Rank |
City |
Population |
County |
Image |
Description |
1 |
Los Angeles |
3,792,621 |
Los Angeles |
![LA Skyline Mountains2.jpg](https://web.archive.org/web/20120504194507im_/http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/57/LA_Skyline_Mountains2.jpg/250px-LA_Skyline_Mountains2.jpg) |
Los Angeles is one of the world's centers of media, business, and international trade. It's the second largest city in the entire United States, only behind New York City. It is also the home to renowned institutions covering a broad range of educational and professional fields and it is one of the most substantial economic engines of the United States. Los Angeles leads the world in producing popular entertainment such as television and recorded music. |
2 |
San Diego |
1,307,402 |
San Diego |
![Panorama de San Diego.jpg](https://web.archive.org/web/20120504194507im_/http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/bb/Panorama_de_San_Diego.jpg/250px-Panorama_de_San_Diego.jpg) |
Self proclaimed "America's finest city", San Diego sits on the border with Mexico and hosts miles of beaches and a number of U.S. military facilities within the area. It is also known as "the birthplace of California" since was the first European landfall and the first European settlement in present-day California. San Diego's economy is largely composed of defense and military-related industries, tourism, international trade, and research and manufacturing. It is home to a number of institutions of higher learning, including the University of California, San Diego, the University of San Diego, and San Diego State University. |
3 |
San Jose |
945,942 |
Santa Clara |
![USA-San Jose-Downtown-1.jpg](https://web.archive.org/web/20120504194507im_/http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c9/USA-San_Jose-Downtown-1.jpg/250px-USA-San_Jose-Downtown-1.jpg) |
San Jose was founded on November 29, 1777 as one of the first towns in the Spanish colony of Nueva California, which later became Alta California.[2] The town of San Jose served 1849-1851 as the first state capital, when California gained statehood in 1850.[3] After more than 150 years as an agricultural center, San Jose grew due to some demand for housing from soldiers returning from World War II, as well as the city's aggressive expansion policy during the 1950s and 1960s as it annexed large portions of land area which helped increase its population. By the 1990s, San Jose's location within the then-booming local technology industry earned the city the nickname Capital of Silicon Valley, and it hosts several prominent technology companies including Paypal, Adobe Systems, Cisco Systems and eBay. |
4 |
San Francisco |
805,235 |
San Francisco |
![Lightmatter sanfrancisco.jpg](https://web.archive.org/web/20120504194507im_/http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/57/Lightmatter_sanfrancisco.jpg/250px-Lightmatter_sanfrancisco.jpg) |
San Francisco is a popular international tourist destination renowned for its beauty, cosmopolitan flair, steep rolling hills, and eclectic mix of Victorian and modern architecture. The city is surrounded by water on three sides and has many famous landmarks, such as the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz Island, the cable cars and streetcars, Coit Tower, and Chinatown. The city is well known for its left-wing politics and its diverse population, including large and long-established Asian American and LGBT communities. It is the most densely populated major city in California and is the second most densely populated major city in the United States, only after New York City. It is also the only consolidated city-county in the state of California. |
5 |
Fresno |
510,365 |
Fresno |
![Fresno3.jpg](https://web.archive.org/web/20120504194507im_/http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/64/Fresno3.jpg) |
Fresno is at the heart of the San Joaquin Valley, a leading agricultural area of the United States and the world. Fresno is the closest major city to Yosemite National Park and Sequoia National Park. Fresno is the largest inland city in California. |
6 |
Sacramento |
