draw from the various world faiths. The influence of the ocean generally moderates temperature extremes, creating cooler summers and warmer winters, and the cold oceanic California Current offshore often creates summer fog near the coast. Unitarian Universalism is a creedless religion. Most of the state has a Mediterranean climate, with rainy winters and dry summers. Unitarian Universalist churches worldwide are represented in the International Council of Unitarians and Universalists (ICUU). Different regions of California have very different climates, depending on their latitude, elevation, and proximity to the coast. The UUSC works to promote social justice and human rights around the world.

Other volcanoes include Lassen Peak, which erupted from 1914 and 1921, and Mount Shasta. The Unitarian Universalist Service Committee is a related nonsectarian organization which started out of an effort to smuggle Jews and other targeted groups out of Nazi Germany. California is also home to several volcanoes, some active such as Mammoth Mountain. Unitarian Universalism has its origin, and most of its adherents, in the United States, where its largest organization is the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA). Notable movies in which the possible destruction of much of California by an earthquake includes the titles Earthquake, A View to a Kill, Escape from L.A. and Superman. Its roots are in Protestantism, although Christian beliefs are no longer required for adherents to modern Unitarian Universalism and most Unitarian Universalists (UUs) do not consider themselves Christian. The fact that this scenario is completely implausible from a geologic standpoint does not lessen its acceptance in public conventional wisdom, or its exploitation by the producers of science fiction and fantasy media. Unitarian Universalism (UU or UUism) is a liberal religious tradition that was formed by the merger of Unitarian and Universalist groups.

Popular legend has it that, eventually, a huge earthquake will result in the splitting of coastal California from the continent, either to sink into the ocean or form a new landmass. Spiritual teachings of earth-centered traditions which celebrate the sacred circle of life and instruct us to live in harmony with the rhythms of nature. While more powerful earthquakes in the United States have occurred in Alaska and along the Mississippi River, California earthquakes are notable in their frequency and location in highly populated areas. Humanist teachings which counsel us to heed the guidance of reason and the results of science, and warn us against idolatries of the mind and spirit. California is famous for its earthquakes due partly to the presence of the San Andreas Fault. Jewish and Christian teachings which call us to respond to God's love by loving our neighbors as ourselves;. To the northeast of the Mojave lies Death Valley, which contains the lowest, hottest point in North America. Wisdom from the world's religions which inspires us in our ethical and spiritual life;.

The south-central desert is called the Mojave. Words and deeds of prophetic women and men which challenge us to confront powers and structures of evil with justice, compassion, and the transforming power of love;. In the south lie the Transverse Ranges and a large salt lake, the Salton Sea. Direct experience of that transcending mystery and wonder, affirmed in all cultures, which moves us to a renewal of the spirit and an openness to the forces which create and uphold life;. To the west is Clear Lake, California's largest freshwater lake by area. Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part. To the east of the Sierra are Owens Valley and Mono Lake, an essential seabird habitat. The goal of world community with peace, liberty, and justice for all;.

Also located in the Sierra are the world famous Yosemite National Park and a deep freshwater lake, Lake Tahoe, the largest lake in the state by volume. The right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregations and in society at large;. In the center and east of the state are the Sierra Nevada, containing the highest peak in the continental U.S., Mount Whitney, at 14,505 feet (4421 m). A free and responsible search for truth and meaning;. With dredging, several of these rivers have become sufficiently large and deep that several inland cities, notably Stockton, California, are seaports. Acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregations;. Mountain-fed rivers, dams, and canals provide water to irrigate the Central Valley. Justice, equity and compassion in human relations;.

Down the center of the state lies the Central Valley, a huge, fertile valley bounded by the coastal mountain ranges in the west, the granite Sierra Nevada to the east, the volcanic Cascade Range in the north and the Tehachapi Mountains in the south. The inherent worth and dignity of every person;. California has extremely varied geography. However, the capital, Sacramento is in the Central Valley. Most major cities cling to the cool, pleasant seacoast along the Pacific, notably San Francisco, San Jose, Los Angeles, Santa Ana/Orange County, and San Diego.

With an area of 410,000 km² it is the third largest state in the U.S. The state has striking natural features, including an expansive central valley, high mountains, and hot dry deserts. California borders the Pacific Ocean, Oregon, Nevada, Arizona, and the Mexican state of Baja California. Main article: Geography of California.

See also: List of California Governors, US Congressional Delegations from California, List of California counties, List of California ballot propositions. Bush received a majority of votes in more than half the counties, but still lost California by 9%. In 2004, George W. While California is among the most Democratic and liberal states in the nation, there are areas of California which are politically very conservative, notably Orange and San Diego counties.

House of Representatives. 33 Democrats and 20 Republicans represent the state in the U.S. Senators from California are Democrats Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer. The two U.S.

California has the most Congressmen and Presidential Electors of any state. Electoral College. It has 55 electoral votes in the U.S. At the national level, California is represented by two senators and 53 representatives.

California's legal system is explicitly based on English common law but carries a few features from Spanish civil law. California judges are always appointed by the Governor but must be regularly reconfirmed by the electorate. California's giant judiciary is supervised by the seven Justices of the Supreme Court of California. The capital moved to Sacramento for good on February 25, 1854, except for a four-month temporary move in 1862 to San Francisco due to severe flooding in Sacramento.

