The name “California” comes from a 16th-century Spanish novel that involves a warrior queen named Calafia. But the name also has much...

What was life like on a California rancho in the early days?

Danger

Working on a rancho could be very hazardous. There were accidents and injuries...

Native Americans of California

When Did Humans Come to California?

No one knows when the first human beings arrived in California. Scientists think...

California is one of the most geographically diverse states in the U.S. It has many different types of climates, landforms and plant and animal...

Most of California's water comes from winter rains and snows and evaporates or is absorbed into trees and vegetation. About 40% flows into rivers...

The geography of an area has a very important effect on the communities in that area and how those communities use their resources. 

For...

When the United States took over in 1846 the population of California was made up of about  8,000 Mexican Californians and between 150,000 and...