Full History Of California In Timeline From 1900

1900: Well over a century population growth beginning in 1900

For well over a century (1900–2020), California experienced steady population growth.

1900: Population Growth Begins in 1900

Starting in 1900, migration to California accelerated, and the population grew from fewer than one million.

1906: San Francisco Earthquake in 1906

In 1906, the San Francisco earthquake occurred, remaining one of the deadliest disasters in U.S. history.

1909: Founding of KCBS

In 1909, KCBS (AM) in the San Francisco Bay Area, one of the oldest radio stations in the United States still in existence, was founded.

1911: Outlaw of Native American use of Fire in Ecosystem Management in 1911

In 1911, Native American use of fire in ecosystem management was outlawed, though now the practice is recognized.

July 10, 1913: Highest Temperature Recorded in Death Valley on July 10, 1913

On July 10, 1913, the highest temperature in the world, 134 °F (56.7 °C), was recorded in Death Valley, California.

1913: Alien Land Act in 1913

In 1913, California passed the Alien Land Act, which excluded Asian immigrants from owning land.

1928: St. Francis Dam Flood in 1928

In 1928, the St. Francis Dam flood occurred, remaining one of the deadliest disasters in U.S. history.

1932: Los Angeles Summer Olympics

The 1932 Summer Olympics were held in Los Angeles, California.

1936: San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge Completed

In 1936, the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge was completed, transporting approximately 280,000 vehicles per day on two decks.

January 20, 1937: Lowest Temperature Recorded in Boca on January 20, 1937

On January 20, 1937, the lowest temperature in California, −45 °F (−43 °C), was recorded in Boca.

1937: Golden Gate Bridge Opens

In 1937, the Golden Gate Bridge opened, becoming the longest suspension bridge main span in the world at 4,200 feet (1,300 m).

1939: End of Exclusively Republican Governors

From 1899 to 1939, California had exclusively Republican governors, marking a historical trend in the state's politics.

1940: California Population in 1940

California added an average of around 400,000 people per year to its population during the period 1940–2020.

1940: Arroyo Seco Parkway Opens

In 1940, the Arroyo Seco Parkway, connecting Los Angeles and Pasadena, opened as the first freeway in the Western United States.

1940: California's Population Composition in 1940

In 1940, the Census Bureau reported that California's population was 6% Hispanic, 2.4% Asian, and 90% non-Hispanic white.

1952: California Leans Republican

In 1952, California began a period of Republican-leaning in presidential elections.

1960: Squaw Valley Winter Olympics

In 1960, Squaw Valley Ski Resort (now Palisades Tahoe) in the Lake Tahoe region hosted the Winter Olympics.

1960: California Master Plan for Higher Education Adopted in 1960

In 1960, the California state government adopted the California Master Plan for Higher Education to develop an efficient system of public education.

1964: California Elects Democratic President

In 1964, California voted for a Democratic president, a rare event in a Republican-leaning era.

1964: Golden Gate Bridge No Longer Longest

In 1964, the Golden Gate Bridge was no longer the longest suspension bridge main span in the world. However, it remains a visible landmark.

1965: California becomes the most populous state in 1965

By 1965, California's population had grown to become the largest in the Union.

1970: Decline of Non-Hispanic Whites

Between 1970 and 2011, the proportion of non-Hispanic whites in California's population declined from 80% to 40%.

1974: Farming Sales Total $7.3 Billion

In 1974, farming-related sales in California totaled $7.3 billion, a figure that would significantly increase in the following decades.

1976: Executions Since 1976

California has performed 13 executions since 1976.

1978: Proposition 13 Limits State Property Taxes

In 1978, California voters passed Proposition 13, limiting state property taxes after a tax revolt.

1980: California Prison Population at 25,000

In 1980, California's prison population was 25,000, a figure that would substantially increase over the next few decades.

1984: Los Angeles Summer Olympics

The 1984 Summer Olympics were held in Los Angeles, California.

