California, Birmingham facts for kids
Quick facts for kids California |
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|---|---|
 California
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| Metropolitan borough | |
| Metropolitan county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | BIRMINGHAM |
| Postcode district | B29 & B32 |
| Dialling code | 0121 |
| Police | West Midlands |
| Fire | West Midlands |
| Ambulance | West Midlands |
| EU Parliament | West Midlands |
| UK Parliament |
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California is a small area in Birmingham, England. It's about 4 miles (6.4 km) southwest of Birmingham city centre. You can find it close to Woodgate Valley Country Park. This area is part of the Bartley Green ward and the Birmingham Edgbaston voting area.
Contents
The Story of California
How California Got Its Name
California was originally part of a larger area called Northfield in Worcestershire. The name "California" comes from a pub called the California Inn. This inn was built by a man named Isaac Flavell. It stood at the corner of Barnes Hill and Alwold Road. Barnes Hill itself is named after John Barnes, who was a master brickmaker. He started the first brickworks in this area.
Isaac Flavell bought Stonehouse Farm and the land around it in 1842. He then started his own brick-making business. There's a popular story that the California Inn was named after the state of California in the USA. People said Flavell made a lot of money there during the California Gold Rush. However, the Gold Rush didn't start until 1848. Records show that Flavell was already running his business well before that time.
Brick Making in California
The village of California became very famous for making bricks. These bricks were moved by special boats called canal barges. They traveled along the Dudley No. 2 Canal. California was important because it was the eastern entrance to the Lapal Tunnel.
After 1877, brick making in the area started to slow down. It finally stopped completely in the late 1940s. In 1911, California became part of Birmingham, along with Northfield.
California Today
Today, California is mostly a place where people live. It's centered around the crossing of Barnes Hill (which is the B4121 road) and Stonehouse Way. The Woodgate Valley Fire Station is also located nearby.
To the west, California is next to Woodgate Valley Country Park. To the east, it borders the Bourn Brook, which is a small river. This brook forms the boundary with Harborne. The old clay pits, where clay was dug for bricks, have now been filled in. They are covered with grass. One of these sites is now the playing field for Hillcrest School. Other nearby places include Harborne, Bartley Green, and Weoley Castle.
Getting Around California
California is located along the B4121 road. This road goes from Cotteridge to Quinton. You can travel from California to Birmingham city centre using National Express West Midlands bus routes 23, 76, and X22.
The 76 bus also connects California to Weoley Castle and Northfield. Bus routes 23 and X22 link the area to Bartley Green. There are also Kev's Car and Coaches bus services, routes 39 and 39A. These connect California to Quinton and Woodgate Valley.
