History of California in Timeline

California is a U.S. state on the Pacific Coast, bordering Oregon, Nevada, Arizona, and Baja California (Mexico). It is the most populous U.S. state, with approximately 40 million residents, and the third-largest by area, covering 163,696 square miles.

1900: Population growth begins

From 1900 to 1965, California's population grew from fewer than one million to the greatest in the Union.

1906: San Francisco Earthquake

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

1909: Founding of KCBS (AM)

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

1911: Outlawing of Ecosystem management

In 1911, Native American use of fire in ecosystem management was outlawed

July 10, 1913: Highest Temperature Recorded in Death Valley

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

1913: Alien Land Act

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

1928: St. Francis Dam Flood

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: Completion of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge

The San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge was completed in 1936, transporting about 280,000 vehicles per day.

January 20, 1937: Lowest Temperature Recorded in Boca

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

1937: Opening of the Golden Gate Bridge

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

1939: End of exclusively Republican governors

Until 1939, California had exclusively Republican governors.

1940: Opening of the Arroyo Seco Parkway

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

1940: U.S. Census Bureau Report

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

1952: California as a Republican-leaning state

From 1952 through 1988, California was a Republican-leaning state.

1960: California Master Plan for Higher Education

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

1960: Squaw Valley Winter Olympics

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

1964: 1964 Election

In 1964, California did not vote Republican.

1964: End of the Golden Gate Bridge's longest suspension bridge main span record

In 1964, the Golden Gate Bridge lost its title as the longest suspension bridge main span in the world at 4,200 feet (1,300 m).

1965: Population Growth

Migration to California accelerated during the early 20th century with the completion of transcontinental highways. From 1900 to 1965, California's population grew to the greatest in the Union.

1970: Decline of Non-Hispanic Whites

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

1974: Farming-related sales in California

In 1974, farming-related sales in California amounted to $7.3 billion.

1976: California executions since 1976

California has performed 13 executions since 1976.

1978: Proposition 13

In 1978, the passage of Proposition 13 occurred, limiting state property taxes.

1980: California's prison population

In 1980, California's prison population was at 25,000.

1984: Los Angeles Summer Olympics

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

1986: Proposition 63

In 1986, California Proposition 63 was passed, enshrining English as the only official language in California and ending Spanish as a language of instruction in public schools.

1986: English as Official Language

In 1986, California voters passed Proposition 63, enshrining English as the official language of California.

1988: California as a Republican-leaning state

From 1952 through 1988, California was a Republican-leaning state.

1990: Immigrant Naturalization Rate

In 1990, only 31% of California's immigrants were naturalized US citizens.

1990: Democratic candidates elected

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

1992: Rodney King Riots

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

Starting in 1992, Democrats have won all of California's electoral votes for the last eight 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: Authorization of the California High-Speed Rail Authority

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

December 1997: Endangered Plant Species

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

1998: State spending in California

In 1998, State spending in California was at $56 billion.

2000: Rise of Hispanic Population

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

2000: Veterans of U.S. military service in California

In 2000, California had 2,569,340 veterans of U.S. military service.

2001: California Energy Crisis

In 2001, California faced an energy crisis, leading to rolling blackouts, soaring power rates, and the importation of electricity from neighboring states. Southern California Edison and Pacific Gas and Electric Company came under criticism.

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 List

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

April 2003: Bighorn Sheep Listed as Endangered

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

2004: Farming-related sales in California

In 2004, farming-related sales in California reached nearly $31 billion.

2004: Proposition 71

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

2005: Report on San Joaquin Valley

According to a 2005 report by the Congressional Research Service, the San Joaquin Valley was characterized as one of the most economically depressed regions in the U.S., on par with the region of Appalachia.

2005: Rising Housing Prices

By 2005, housing prices in urban areas had increased dramatically, with modest homes costing half a million dollars or more, compared to $25,000 in the 1960s.

2005: School Enrollment

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

2005: Decrease in Border Apprehensions

In 2005, the number of migrants arrested attempting to cross the Mexican border into the Southwest United States reached a high of 1.1 million.

2006: Jewish Population

According to the American Jewish Year Book, the total Jewish population of California was about 1,194,190 in 2006.

