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Official Website:
http://www.state.ca.us/
Income
The population of California in 2002 was 35,001,986.
Its rank was 1st in the nation. (The District of
Columbia is included for ranking purposes.)
Per Capita Personal Income
In 2002 California had a per capita personal
income of $32,989. This per capita personal income ranked 11th
in the United States and was 107 percent of the
national average, $30,906. The 2002 per capita personal income reflected
an increase of 0.3 percent from 2001. The 2001-2002
national change was 1.2 percent. In 1992 the per capita personal income
of California was $22,492 and ranked 11th in the
United States. The 1992-2002 average annual growth
rate of per capita personal income was 3.9 percent. The average annual
growth rate for the nation was 4.0 percent.
Total Personal Income
In 2002 California had a total personal income of $1,154,684,900. This total personal income ranked 1st in
the United States. In 1992 the total personal income of California
was $696,670,363 and ranked 1st in the United States.
The 2002 total personal income reflected an increase of 1.7 percent
from 2001. The 2001-2002 national change was 2.3
percent. The 1992-2002 average annual growth rate
of total personal income was 5.2 percent. The average annual growth
rate for the nation was 5.2 percent.
Components of Personal Income
Total personal income includes net earnings by
place of residence; dividends, interest, and rent;
and total personal current transfer receipts received
by the residents of California. In 2002 net earnings
accounted for 69.6 percent of total personal income (compared with
68.8 in 1992); dividends, interest, and rent were
17.7 percent (compared with 18.5 in 1992); and personal
current transfer receipts were 12.7 percent (compared
with 12.7 in 1992). From 2001 to 2002 net earnings
increased 0.7 percent; dividends, interest, and
rent increased 1.0 percent; and personal current
transfer receipts increased 8.2 percent. From 1992
to 2002 net earnings increased on average 5.3 percent
each year; dividends, interest, and rent increased
on average 4.7 percent; and personal current transfer
receipts increased on average 5.2 percent.
Employment Earnings
Earnings of persons employed in California increased
from $893,445,286 in 2001 to $900,353,319 in 2002,
an increase of 0.8 percent. The 2001-2002 national
change was 1.5 percent. The average annual growth
rate from the 1992 estimate of $538,541,258 to the
2002 estimate was 5.3 percent. The average annual
growth rate for the nation was 5.3 percent.
Area - California, the third largest state in the Union, has
a total area of 411,471 sq km (158,869 sq mi), including 6926 sq km (2674 sq mi) of inland
water and 575 sq km (222 sq mi) of coastal waters over which it has jurisdiction. The state is
roughly rectangular in shape, although the southern two-thirds bends in a dogleg toward the
east. It has a maximum distance north to south of 1052 km (654 mi) and an east-to-west extent
of 945 km (587 mi), although even locations along the state’s eastern border are less than
about 350 km (about 220 mi) from the ocean. California’s mean elevation is about 880 m (about
2900 ft).
Climate - The climate of California is characterized by cool
to mild winters and, except in the high mountains, warm to hot summers. The year is divided
into a wet season and a dry season. Precipitation falls mainly during the period from October
to April. The mountain slopes facing westward are usually wetter than the slopes facing
eastward because the moisture-bearing winds from the Pacific are forced to condense and
precipitate their moisture as they rise over the mountains. In general, northern California
has lower temperatures and greater precipitation than southern California. However, climatic
and weather conditions in the state vary greatly from place to place and from year to year.
In the coastal areas north of Point Conception, July temperatures average about 16° C (about 60° F).
January temperatures are between 4° and 10° C (40° and 50° F). Precipitation increases from about 380 mm
(about 15 in) near Point Conception to more than 1800 mm (70 in) at Crescent City, near the Oregon
border. Fogs are frequent along the coast, especially in summer. South of Point Conception the coastal
areas are drier and have a greater range of average temperatures. Rainfall averages only about 300 mm
(about 12 in) at Los Angeles and about 250 mm (about 10 in) at San Diego. Average January temperatures
are between 10° and 16° C (50° and 60 °F). July averages are generally between 21° and 27° C (70° and
80° F), but much higher temperatures, even in the upper 30°s C (lower 100°s F) occur during summer.
In the Central Valley, average temperatures are about 27° C (about 80° F) in July and about 7° C (about
45° F) in January. Precipitation varies from more than 760 mm (30 in) a year in the valley's northern
part to less than 150 mm (6 in) at its southern end.
In the extensive mountainous areas of California, winters can be severe. The western slopes of the
Klamath Mountains, the wettest part of the state, receive more than 2500 mm (100 in) of precipitation a
year. Many peaks in the Sierra Nevada support small glaciers and thus appear snowcapped throughout the
year, and in some locations the snowfall exceeds 13,000 mm (500 in), the equivalent of about 1300 mm
(about 50 in) of rain.
The Great Basin and Mojave Desert sections of California are extremely hot. In Death Valley,
precipitation averages less than 50 mm (2 in) a year, and in some years it may never rain. The desert
areas are the hottest parts of the state and of the nation. July temperatures in Death Valley average in
the upper 30°s C (lower 100°s F), and the highest temperature (57° C/134° F) ever recorded in the United
States was recorded there.
In the Central Valley the frost-free season is between 240 and 280 days. This long period permits the
cultivation of many crops that are sensitive to frost damage. Elsewhere in California the growing season
ranges from more than 320 days along the southern coast to less than 120 days in the northern valleys.
State Flag
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State Flower - California Poppy |
State Capitol - Sacramento
California's first state
constitution was ratified by popular vote in November 1849, almost a year before statehood.
The second and present constitution was adopted in 1879. An amendment to the constitution may
be proposed by the legislature, voter initiative, or a constitutional convention. To be
ratified, it must be approved by a majority of the people voting on the issue in an election.
Famous People
Charles P. Ginsburg inventor, San Francisco
Coolio rap artist, Los Angeles
Dave Brubeck musician, Concord
David Belasco playwright and producer, San Francisco
Dominique Moreanir gymnast, Hollywood
Earl Warren jurist, Los Angeles
Eldrick "Tiger" Woods golfer, Cypress
Emma Nevada opera singer, Alpha
Frederick G. Cottrell inventor, Oakland
George Lucas filmmaker, Modesto
George S. Patton, Jr. general, San Gabriel
Gertrude Atherton author, San Francisco
Isadora Duncan dancer, San Francisco
Isamu Noguchi sculptor, Los Angeles
Jack London author, San Francisco
James H. Doolittle air force general, Alameda
Jeff Gordon car racer, Vallejo
Jerry Garcia guitarist, singer, San Francisco
Joe DiMaggio baseball player, Martinez
John Frémont explorer, San Francisco
John Steinbeck author, Salinas
Julia Child chef, television, Pasadena
Leonardo DiCaprio actor Hollywood
Lincoln Steffens journalist, author, San Francisco
Luis Walter Alvarez inventor, San Francisco
Marcus Allen football player San Diego
Mariel Hemingway actress, Mill Valley
Mark McGwire baseball player, Pomona
Michael Tilson Thomas conductor, Hollywood
Myra Wilson actress, Burbank
Richard M. Nixon U.S. president, Yorba Linda
Richard Pancho Gonzales tennis player, Los Angeles
Robert Bower inventor, Santa Monica
Robert Frost poet, San Fancisco
Robert Redford actor, Santa Monica
Sally K. Ride astronaut, Encino
Serena & Venus Williams tennis players, Lynwood
Shirley Temple Black actress, ambassador, Santa Monica
Sidney Howard playwright, Oakland
William Randolph Hearst publisher, San Francisco
William Saroyan author, Fresno |