1986: Proposition 63 Passed

In 1986, California Proposition 63 enshrined English as the only official language in California and ended Spanish language instruction in schools.

1988: End of Republican Dominance in California Presidential Elections

1988 marked the end of the period from 1952 where California predominantly voted Republican in presidential elections.

1990: California Elects Democratic Candidates to Federal Offices

Since 1990, California has generally elected Democratic candidates to federal, state and local offices.

1992: Rodney King Riots in 1992

In 1992, tensions between police and African Americans, combined with unemployment and poverty in inner cities, led to riots, such as the Rodney King riots.

1992: Democrats Win California's Electoral Votes

In 1992, the Democratic Party began a streak of winning all of California's electoral votes in presidential elections.

1994: FIFA World Cup Matches

In 1994, multiple games during the FIFA World Cup took place in California, with the Rose Bowl hosting eight matches (including the final) and Stanford Stadium hosting six matches.

1996: California High-Speed Rail Authority Authorized

In 1996, the California High-Speed Rail Authority was authorized by the state legislature to plan a California High-Speed Rail system.

December 1997: Endangered Plant Species Listed as of December 1997

As of December 1997, 85 plant species in California were listed as threatened or endangered.

1998: State Spending Totals $56 Billion

In 1998, state spending in California totaled $56 billion, a figure that would more than double by 2011.

2000: Hispanic Population Growth

Between 2000 and 2011, California's Hispanic population grew from 32% to 38%.

2000: Over 2.5 Million Veterans

In 2000, California, had 2,569,340 veterans of United States military service.

2001: Energy Crisis in 2001

In 2001, California experienced an energy crisis that led to rolling blackouts, soaring power rates, and the importation of electricity from neighboring states.

2002: Californians Under-Represented in Military

As of 2002, Californians were relatively under-represented in the military as a proportion to its population.

April 2003: Endangered Animal Species Listed as of April 2003

As of April 2003, 118 California animals were on the federal endangered list; 181 plants were listed as endangered or threatened.

April 2003: Listing of the Bighorn Sheep as Endangered in April 2003

As of April 2003, the bighorn sheep was listed as endangered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

2004: Farming Sales Reach Nearly $31 Billion

In 2004, farming-related sales in California reached nearly $31 billion, more than quadrupling from $7.3 billion in 1974, despite a reduction in farmland acreage.

2004: Proposition 71 Funds Stem Cell Research

In 2004, voters passed Proposition 71 in California to fund stem cell research, making California the second state to legalize stem cell research.

2005: Escalating Housing Prices in 2005

By 2005, housing prices in urban areas of California had increased dramatically, with modest homes costing half a million dollars or more.

2005: San Joaquin Valley Characterized as Economically Depressed

In 2005, a Congressional Research Service report characterized the San Joaquin Valley as one of the most economically depressed regions in the United States.

2005: Peak in Border Arrests

In 2005, arrests for migrants attempting to cross the Mexican border into California reached a high of 1.1 million, reflecting heightened migration pressures at that time.

2005: Student Population

In the 2005–06 school year, California had over 6.2 million school students, the most in the country.

2006: Last Execution in California

In 2006, California carried out its most recent execution.

2006: California Exports Total $127 Billion

In 2006, California's exports totaled $127 billion. This indicates the state's significant and continually growing role in international trade.

2006: Jewish Population

The American Jewish Year Book placed the total Jewish population of California at about 1,194,190 in 2006.

2007: Indigenous Languages Survey

A survey conducted between 2007 and 2009 identified 23 different indigenous languages among California farmworkers, highlighting the linguistic diversity of the state.

2007: California Exports Total $134 Billion

In 2007, California's exports totaled $134 billion. This reflects the ongoing significance of international trade to the state's economy.

2007: California Prison Population Exceeds 170,000

In 2007, California's prison population grew to over 170,000, marking a significant increase from 25,000 in 1980.

2007: Democratic Advantage in U.S. House

In 2007, Democrats held a 34–19 advantage in the California delegation of the 110th United States Congress.