2006: Death penalty not used

California retains the death penalty, though it has not been used since 2006.

2006: California exported $127 billion worth of goods

In 2006, California exported $127 billion worth of goods.

2006: Last execution in California

The last execution performed in California was in 2006.

2007: Indigenous Languages

Between 2007 and 2009, a survey identified 23 different indigenous languages among California farmworkers.

2007: California exported $134 billion worth of goods

In 2007, California exported $134 billion worth of goods.

2007: California's prison population

In 2007, California's prison population grew to over 170,000.

2007: Democratic edge in the U.S. House

In 2007, the Democrats held a 34–19 edge in the California delegation of the 110th U.S. Congress.

2007: Bubble Burst

In 2007, the housing bubble burst as prices began to crash.

November 2008: Approval of 2008 California Proposition 1A

In November 2008, voters approved 2008 California Proposition 1A, a plan for a California High-Speed Rail system connecting all the major population centers in the state.

2008: California's exports

In 2008, California exported $144 billion worth of goods. Vehicles, computers, and electronic products are California's top exports, accounting for 42% of all the state's exports in 2008; over 50 car companies operate in California, such as Tesla and Mazda.

2008: Proposition 8

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

2008: Revenue generated by California's farms and ranches

In 2008, California's 81,500 farms and ranches generated $36.2 billion in products revenue.

2008: Property Value Crash

In 2008, hundreds of billions in property values vanished and foreclosures soared as financial institutions and investors were badly hurt following the burst of the housing bubble.

2008: Religious Denominations

In 2008, the largest religious denominations in California were the Catholic Church (31%), Evangelical Protestants (18%), and Mainline Protestants (14%). 21% of the population was unaffiliated with any religion.

2009: Indigenous Languages

Between 2007 and 2009, a survey identified 23 different indigenous languages among California farmworkers.

2009: U.S. Department of Defense active duty servicemembers in California

In 2009, the U.S. Department of Defense had a total of 117,806 active duty servicemembers in California, with 61,365 Department of Defense civilian employees. Additionally, there were a total of 57,792 Reservists and Guardsman in California.

June 8, 2010: Approval of Proposition 14

After June 8, 2010, when Proposition 14 was approved, excepting only the U.S. president and county central committee offices, all candidates in the primary elections are listed on the ballot with their preferred party affiliation, but they are not the official nominee of that party.

2010: Population Growth

According to the 2020 U.S. census, the population of California increased 6.13% since 2010.

2010: Largest Denominations

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

2010: 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, and just over four thousand served before World War II (the largest population of this group of any state).

2010: California residents with the 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 as origin of military recruits

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

2010: California-born Residents Majority

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

January 2011: California's total debt

In January 2011, California's total debt was at least $265 billion.

2011: Largest Minority Population

According to estimates from 2011, California had the largest minority population in the U.S. by numbers, making up 60% of the state population.

2011: California's agricultural products and revenue

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, in 2011, the three largest California agricultural products by value were milk and cream, shelled almonds, and grapes. In 2011, California's agriculture sector generated $43.5 billion in product revenue.

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2011: Minority Population Under Age 1

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: Persistent Drought

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

2011: Immigration Shift

In 2011, California's immigration patterns shifted. Immigration from Latin American countries dropped significantly, with most immigrants now coming from Asia. A total of 277,304 immigrants entered, with 57% from Asian countries and 22% from Latin American countries.

2011: Further Decrease in Border Apprehensions

In 2011, the number of migrants arrested attempting to cross the Mexican border in the Southwest decreased to 367,000.

2012: Democrats gain four seats

After the 2012 elections, Democrats gained four seats and held a 38–15 majority in the delegation.

2012: California's K-12 public schools ranked 48th in employees per student

In 2012, California's K-12 public schools ranked 48th in the number of employees per student, with 0.102 employees per student, compared to the U.S. average of 0.137. The state paid the 7th most per employee at $49,000, while the U.S. average was $39,000.

2012: Passage of Proposition 30 in California

With the passage of Proposition 30 in 2012, California levied a 13.3% maximum marginal income tax rate with ten tax brackets, ranging from 1% at the bottom tax bracket of $0 annual individual income to 13.3% for annual individual income over $1,000,000.

