Destination California

This section will answer many of your questions regarding the life science industry in California, the state's economy, tax structure and cost of living, education, transportation, climate, recreational opportunities, history and more.

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Industry Overview | Economy/Cost of Living | Education
Recreation & Entertainment | Transportation | Geography & Climate
History | Suggested Reading List

Grand in size, astonishing natural beauty, an incredibly diverse population, and a trillion dollar-plus economy; this is California, an international force in trade and commerce, higher education, scientific research, technology, and entertainment.

Industry Snapshot

California is a life sciences mecca. Home to one-third of the nation's biotechnology companies with over 5,400 businesses and academic research institutions employing 236,000 workers, California has more biotech jobs than all of the other states combined.

Economy/Cost of Living

With a population of over 35 million and a diverse economy generating $1.4 trillion (14% of the GDP), California is the wealthiest and most populous state in the U.S. In fact, the state has the fifth largest economy in the world.

Education

California has a rich tradition of academic and research excellence. By the late twentieth century, the state had established itself as one of the top academic centers in the world. California is home to an enormous public education system with 9,231 schools (443 of them charter schools) in 1,001 districts enrolling 6.2 million students.

Recreation & Entertainment

Home to over 1,000 golf courses, 50 snow resorts, over 1,250 miles (2,012 kilometers) of coastline with 420 public beaches, the world's largest outdoor amphitheater, the country’s largest state park, and largest protected sanctuary, California is a recreation paradise.

Transportation

Since operating the world’s first cable car in San Francisco in 1873, California has grown to establish a world-class globally connected transportation infrastructure. California’s tremendous economy travels across an extensive shipping, rail and trucking network. The state’s numerous port facilities carry one of the world's largest volumes of ocean trade and passenger transport, representing an essential thoroughfare for the nation's mounting role in Pacific Rim trade.

Geography & Climate

California lies along the Pacific Ocean on the west coast of the United States, between Oregon to the north and Mexico to the south. Nevada and Arizona border the state to the east.

History

From the Gold Rush of 1849 to the present day, California has beckoned newcomers with its promises of scenic beauty, temperate climate, success and the dream of a new way of life. Home of the first pair of blue jeans (in 1853), the first popsicle (in 1905), the first movie studio (in 1908), and the first ATM (in 1970), California has broken new ground in agriculture, transportation, fashion, cuisine, entertainment, and technology, as well as in many other areas.

Suggested Reading List

A list of select guides and reference books about California.