18 Fun and Interesting Facts About California

How much do you know about California? For most people, their California knowledge starts and ends with Hollywood in Los Angeles. They know that there are stars on the sidewalk with celebrity names and they go to the state with hopes of seeing a celebrity in real life. But there is so much more to California than celebrities and sunshine. People from all walks of life live in this sunny state, from farmers to tech gurus. If you are planning a trip or a move to the Golden State check out these fun facts about California.

Fun California Facts

But what about some of the fun facts about California? There’s more to California than Disney and movie stars. We’re here to tell you some of our favorite interesting facts about California so you can prepare yourself for your adventure (or just impress your friends on trivia night). Keep reading to learn more.

The Name California

Many theories claim that the origin of the name California is said to have come from the Spanish novel “Las sergas de Esplandián” by Garci Rodríguez de Montalvo, which was published in 1510. The novel tells the story of a mythical island called California, ruled by a queen named Calafia.

When Spanish explorers in the 16th century, they are said to have been reminded of the fictional island and named the region after it.

However, another theory states that it is from the Indigenous word “Kali-fon,” which means “high hill” or “mountain.” This theory is supported by the fact that many Native Americans in the region, including the Chumash and Tongva, had words similar to “Kali-fon” in their languages.

Regardless of its origin, the name “California” has come to be closely associated with the American West and is now synonymous with the state of California.

The California Grizzly Bear

If you take. a look at the California flag you will see that it features a grizzly bear. You may find that odd since there are no grizzly bears in California. Sadly grizzly bears were tracked and hunted after the California Gold Rush brought a higher population to the area and the last bear was shot in 1922. But the grizzly bear was once thriving in California and has been the official state animal since 1954.

California State Flag

The grizzly bear on the state flag represents the strength of the state but there is more to the story. The Bear Flag was created during the Bear Flag Revolt…