June 27, 2013: Governor signs balanced budget

On June 27, 2013, Governor Jerry Brown signed a balanced budget for the state, its first in decades; however, the state's debt remains at $132 billion.

2013: San Onofre nuclear plant shutdown

The San Onofre nuclear plant was shut down in 2013.

2014: Religious Denominations

In 2014, the largest religious denominations in California were the Catholic Church (28%), Evangelical Protestants (20%), and Mainline Protestants (10%). 27% of the population was unaffiliated with any religion.

2015: First phase of construction begins for California High-Speed Rail

In 2015, the first phase of construction began for the California High-Speed Rail system.

2016: Proposition 58

In 2016, California Proposition 58 reversed the prohibition on bilingual education in the state.

2016: K-12 Public School Spending

In 2016, California's K–12 public school per-pupil spending was ranked 22nd in the nation at $11,500 per student, compared to the U.S. average of $11,800.

2016: 2016 U.S. presidential election

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

2016: Orange County votes

Orange County had remained largely Republican until the 2016 elections, in which a majority of the county's votes were cast for Democratic candidates.

2016: Passage of Proposition 55 in California

With the passage of Proposition 55 in 2016, California continued to levy a 13.3% maximum marginal income tax rate with ten tax brackets, ranging from 1% at the bottom tax bracket of $0 annual individual income to 13.3% for annual individual income over $1,000,000 (though the top brackets are only temporary until Proposition 55 expires at the end of 2030).

2017: Poverty Rate in California

As of 2017, the official poverty rate in California was 13.3%.

2017: Drought Continues

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

2017: California sales tax rate reverts to previous minimum

In 2017, California's state sales tax rate reverted to a previous minimum state sales tax rate of 7.25% after Proposition 55 did not extend a sales tax increase enacted by Proposition 30.

2017: Origin of the name 'California'

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

2018: Democrats win 46 congressional house seats

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

2018: Population Ethnicity

In 2018, California's population was 60.7% non-Hispanic and 39.3% Hispanic or Latino, with non-Hispanic whites constituting 36.8% of the state's population.

2018: Airport traffic in Los Angeles and San Francisco

In 2018, Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) was the 4th busiest airport in the world, and San Francisco International Airport (SFO) was the 25th busiest airport in the world, major hubs for trans-Pacific and transcontinental traffic.

2018: Orange County votes

Orange County had remained largely Republican until the 2018 elections, in which a majority of the county's votes were cast for Democratic candidates.

2018: Deadliest Wildfire Season

The 2018 wildfire season was the state's deadliest and most destructive.

2019: Yes California movement postponed independence referendum

In 2019, the Yes California movement attempted to organize an independence referendum via ballot initiative, which was then postponed.

2019: Millionaire Households in California

In 2019, there were 1,042,027 millionaire households in California, more than any other state in the nation.

January 26, 2020: First Confirmed COVID-19 Case

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

March 4, 2020: State of Emergency Declared

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

March 19, 2020: Statewide Stay-at-Home Order

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

April 1, 2020: U.S. Census

According to the 2020 U.S. census on April 1, 2020, the population of California was 39.54 million, a 6.13% increase since 2010.

July 2020: Population Decline Begins

In 2020, California began to experience population declines which continued every year, 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. From July 2020 to July 2023 there was a net loss of population.

November 2020: California voters reject affirmative action

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

2020: California Apologizes for Japanese American Internment

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

2020: Life Expectancy

In 2020, California ranked fourth among states in the United States for life expectancy, with an average life expectancy of 79.0 years.

2020: Population decline in metropolitan areas

In 2020, despite declining populations, the Greater Los Angeles, Inland Empire, and San Francisco Bay areas were among the most populous metropolitan areas in the U.S.

2020: Cases processed by California judiciary

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: 2020 U.S. presidential election

In the 2020 U.S. presidential election, California had the 6th highest percentage of Democratic votes behind D.C., Vermont, Massachusetts, Maryland, and Hawaii.

