History of California in Timeline

California is a U.S. state on the Pacific Coast, bordering Oregon, Nevada, Arizona, and Baja California (Mexico). It's the most populous and third-largest state by area, with nearly 40 million residents and spanning 163,696 square miles. Its location along the Pacific and size contribute to its diverse geography and climate.

1900: Population Growth

From 1900 to 1965, California's population grew from under one million to the largest in the Union.

1906: San Francisco Earthquake

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

1909: Founding of KCBS (AM)

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

1911: Outlaw of native American Use of Fire

In 1911, Native American use of fire in ecosystem management was outlawed, it has now been recognized.

July 10, 1913: Highest Temperature Recorded in Death Valley

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

1913: Alien Land Act Passed

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 and it remains one of the deadliest disasters in U.S. history.

1932: Summer Olympics in Los Angeles

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

1936: Completion of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge

In 1936, the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge was completed and transports about 280,000 vehicles per day.

January 20, 1937: Lowest Temperature Recorded in California

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

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 in 1939

From 1899 until 1939, California had exclusively Republican governors. 1939 marks the end of this period.

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 United States.

1940: California's Population Demographics

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

1952: Republican-Leaning State from 1952

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

1960: California Master Plan for Higher Education Adopted

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

1960: Winter Olympics at Squaw Valley

In 1960, the Winter Olympics were held at Squaw Valley Ski Resort (now Palisades Tahoe) in the Lake Tahoe region of California.

1964: Exception to Republican Electoral Votes in 1964

From 1952 through 1988, California was a Republican-leaning state, with 1964 as the sole exception in terms of electoral votes.

1964: Golden Gate Bridge span record

The Golden Gate Bridge held the record of being the longest suspension bridge main span since 1937 until 1964.

1965: California Population Reaches Highest in the Union

Between 1900 and 1965, California's population grew significantly, reaching the highest in the Union.

1970: Non-Hispanic Whites Decline

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

1974: Farming-related Sales

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

1976: Executions Since 1976

California has performed 13 executions since 1976.

1978: Proposition 13 Passed in 1978

In 1978, Proposition 13 was passed in California, limiting state property taxes and culminating in a tax revolt.

1980: California's Prison Population

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

1984: Summer Olympics in Los Angeles

The 1984 Summer Olympics were held in Los Angeles.

1986: California Proposition 63

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

1988: Republican-Leaning State until 1988

California was a Republican-leaning state from 1952 until 1988.

1990: Percentage of naturalized immigrants

In 1990, 31% of immigrants were naturalized citizens.

1990: Democratic Candidates Elected Since 1990

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

1992: Democrats Win All of California's Electoral Votes Starting in 1992

Democrats have won all of California's electoral votes for the last eight elections, starting in 1992.

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.

1994: FIFA World Cup Matches in California

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

1996: Authorization of California High-Speed Rail Authority

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

December 1997: Plant Species Listed as Threatened or Endangered

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

1998: State Spending

In 1998, State spending increased to $56 billion.

2000: Hispanic Population Growth

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

2000: Veterans of US Military Service

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

2001: California Energy Crisis

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

2002: Californians in the Military

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

April 2003: California Animals on the Federal Endangered List

As of April 2003, 118 California animals were on the federal endangered list, and 181 plants were 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: Proposition 71 Passed in 2004

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

2004: Farming-related Sales

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

2005: San Joaquin Valley Report

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 United States.

2005: Rising Housing Prices

By 2005, housing prices in urban areas of California had significantly increased, with a modest home that cost $25,000 in the 1960s costing half a million dollars or more.

2005: Migrant Arrests at Mexican Border Reach High

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

2005: School Enrollment

In the 2005-06 school year, California had over 6.2 million school students.

2006: Last Use of Death Penalty in 2006

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

2006: Last Execution

California's last execution was in 2006.

2006: California Exports

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

2006: Jewish Population in California

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.

2007: California Exports

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 California Delegation in 2007

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

2007: Bursting of the Housing Bubble

In 2007, the housing bubble burst in California, causing prices to crash and leading to foreclosures and financial losses for institutions and investors.

November 2008: Approval of Proposition 1A

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

2008: California Exports

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

2008: Proposition 8 in 2008

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

2008: Revenue Generated by Farms and Ranches

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

2008: Religious Denominations in California

In 2008, the population identified their religion with the Catholic Church with 31 percent; Evangelical Protestants with 18 percent; and Mainline Protestants with 14 percent.

2009: Indigenous Languages Survey

A survey conducted between 2007 and 2009 identified 23 different indigenous languages among California farmworkers.

2009: U.S. Department of Defense Active Duty Servicemembers

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

June 8, 2010: Proposition 14 Approval

After June 8, 2010, when Proposition 14 was approved, 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.

September 2010: California Animals Listed as Endangered or Threatened

As of September 2010, 123 California animals were listed as either endangered or threatened on the federal list, along with 178 species of California plants.

2010: Largest Denominations by Adherents

According to the Association of Religion Data Archives (ARDA), in 2010, the largest denominations by adherents in California 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: 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: Average Credit Score

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

2010: 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 Passed in 2010

In 2010, Proposition 14 was passed in California, completely changing the state's primary election process.

2010: California-born Residents Make Up Majority

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.

2010: Population Increase

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

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 has the largest minority population in the United States by numbers, making up 60% of the state population.

2011: California Agriculture Products

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

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: Start of Severe Drought

In 2011, California began experiencing a persistent drought, which would become the worst in its recorded history by 2017.

2011: Migrant Arrests Decrease

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

2011: California Immigration Statistics

In 2011, there were 277,304 immigrants to California, with 57% coming from Asian countries and 22% from Latin American countries.

