Stanley Williams was an inmate in a western U.S state.
California -LRB- -LSB- kælᵻˈfɔːrnjə ,   - ni.ə -RSB- , -RRB- is the most populous state in the United States and the third most extensive by area .. United States. United States. most populous state. List of U.S. states and territories by population. third most extensive. List of U.S. states by area. Located on the western -LRB- Pacific Ocean -RRB- coast of the U.S. , California is bordered by the other U.S. states of Oregon , Nevada , and Arizona and shares an international border with the Mexican state of Baja California .. Pacific Ocean. Pacific Ocean. Oregon. Oregon. Nevada. Nevada. Arizona. Arizona. international border. Mexico-United States border. Mexican state. States of Mexico. Baja California. Baja California. The state capital is Sacramento .. Sacramento. Sacramento, California. Los Angeles is California 's most populous city , and the country 's second largest after New York City .. Los Angeles. Los Angeles. most populous city. List of largest California cities by population. second largest. List of United States cities by population. New York City. New York City. The Greater Los Angeles Area and the San Francisco Bay Area are the nation 's second - and fifth-most populous urban regions , respectively .. Los Angeles. Los Angeles. Greater Los Angeles Area. Greater Los Angeles Area. San Francisco Bay Area. San Francisco Bay Area. populous urban regions. List of primary statistical areas of the United States. California also has the nation 's most populous county , Los Angeles County , and its largest county by area , San Bernardino County .. Los Angeles. Los Angeles. most populous county. List of the most populous counties in the United States. Los Angeles County. Los Angeles County, California. largest county. List of the largest counties in the United States by area. San Bernardino County. San Bernardino County, California. California 's diverse geography ranges from the Pacific Coast in the west to the Sierra Nevada mountain range in the east ; and from the redwood -- Douglas fir forests in the northwest to the Mojave Desert in the southeast .. Nevada. Nevada. Pacific Coast. Coastal California. Sierra Nevada. Sierra Nevada ( U.S. ). redwood. Sequoia sempervirens. Douglas fir. Douglas fir. Mojave Desert. Mojave Desert. The Central Valley , a major agricultural area , dominates the state 's center .. Central Valley. Central Valley ( California ). Though California is well-known for its warm Mediterranean climate , the large size of the state means it can vary from moist temperate rainforest in the north , to arid desert in the interior , as well as snowy alpine in the mountains .. Mediterranean climate. Mediterranean climate. temperate rainforest. temperate rainforest. desert. desert climate. alpine. alpine climate. What is now California was first settled by various Native American tribes before being explored by a number of European expeditions during the 16th and 17th centuries .. various Native American tribes. Indigenous peoples of California. The Spanish Empire then claimed it as part of Alta California in their New Spain colony .. Spanish. Spanish language. Spanish Empire. Spanish Empire. Alta California. Alta California. New Spain. New Spain. The area became a part of Mexico in 1821 following its successful war for independence , but was ceded to the United States in 1848 after the Mexican -- American War .. United States. United States. Mexico. Mexico. war for independence. Mexican War of Independence. The western portion of Alta California then was organized as the State of California , and admitted as the 31st state on September 9 , 1850 .. Alta California. Alta California. The California Gold Rush starting in 1848 led to dramatic social and demographic changes , with large-scale emigration from the east and abroad with an accompanying economic boom .. California Gold Rush. California Gold Rush. If it were a country , California would be the 6th largest economy in the world and the 35th most populous .. 6th largest economy in the world. Comparison between U.S. states and countries nominal GDP. 35th most populous. List of countries by population. It is also regarded as a global trendsetter in both popular culture and politics , and is the origin of the film industry , the hippie counterculture , the Internet , and the personal computer , among others .. film industry. film industry. hippie. hippie. Internet. Internet. personal computer. personal computer. Fifty-eight percent of the state 's economy is centered on finance , government , real estate services , technology , and professional , scientific and technical business services .. finance. finance. government. Forms of government. real estate services. real estate. technology. technology. business services. business services. The San Francisco Bay Area has the nation 's highest median household income by metropolitan area , and is the headquarters of three of the world 's largest 40 firms by revenue , Chevron , Apple , and McKesson .. San Francisco Bay Area. San Francisco Bay Area. highest median household income. Highest-income metropolitan statistical areas in the United States. Chevron. Chevron Corporation. Apple. Apple Inc.. McKesson. McKesson Corporation. 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 .