Top 10 things you didn’t know about California

Best things about California

1. Every eighth person in America is from California.

With a population of about 38 million people, California is the most densely populated state. It is also third-largest by area. In fact, every eighth person in America is from California!

2. Grizzly Bear State!

Before the extinction of golden grizzly bears, California was best known as the ‘Grizzly Bear State.’ As humans started to settle in California, the species were wiped out and the state began to commonly known as the ‘Golden State’, given due to the ‘gold-rush.’ The state flag now honours grizzly bear on the flag.

3. Eureka!

Eureka – I’ve found it was officially declared as California’s state motto in 1963. It dates back to the Greek Scholar, Archimedes, who is believed to have a sudden realization, in his bathtub, for a way to purify gold. The Gold Rush was such that he ran out of the room, naked, to share his finding!

4. Death Valley

Death Valley is the hottest and driest national park, with a below-sea-level basin. With a melting point of, 134°F has recorded the highest air temperature of the valley on July 10, 1913. It rains so seldom in the Death Valley, even some deserts receive more rain!

5. Wine Maker!

California produces 89% of the United States’ wine. Given the amount of wine it produces, California is considered as the ‘Mecca of Wine.’

6. First-Ever McDonald’s!

Richard and Maurice McDonald opened first McDonald’s ever in 1940 in San Bernardino, California. They were the first ones to relish upon the appetizing burgers!

7. Marilyn Monroe – Artichoke Queen

Marilyn Monroe, previously known as Norma Jean, began her journey by being crowned as the first Artichoke’s Queen in 1947. Castroville in California was self-proclaimed as the ‘Artichoke Center of the World.’ The famous actress’s first push was this state!

8. Fifth Largest World’s Economy

Exceeding $2.7 trillion, California’s GDP rose dramatically. Not only has California become the fifth largest economy of the world, but it has also surpassed the United Kingdom’s economy in 2018.

9. Summer and Winter Olympics

California has secured its position of being the sole state to host both, Summer- and Winter Olympics. Winter Olympics was hosted by Squaw Valley in 1960 while the Summer Olympics were held in Los Angeles in 1984.

10. Fortune Cookie Invention!

Inspired by omikuji, a Japanese fortune tradition, the first fortune cookies were made by Benkyodo, a bakery in San Francisco. Founder of the Hong Kong Noodle Company in Los Angeles, David Jung, claimed to first invent the fortune cookie in 1918.