Adsactly Education: California Part 2
California
The Golden State
Capital: Sacramento
Largest City: Los Angeles
155,959 sq. mi. 403,934 sq. Km
3rd Largest State
Admitted to US: 1850 (31st)
Population: 39,000,000 (1st)
Highest Point: 14,505 ft (4421 m)
Lowest Point: -279 ft (-85 m)
State Bird: California Quail
State Flower: Golden Poppy
Motto: Eureka
Bordered By: Oregon, Nevada, Arizona, Baja California Nortre (Mexico) and the Pacific Ocean.
California
This is the second part of the post about California. The first part is available here.
We left this post having discussed the history and formation of the State.
Geography
California is a very large state that is popularly divided into Northern California and Southern California but that doesn’t tell the whole story. There is a central valley that follows the general profile of the state and is an enormous agriculture producer. The central valley is crossed by two rivers, the Sacramento and the San Joaquin (pronounced Walkeen) that provide irrigation water, drinking water and deep sea access to several inland cities.
The Sierra Nevada mountains boast the highest point in the lower 48 states at Mt. Whitney 14,505 feet (4,421 m) less than 100 miles from the lowest point in North America in Death Valley −279 feet (−85 m). The change is sudden and dramatic. The scenic Lake Tahoe is part of the Sierra Nevada range also.
California is a part of the Pacific ‘Ring of Fire’ with several dormant Volcanoes in the state. It is also home to multiple major earthquake faults resulting in over 30,000 recorded earthquakes per year.
Death Valley Photo courtesy of the author.
Weather
Owing to it’s size and orientation (principally North/South) along with the huge Pacific coastline California has a wide array of weather. Climate types range from sub-arctic to low desert. Most of the state would be classed as Mediterranean weather. Most of the precipitation comes from October to April and generally in batches with long sunny spells between. Death Valley is the ‘hot extreme’ place in the state where July temperatures average 113 and 84F (45 and 29C). Mammoth Lakes is the cold extreme for the state where January average temps are 40 and 15F (4 and -9C).
Generally speaking it is wetter and cooler in the north and hotter and drier in the south of the state, but the mountain ranges and valleys can greatly alter that generalization. Death Valley is considered to be the hottest place on earth.
Laguna Mountain Meadow Photo courtesy of the Author
Fauna and Flora
California is unique in that it’s climate and character and as such has a host of species and subspecies that are regarded as threatened or endangered because they exist nowhere else. Most of the grasses that are native in California are perennial and have been largely replaced with introduced annual grasses which contributes greatly to the problems with wildfires.
Among the species that are native to California are the tallest trees (Redwoods), the biggest trees (Sequoia) and the oldest trees (Bristlecone Pine). The Joshua Tree and many cacti are part of the Mojave (Mo Ha Vee) desert. Pine, Fir, Oak, and Maple are all found in different zones in California.
Mammals come in all shapes and sizes ranging from mice and voles to Elk and Bears. Otters, Seals and Sea Lions inhabit the coastal regions. There are at least two species of deer found here along with some of the largest populations of wild Horses and Burros.
Birds are well represented. California is in the heart of the Pacific Flyway which is possibly the largest migratory pathway on earth. Tens of millions of migratory birds pass through and nest in California. Year round birds range from sparrows and chickadees to the Bald Eagle and the largest bird in North America, the California Condor.
Reptiles are abundant too. Several kinds of Rattlesnake call the state home as well as non venomous snakes, lizards, tortoises and Horned Toads.
The coast of California is home to several species of whale and sharks along with Tuna and Marlin. Shellfish, Crab, Lobster and Octopus are common. Most species of freshwater trout that are available in the West are found in California.
The People
California is almost without doubt the most racially diverse state in the Union.
The 2020 Census will almost certainly show California at more that 40 million residents. Of these Hispanics constitute the majority in the state with 39% and non Hispanic Whites at 38% (all percentages rounded). The two categories are often combined because a significant fraction go back to the time of Spanish rule in California. Asians constitute 15% of the total, Blacks 6.5% and Native Americans 2%.
To put these numbers into perspective, California has the largest population (total numbers) of Hispanics, Asians, and Native Americans. 60% of the states total population are minorities. One third of the Asians that live in the US live in California.
California has a historically modest unemployment rate with the top five areas of employment being trade, professional services, government, transportation and leisure services.
Economy
California represents the world’s 5th largest economy that generates nearly 14% of the economy of the United States. Only the United States, China, Japan and Germany have a larger Gross Domestic Product. To say that their economy is large enough to dictate it’s own terms is an understatement.
The dichotomy in the distribution of wealth in California is enormous. Statewide the average annual earnings are $39,000 ranking 11th in the Nation. Purely because ag workers (legal and illegal) in the Central Valley are paid less than minimum wage. The San Joaquin Valley is considered one of the most impoverished areas in the US. The coastal areas in California are among the most wealthy in the nation and the interior is amongst the most impoverished. California has 12% of the US population and 33% of the welfare recipients in the US.
Government
California follows the standard three part state government structure: Executive, Legislative and Judicial branches.
The executive branch includes the Governor and multiple other elected officials.
The Legislative branch includes the Assembly and Senate. The assembly is functionally the same as the House in many other states.
The Judicial Branch includes the Califonia Supreme Court and various lower courts.
Since 2010 California's Primary elections advance the two largest vote getters to the general election regardless of party affiliation.
Education
Through a state amendment California has a unique funding model for K-12 and Junior Colleges. K-12 has a minimum funding level guaranteed by the state and the Junior College program is funded based on the economy.
California ranks near the bottom in employees per student in the US but ranks number 1 in average pay per employee. The Junior College program offers degrees in liberal arts and sciences that transfer as at least two years of course work at the state Universities. They also offer tech programs and workforce training. They are very low cost to residents and have over 2.5 million enrolled at any given time.
The research Universities in the state system are called University California _________ IE: UCLA, UC Davis, etc. Roughly 250,000 students attend these schools.
The Cal State University system was originally set up to award only Bachelor and Masters degrees but most now have at least some Doctoral programs. Almost 450,000 attend these schools.
There are a large number of private Universities in California including USC, Stanford, Cal Tech and many others.
Transportation
California has a huge network of Freeways, Expressways, Multi Lane Highways and Two Lane Highways that connect the entire state. It is famous for it’s ‘Car Culture’ and many of the trendy modifications to cars come from California.
California does have an extensive public transportation system also. It includes several ‘light rail’ locations, busses, trams and the famous Cable Cars of San Francisco. Railroad service is extensive, particularly for freight. At least 3 Amtrack routes and 3 in state routes (funded by Cal Trans) move people by rail.
California is home to a large number of seaports, with the Long Beach harbor being one of the busiest in the Word. Several cruise lines have service to California.
The Airport system is big and busy. LAX is among the busiest airports on earth and there are a large number of International and and enormous number of smaller airports.
Special Laws
Film producers must have permission from a pediatrician before filming a child under the age of one month
It is a misdemeanor to shoot at any kind of game from a moving vehicle, unless the target is a whale.
I hope you enjoyed this synopsis of California. The first part in this series is available here. The words and ideas are mine but I used Wikipedia California as the source for the information.
All images in this post are properly licensed and used.
This is part of a series on the various states, Colorado is up next. I hope you will return.
Authored by: @bigtom13
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