The capital moved to Sacramento temporarily in 1852 when construction on a State House could not be completed in time in Vallejo. In California's early history, the capital was located in Monterey (1775-1849), San Jose (1849-1851), Vallejo (1852-1853), Benicia (1853-1854), and San Francisco (1862). The state's capital is Sacramento. Schwarzenegger replaced Governor Gray Davis (1999-2003) who was removed from office by the October 2003 California recall election.

Frazier). Schwarzenegger was only the second person in the history of the United States to be put into office by a recall of a sitting Governor (the first was the 1921 recall of North Dakota Governor Lynn J. The current Governor is the Republican Arnold Schwarzenegger, whose current term lasts through January 2007. In the Senate, there are 25 Democrats and 15 Republicans.

For the 2005-2006 session, there are 48 Democrats and 32 Republicans in the Assembly. The Senators from the even-numbered districts are elected in the intervening even-numbered years, in the gubernatorial election cycle. The Senators representing the odd-numbered districts are elected in years evenly divisible by four, i.e., presidential election years. The terms of the Senators are staggered so that half the membership is elected every two years.

Senators serve four year terms and Assembly members two. The California State Legislature consists of a 40 member Senate and 80 member Assembly. The Governor of California and the other state constitutional officers serve four-year terms and may be reelected only once. The State also allows direct participation of the electorate by referendum, recall, and ratification.

California is governed as a republic, with three branches of government, the executive branch consisting of the Governor of California and the other elected constitutional officers, the legislative branch consisting of the Assembly and Senate, and the judicial branch consisting of the Supreme Court of California and lower courts. Main article: California government and politics. The state is liberal-leaning, technologically and culturally savvy, and a world center of engineering businesses, the film and television industry and, as mentioned above, American agricultural production. From 1965 to the present, this population completely changed and became one of the most diverse in the world.

In the period from 1900 to 1965 the population grew from fewer than one million to become the most populous state in the Union, sending the most electors to the Electoral College to elect the President. Citrus, oranges in particular, were widely grown, and the foundation was laid for the state's prodigious agricultural production of today. Out West, residents were discovering that California was extremely well suited to fruit cultivation and agriculture in general. The connection of the far Pacific West to the eastern population centers came in 1869 with the completion of the first transcontinental railroad.

During the American Civil War, popular support was divided 70% for the South and 30% for the North, and although California officially entered on the side of the North, many troops went east to fight with the Confederacy. In 1850, the state was admitted to the Union. But after gold was discovered, the population burgeoned with Americans and a few Europeans in the great California gold rush. In 1848, the Spanish-speaking population of distant upper California numbered around 4,000.

portion, Alta (upper) California, was to become the state of California. The western part of the U.S. The Mexican portion, Baja (lower) California was later divided into the states of Baja California and Baja California Sur. Following the Mexican-American War, the region was divided between Mexico and the United States.

Sloat of the United States Navy sailed into San Francisco Bay and claimed California for the United States. The Republic came to a sudden end when Commodore John D. In 1846, at the outset of the Mexican-American War, a California Republic was founded and the Bear Flag was flown that featured a golden bear and a star. Upon Mexican independence from Spain, the chain of missions became the property of the Mexican government, and they were quickly dissolved and abandoned.

Beginning in the late 1700s, Spanish missionaries set up tiny settlements on enormous grants of land in the vast territory north of Baja California. The first to explore the entire coast and claim possession of it was Francis Drake in 1579. The first European to explore parts of the coast was the Portuguese Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo in 1542. Main article: History of California.

(For further discussion, see: Origin of the name California.). The name comes from Las sergas de Espladián (Adventures of Spladian), a 16th century novel, by Garci Rodríguez de Montalvo, where there is an island paradise called California. In these early times, the boundaries of the Sea of Cortez and the Pacific coast were only partially explored and California was shown on early maps as an island. The entire region originally known as California was composed of the Mexican peninsula now known as Baja California and the land in the current states of California, Nevada, Utah, and parts of Arizona and Wyoming, known as Alta California.

The vast majority of the population lives within 50 miles (80 km) of the Pacific Ocean. California dominates American culture and economy, contributing significant advances in technology and legal reform, in addition to paying significantly more to the federal system than it receives in benefits. Southern California is highly populated, while the larger northern California is less densely populated. postal abbreviation is CA, and its Associated Press abbreviation is Calif.. California's U.S.

The state's official nickname of "The Golden State" is often thought to be a reference to California’s 1849 gold rush but is in fact reference to the native grasses that turn a golden color during the dry season. California is both physically and demographically diverse. It is the most populous and third largest state in the U.S., has a population roughly the size of Canada and it is the sixth largest economy in the world. California is a state located in the western United States, bordering the Pacific Ocean.

Walnut Creek (San Francisco Bay Area). Ventura (Greater Los Angeles). Torrance (Greater Los Angeles). Thousand Oaks (Greater Los Angeles).

Temecula (equidistant between Inland Empire and San Diego Area). Sunnyvale (Silicon Valley). Simi Valley (Greater Los Angeles). Santa Clarita (Greater Los Angeles).

Santa Clara (Silicon Valley). Santa Ana (Orange County). Pasadena (Greater Los Angeles). Palo Alto (Silicon Valley).

Ontario (Inland Empire). Newport Beach (Orange County). Irvine (Orange County). Huntington Beach (Orange County).

Glendale (Greater Los Angeles). Fremont (San Francisco Bay Area). Concord (San Francisco Bay Area). Chula Vista (San Diego Area).

Burbank (Greater Los Angeles). Berkeley (San Francisco Bay Area). Anaheim (Orange County). Important suburbs (within or near the above urbanized areas)