489,488 |
Sacramento |
![Sacramento Skyline (2).jpg](https://web.archive.org/web/20120504194507im_/http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7c/Sacramento_Skyline_%282%29.jpg/250px-Sacramento_Skyline_%282%29.jpg) |
Sacramento has been the state capital of California since 1854. Once the state's second largest city, Sacramento was a major distribution center during the California Gold Rush and was the western terminus of the Pony Express. The American River, where gold was first discovered in California in the middle of the 19th century, flows through the city. In the market boom between 2003 and 2008, the population of the metropolitan area reached close to 2.5 million people as suburbs such as Roseville, Lincoln, and Elk Grove grew. According to the 2010 census, Sacramento is the nineteenth most-populous metropolitan area in the United States. |
7 |
Long Beach |
462,257 |
Los Angeles |
![LongBeachskyline.jpg](https://web.archive.org/web/20120504194507im_/http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/db/LongBeachskyline.jpg/250px-LongBeachskyline.jpg) |
Long Beach is a coastal city lying in the Greater Los Angeles area metropolitan area. Long Beach partially borders the city of Los Angeles to its west and is home to the Long Beach Grand Prix and the RMS Queen Mary, which is docked in Long Beach Harbor. The Port of Long Beach is one of the world's largest shipping ports. The city also has a large oil industry; oil is found both underground and offshore. Manufacturers include aircraft, automobile parts, electronic and audiovisual equipment. It is also home to the headquarters for corporations such as Epson America, Molina Healthcare, and Scan Health Care. Long Beach has grown with the development of high-technology and aerospace industries in the area. |
8 |
Oakland |
390,724 |
Alameda |
![OaklandnightskylineandLakeMerritt.jpg](https://web.archive.org/web/20120504194507im_/http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4e/OaklandnightskylineandLakeMerritt.jpg/250px-OaklandnightskylineandLakeMerritt.jpg) |
Oakland is a major West Coast port, and is home to several major corporations including Kaiser Permanente and Clorox, as well as being the corporate headquarters for nationwide businesses like Dreyer's and Cost Plus World Markets. Attractions include Jack London Square, the Oakland Museum of California, the Chabot Space and Science Center, Lake Merritt, the East Bay Regional Park District ridge line parks and preserves, and Chinatown. |
9 |
Bakersfield |
347,483 |
Kern |
![2008-0621-Bakersfield-pan.JPG](https://web.archive.org/web/20120504194507im_/http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9d/2008-0621-Bakersfield-pan.JPG/250px-2008-0621-Bakersfield-pan.JPG) |
Bakersfield sits at the southern end of the San Joaquin Valley, an especially petroleum-rich area of California. Bakersfield is known for its musical achievements such as its own genre called the "Bakersfield Sound". Bakersfield is also in close proximity with The Sequoia National Forest. |
10 |
Anaheim |
336,265 |
Orange |
![Disneylandcastle.jpg](https://web.archive.org/web/20120504194507im_/http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/07/Disneylandcastle.jpg/250px-Disneylandcastle.jpg) |
Located in Orange County, California, Anaheim is the most populous city in the county and second largest in terms of land area; it is known for its theme parks, sports teams, and convention center. |
11 |
Santa Ana |
324,528 |
Orange |
![SCM Skyline.jpg](https://web.archive.org/web/20120504194507im_/http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9c/SCM_Skyline.jpg/250px-SCM_Skyline.jpg) |
County Seat of Orange County. Home to the famous Bowers Museum, Discovery Science Center, and John Wayne Airport. |
12 |
Riverside |
303,871 |
Riverside |
![Descending Mt. Rubidoux.jpg](https://web.archive.org/web/20120504194507im_/http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/69/Descending_Mt._Rubidoux.jpg/250px-Descending_Mt._Rubidoux.jpg) |
