The state of California is also called "The Golden State". Their moto is Eureka. The official languages are English. The spoken languages are English (only) 57.6% Spanish 28.2%. The largest city in California is Los Angeles. Before statehood it was called California Republic. California's government is comprised of the Governor, who is currently Jerry Brown (D), Lieutenant Governor, who is currently Gavin Newsom (D), Senators: Dianne Feinstein (D), Barbara Boxer (D), House Delegation: 34 Democrats, 19 Republicans (list).The legislature is California State Legislature.

Total area for California is 163,696 sq mi (423,970 km2) (Ranked 3rd in the U.S.). The width is 250 miles (400 km) and the length is 770 miles (1,240 km). In terms of latitude and longitude we have: 32° 32′ N to 42° N and 114° 8′ W to 124° 26′ W. According to the 2010 United States Census, the total population is 37,691,912 (2011 est) (Ranked 1st in the U.S.). This equates to a population density of 242/sq mi  (93.3/km2) Ranked 11th in the U.S.. The highest point is Mount Whitney 14,505 ft (4421.0 m) and the lowest point is Badwater Basin in Death Valley −282 ft (-86.0 m).

The local time zone is Pacific: UTC-8/-7. The abbreviations used for this state are CA Calif. US-CA. Additional information and the official website of the state is found at ca.gov.

Short Description
California (pronounced i/kælɨˈfɔrnjə/) is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third most extensive (after Alaska and Texas). It is home to the nation's second- and sixth-largest census statistical areas (Los Angeles Metropolitan Area and San Francisco Bay Area), and eight of the nation's fifty most populated cities (Los Angeles, San Diego, San Jose, San Francisco, Fresno, Sacramento, Long Beach and Oakland). The capital city is Sacramento.

California's diverse geography ranges from the Pacific Coast in the west, to the Sierra Nevada mountains in the east—from the Redwood–Douglas-fir forests of the northwest, to the Mojave Desert areas in the southeast. The center of the state is dominated by Central Valley, a major agricultural area. California contains both the highest and lowest points in the contiguous United States (Mount Whitney and Death Valley), and has the third-longest coastline of all states (after Alaska and Florida). Earthquakes are a common occurrence due to the state's location along the Pacific Ring of Fire: about 37,000 are recorded annually.

The name California once referred to a large area of North America claimed by Spain that included much of modern-day Southwestern United States and the Baja California peninsula. Beginning in the late 18th century, the area known as Alta California, comprising the California territory north of the Baja Peninsula, was colonized by the Spanish Empire as part of New Spain. In 1821, Alta California became a part of Mexico following its successful war for independence. Shortly after the beginning of the Mexican-American War in 1846, a group of American settlers in Sonoma declared an independent California Republic in Alta California. Though its existence was short-lived, its flag became the precursor for California's current state flag. American victory in the war led to the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, in which Mexico ceded Alta California to the United States. Western areas of Alta California became the state of California, which was admitted as the 31st state on September 9, 1850.