2007: Housing Bubble Burst in 2007

In 2007, the California housing bubble burst, leading to crashing prices, foreclosures, and significant financial losses.

November 2008: California High-Speed Rail Proposition Approved by Voters

In November 2008, California Proposition 1A, the plan to construct a California High-Speed Rail system connecting major population centers, was approved by voters.

2008: Religious Denominations

In 2008, 31 percent of the California population identified with the Catholic Church, 18 percent with Evangelical Protestants, and 14 percent with Mainline Protestants. Those unaffiliated with any religion represented 21 percent of the population.

2008: Proposition 8 Bans Marriage for Gay Couples

In 2008, California voters passed Proposition 8, banning marriage for gay couples for the second time by vote.

2008: California's Agriculture Generates $36.2 Billion

In 2008, California's 81,500 farms and ranches generated $36.2 billion in product revenue, highlighting the significant role of agriculture in the state's economy.

2008: California Exports Reach $144 Billion

In 2008, California's exports reached $144 billion, marking an increase from $134 billion in 2007 and $127 billion in 2006. Vehicles, computers, and electronic products were the leading exports for the state in 2008.

2008: Proposition 20 Passed

In 2008, Californians passed Proposition 20, which empowered an independent citizen commission to redraw districts for local politicians and Congress.

2009: Indigenous Languages Survey

A survey conducted between 2007 and 2009 identified 23 different indigenous languages among California farmworkers, highlighting the linguistic diversity of the state.

2009: Nearly 118,000 Active Duty Servicemembers in California

In 2009, the U.S. Department of Defense had a total of 117,806 active duty servicemembers in California, in addition to 57,792 Reservists and Guardsmen.

June 8, 2010: Proposition 14 Approved

On June 8, 2010, Proposition 14 was approved in California, changing the state's primary election process to a nonpartisan blanket primary system.

September 2010: Endangered Species Listed as of September 2010

As of September 2010, 123 California animals were listed as either endangered or threatened on the federal list. Also, as of the same year, 178 species of California plants were listed either as endangered or threatened on this federal list.

2010: Largest Denominations

According to the Association of Religion Data Archives (ARDA) in 2010, the largest denominations by adherents were the Catholic Church with 10,233,334; The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints with 763,818; and the Southern Baptist Convention with 489,953.

2010: Nearly Two Million Veterans Living in California

As of 2010, there were 1,942,775 veterans living in California, of which 1,457,875 served during a period of armed conflict.

2010: Population Increase from 2010 census

During that decade, the state's population grew more slowly than the rest of the nation, resulting in the loss of one seat on the US House of Representatives, the first loss in its entire history.

2010: California Residents Have Best Average Credit Score

In 2010, California residents were ranked first among the states with the best average credit score of 754.

2010: Los Angeles County Largest Origin of Military Recruits

In 2010, Los Angeles County was the largest origin of military recruits in the United States by county, with 1,437 individuals enlisting in the military.

2010: Proposition 14 Changes Primary Election Process

In 2010, voters in California passed Proposition 14 to completely change the state's primary election process.

2010: California-born Residents Majority in 2010

Starting in the year 2010, for the first time since the California Gold Rush, California-born residents made up the majority of the state's population.

January 2011: California's Total Debt Reaches $265 Billion

In January 2011, California's total debt was at least $265 billion, reflecting the state's significant financial challenges.

2011: Minority Population Among Young Children

As of 2011, 75.1% of California's population younger than age 1 were minorities, meaning they had at least one parent who was not non-Hispanic white.

2011: Largest Minority Population

In 2011, California had the largest minority population in the United States by numbers, making up 60% of the state population. The Hispanic population grew to 38%.

2011: California's Agricultural Revenue Reaches $43.5 Billion

In 2011, California's 81,500 farms and ranches generated $43.5 billion in product revenue. According to the USDA in 2011, the state's top agricultural products by value were milk and cream, shelled almonds, and grapes.