Riverside is the most populous city of Southern California's Inland Empire region. Riverside is the birthplace of California's citrus industry and home to the University of California, Riverside (UCR). Its downtown is home to the Mission Inn, one of the two historic landmark hotels in California. The Mission Inn Festival of Lights is said to be the 3rd largest Christmas lights display in the nation.[citation needed] |
13 |
Stockton |
291,707 |
San Joaquin |
![Stockton skyline.jpeg](https://web.archive.org/web/20120504194507im_/http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/14/Stockton_skyline.jpeg/250px-Stockton_skyline.jpeg) |
Stockton is at the heart of the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta and is sometimes considered the divider between the Sacramento Valley and the San Joaquin Valley. For much of the later 19th century, starting with the Gold Rush, Stockton was one of the largest cities in the state, for a while the third largest city. With a sea port on the San Joaquin River, it was an important agricultural and shipping center, roles which it continues to fulfill. |
14 |
Chula Vista |
243,916 |
San Diego |
![ChulaVista Bayfront.jpg](https://web.archive.org/web/20120504194507im_/http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/12/ChulaVista_Bayfront.jpg/250px-ChulaVista_Bayfront.jpg) |
A South Bay suburban city of San Diego, Chula Vista is just seven miles (11 km) from the Mexican border. One of the most economically and culturally diverse cities in Southern California. |
15 |
Fremont |
214,089 |
Alameda |
![Mission-Peak-2006.jpg](https://web.archive.org/web/20120504194507im_/http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6f/Mission-Peak-2006.jpg/250px-Mission-Peak-2006.jpg) |
Fremont was created as a single city in 1956, from the unification of several unincorporated communities that had historically been small but grew rapidly in the years after World War II. |
16 |
Irvine |
212,375 |
Orange |
![Downtown Irvine overhead.jpg](https://web.archive.org/web/20120504194507im_/http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e6/Downtown_Irvine_overhead.jpg/250px-Downtown_Irvine_overhead.jpg) |
Irvine is a planned city in Orange County, California, mainly developed by the Irvine Company since the 1960s. Irvine is home to the University of California, Irvine (UCI) and to a number of corporations, particularly in the technology sector. It is regarded for its good schools, jobs and housing by CNNMoney.com, for low crime by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Census Bureau ranks Irvine highly in median income. |
17 |
San Bernardino |
209,924 |
San Bernardino |
![Sb 2004 dt snowskyline 003a.jpg](https://web.archive.org/web/20120504194507im_/http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/2/28/Sb_2004_dt_snowskyline_003a.jpg/250px-Sb_2004_dt_snowskyline_003a.jpg) |
San Bernardino is the second largest city in the Inland Empire metropolitan area of California, and the county seat of San Bernardino County, the largest county in geographic area in the 48 contiguous states. San Bernardino is home to California State University, San Bernardino (CSUSB) and a number of corporations in addition to the San Bernardino International Airport. San Bernardino is the gateway to the San Bernardino Mountains, including its ski resorts and numerous lakes. |
18 |
Modesto |
201,165 |
Stanislaus |
![Modesto Arch.JPG](https://web.archive.org/web/20120504194507im_/http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/01/Modesto_Arch.JPG/250px-Modesto_Arch.JPG) |
Modesto is in the center of the Central Valley east of San Francisco and south of the capital Sacramento. The city is surrounded by fertile farmland. Its population is growing fast due to affordable housing in the area and is quickly becoming a bedroom community for commuters to Sacramento, Fresno, and the San Francisco Bay Area. |
19 |
Oxnard |
197,899 |
Ventura |
![Oxnard Skyline.JPG](https://web.archive.org/web/20120504194507im_/http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ae/Oxnard_Skyline.JPG/250px-Oxnard_Skyline.JPG) |
