14 Fun Facts About California

We’ve gathered 14 fun facts about California, from its record-breaking redwood and sequoia trees to its hosting both the hottest temperature on Earth and the internet’s first message.

Growing up in Arizona, my family’s summer vacation was always to Los Angeles or San Diego. My impression of California was that, yes, it has great beaches, but the traffic is abysmal.

After taking road trips to Bishop and Yosemite and visiting cities like San Francisco, I finally started to understand the draw and beauty that California could offer. Since then, California became my favorite state to travel to in the United States.

Here are some surprising and interesting facts that convinced me California has more than traffic jams and beaches.

1.) Silicon Valley was all about fruit orchards before it was known for technology.

Before it became the tech capital of the world, Silicon Valley was known as the “Valley of Heart’s Delight.” The Silicon Valley region of the San Francisco Bay first gained fame for its orchards, particularly apricots, plums and cherries.

The new silicon chip and tech industry took off in the region in the 1950s. The origin of the name “Silicon Valley” is a mystery, but many credit technology news reporter Don Hoefler for popularizing it in 1971.

2.) Temperatures get HOT in Death Valley and it has the highest recorded temperature on Earth.

According to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the highest temperature recorded on Earth was 134°F at Furnace Creek Ranch, CA on July 10, 1913. Death Valley is the hottest, driest and lowest point in North America.

Being an Arizona native, I grew up with the saying, “It’s a dry heat” (implying that that +115°F isn’t so bad.) Let me tell you two things:

1. 115°F is absolutely unbearably hot
2. 134°F is unimaginably hot and well beyond the fry an egg on your windshield level of heat

While the record for the hottest day has yet to be surpassed in over 100 years, in 2024 Death Valley recorded the highest average temperature from June to August at 104.5 degrees. Thanks climate change.

3.) California’s is home to both the world’s tallest and largest living trees.

California’s state tree, the California redwood tree, includes two species: the coastal redwood and the giant sequoia. Growing safely within the 280 state and nine national parks in California, these trees hold world records for their impressive size, height and age.

For example, the coastal redwood includes the world’s tallest tree, Hyperion, standing at 379 feet in Redwood National Park. The giant sequoia General Sherman in Sequoia National Park claims the title for world’s largest tree by volume at a staggering 275 feet tall and 102 feet circumference.

The competition for superlatives when it comes to trees is strong, here are a few of the living winners:

4.) California is the only state to have hosted both Summer and Winter Olympic Games.

California is the only state in the U.S. to host both the summer and winter Olympics. The city of Los Angeles hosted the 1932 and 1984 Summer Olympics, while Squaw Valley hosted the 1960 Winter Olympics.

Los Angeles will soon join the ranks of London and Paris in the Olympic Hosting hall of fame after the 2028 Summer Olympics. Only London, Paris and soon Los Angeles have hosted any Olympics three times.

5.) Kings Canyon in California is deeper than the Grand Canyon.

Located in the heart of the Sierra Nevada Mountains, Kings Canyon plunges to a depth of 8,200 feet, far surpassing the 6,000 feet maximum of the more famous Grand Canyon. Having visited the Grand Canyon nearly a dozen times, I do have to point out that depth is not everything when it comes to beautiful canyons of the United States.

Is California’s Kings Canyon the deepest canyon in the United States?

Kings Canyon is deeper than the Grand Canyon, but it may be the deepest or second deepest canyon in the U.S., depending on how you measure it. Many sources claim Hells Canyon in Oregon, Idaho and Washington is the deepest canyon in the U.S. at a depth of 7,993 feet. In the chance you are paying attention, you will notice that 7,993 feet is in fact less than 8,200 feet, BUT the method of measuring the depth leaves the crown up for debate.

Leave it to us Americans to make any biggest and best thing an never-ending competition.

6.) California’s economy is the largest in the U.S. and 5th largest in the world.

California’s GDP is $3.97 trillion, the highest GDP of a state in the United Sates. On the worldwide GDP rankings, California as a country would be considered the fifth largest economy in the world. That means California officially outranks countries like India and the UK. Take a look at the top 10 largest economies in the world:

7.) The “California Republic” was the nation that almost was.

The “California Republic” was a short-lived, unrecognized nation that briefly existed in 1846. At the time, California was still a part of Mexico and a small group of settlers declared independence with the help of the U.S. Army.

Although their attempt at an independent nation lasted less than a month, the brief stint left its mark on California. During the Bear Flag Revolt of 1846, the settlers created the now-famous grizzly bear Flag. This flag influenced the choice of the state’s official animal and is represented in the grizzly bear state flag that is used to this day.