January 2021: End of Stay-at-Home Order

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

September 2021: Total non-farm employment in California

As of September 2021, the state of 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: California Residents move out of state

Between 2021 and 2022, 818,000 California residents moved out of state with emigrants listing high cost of living, California housing shortage rise of remote work, high taxes, and a difficult business environment as the motivation.

2021: California Department of Motor Vehicles data

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, and there were 36,229,205 registered vehicles.

2021: Spanish Speakers in California

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

2021: Per capita GDP in California

In 2021, the per capita GDP in California was $85,546, ranking fourth in the nation.

2021: Cases processed by California judiciary

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.

October 2022: Voter registration in California

In October 2022, out of the 26,876,800 people eligible to vote, 21,940,274 people were registered to vote. The three largest registered groups were Democrats, Republicans, and No Party Preference.

October 2022: Party registration by county

In October 2022, party registration by county.

2022: Population Ancestry

According to 2022 estimates from the American Community Survey, 32.4% of the 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 (Mostly Salvadoran and Guatemalan), 3.4% had Italian ancestry, 2.8% listed themselves as American, and 2.5% had Indian ancestry.

2022: Homeless Population

According to HUD's 2022 Annual Homeless Assessment Report, there were an estimated 171,521 homeless people in California.

2022: California Residents move out of state

2022: Passage of The Clean Energy, Jobs and Affordability Act

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

2022: Controlled Burns Revival

In 2022, a new state program was created in collaboration with indigenous peoples of California to revive the practice of controlled burns as a way of clearing excessive forest debris and making landscapes more resilient to wildfires.

2022: Indigenous Cultural Revitalization

In 2022, cultural and language revitalization efforts progressed among indigenous Californians, with some land returns to indigenous stewardship occurring.

2022: Recognition of Indigenous Ecosystem Management

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

February 2023: End of State of Emergency

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

July 2023: Estimated State Population

The estimated state population in July 2023 was 38.94 million.

2023: California's integrated passenger rail master plan includes a high speed rail system

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

2023: Immigrant Naturalization

In 2023, more than half (55%) of California's immigrants were naturalized US citizens.

July 1, 2024: Mountain House Incorporation

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

2024: California's Gross State Product largest in the U.S.

As of 2024, California's gross state product (GSP) is $4.172 trillion ($102,500 per capita), which is the largest of any U.S. state. California is home to 57 of the Fortune 500 companies.

May 2025: California's unemployment rate

As of May 2025, California has an unemployment rate of 5.3%.

August 2025: Legislative approval of California Proposition 50

In August 2025, Governor Newsom secured legislative approval of California Proposition 50, which would redraw the state's congressional districts.

2025: Businesses formed in California

In 2025, 465,101 businesses were formed in California, the second-highest in the country behind Florida. As of 2025, 4.3 million small businesses were in the state, making up 99.8% of businesses and employing 47.4% of the state's workforce.

2025: California's Economy

In 2025, California's gross state product was estimated to be $4.296 trillion, making it the largest sub-national economy and potentially the fourth-largest globally if it were an independent country.

2026: California Proposition 50 approved

In 2026, after being approved by 64.4% of voters, California Proposition 50 added as many as five seats for the Democratic Party for the 2026 midterms.

2026: 2026 World Cup

The 2026 World Cup is scheduled to return in 2026, from June 11 to July 19. SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles will host eight matches, including three group stage fixtures, two Round of 32 clashes, and a highly anticipated Quarter-Final.

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: Planned operation of California High-Speed Rail's first segment

By the end of 2030, the first segment of the California High-Speed Rail system, 171 miles (275 km) long, is planned to be put into operation.

2030: Expiration of Proposition 55 in California

The top income tax brackets enacted under Proposition 55 are scheduled to expire at the end of 2030 in California.

2035: Renewable energy goals for California

By 2035, The Clean Energy, Jobs and Affordability Act committed the state of California to running its operations on clean, renewable energy resources.

2050: California total renewable energy conversion possible

By 2050, it would be possible to convert the total supply to 100% renewable energy in California, including heating, cooling and mobility.

2060: Projected Hispanic Population

It is currently projected that Hispanics will rise to 49% of California's population by 2060, primarily due to domestic births rather than immigration.