One of only a handful of cities in the state that is the largest in its county, but not the county seat. It is an important agricultural center, with its distinction as the strawberry and lima bean capital of California. Oxnard is home to over 20 miles (32 km) of scenic, relatively uncrowded coastline. The beaches are large and the sand is exceptionally soft. |
20 |
Fontana |
196,069 |
San Bernardino |
![Fontana California Overview.JPG](https://web.archive.org/web/20120504194507im_/http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7f/Fontana_California_Overview.JPG/250px-Fontana_California_Overview.JPG) |
Home of the California Speedway. |
21 |
Moreno Valley |
193,365 |
Riverside |
![Moreno Valley-Ironwood view.jpg](https://web.archive.org/web/20120504194507im_/http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a0/Moreno_Valley-Ironwood_view.jpg/250px-Moreno_Valley-Ironwood_view.jpg) |
Incorporated in 1984, the city lies 65 miles east of downtown Los Angeles. Moreno Valley is also home to the March Air Reserve Base. |
22 |
Glendale |
191,719 |
Los Angeles |
![Glendale California From Forest Lawn.jpg](https://web.archive.org/web/20120504194507im_/http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e0/Glendale_California_From_Forest_Lawn.jpg/250px-Glendale_California_From_Forest_Lawn.jpg) |
Glendale is the focal point of the Verdugo Mountains subregion and is well known for hosting a large Armenian-American community. |
23 |
Huntington Beach |
189,992 |
Orange |
![HuntingtonHarbor CA Aerialphoto D Ramey Logan.JPG](https://web.archive.org/web/20120504194507im_/http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/27/HuntingtonHarbor_CA_Aerialphoto_D_Ramey_Logan.JPG/250px-HuntingtonHarbor_CA_Aerialphoto_D_Ramey_Logan.JPG) |
This Orange county coastal city is best known for its 8.5-mile (13.7 km) beach. It is often referred to as "Surf City" due to its long association with the sport of surfing. It often hosts surfing contests. |
24 |
Santa Clarita |
176,320 |
Los Angeles |
![2000 0820 TowncenterDrive2.jpg](https://web.archive.org/web/20120504194507im_/http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/bd/2000_0820_TowncenterDrive2.jpg/200px-2000_0820_TowncenterDrive2.jpg) |
Home to Six Flags Magic Mountain. Incorporated in 1987 as the union of several previously existing communities, including Canyon Country, Newhall, Saugus, and Valencia. |
25 |
Garden Grove |
170,883 |
Orange |
![Crystal Cathedral with Spire.jpg](https://web.archive.org/web/20120504194507im_/http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/76/Crystal_Cathedral_with_Spire.jpg/200px-Crystal_Cathedral_with_Spire.jpg) |
Home to a large Vietnamese American community and the Crystal Cathedral. |
26 |
Santa Rosa |
167,815 |
Sonoma |
![Old Courthouse Square, Downtown Santa Rosa (Smaller Version).jpg](https://web.archive.org/web/20120504194507im_/http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/dc/Old_Courthouse_Square%2C_Downtown_Santa_Rosa_%28Smaller_Version%29.jpg/200px-Old_Courthouse_Square%2C_Downtown_Santa_Rosa_%28Smaller_Version%29.jpg) |
Santa Rosa is the largest city in California's Wine Country and the Redwood Empire. The county seat of Sonoma County since 1854, it also grew as a center of agriculture, shipping, and industry. It is today still an important local center of business and tourism. The city actually suffered the most destruction of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, which destroyed Santa Rosa's entire downtown. Notable residents have included famed horticulturalist Luther Burbank, and Peanuts cartoonist Charles M. Schulz. |
27 |
Oceanside |
167,086 |
San Diego |
![Oceanside Beach Panorama.jpg](https://web.archive.org/web/20120504194507im_/http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/97/Oceanside_Beach_Panorama.jpg/250px-Oceanside_Beach_Panorama.jpg) |
The largest city in San Diego's North County, Oceanside is home to the longest wooden pier on the west coast and is directly south of Camp Pendleton, the busiest military base in the United States. |
28 |
Rancho Cucamonga |
165,269 |
San Bernardino |
![Rancho cucamonga.JPG](https://web.archive.org/web/20120504194507im_/http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ee/Rancho_cucamonga.JPG/250px-Rancho_cucamonga.JPG) |
