California Dreaming

Dear Educators,

Maps101 is based in Santa Barbara, California, but that is not the only reason we are partial to the Golden State. It has miles of coastline along the Pacific Ocean, with waves that attract surfers. It is a top vacation destination. It also has North America’s hottest desert, located in Death Valley. Los Angeles is the largest city in California. The state capital is in Sacramento. The weather and land provide much of the state with ideal conditions for agriculture. In fact, in 2019, over two-thirds of the nuts and fruits grown in the United States came from California. That same year, the state’s farms and ranches earned more than $50 billion for their output. Hollywood is still the center of the film industry in the United States. And this is only scratching the surface. Come along on a journey to California--an abundant state that is also the home of Maps101!

Most Americans could name numerous cities in California; however, Los Angeles stands out, and for good reason: It is the largest city in California. Greater Los Angeles includes a massive number of different communities, as well as different cities immediately attached to LA’s borders. Los Angeles is so famous that a lot of its neighborhoods, like Bel Air and Venice Beach, as well as some of those small, independent cities, like Malibu, Hollywood, Santa Monica, and Beverly Hills are all famous too. Read this exclusive Maps101 GNN article to learn more about the history of this city that still draws people to it—to live or to visit, Los Angeles has it all.

As emigrants came to California from Asia, many Japanese amongst them settled in the state. Many married, had children who were American citizens, or themselves became citizens through naturalization. However, out of fear, the United States interred Japanese Americans during World War II, after going to war with Japan. U.S. citizens of Japanese descent were moved into camps as their loyalty was questioned. President Ronald Reagan signed the Civil Liberties Act in 1988 to compensate more than 100,000 Japanese people who had been imprisoned. It also included a formal apology for the country’s actions at that time. Camps were built at a number of sites throughout America outside of California, but Manzanar was a key location since there were many Japanese in California. Learn more about Japanese internment in this Maps101 GNN article. Questions at the end will help stimulate classroom discussion.

WWII Army and
Resettlement Camps

California Atlas

The Maps101 California Atlas features numerous maps specifically about California. Students can learn about Native Americans in the state, the missions and presidios there, native vegetation, stagecoach lines, state senate districts and much, much more. Reach for the California Atlas, under Curated Collections, to find all the maps you need to support your students in California and beyond.