Moving Companies and Movers in California
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Moving to California
California was settled by Spain during the 1700s. Many of the early Spanish settlers were missionaries, who established a string of settlements along the California coast. Many of the Spanish missions exist today, and the Spanish influence can still be seen in the architecture and place names of modern-day California. During the 1800s, California became home to a steady stream of American settlers migrating west. California became part of Mexico when Mexico won independence from Spain, but a few decades later, Mexico lost the territory to the United States after the Mexican-American War. Shortly afterward, gold was discovered in California, and the population skyrocketed as Americans came out west to seek their fortunes.
Today, California is an economic powerhouse with a state gross domestic product larger than most countries. Its most famous industry is entertainment: Hollywood, California has been synonymous with the movie industry ever since the early twentieth century. Hollywood is also home to many television studios and record companies, and it’s not uncommon to see film crews working in downtown Los Angeles or to run into a movie star at a local restaurant. However, the largest industry in California is agriculture. Many people recognize Napa Valley in northern California as a source for fine wines, and California also produces a variety of fruits and vegetables. California is also a major player in the high tech industries. A region near San Francisco known as Silicon Valley is home to a number of leading computer and software companies, and universities across California are pursuing cutting-edge aerospace and biomedical research.
California’s people are as diverse as its industries. California is the most populous state in the United States and has the largest minority population in the country, with minorities making up more than half of the population. Californians are often stereotyped as being very liberal, but in fact the people are quite diverse, coming from a variety of ethnic and religious backgrounds.
Some facts about California:- California is the third largest state in the US, after Alaska and Texas.
- More than a tenth of the United States population lives in California.
- If California were a country, it would be the 34th most populous country in the world.
- The state governor is movie star Arnold Schwarzenegger.
- California is home to both the highest mountain peak in the US (Mount Whitney) and the lowest valley (Death Valley).
- California was briefly an independent republic, when American settlers rebelled against Mexican rule.
- California’s Marin County, home to major software and movie companies, is the wealthiest region in the United States.
- About 40 percent of Californians speak a first language other than English.