According to the 2013 census estimate, California has more than 38 million residents. With so many people living there, the Golden State is bound to have several large population centers.
These are the top seven biggest cities in California.
1. Los Angeles. This sprawling megacity covers 472 square miles and is home to 3.8 million residents.
Known as the world’s entertainment capital, the city is home to more than 300 museums — with several dedicated to the film industry, not including studio and Hollywood tours.
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L.A. is also the only city in the United States to have held the Summer Olympics twice. On average the city experiences 292 sunny days per year with an average high temperature of 75 degrees.
Los Angeles is second only to New York City in population among United States cities.
2. San Diego. The city has 70 miles of beaches and is consistently named one of most desirable places to live in the U.S.
San Diego is home to over 1.35 million people. The median age in the city is 36 and one-quarter of the population is under the age of 20. The second-largest city in California is the eighth-largest metropolis in the country.
3. San Jose. Known as the capital of Silicon Valley, it has just over 1 million residents. As the third largest city in California and with such a large population, San Jose is also the 10th largest city in the U.S.
Founded in 1777, San Jose was California’s first civilian settlement. It became an incorporated city in 1850.
4. San Francisco. Outpaced by its geeky neighbor, San Francisco is home to only an estimated 837,442 residents.
The “City on the Bay,” has 7.5 miles of waterfront and is home to major shipping terminals from all over the world.
Major tourist attractions in the city include Pier 39, Alcatraz, Fisherman’s Wharf, and Hyde Street. The tourism industry is also the largest source of jobs in the city.
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5. Sacramento. Ninety miles northeast of San Francisco, 479,686 people call Sacremento home. The city is considered easily accessible from all points with major interstates running east, west, north, and south.
Sacramento has 120 parks and has been dubbed the “
City of Trees.”
6. Fresno. Settled in 1885, its population has grown to 509,924, according to the 2013 census.
Early explorers that discovered the area named the city for the abundant ash trees it had. Fresno is "a hub of agribusiness and the city’s 7,500 farmers produce approximately 250 different kinds of crops,"
according to Infoplease.
7. Long Beach. This Southern California seaside community that is a half-hour drive from Los Angeles and Orange County sits on 52 square miles.
With a population of approximately 469,428, it is the seventh largest city in California and the 36th biggest city in the U.S.
The city has been considered one of the most diverse cities in the U.S. due to the ethnic breakdown of its residents. It currently ranks fifth among the most diverse in cities in the U.S.,
according to census data compiled by Priceonomics.
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