California#

50 Pictures from San Diego, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo (California) USA, San Diego, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo by Ewald Judt (2015)

California California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States of America. The state has the most inhabitants (39,144,818 as of 2015) out of all the states and is the third largest state by area (423,970 sq km or 163,696 sq mi). Native Americans first settled in the area that is now called California before various European expeditions explored it. It was claimed by the Spanish Empire and became a part of Mexico in 1821 following its successful war for independence. After the Mexican-American War it was ceded to the United States. California was admitted as the 31st state on September 9, 1850. San Diego on the west coast of the United States has an estimated population of 1,381,069 (as of July 1, 2014) and is the eighth-largest city in the United States (second largest in the state of California). The state covers an area of 372.40 sq mi (964.51 sq km), 325.19 sq mi (842.23 sq km) of which is land.