California ( , ) is a
state located on the
West Coast of the United States. It is the
most populous U.S. state, with 39 million people, and the
third largest state by area (after
Alaska and
Texas). California is bordered by
Oregon to the north,
Nevada to the east,
Arizona to the southeast, and the
Mexican state of
Baja California to the south. It contains the nation's second most populous
census statistical area (
Greater Los Angeles Area) and the fifth most populous (
San Francisco Bay Area), and eight of the nation's
50 most populated cities (
Los Angeles,
San Diego,
San Jose,
San Francisco,
Fresno,
Sacramento,
Long Beach, and
Oakland). Sacramento has been the state capital since 1854.
