California

California is a state located on the west coast of the United States. It is the most populous state in the U.S., as well as physically the most diverse, with the highest and the lowest points in the lower 48 states located within 150 miles of each other. If California were an independent nation, it would have the fifth largest economy in the world (see economy of California). The state's official nickname is "The Golden State" in reference to California's 1849 Gold Rush. {{ref|origin_of_nickname}} California's U.S. postal abbreviation is CA, and its Associated Press abbreviation is Calif.

Important cities and towns

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Image:Sacramento from Riverwalk.JPG|Sacramento

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Image:DowntownLosAngeles.jpg|Los Angeles

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Image:Sandiego.arp.750pix.jpg|San Diego

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Image:Lightmatter sanfrancisco.jpg|San Francisco

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Image:SanJoseDowntownIMG016elf wb.jpg|San Jose

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Image:Long Beach, CA at night.jpg|Long Beach

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Image:La2-oakland.jpg|Oakland

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Image:Anaheimdland.jpg|Anaheim

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The state of California has many cities, and the majority of them are within one of the large metropolitan areas below.

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• Population greater than 10,000,000 (urbanized area)
• Los Angeles/Long Beach (Greater Los Angeles)
• Population greater than 5,000,000 (urbanized area)
• San Jose/San Francisco/Oakland (San Francisco Bay Area)
• Population greater than 1,000,000 (urbanized area)
• Fresno
• Orange County (usually included in the Greater Los Angeles Area)
• Sacramento
• San Diego
• Population greater than 500,000 (urbanized Area)
• Bakersfield
• Stockton
• Population greater than 250,000 (urbanized area)
• Visalia/Tulare/Porterville (Tulare County)
• Modesto
• Salinas/Monterey (Monterey County)
• Santa Barbara/Goleta/Santa Maria (Santa Barbara County)
• Palmdale/Lancaster (Antelope Valley)
• Oceanside/Carlsbad/Vista (Tri-City Area) (usually included in the San Diego Metro Area)
• Indio/Palm Springs (Coachella Valley)
• Santa Rosa (Sonoma County) (usually included in the San Francisco Bay Area)

For a list of important suburbs within the above areas, see List of urbanized areas in California (by population).

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25 wealthiest places in California

Thanks to the state's powerful economy, certain California cities are among the wealthiest on the planet. The following list is ranked by per capita income:

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1 Belvedere, California - Marin County - $113,595

Related Topics:
Belvedere, California - Marin County

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2 Rancho Santa Fe, California - San Diego County - $113,132

Related Topics:
Rancho Santa Fe, California - San Diego County

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3 Atherton, California - San Mateo County - $112,408

Related Topics:
Atherton, California - San Mateo County

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4 Rolling Hills, California - Los Angeles County - $111,031

Related Topics:
Rolling Hills, California - Los Angeles County

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5 Woodside, California - San Mateo County - $104,667

Related Topics:
Woodside, California - San Mateo County

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6 Portola Valley, California - San Mateo County - $99,621

Related Topics:
Portola Valley, California - San Mateo County

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7 Newport Coast, California - Orange County - $98,770

Related Topics:
Newport Coast, California - Orange County

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8 Hillsborough, California - San Mateo County - $98,643

Related Topics:
Hillsborough, California - San Mateo County

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9 Diablo, California - Contra Costa County - $95,419

Related Topics:
Diablo, California - Contra Costa County

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10 Fairbanks Ranch, California - San Diego County - $94,150

Related Topics:
Fairbanks Ranch, California - San Diego County

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11 Hidden Hills, California - Los Angeles County - $94,096

Related Topics:
Hidden Hills, California - Los Angeles County

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12 Los Altos Hills, California - Santa Clara County - $92,840

Related Topics:
Los Altos Hills, California - Santa Clara County

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13 Tiburon, California - Marin County - $85,966

Related Topics:
Tiburon, California - Marin County

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14 Sausalito, California - Marin County - $81,040

Related Topics:
Sausalito, California - Marin County

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15 Monte Sereno, California - Santa Clara County - $76,577

Related Topics:
Monte Sereno, California - Santa Clara County

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16 Indian Wells, California - Riverside County $76,187

Related Topics:
Indian Wells, California - Riverside County

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17 Malibu, California - Los Angeles County - $74,336

Related Topics:
Malibu, California - Los Angeles County

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18 Del Monte Forest, California - Monterey County - $70,609

Related Topics:
Del Monte Forest, California - Monterey County

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19 Piedmont, California - Alameda County - $70,539

Related Topics:
Piedmont, California - Alameda County

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20 Montecito, California - Santa Barbara County - $70,077

Related Topics:
Montecito, California - Santa Barbara County

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21 Palos Verdes Estates, California - Los Angeles County - $69,040

Related Topics:
Palos Verdes Estates, California - Los Angeles County

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22 Emerald Lake Hills, California - San Mateo County - $68,966

Related Topics:
Emerald Lake Hills, California - San Mateo County

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23 Loyola, California - Santa Clara County - $68,730

Related Topics:
Loyola, California - Santa Clara County

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24 Blackhawk-Camino Tassajara, California - Contra Costa County - $66,972

Related Topics:
Blackhawk-Camino Tassajara, California - Contra Costa County

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25 Los Altos, California - Santa Clara County - $66,776

Related Topics:
Los Altos, California - Santa Clara County

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See complete list of California places

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Note: Marin County ranks as the wealthiest county in the United States based on per capita personal income.

Related Topics:
Marin County - Wealthiest county

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