California

Population
	2000	2009
Population	33,871,648	36,961,664
State Rank	1	1
Median Age	33.3
Total 8 year-olds	553,828	521,958
Boys	283,442	267,681
Girls	270,386	254,277
Total 9 year-olds	560,166	488,861
Boys	287,282	250,886
Girls	272,884	237,975
Total 10 year-olds	548,549	479,760
Boys	281,173	245,824
Girls	267,376	233,936
Total 11 year-olds	521,774	483,329
Boys	267,042	246,990
Girls	254,732	236,339
Total 12 year-olds	511,339	493,395
Boys	262,013	252,625
Girls	249,326	240,770

How People Get to Work:
Drive Alone	72%	73%
Car Pool	15%	12%
Public Transportation	5%	5%

Geography
Capital	Sacramento
Largest City	Los Angeles
Second Largest City	San Diego
Persons per square mile	217

Business
	2000	2008
Dentist Offices	17,228	20,156
Amusement Parks	65	49
FastFood Restaurants	27,082	35,509
Toy Stores	1,283	1,012
Video/Disc Rental Stores	2,181	1,549
Zoos & Botanical Gardens	36	63
Candy & Nut Stores	518	532
Pet & Pet Supply Stores	1,108	1,179
Ice Cream & Frozen Dessert Makers	58	73

Note: As is the case with all surveys, statistics from sample surveys are subject to sampling and nonsampling error.

A value of NA indicates that data are not available for the indicated time period, or is not applicable for the current region.

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History

Date of Statehood: September 9, 1850
Population 1850: 92,597
Population 1900: 1,485,053
Population 1950: 10,586,223

I never knew that! *

Nickname: Golden State
Motto: Eureka
Flower: Golden Poppy
Tree: California Redwoods
Bird: California Valley Quail
Animal: California Grizzly Bear
Dance: West Coast Swing Dance

Teachers: Download the Picture Your State lesson plan. [pdf]

Who told you this stuff?

The U.S. Census Bureau takes a census of the population every 10 years, and censuses of economic activity and governments every five years. And every year, the Census Bureau conducts more than 100 other surveys. Data on this page come from Population Estimates, the Census of Population and Housing, the American Community Survey, and County Business Patterns.

How are these data collected?

The U.S. Census Bureau sends questionnaires in the mail or contacts businesses and households to participate in its surveys.

* State symbol information was obtained from various non-Census Bureau resources including state web sites, educational web sites, and commercial entities.