The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition. 2002. California
State in the Far West bordered by Oregon to the north; Nevada and Arizona to the east; Baja California, Mexico , to the south; and the Pacific Ocean to the west. Its capital is Sacramento , and its largest city is Los Angeles . 1 ‡ During the California gold rush tens of thousands of people poured into California in search of gold. It is sometimes called the “Golden State.” (See forty-niners .) 2 ‡ California is the most populous state. It is known for its earthquakes , high-tech industries (see Silicon Valley ), and agriculture. 3 ‡ The state is famous for all the fads and ideas that originate there, many of which are considered strange or eccentric. 4
The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition. Edited by E.D. Hirsch, Jr., Joseph F. Kett, and James Trefil. Copyright © 2002 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
