Moving to California

California, otherwise known as ‘The Golden State’, is a wonderful state to work and live. If you are moving or relocating to CA, we have compiled a detailed list of some important facts and useful information to help make your move an easy transition.

Geography

Located in the Pacific Region of the country, California is bordered by Arizona, Nevada and Oregon. With a total land area of over 163,695.57 Square Miles, it comes in as the 3rd largest state.

Population

Currently, the population of CA is 39,250,017 making it the 1st most populated state in the union and the 13th most densely populated. The state capital, Sacramento, has a population of 454330. which is the 9th largest capital in the country.

Notable Californians

California is home to many famous and some infamous people such as, Marcus Allen a memorable football player is from San Diego and Luis Walter Alvarez a memorable inventor is from San Francisco. Others include people like Gertrude Atherton a author and David Belasco a playwright and producer .

Climate

California, the most populous and third largest state, has a diverse climate. The deserts in the south are some of the hottest and driest areas of the United States, while higher elevations can experience low temperatures and heavy snowfall. The North Pacific High, a semi-permanent high pressure system off the Pacific Coast, and the mid-latitude jet stream play dominating roles in California’s seasonal precipitation patterns. During summer, the North Pacific High and the jet stream move northward, keeping storms north of the state and resulting in dry summers. In winter, this system moves southward, allowing storms to bring precipitation to the state. Due to the moderating effect of the Pacific Ocean, coastal locations experience moderate year-round temperatures while inland locations experience a wider range. Average annual temperatures are less than 40°F at the highest mountain elevations. Average temperatures elsewhere range from less than 50°F in the northeast to greater than 70°F in the southeast. Because of its large north-south extent, and the several mountain ranges, extreme climate events often affect only a portion of the state. For example, strong El Ni°o events often cause excessive precipitation in southern California, but the effects on northern California are not consistent.

California, the most populous and third largest state, has a diverse climate. The deserts in the south are some of the hottest and driest areas of the United States, while higher elevations can experience low temperatures and heavy snowfall. The North Pacific High, a semi-permanent high pressure system off the Pacific Coast, and the mid-latitude jet stream play dominating roles in California’s seasonal precipitation patterns. During summer, the North Pacific High and the jet stream move northward, keeping storms north of the state and resulting in dry summers. In winter, this system moves southward, allowing storms to bring precipitation to the state. Due to the moderating effect of the Pacific Ocean, coastal locations experience moderate year-round temperatures while inland locations experience a wider range. Average annual temperatures are less than 40°F at the highest mountain elevations. Average temperatures elsewhere range from less than 50°F in the northeast to greater than 70°F in the southeast. Because of its large north-south extent, and the several mountain ranges, extreme climate events often affect only a portion of the state. For example, strong El Ni°o events often cause excessive precipitation in southern California, but the effects on northern California are not consistent.

Average annual temperature has risen by
approximately 2°F since the early 20th
century. Under a higher emissions pathway,
historically unprecedented warming is
projected by the end of the 21st century.

California snowpack plays a critical role in water supply and flood control. Projected earlier melting of the snowpack due to rising temperatures could have substantial negative impacts on water-dependent sectors and ecosystems.

Global sea level rise is projected to rise by 1 to 4 feet by the end of the 21st century. This will increase coastal flooding and impact management of water supplies.

National Parks

California is home to 7 beautiful national parks.

• Channel Islands

  Five of the eight Channel Islands are protected, and half of the park’s area is underwater. The islands have a unique Mediterranean ecosystem originally settled by the Chumash people. They are home to over 2,000 species of land plants and animals, and 145 are unique to them, including the island fox. Ferry services offer transportation to the islands from the mainland.

• Joshua Tree

  Covering large areas of the Colorado and Mojave Deserts and the Little San Bernardino Mountains, this desert landscape is populated by vast stands of Joshua trees. Large changes in elevation reveal various contrasting environments including bleached sand dunes, dry lakes, rugged mountains, and maze-like clusters of monzogranite monoliths.