One of the newer cities in the state, Rancho Cucamonga was until the late 1970s a small, unincorporated rural area that incorporated as a city only in 1977. |
29 |
Ontario |
163,924 |
San Bernardino |
![Ontario City Library05apr2006.jpg](https://web.archive.org/web/20120504194507im_/http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/95/Ontario_City_Library05apr2006.jpg/200px-Ontario_City_Library05apr2006.jpg) |
Ontario is the third principal city of the Inland Empire area of California, home to Ontario International Airport and the region's largest shopping mall, Ontario Mills. |
30 |
Lancaster |
156,663 |
Los Angeles |
![Sunset over Lancaster CA.jpg](https://web.archive.org/web/20120504194507im_/http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d2/Sunset_over_Lancaster_CA.jpg/200px-Sunset_over_Lancaster_CA.jpg) |
Lancaster started as a stop on the Union Pacific Railroad, and has grown into the fourth largest city in Los Angeles county. It began as a small farming community, and has since acquired a large and prosperous technology driven sub-culture. Located in "Aerospace Valley", it has always been on the cutting edge of technology, and is now aiming to become the nation's first net-zero city.[citation needed] |
31 |
Elk Grove |
153,015 |
Sacramento |
![Sunset Laguna Blvd.jpg](https://web.archive.org/web/20120504194507im_/http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2c/Sunset_Laguna_Blvd.jpg/200px-Sunset_Laguna_Blvd.jpg) |
Elk Grove was a sleepy suburb of Sacramento until the housing boom of the 1990s and 2000s. Between the decades, the population has nearly tripled from around 50,000 to more than 150,000 inhabitants. The population has grown so much that Elk Grove has surpassed all of the other suburbs in size and inhabitants. in fact, the city was rated the fasted growing city in the United States in 2006. About 15 miles (24 km) from Downtown Sacramento, Elk Grove has emerged as a popular place for young families to live and commute to the job centers of the area. |
32 |
Palmdale |
152,750 |
Los Angeles |
![Palmdale and Mountains.jpg](https://web.archive.org/web/20120504194507im_/http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/ca/Palmdale_and_Mountains.jpg/200px-Palmdale_and_Mountains.jpg) |
Commonly referred to as the Aerospace Capital of America. The city is the birthplace of the Space Shuttle, X-15, B-2 Spirit, F-117 Nighthawk, F-35 Lightning II, SR-71 Blackbird, Lockheed L-1011 Tristar, and many other aircraft that have been used in the United States Air Force, NASA and air forces and airlines around the world. It is the sixth largest city in Los Angeles County and one of the fastest growing cities in the United States. |
33 |
Corona |
152,374 |
Riverside |
![CoronaCA.jpg](https://web.archive.org/web/20120504194507im_/http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/41/CoronaCA.jpg/200px-CoronaCA.jpg) |
Corona is one of the cities farthest west in the Inland Empire of Southern California with a population of close to 150,000. It is known as the circle city due to Grand Boulevard's 3 mile circular layout. It is one of the greatest residential cities in the Inland Empire, but also has a large industrial portion on the northern half. It is known also to be the headquarters of well-known companies such as Fender Musical Instruments Corporation, Hansen Natural Corporation, Watson Pharmaceuticals, and West Coast Customs (featured on MTV's Pimp My Ride). |
34 |
Salinas |
150,441 |
Monterey |
![Downtown Salinas.jpg](https://web.archive.org/web/20120504194507im_/http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/16/Downtown_Salinas.jpg/200px-Downtown_Salinas.jpg) |
Salinas is known for being an agricultural center as well as being the hometown of famed writer and Nobel Laureate John Steinbeck. |
35 |
Pomona |
149,058 |
Los Angeles |
![Pomona..cityhall.jpg](https://web.archive.org/web/20120504194507im_/http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/dd/Pomona..cityhall.jpg/200px-Pomona..cityhall.jpg) |
Home of the Los Angeles County Fair, the largest county fair in the United States. |
36 |
