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California (disambiguation) facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

California is a large and famous state in the United States of America. It's known for its sunny weather, beautiful beaches, and big cities like Los Angeles and San Francisco.

But did you know that the name "California" can mean many other things too? It's a popular name for places, vehicles, songs, and more! This page will help you find out what you're looking for.

Places Called California

The name "California" has been used for many different places throughout history and around the world.

Historical Regions in North America

  • The Californias: This was a large area along the west coast of North America when it was ruled by Spain and later Mexico. It included what is now the U.S. state of California and parts of Mexico.
    • Alta California: This was the northern part of "The Californias." It was a province under Spanish rule and later a territory of Mexico. It eventually became the U.S. state of California.
    • Baja California Peninsula: This is the long, narrow piece of land that sticks out into the Pacific Ocean, south of the U.S. state of California. It's now part of Mexico.
      • Baja California: One of the two present-day states in Mexico located on the Baja California Peninsula.
      • Baja California Sur: The other present-day state in Mexico on the Baja California Peninsula.
  • Gulf of California: This is a large body of water that separates the Baja California Peninsula from the main part of Mexico. It's also called the Sea of Cortés.
  • Island of California: For a long time, people mistakenly thought the Baja California Peninsula was actually an island! Maps from long ago show it as an island.

Cities and Towns Around the World

Many towns and neighborhoods in different countries are also named California. Here are a few examples:

  • Califórnia, Paraná, a town in Brazil.
  • California, Ontario, a place in Canada.
  • California, Usulután, a town in El Salvador.
  • California (quartier), a neighborhood in Casablanca, Morocco.
  • California Gully, Victoria, a suburb in Australia.

Places in the United Kingdom

  • California, Berkshire, a village.
  • California, Falkirk, another village.
  • California, Norfolk, a civil parish.

Places in the United States

Things Named California

The name "California" isn't just for places! It's also used for vehicles, ships, and even music.

Vehicles

  • Ferrari California: A cool convertible sports car made by Ferrari.
  • Moto Guzzi California: A type of motorcycle.
  • Volkswagen California: A passenger van often used for camping.

Ships

Several ships have been named California:

  • SS California (1923): A British ocean liner.
  • USS California: A name used for many ships in the U.S. Navy.
  • California''-class cruiser: A type of guided missile cruiser used by the U.S. Navy.

Music

"California" is a very popular name for musical groups, albums, and songs.

Albums

Many bands and artists have named their albums California, including:

  • California by Blink-182.
  • California by Mr. Bungle.
  • California by Wilson Phillips.

Songs

There are also many songs called "California," such as:

Other Uses of California

  • California (novel): A book written by Edan Lepucki.
  • 341 California: This is the name of an asteroid in space!
  • California Nebula: A beautiful cloud of gas and dust in space that looks a bit like the shape of the state of California.
  • University of California, Berkeley: A very well-known university in California.
  • California University of Pennsylvania: Another university, located in California, Pennsylvania.
  • California Golden Bears: The sports teams for the University of California, Berkeley.
  • California Vulcans: The sports teams for California University of Pennsylvania.

People with the Name California

Sometimes, "California" is part of a person's name or nickname.

  • Randy California (1951–1997): An American musician, famous for being in the band Spirit.
  • Robert California: A character from the popular TV show The Office.
  • California Molefe (born 1980): A runner from Botswana.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: California (desambiguación) para niños

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California (disambiguation) Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.