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California Statehood

September 9, 2012

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Profile America -- Sunday, September 9th. California became the 31st state on this date in 1850 -- just one year after the discovery of gold within its borders. The Gold Rush started a steady flow of migration to California, and through the years people have been attracted to the state for various reasons -- its climate, jobs in Silicon Valley, aerospace, the entertainment industry, and in agriculture. When admitted to the Union, California was home to 93,000 people. Today, it is the largest state in the U.S., with a population of more than 37 million, about 12 percent of the nation's total population. California is notable for its wide racial and ethnic diversity. Nearly 38 percent of its residents are of Hispanic origin. You can find more facts about America from the U.S. Census Bureau, online at <www.census.gov>.

Sources: Chase's Calendar of Events 2012, p. 443
Historical Statistics of the United States: Colonial Times to 1970, p. 25
Statistical Abstract of the United States 2012, t. 18
http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/2012edition.html