California

According to Census estimates, California had 35,893,799 residents last year. That’s one-in-eight Americans.

The state motto is “Eureka,” a Greek word meaning “I have found it.” The “it” being gold.

The California state animal is the Grizzly Bear, Ursus californicus. The animal was designated in 1953, just 31 years after the last one of its kind was hunted down and exterminated.

“I love California – I practically grew up in Phoenix.”
– Dan Quayle

“The coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in San Francisco.”
– Mark Twain