California is also well known for the gold rush. This was in 1848 to 1855 and was a time when a great many prospectors rushed to the area in the hope of finding gold and making their fortune. Most did not find gold nor make their fortune but stayed there anyway. Agriculture then became plan B for many of the prospectors and they became ranchers. Now California is one of the ten largest economic areas in the world.

Due to the size of the state and its geographical shape and position, California has a diverse climate. Although it is usually thought of as having a permanently sunny climate, there are areas in the mountains where there is a lot of snow in the winter and only moderate heat during the summer months. The deserts will see extremes of temperatures and Death Valley has the highest recorded temperature in the Western Hemisphere at 134 degrees Fahrenheit in 1913.

Hollywood is in California. The movie industry is there. These are perhaps what the rest of the world would immediately associate with the state. Hollywood is loud and highly visible but is not all that California is about. Agriculture still plays a large part in the economy as does the aerospace industry. Silicon Valley is the nickname given to San Fernando Valley. The title was earned when the computer industry first started to boom and many silicon chip manufacturing companies moved to this area. Although computers are now a worldwide trading market, the area has retained its name and reputation and is still a huge part of the industry of California.

The wine industry in California has become very successful indeed and wines from the state are enjoying worldwide acclaim and popularity. Napa Valley, Sonoma Valley, Santa Barbara and Paso Robles are all areas that are now highly respected in the world of wines and their products are easily available throughout the world.

California is a very diverse and exciting state. It is prosperous now in the way that it was expected to be during those heady gold rush days. It does have a glitz and glamour attitude and even has movie stars for governors. California is responsible for many things, but will probably always be thought of a the focal point of the entertainment and film industry and probably always remembered best for bringing us surfing and the Beach Boys.

Wendy Pan is an accomplished niche website developer and author.

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The Spanish explorer Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo reached San Diego Bay in 1542, and claimed the area for Spain. From 1565, Spanish traders are known to have made visits to the area, and the English explorer, Sir Francis Drake visited the region in 1579. Spain began to colonize the territory beginning in 1769, with the establishment of fortresses (presidios) and missions.

When Mexico became independent from Spain as a result of the Mexican War of Independence (1810 to 1821), the territory became part of Mexico. Following a brief revolt by US settlers (the Bear Revolt – from which California gets its flag) in 1846, California first became an independent republic, and then soon after was annexed by the United States.

In 1849, gold was discovered in the region, a huge number of immigrants arrived. California was admitted as the 31st state of the Union on September 9th, 1850. Following the establishment of transcontinental railroads and highways, migration to California continued and accelerated, a pattern that has to the present day, making the state into the most populous in the Union.

California played a relatively minor role in the American Civil War (1861 to 1865). While it is true that the state was home to some Confederate sympathizers, they were not allowed to organize and their newspapers were closed, and hence the state remained peaceful. The main involvement of California during the war, was that California Column, a force of 2,000 Union volunteers who marched across New Mexico and Arizona (at that time both part of the New Mexico Territory) into western Texas, engaged in some skirmishes with the Confederates, and spent most of the war fighting Apaches.

In the 20th century, California continued to grow both in population and economic important. When oil was discovered in southern California it was, for a time, the most important industry in the state. California also became an important center of movie-making and the entertainment industry more generally. During World War II, the state produced massive amounts of armaments for the Allied war effort. In more recent years, California became a key location in the new computer and high technology industries.

First published at http://www.vacation2usa.com/p1_state_california_history.php

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His acting career took off with the successful Conan the Barbarian with Schwarzenegger in the lead and chosen specifically for his perfect physique. In 1997, he was proclaimed the greatest bodybuilder of the 20th century, and the Guiness Book of World Records named him “the most perfectly developed man in the history of the world”.

Among his many business ventures, Schwarzenegger owns World Gym Enterprises and All Star Fitness Products, and is co-responsible for the Arnold Classic Pro Bodybuilding and Fitness shows. Additionally, he headed the Council on Physical Fitness and Sports for former President Bush.

Is it any wonder that, as governor for the state of California, Schwarzenegger wants California schools’ students to exercise more, eat better, and be more physically fit. To that end, he has issued a challenge to all California schools’ students in order promote an increased level of physical activity.

He wants all kindergarten through 12th grade California schools’ students to run, jump and squat for 30-to-60 minutes a day, at least three times a week for the next four weeks. The incentive — the school with the highest percentage of participation at the end of the four-week challenge wins a new fitness center/gymnasium. The next eleven school runner-ups will each receive $1,000 with which to purchase fitness equipment.

Schwarzenegger’s promotion of healthy California schools’ students doesn’t end there. Two bills have been introduced to improve school nutrition, effective July 2007. One bill requires all foods sold in California schools’ vending machines to meet high nutritional standards, regulating the number of calories for both fat and sugar. The second bill limits the type of drinks sold at California schools to water, milk, and some fruit and sport drinks that are low in sweeteners.

Not only is Schwarzenegger big on physical fitness and its benefits to California schools’ children, who are among the nation’s growing obese statistics, but a statewide review on physical fitness within the California schools was released last November 2006. The findings were atrocious.

The study found that nearly half of the California school’s ninth graders could not briskly run one mile. Almost 1.4 million California school’s students were tested in fifth, seventh and ninth grades. Less than a third met all minimum benchmarks for body fat, abdominal strength, and flexibility.

Governor Schwarzenegger is doing what it takes to help California schools’ students become and stay physically fit. If children do not do it while in school, it can affect their entire adult life with obese-related illnesses and health problems.

Parents, teachers and California schools interested in participating can register online and track their schools’ progress against other California schools at: www.calgovcouncil.org.

Patricia Hawke is an expert researcher and writer on real estate topics such as economics, credit improvement tips, home selling advice and home buying preparations and education for relocating families. For more information please California Schools

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