California // Sacramento, CA // Western Region // Pacific Time (The Golden State) Mexican cession[1]: February 2, 1848 Statehood granted: September 9, 1850 // 31st state [1] After the Mexican cession of the area in the peace treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, which ended the American-Mexican War (1846 - 1848), an US Military government was established until December 20, 1849, followed by a local civil government until statehood. [»This Day in History« - Learn more about CA's history]

#4279 // June 14, 2008 (self-adhesive coil definitive) Flags of Our Nation Series California State Flag and coastal area	#1957 // April 14, 1982 (ex pane of 50 different stamps) State Bird & Flower of California California Quail (Lophortyx californica californica) and California Poppy	#1663 // February 23, 1976 (ex pane of 50 different stamps) American Bicentennial Series California State Flag

#773 // May 29, 1935 // San Diego #778b // May 9, 1936 // NYC Souvenir Sheet California Pacific International Exposition in San Diego, CA, celebrating the 400th anniversary of Coronado's discovery of the southwest Pacific Francisco Vázquez de Coronado y Luján, Spanish conquistador, (* ca. 1510, † 1554) View of San Diego Bay, CA, and exposition area

#2704 // September 28, 1992 // San Diego, CA 450th Anniversary of the exploring journey of Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo (* ca. 1499; † 1543) On June 27, 1542, the Portuguese explorer set sail from New Spain (present-day Mexico) in search of a water route between the Atlantic and the Pacific Ocean. Three months later, he landed at present-day San Diego, CA. Since no portrait exist of this famous conquistador, the stamp depicts an artist's conception.

#954 // January 28, 1948 California Gold Centennial Sutter's Mill, Coloma, CA	#997 // September 9, 1950 100th Anniversary of California Statehood S.S. Oregon, Gold Miner, and Pioneers	#3316 // June 18, 1999 150th Anniversary of California Gold Rush Gold Miners

#1373 // July 16, 1969 // San Diego, CA California Settlement Bicentennial Carmel Mission Belfry	#1725 // September 9, 1977 // San Jose, CA Founding of "El Pueblo de San José de Guadalupe", First Civil Settlement in Alta California Bicentennial Farm Houses

#1442 // October 29, 1971 // San Diego, CA (ex block of four different stamps) Historic Preservation Issue San Francisco Cable Car The cable car system was invented by Andrew Smith Hallidie (* 1836, † 1900). The first run took place on August 2, 1873, at 4 a.m., on Clay Street in San Francisco. Present-day the cable car still operates on ten miles [16 km] of track.	#3438 // September 8, 2000 // Sacramento, CA 150th Anniversary of California Statehood Big Sur and Iceplant

The Spanish Heritage of California Missions period: 1769 - 1833
#C116 // August 22, 1985 // San Diego, CA Air Mail Stamp Junipero Serra, O. F. M. (* 1713, † 1784) Spanish Franciscan friar and missionary, founder of the California mission system Portrait (design from a Spanish stamp), Outline map of Southern California, San Gabriel Arcángel Mission founded on September 8, 1771 [Official name: "La Misión del Santo Príncipe El Arcángel, San Gabriel de Los Temblores"]	#4650 // February 28, 2012 // Carmel, CA Express Mail® Stamp Carmel Mission "San Carlos Borroméo del Río Carmelo" was founded on June 3, 1770 by Father Junipero Serra and was the second in what would become a chain of twentyone Spanish missions along the coast of California, each positioned about one day's ride on horseback from the next. Father Junipero Serra is buried at the mission church.

#3565 // April 4, 2002 (ex pane of 50 stamps, one for each state) Greetings from California Illustration of contemporary postcard in the style of the 1930s/1940s View California state quarter View California state map View California clock

	The name California references to a mythical land described in a popular novel of the 15th century "Las Sergas de Esplandián", written by Spanish author Garci Ordóñez de Montalvo (* ca. 1440, † ca. 1504). Find out more facts & trivia
	Land Area rounded mi2 [km2] 155,959 [403.932] ranked 3rd	Population (census 2010) 37,253,956 ranked 1st (highest of all states)	Population Density per mi2 [km2] of land area 239 [92] ranked 12th
	The State of California has 58 counties.
	South California shares a 140-mile-long (225 km) international border with the Mexican state of Baja California Norte.

Historic Route 66 leads 514 miles (505 km) through California and terminates in Santa Monica, Los Angeles County, CA at the intersection of Olympic Blvd/Lincoln Blvd. For reasons of tourism and business, however, the western point of America's Mother Road was officially moved on November 11, 2009 to the Santa Monica Pier, a famed landmark in Victorian-era look. A sign was put up to officially name the pier the "End of the Trail".

The Spanish Heritage of California Ranchos period: 1784 - 1821

#UX104 // September 16, 1984 // Compton, CA Stamped Postal Card Historic Preservation Series The California Ranchos Bicentennial Juan Jose Dominguez (Spanish soldier * 1736, † 1809) Adobe Rancho, San Pedro, original size 48,000 acres (194 km2) (The first rancho concession from the Spanish crown)