2011: Decline in Border Arrests

In 2011, arrests for migrants attempting to cross the Mexican border into California decreased to 367,000, a significant drop from 2005 due to increased enforcement and reduced job opportunities.

2011: Immigration Patterns Shift in 2011

In total for 2011, there were 277,304 immigrants, with fifty-seven percent coming from Asian countries versus 22% from Latin American countries.

2011: Droughts Begin in 2011

Starting in 2011, California experienced a persistent drought, which became the worst in its recorded history.

2012: Democrats Gain Seats After Redistricting

After the 2012 elections, when the new redistricting system took effect, Democrats gained four seats and held a 38–15 majority in the California delegation.

2012: School Employees per Student

In 2012, California's K–12 public schools ranked 48th in the number of employees per student, at 0.102, while paying the 7th most per employee, $49,000.

2012: Proposition 30 Passed

In 2012, Proposition 30 was passed, enacting a 13.3% maximum marginal income tax rate and a minimum state sales tax of 7.5% in California.

June 27, 2013: California Enacts Balanced Budget

On June 27, 2013, Governor Jerry Brown signed a balanced budget for California, marking the state's first balanced budget in decades, though the state's debt remained at $132 billion.

2013: San Onofre Nuclear Plant Shutdown

In 2013, the San Onofre nuclear plant was shut down, leaving more than 1,700 tons of radioactive waste stored on the coast.

2014: Religious Denominations

In 2014, the Catholic Church was the largest religious denomination in California with 28% of the population, followed by Evangelical Protestants with 20% and Mainline Protestants with 10%.

2015: Construction of California High-Speed Rail Begins

In 2015, the first phase of construction began on the California High-Speed Rail project.

2016: Proposition 58 Reversed Bilingual Education Ban

In 2016, California Proposition 58 reversed the prohibition on bilingual education in schools, though barriers to Spanish bilingual education remain.

2016: Per-Pupil Spending

In 2016, California's K–12 public school per-pupil spending was ranked 22nd in the nation at $11,500 per student.

2016: Shifting Political Landscape in Orange County

In 2016, Orange County began to shift politically, with a majority of the county's votes being cast for Democratic candidates in this election.

2016: Proposition 55 Approved

In 2016, Proposition 55 was passed in California. It extended temporary tax increases on the wealthy.

2016: California Had Third Highest Percentage of Democratic Votes

In the 2016 United States presidential election, California had the third highest percentage of Democratic votes behind the District of Columbia and Hawaii.

2017: California's Official Poverty Rate at 13.3%

As of 2017, California's official poverty rate was 13.3%. However, when using the supplemental poverty measure, the state had the highest poverty rate in the country, at 23.5%.

2017: Persistent Drought Worst in Recorded History in 2017

From 2011 to 2017, a persistent drought was the worst in its recorded history.

2017: Origin of the Name 'California' in 2017

In 2017, a state legislative document stated that numerous theories exist about the origin and meaning of the name 'California', but the name was added to a map by 1541, presumably by a Spanish navigator.

2017: Minimum State Sales Tax Rate Reverts to 7.25%

In 2017, the minimum state sales tax rate in California reverted to 7.25% after Proposition 55 did not extend the higher rate enacted by Proposition 30.

2018: California's Nominal GDP

As of 2018, California's nominal GDP is larger than all but four countries.

2018: Democrats Win Supermajority of House Seats

Following the 2018 midterm House elections, Democrats won 46 out of 53 congressional house seats in California, leaving Republicans with seven.

2018: Deadliest Wildfire Season in 2018

In 2018, California experienced its deadliest and most destructive wildfire season.

2018: Ethnic Demographics

In 2018, California's population was 60.7% non-Hispanic and 39.3% Hispanic or Latino. Non-Hispanic whites made up 36.8% of the state's population. Hispanics are the largest single ethnic group in California.

2018: LAX and SFO Rank Among Busiest Airports Worldwide

In 2018, Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) ranked as the 4th busiest airport in the world, and San Francisco International Airport (SFO) ranked as the 25th busiest airport.

