California is the most populous state of the United States.Located on the Pacific coast of North America,it is bordered by Oregon,Nevada,Arizona and Baja California in Mexico.The state's four largest cities are Los Angeles,San Diego,San Jose and San Francisco.California is known for its pleasant climate and ethnically diverse population.The state has 58 counties.
Inhabited by indigenous people for millennia,California was first colonized by the Spanish in 1769,and after Mexican independence in 1821,continued as part of Mexico.Following a brief period as the independent California Republic in 1846,California was annexed by the United States that same year,and was admitted to the Union as the thirty-first state on September 9,1850.
In recent decades,California has become a global leader in computers and information technology.If California were a country,its economy would rank among the ten largest of the world.