California

Big Sur, California

The Golden State, also known as California, is on the westernmost part of the continental United States. Much like Chicago, Illinois, California is home to many metropolitan areas such as San Francisco, Los Angeles and San Diego. It is the most populous U.S. state, home to about 1 out of 8 Americans. It is the third largest state by area. While Chicago is the third most populous city in the U.S., California is home to eight of the nation's 50 most populated cities. These cities include Los Angeles, San Diego, San Jose, San Francisco, Long Beach and Oakland. 

California's diverse geography ranges from the Pacific Coast in the west to the Sierra Nevadas in the east. It includes the Redwood-douglas fir forests in the north to the Mojave desert in the southeast. Central California is a major agricultural area that produces much of the country's produce. California contains both the highest and lowest points in the U.S.: Mount Whitney and Death Valley. 

Starting in the year 2010, for the first time since the California Gold Rush, California-born residents make up the majority of the state's population. in 2011, California saw a shift in it's immigration pattern, with more coming from Asia and less from Latin America. The state's population of illegal immigrants has been shrinking in recent years due to increased enforcement and a slumping economy. 

Over 200 languages are known to be spoken and read in California, with Spanish as the state's "alternative" language. California has more than 100 indigenous languages, making it one of the most linguistically diverse areas in the the world.

The culture of California is a Western culture and has it's modern roots in the U.S. but also Hispanic roots as well. People from all over the world look to California for it's movies, trends and fashions, with entertainment one of California's biggest economic contributors.

Although one of the most talked about hazards in California are earthquakes, a significant one has not hit in a number of years. They are common throughout large sections of the region especially in Los Angeles and the Imperial Valley and San Francisco Bay to Bakersfield. California has established Earthquake Laws that limit building heights, some improved due to technological advances, and it's impact on the cultural landscape.