2018: Orange County Votes Democrat

In 2018, a majority of Orange County's votes were cast for Democratic candidates.

2019: California Has Over One Million Millionaire Households

In 2019, California was home to 1,042,027 millionaire households, more than any other state in the nation.

2019: Yes California Independence Referendum Postponed

In 2019, the Yes California movement postponed its attempt to organize an independence referendum via ballot initiative.

January 26, 2020: First Confirmed COVID-19 Case in California on January 26, 2020

On January 26, 2020, one of the first confirmed COVID-19 cases in the United States occurred in California.

March 4, 2020: State of Emergency Declared in California on March 4, 2020

On March 4, 2020, a state of emergency was declared in California due to COVID-19.

March 19, 2020: Mandatory Stay-at-Home Order on March 19, 2020

On March 19, 2020, a mandatory statewide stay-at-home order was issued in California to combat COVID-19.

April 1, 2020: California Population Reported on April 1, 2020

On April 1, 2020, the United States Census Bureau reported that the population of California was 39.54 million, a 6.13% increase since the 2010 census.

July 2020: Population Declines in California Begin July 2020

In July 2020, California began to experience population declines, attributable mostly to moves out of state but also due to declining birth rates, COVID-19 pandemic deaths, and less internal migration from other states to California.

November 2020: California Voters Reject Affirmative Action

In November 2020, California voters rejected affirmative action on multiple occasions.

2020: Life Expectancy in 2020

As of 2020, California ranked fourth among states by life expectancy, with a life expectancy of 79.0 years.

2020: California Apologizes for Japanese American Internment in 2020

In 2020, California apologized for the internment of Japanese Americans in concentration camps during World War II.

2020: California Judiciary Processes 4.4 Million Cases

In fiscal year 2020–2021, the state judiciary's 2,000 judicial officers and 18,000 judicial branch employees processed approximately 4.4 million cases.

2020: California Had 6th Highest Percentage of Democratic Votes

In the 2020 United States presidential election, California had the 6th highest percentage of Democratic votes behind the District of Columbia, Vermont, Massachusetts, Maryland, and Hawaii.

January 2021: End of Stay-at-Home Order in January 2021

In January 2021, the mandatory statewide stay-at-home order was ended in California.

September 2021: Total Non-Farm Employment

As of September 2021, California recorded total, non-farm employment of 16,677,800 among 966,224 employer establishments.

2021: Language Spoken at Home

According to the 2021 American Community Survey, 56.08% of California residents age 5 and older spoke only English at home, while 43.92% spoke another language at home.

2021: People moving out of state in 2021

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, between 2021 and 2022, 818,000 California residents moved out of state with emigrants listing high cost of living, high taxes, and a difficult business environment as the motivation.

2021: Over 30 Million Licensed Drivers in California

By the end of 2021, 30,610,058 people in California held a California Department of Motor Vehicles-issued driver's licenses or state identification card.

2021: California Per Capita GDP Ranks Fourth Nationally

In 2021, California's per capita GDP was $85,546, ranking fourth in the nation, although income varied significantly by region and profession.

2021: Spanish Speakers

In 2021, Spanish was spoken by 28.18% (10,434,308) of California's population, making it the most commonly spoken language behind English.

2021: Religious Self-Identification Survey

In 2021, the Public Religion Research Institute's American Values Survey provided insights into religious self-identification in California.

2021: California Judiciary Processes 4.4 Million Cases

In fiscal year 2020–2021, the state judiciary's 2,000 judicial officers and 18,000 judicial branch employees processed approximately 4.4 million cases.

February 13, 2022: Super Bowl LVI

On February 13, 2022, Super Bowl LVI was held at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, marking the 13th time the Super Bowl has been hosted in California.

September 2022: Unemployment Rate

As of September 2022, California had an unemployment rate of 3.9%.