• Kings Canyon

  Home to several giant sequoia groves and the General Grant Tree, the world’s second largest measured tree, this park also features part of the Kings River, sculptor of the dramatic granite canyon that is its namesake, and the San Joaquin River, as well as Boyden Cave.

• Lassen Volcanic

  Lassen Peak, the largest plug dome volcano in the world, is joined by all three other types of volcanoes in this park: shield, cinder dome, and composite. Though Lassen itself last erupted in 1915, most of the rest of the park is continuously active. Numerous hydrothermal features, including fumaroles, boiling pools, and bubbling mud pots, are heated by molten rock from beneath the peak.

• Pinnacles

  Named for the eroded leftovers of a portion of an extinct volcano, the park’s massive black and gold monoliths of andesite and rhyolite are a popular destination for rock climbers. Hikers have access to trails crossing the Coast Range wilderness. The park is home to the endangered California condor (Gymnogyps californianus) and one of the few locations in the world where these extremely rare birds can be seen in the wild. Pinnacles also supports a dense population of prairie falcons, and more than 13 species of bat which populate its talus caves.

• Redwood

  This park and the co-managed state parks protect almost half of all remaining coastal redwoods, the tallest trees on earth. There are three large river systems in this very seismically active area, and 37 miles (60km) of protected coastline reveal tide pools and seastacks. The prairie, estuary, coast, river, and forest ecosystems contain a wide variety of animal and plant species.

• Sequoia

  This park protects the Giant Forest, which boasts some of the world’s largest trees, the General Sherman being the largest measured tree in the park. Other features include over 240 caves, a long segment of the Sierra Nevada including the tallest mountain in the contiguous United States, and Moro Rock, a large granite dome.

Crime Statistics

Safety and security should always be an important consideration when relocating to a new location. A state’s crime rate affects more than just the safety of its resident, it drastically affects property value, economics and the overall quality of life. Based on the last FBI Crime Statistics, California’s violent crime rate is 39 per 10k residents which is greater than the national average of 37.3. In addition, the state’s property crime rate is 244per 10k residents which is less than the national average of 248.7.

California ranks #18 in the US for violent crime and #30 for property crime.

Schools & Education

Whether you are a student, have children, or neither, a state’s educational system is not only important to those attending, it’s vital to the overall quality of life, culture and economics of the state. Based on data from multiple public and private sources, we were able to rank California’s educational system.

Overall Grade: C-

California spends on average $8694.00 per pupil, which is less than the national average ($11,900). CA ranks #41 in the US compared to the rest of the country. While CA ranks #41 in spending, the latest graduation rate is 82.00%%.

Another important factor is the percentage of families that enroll their young children (ages 3-4) in an accredited pre-school program. California ranks #17 with over 48.30% of children attending a early educational program.

Taxes

The current income tax rate for California is 13.30% which ranks 50th favorable amongst other states. If you are purchasing property, you may want to consider the the property tax burden rate. This is the amount you pay in taxes per $1000 earned. CA’s rate is $28.06 which ranks 20th in the US.

Currently, CA sales tax is $25.28 for which it comes in as 33rd compared to other states.

Sports

California fans are not only loyal but also very faithful to their local major league teams. California is home to the following teams: the Anaheim Ducks, the Golden State Warriors, the LA Galaxy, the Los Angeles Angels, the Los Angeles Chargers, the Los Angeles Clippers, the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Los Angeles FC, the Los Angeles Kings, the Los Angeles Lakers, the Los Angeles Rams, the Oakland Athletics, the Oakland Raiders, the Sacramento Kings, the San Diego Padres, the San Francisco 49ers, the San Francisco Giants, the San Jose Earthquakes, and the San Jose Sharks .

Utility Companies

Before you move to California, it’s advised that you know who your utility companies are. We have an extensive list of both public and private utility companies in CA.

Other Resources

For more information about moving to California, visit their website at http://www.state.ca.us/state/portal/myca_homepage.jsp