CALIFORNIA
HISTORIC & PROJECTED GROWTH 1790 TO 2050
Sources: Census figures from U.S. Bureau of the Census & *Estimates from Weldon Cooper Center, Demographics Research Group
CALIFORNIA POPULATION DENSITY
California Land Area - 155,779 square miles
YEAR | PEOPLE PER SQUARE MILE |
|---|---|
2020 | 253.7 |
2010 | 239.1 |
2000 | 217.4 |
1990 | 191.0 |
1980 | 151.9 |
1970 | 128.1 |
1960 | 100.9 |
1950 | 68.0 |
1940 | 44.3 |
1930 | 36.4 |
1920 | 22.0 |
1910 | 15.3 |
SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of the Census
California Population News Articles
The dangerous climate driving California's wildfires—and a warning for Australia – July 27, 2026
California gets a new legal path to phase out gas appliances with pollution limits – July 20, 2026
California's largest lake is turning to dust- July 12, 2026
California to share driver license data despite fears it could expose unauthorized immigrants – June 30, 2026
Plans for Costco Mega Gas Station Ignite Anger in California Residents – Jan 1, 2026
California has lost more than a quarter of its immigration judges this year – Dec 29, 2025
Local legislators press state to catch up to feds on Tijuana River pollution clean up – Dec 22, 2025
California sees population growth for third consecutive year after pandemic-era exodus – Dec 19, 2025
San Joaquin Valley among the worst for air pollution in California – Dec 18, 2025
California Lowers Climate Pollution by 3%, Report Finds – Dec 16, 2025
Adapting to Changes in California’s English Learner Population – Aug 22, 2025
Poll: Health care for California's undocumented immigrants gains support amid budget crunch – Aug 22, 2025
Mobile air monitoring program aims to protect California communities from pollution – Aug 8, 2025
California Prepares for Increased Wildfire Risk to Air Quality – Aug 6, 2025
Wildfire season is starting weeks earlier in California – a new study shows how climate change is driving the expansion – Aug 6, 2025
Fire debris is washing up on L.A.’s beaches. County officials warn the public to steer clear – Feb 24, 2025
What Is the Environmental Impact of the California Wildfires? 5 Things to Know – Feb 23, 2025
LA Fires Spark Confusion and Concern Over Water Quality and Supply – Feb 20, 2025
California Faces 'Unprecedented' Population Shift – Feb 12, 2025
California farmworker explains how undocumented immigrants find work – Feb 5, 2025
‘Hotter, Drier, and More Flammable”: New Study Finds Climate Change Played a Role in LA Fires – Feb 4, 2025
Watch: Dangers of extreme heat in Inland California – Oct 30, 2024
Warehouses Drive Air Pollution Spike in California, NASA Study Finds – Oct 11. 2024
Homeless population grows in California’s most populous city – Oct 8, 2024
Tijuana River Sewage Contamination a 'Public Health Crisis' – Feb 15, 2024
New study warns of worsening air pollution in California due to wildfires – Feb 14, 2024
California’s air pollution fight just got tougher: New EPA standards raise the bar on soot – Feb 7, 2024
California Sees Surge in Chinese Migrants – Feb 8, 2024
Why record rain hasn’t washed away California’s water woes – Feb 6, 2024
Recent reports reinforce migration trends out of LA, California – Jan 26, 2024
Sweeping California water conservation rules could force big cuts in some areas – September 7, 2023
Climate change makes wildfires in California more explosive – August 30, 2023
Sustained exposure to wildfire smoke reducing life expectancy in parts of California: report – August 29, 2023
Tropical Storm Hilary and Maui Fires Show Climate Change is Worsening Homelessness – August 24, 2023
How climate change shaped California’s first tropical storm in decades – August 21, 2023
Salmon fishing to be banned in California and part of Oregon after a drought and weakened protections decimated the fish population - Mar 24, 2023
What Does All This Rain Mean for California’s Drought? – Mar 23, 2023
California's punishing winter storms pummel monarch butterfly population – Mar 17, 2023
2 California cities have worst air pollution in US: study – Mar 13, 2023
Tijuana River sewage may be contaminating air along Southern California coast: study – Mar 2, 2023
As California begins monitoring microplastics in water, experts brace for health impacts – September 23, 2022
California plans to phase out new gas heaters by 2030 – September 23, 2022
Rising homelessness is tearing California cities apart – September 21, 2022
Where Los Angeles ranks among California’s most polluted cities – September 11, 2022
California says the beaver can be superhero in fighting climate change – September 7, 2022
California housing and the super commuter problem – June 10, 2022
Parts of Southern California used 26% more water in April, despite conservation pleas – June 7, 2022
These are the impacts of California's worst drought on record – Jun 7, 2022
4 Factors Affecting Air Pollution in California – June 2, 2022
Disaster upon disaster: Wildfires are contaminating the West’s depleting water with ashy sludge – May 29, 2022
Environmental Groups Ask California to Stop Subsidizing the Dairy Industry – February 8, 2022
Global warming could cause more California blackouts in the next decade – February 7, 2022
Climate change whiplash could mean more flooding, water-management challenges in California – January 28, 2022
Wealthy California District to Restrict Water for Residents Consistently Overusing Supply – January 19, 2022
Study: Nearly 400,000 Californians lack safe drinking water, often due to ag pollution – January 12, 2022