There is a state called California.
California ( [ kælᵻˈfɔːrnjə , _ - ni.ə ] , ) is the most populous state in the United States and the third most extensive by area . The western portion of Alta California then was organized as the State of California , and admitted as the 31st state on September 9 , 1850 . Although it accounts for only 1.5 percent of the state 's economy , California 's agriculture industry has the highest output of any U.S. state .