California Facts
There are some pretty amazing California facts that you should know, that make it one of the most wealthiest, populous and diverse states in the United States of America. There are certain California facts that clearly illustrate the history and the versatility of the state, in all sectors.
• California’s economy had its first economic boom when the Gold Rush began in 1848. So it’s no surprise that it had the largest mine that existed in the 1850’s – the Kennedy Mine. The Kennedy Mine in Jackson, California, was the richest and the deepest gold mine in the entire North American continent, at the peak of the Gold Rush.
• Among the various California facts, you should know that California has the world’s smallest known county. Alpine County is a region so small that it has no medical facilities, public transport system, no city or town, traffic signals. It does have an airport that serves as the only airfield in the county. The area of the entire county is barely 743 square miles. On the other extreme, the state also has the largest county - San Bernardino - which covers an area of 20,510 square meters or 52,072 kilometers.
• The county of Fallbrook produces the most avocadoes, in comparison to any other state in the country and is host to the annual Avocado Festival, held every spring. The city has been conferred the name - Avocado Capital of the World.
• The state accommodates a large amount of wildlife. Two forms of wildlife that are found only in California are the Giant Sequoia Trees in the Sequoia National Park and the Riparian Brush Rabbit, which can be found only in the Caswell Memorial State Park and nowhere else in the world.
• The oldest known species of pine are preserved in the Inyo National Forest. Research shows that the oldest of these trees could be as old as 4,600 years old.
• Keeping in with the spirit of conservationism, the city of Pacific Grove – which plays host to hordes of Monarch butterflies which migrate there – has a ban on the molesting of the creatures which if violated calls for a fine of $500.
• The Tehama County Fairgrounds, Red Bluff, holds the largest three day bull fighting event, in the entire nation.
• The highest concentration of bald eagles happens in winter in the Tule Lake National Wildlife Refuge, a part of the Klamath Basin National Wildlife Refuge.
• While the temperatures and the climate vary in the state, the temperatures in Death Valley – the hottest place in the United States, can reach a maximum of 115 degrees.
• California is home to the movie industry Hollywood, so it’s not surprising that the first movie theater was started in the state in 1902 on the 2nd of April in Los Angeles. The state also has many celebrity and famous residents. The most famous being Marilyn Monroe, who’s first claim to fame was when she won the title of the Artichoke Queen in 1948, when she was still known as just Norma Jean.