California
History
California's population is estimated by the US Census Bureau at 36,961,664 for the year 2009, making it the most populous state. This includes a natural increase of 3,090,016 since the last census (5,058,440 births minus 2,179,958 deaths). During this time period, international migration produced a net increase of 1,816,633 people while domestic migration produced a net decrease of 1,509,708, resulting in a net in-migration of 306,925 people. The state of California's own statistics show a population of 38,292,687 for January 1, 2009.
California is the second-most-populous sub-national entity of the Western Hemisphere, exceeded only by São Paulo, Brazil. California's population is greater than that of all but 34 countries of the world. Also, Los Angeles County has held the title of most populous U.S. county for decades, and it alone is more populous than 42 U.S. states. The center of population of California is located in the town of Buttonwillow, Kern County.
Cities
California is home to eight of the 50 most populous cities in the United States. Los Angeles is the nation's second-largest city with a population of 3,849,378 people, followed by San Diego (8th), San Jose (10th), San Francisco, California (12th), Fresno (35th), Sacramento (36th), Long Beach (37th), and Oakland (44th).
Additionally, the metropolitan areas of Los Angeles, San Francisco, Riverside-San Bernardino, San Diego, and Sacramento are the 2nd, 13th, 14th, 17th, and 25th most populous in the United States, respectively.
Racial and ancestral makeup
According to the 2006–2008 American Community Survey, California's population is:
- 42.3% White (not including White Hispanic)
- 36.6% are Hispanic or Latino (of any race)
- 12.5% Asian
- 6.7% Black or African American
- 2.6% Multiracial
- 1.2% American Indian
With regard to demographics, California has the largest population of White Americans in the U.S., an estimated 22,189,514 residents, although most demographic surveys do not measure actual genetic ancestry. The state has the fifth-largest population of African Americans in the U.S., an estimated 2,250,630 residents. California's Asian American population is estimated at 4.4 million, approximately one-third of the nation's 13.1 million Asian Americans. California's Native American population of 285,162 is the most of any state.
According to estimates from 2008, California has the largest minority population in the United States by numbers, making up 57 percent of the state population. Non-Hispanic whites decreased from 80% of the state's population in 1970 to 42% in 2008. While the population of minorities account for 102 million of 301 million U.S. residents, 20% of the national total live in California.
Armed forces
Landmarks
Coordinates:
37°N
120°W
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37°N 120°W
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37;
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