2012: Democrats Gained Seats After 2012 Elections

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

2012: Public School Employees per Student

For 2012, California's K–12 public schools ranked 48th in the number of employees per student, at 0.102 (the U.S. average was 0.137), while paying the 7th most per employee, $49,000 (the U.S. average was $39,000).

2012: Proposition 30 Passage

With the passage of Proposition 30 in 2012, California now levies 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: Balanced Budget Signed

On June 27, 2013, Governor Jerry Brown signed a balanced budget (no deficit) for the state, its first in decades; however, the state's debt remains at $132 billion.

2013: San Onofre Nuclear Plant Shutdown

In 2013, the San Onofre nuclear plant was shut down.

2014: Religious Denominations in California

In 2014, the largest religious denominations by number of adherents as a percentage of California's population were the Catholic Church with 28 percent, Evangelical Protestants with 20 percent, and Mainline Protestants with 10 percent.

2015: First Phase of Construction Begun

In 2015, the first phase of construction of the California High-Speed Rail system was begun.

2016: California Proposition 58

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

2016: Per-Pupil Spending in California

In 2016, California's K–12 public school per-pupil spending was ranked 22nd in the nation ($11,500 per student vs. $11,800 for the U.S. average).

2016: California's Democratic Votes in 2016 Presidential Election

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

2016: Orange County Votes Democratic in 2016 Elections

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: Proposition 55 Passage

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

As of 2017, using the official measure, California's poverty rate was 13.3%.

2017: Persistent Drought

By 2017, California's drought, which began in 2011, was considered the worst in its recorded history.

2017: Theories on the origin of "California"

In 2017, a state legislative document acknowledged that numerous theories exist regarding the origin and meaning of the name 'California,' but the only certainty is that a Spanish navigator added the name to a map by 1541.

2017: State Sales Tax Rate

In 2017, the minimum state sales tax rate reverted to 7.25% after the sales tax increase enacted by Proposition 30 was not extended by Proposition 55.

2018: Democrats Win 46 House Seats in 2018

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, California experienced its deadliest and most destructive wildfire season.

2018: Busiest Airports

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.

2018: California's Ethnic Composition

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

2018: Orange County Votes Democratic in 2018 Elections

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

2019: Millionaire Households

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

2019: Postponement of Independence Referendum in 2019

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

January 26, 2020: First Confirmed COVID-19 Case

On January 26, 2020, one of the first confirmed COVID-19 cases in the United States was identified 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 Issued

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

April 1, 2020: California Population

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 Decline Begins

In July 2020, California began to experience population declines that continued every year, due to moves out of state, declining birth rates, COVID-19 pandemic deaths, and less internal migration.

November 2020: Rejection of Affirmative Action in California in November 2020

In November 2020, California voters rejected affirmative action, marking the most recent instance of such a rejection in the state.

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: California Life Expectancy

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

2020: Fiscal Year 2020-2021

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's Democratic Votes in 2020 Presidential Election

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: Stay-at-Home Order Ends

In January 2021, the mandatory statewide stay-at-home order in California, which was issued on March 19, 2020, was ended.

September 2021: Total Non-Farm Employment

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

2021: American Community Survey Language Data

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 Resident Move Out

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

2021: Driver's Licenses and Registered Vehicles

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: Per Capita GDP

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

2021: Spanish Language in California

In 2021, Spanish was spoken by 28.18% of California's population.

2021: Fiscal Year 2020-2021

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 at SoFi Stadium

On February 13, 2022, Super Bowl LVI was held at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.

September 2022: California's Unemployment Rate

As of September 2022, California's unemployment rate was 3.9%.

October 2022: Voter Registration in October 2022

In October 2022, out of the 26,876,800 people eligible to vote, 21,940,274 people were registered to vote. Of the people registered, the three largest registered groups were Democrats (10,283,258), Republicans (5,232,094), and No Party Preference (4,943,696).

October 2022: Party registration

Party registration by county in October 2022.

2022: Ancestry Estimates from the American Community Survey

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: US Census Bureau Population Self-Identification

According to the United States Census Bureau in 2022, the population self-identified as (alone or in combination): 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. Also, 19% of Californians identified as two or more races in 2022.

2022: Progress in Indigenous Revitalization Efforts

As of 2022, cultural and language revitalization efforts among indigenous Californians have progressed among tribes. Also, in 2022, the largest dam removal and river restoration project in US history was announced for the Klamath River, benefiting California tribes.

2022: California Resident Move Out

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

2022: Homeless Population in California

In 2022, HUD's Annual Homeless Assessment Report estimated that there were 171,521 homeless people in California.

2022: Revival of Controlled Burns

In 2022, a new state program was created in collaboration with California's indigenous peoples to revive controlled burns as a means of reducing forest debris and improving wildfire resilience.

2022: California Recognizes Indigenous Land Management

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

2022: Clean Energy, Jobs and Affordability Act

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

February 2023: State of Emergency Ends

In February 2023, Governor Gavin Newsom ended the state of emergency in California that had been in effect since March 4, 2020, due to COVID-19.

July 2023: Net Loss of Population

Between July 2020 and July 2023, California experienced a net loss of population of 433,000.

2023: Passenger Rail Master Plan

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

2023: Naturalized US Citizens in California

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

July 1, 2024: Mountain House Becomes Incorporated

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

2024: California's GSP

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

2024: California's Economy in 2024

In 2024, California's gross state product was estimated to be $4.172 trillion as of Q4, making it the largest sub-national economy globally and the fourth-largest overall if it were an independent country.

2025: California's Nominal GDP

As of 2025, California's nominal GDP is larger than all but four countries.

2028: Los Angeles to Host 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 First Segment

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

2030: Proposition 55 Expiration

Proposition 55 is set to expire at the end of 2030, potentially altering the state's income tax structure.

2035: Renewable Energy Goal

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