October 2022: California Voter Registration Statistics

In October 2022, California had 21,940,274 registered voters out of 26,876,800 eligible voters, with Democrats (10,283,258), Republicans (5,232,094), and No Party Preference (4,943,696) being the largest registered groups.

October 2022: Party Registration by County

October 2022 party registration by county

2022: People moving out of state in 2022

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, between 2021 and 2022, 818,000 California residents moved out of state with emigrants listing high cost of living, high taxes, and a difficult business environment as the motivation.

2022: Revival of Controlled Burns in 2022

In 2022, California created a state program in collaboration with indigenous peoples to revive controlled burns for forest management.

2022: Homeless Population Count

In 2022, California had an estimated 171,521 homeless people, according to HUD's Annual Homeless Assessment Report.

2022: Ancestry Estimates

In 2022, approximately 32.4% of California's population had Mexican ancestry, 6.6% had German ancestry, 6.1% had English ancestry, 5.6% had Irish ancestry, 4.9% had Chinese ancestry, 4.3% had Filipino ancestry, 4% had Central American ancestry, 3.4% had Italian ancestry, 2.8% listed themselves as American, and 2.5% had Indian ancestry, according to estimates from the American Community Survey.

2022: Recognition of Indigenous Ecosystem Management in 2022

In 2022, the California government recognized the benefits of controlled burning, a practice developed by indigenous peoples to mitigate destructive wildfires and manage ecosystems.

2022: Clean Energy, Jobs and Affordability Act

In 2022, the Clean Energy, Jobs and Affordability Act committed California to running its operations on clean, renewable energy resources by 2035.

2022: Racial Demographics

In 2022, the United States Census Bureau reported that California's population self-identified as 56.5% White (including Hispanic Whites), 33.7% non-Hispanic White, 18.1% Asian, 7.3% Black or African American, 3.2% Native American and Alaska Native, 0.9% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, and 34.3% some other race. 19% of Californians identified as two or more races.

2022: Klamath River Restoration Project Announced in 2022

In 2022, the largest dam removal and river restoration project in US history was announced for the Klamath River, representing a win for California tribes.

February 2023: End of State of Emergency in February 2023

In February 2023, Governor Gavin Newsom ended the state of emergency declared due to COVID-19.

July 2023: Net Loss of Population July 2020 and July 2023

The net loss of population in California between July 2020 and July 2023 was 433,000.

2023: California's Integrated Passenger Rail Master Plan

In 2023, California's integrated passenger rail master plan includes a high speed rail system.

July 1, 2024: Mountain House Becomes 483rd Incorporated Municipality on July 1, 2024

On July 1, 2024, Mountain House became California's most recent and 483rd incorporated municipality.

2024: Gross State Product

As of 2024, California's gross state product (GSP) is $4.0 trillion ($102,500 per capita), the largest of any U.S. state.

2024: California's Economy in 2024

In 2024, California's economy is the largest in the U.S., with a gross state product of $4.132 trillion as of Q3. It is the world's largest sub-national economy, ranking 5th globally. California's agricultural industry leads the nation, and the Port of Los Angeles handles 40% of goods imported to the U.S. The state is a major hub for entertainment, technology, and film.

February 2025: Satirical Petition to Sell California to Denmark in February 2025

In February 2025, a satirical petition suggesting that Denmark buy California and rename it 'New Denmark' was published, aiming for 1 million votes.

2028: Los Angeles Summer Olympics

Los Angeles will host the 2028 Summer Olympics, marking the fourth time that California will have hosted the Olympic Games.

2030: Top Tax Brackets Set to Expire (Projected)

At the end of 2030, the top tax brackets in California established by Proposition 55 are projected to expire, potentially altering the state's tax structure.

2030: First Segment of High-Speed Rail Planned to Open

By the end of 2030, the first segment of California's high-speed rail, 171 miles (275 km) long, is planned to be put into operation.

2035: Target for Renewable Energy Resources

By 2035, California aims to run its operations on clean, renewable energy resources, as mandated by the Clean Energy, Jobs and Affordability Act of 2022.