8.) San Francisco’s cable cars are the first moving National Historic Landmark in the U.S.

In 1964, San Francisco’s cable cars became the first moving National Historic Landmark in the U.S. When you think of National Historic Landmarks you’re likely imagining the Statue of Liberty, Mount Rushmore or the Golden Gate Bridge. You’d be right to think that a moving and operable “landmark” is a special experience that only California has to offer.

Of the 2,600 recognized National Historic Landmark, only a few are mobile. Here are the other moving landmarks designated after the San Francisco cable cars:

• USS Constitution (“Old Ironsides”): A historic naval ship based in Boston, Massachusetts. It is a fully operational ship and sails on special occasions.
• Delta Queen Steamboat: This historic paddlewheel steamboat has been designated a National Historic Landmark. While it’s primarily docked now, it has been used as a river cruise ship on the Mississippi River.
• Presidential Railcar “Ferdinand Magellan”: This train car, used by Presidents Franklin D. Roosevelt, Harry S. Truman, and Dwight D. Eisenhower, is another mobile National Historic Landmark, though it’s not used regularly for transport anymore.

9.) Beverly Hills started as a lima bean ranch.

In the early 1900s Beverly Hills began as a lima bean ranch part of Rancho Rodeo de las Aguas. the early 1900s. It might now be a prestigious and expensive zip code of Southern California, but Beverly Hills has much more humble origins than you might expect.

After its stint as a lima bean ranch, the Amalgamated Oil Company purchased the land of Beverly Hills with the hope to discover oil. Unsuccessful, they renamed the land in 1906 and began redeveloping the land into residential community. Decades later Beverily Hills popularity and status kept on growing as it attracted more Hollywood stars and wealthy residents.

10.) The first motion picture filmed in Hollywood was shot in 1910 by D.W. Griffith.

The first motion picture filmed in Hollywood was shot in 1910 by D.W. Griffith, marking the beginning of what would become the center of the entertainment industry. D.W. Griffith decided to shoot in the rural community of Hollywood and named his 17 minute silent film, “In Old California”.

At the time Hollywood was a small town still growing from its days as a lima bean ranch. It was far from mecca of the film industry that it is in modern-day California. “In Old California” was just the beginning of a long journey to Hollywood becoming the entertainment capital of the world it is today.

Hollywood sign in LA from a distance

11.) San Bernardino County is the largest county in the United States by area.

With nearly 20,000 square miles of land, San Bernardino County is the largest county in the U.S. San Bernardino County is so large that nine states are smaller in area. Finally, Rhode Island has some buddies in the “bigger than-us” club.

Bixby Creek Bridge south of San Jose

Although San Bernardino is large by area, the population of the top five major cities is less than 900,000. Thankfully, Los Angeles, San Diego and San Jose are among the top 10 biggest cities in the U.S. and take care of the population side of things for California.

Take a look at the top five biggest counties in the United States:

12.) California is the world’s almond capital, producing more than any other region.

California is the top producer of almonds in the world, producing 80% of the world’s almonds. California’s almonds are mainly grown in the Central Valley and are the top export of the entire state.

It’s not all sunshine in the Golden State, though. Alongside cashews and pistachios, almonds require upwards of 1,200 gallons of water to produce one pound. The only food product more water thirsty is beef, which requires 1,800 gallons. With more frequent and intense droughts, the almond industry in California will have to adapt to the changing environment.

13.) The name “California” comes from Spanish explorers’ tales of a mythical island paradise.

The name California originated from a 16th-century Spanish novel that described an island paradise ruled by Queen Calafia. The Spanish explorers who ventured to the New World believed they had discovered this fabled land when they reached the western coast, and the name has stuck ever since.

14.) California’s official motto, “Eureka!”, reflects the optimism of the Gold Rush fortune seekers.

California’s official motto, “Eureka!” meaning “I have found it!”, is a direct reflection of the prospectors seeking millions during the Gold Rush era. It symbolizes not only the literal discovery of gold but also the broader spirit of opportunity and adventure that has shaped the state’s identity.

While the California Gold Rush of 1849 was famous for its gold discoveries at Sutter’s Mill, many people made their fortunes not from gold itself but by supplying miners with tools, food and clothing. Entrepreneurs like Levi Strauss, who sold durable denim jeans, and Samuel Brannan, a newspaper publisher, made huge profits by meeting the needs of thousands of fortune seekers.