Torrance |
145,438 |
Los Angeles |
![Torrance skyline.jpg](https://web.archive.org/web/20120504194507im_/http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2b/Torrance_skyline.jpg/200px-Torrance_skyline.jpg) |
Torrance, 21 square miles (54 km2), is situated 11 miles (18 km) south of Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), 8 miles (13 km) north of the Port of Los Angeles, 30 miles (48 km) west of Disneyland and bounded by the Pacific Ocean on the west with 1.5 miles (2.4 km) of beach. Incorporated in 1921, it is the eighth largest city in Los Angeles County and the 36th largest city in California. Torrance averages 12.55 inches of rainfall per year.[4] |
37 |
Hayward |
144,186 |
Alameda |
![HaywardCityHall.jpg](https://web.archive.org/web/20120504194507im_/http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6d/HaywardCityHall.jpg/200px-HaywardCityHall.jpg) |
Hayward was an historic salt and agricultural processing center and is the home of California State University, East Bay. |
38 |
Escondido |
143,911 |
San Diego |
![Grand01.jpg](https://web.archive.org/web/20120504194507im_/http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/73/Grand01.jpg/200px-Grand01.jpg) |
Situated in San Diego's north county, Escondido is home to the San Diego Wild Animal Park. |
39 |
Sunnyvale |
140,081 |
Santa Clara |
![Murphystreetsunnyvale.jpg](https://web.archive.org/web/20120504194507im_/http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/60/Murphystreetsunnyvale.jpg/200px-Murphystreetsunnyvale.jpg) |
Part of the Silicon Valley, Sunnyvale is home to several large tech company headquarters such as AMD, Yahoo!, and Palm, Inc. |
40 |
Pasadena |
137,122 |
Los Angeles |
![Pasadena City Hall 2.JPG](https://web.archive.org/web/20120504194507im_/http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/13/Pasadena_City_Hall_2.JPG/200px-Pasadena_City_Hall_2.JPG) |
Premier City of the San Gabriel Valley subregion; home of the Rose Bowl and Rose Parade, NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and the California Institute of Technology. |
41 |
Orange |
136,416 |
Orange |
![Former ATSF Station in Orange CA 7-14-04.jpg](https://web.archive.org/web/20120504194507im_/http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/49/Former_ATSF_Station_in_Orange_CA_7-14-04.jpg/200px-Former_ATSF_Station_in_Orange_CA_7-14-04.jpg) |
Home of Chapman University. |
42 |
Fullerton |
135,161 |
Orange |
![Fullerton city hall.jpg](https://web.archive.org/web/20120504194507im_/http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/24/Fullerton_city_hall.jpg/200px-Fullerton_city_hall.jpg) |
|
43 |
Thousand Oaks |
126,683 |
Ventura |
![ThousandOaksCA typical street.jpg](https://web.archive.org/web/20120504194507im_/http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/14/ThousandOaksCA_typical_street.jpg/200px-ThousandOaksCA_typical_street.jpg) |
|
44 |
Visalia |
124,442 |
Tulare |
![Visalia Acequia Ave..JPG](https://web.archive.org/web/20120504194507im_/http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/48/Visalia_Acequia_Ave..JPG/200px-Visalia_Acequia_Ave..JPG) |
Visalia is the oldest city between Stockton and Los Angeles. It is also one of the fastest growing cities in California. |
45 |
Simi Valley |
124,327 |
Ventura |
![Simi Valley surroundings.jpg](https://web.archive.org/web/20120504194507im_/http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/df/Simi_Valley_surroundings.jpg/200px-Simi_Valley_surroundings.jpg) |
Home of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library. |
46 |
Concord |
122,067 |
Contra Costa |
![Don Francisco Galindo House (Concord, CA).JPG](https://web.archive.org/web/20120504194507im_/http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ec/Don_Francisco_Galindo_House_%28Concord%2C_CA%29.JPG/200px-Don_Francisco_Galindo_House_%28Concord%2C_CA%29.JPG) |
|
47 |
Roseville |
118,788 |
Placer |
![Roseville - City Civic Center.jpg](https://web.archive.org/web/20120504194507im_/http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/10/Roseville_-_City_Civic_Center.jpg/200px-Roseville_-_City_Civic_Center.jpg) |
Roseville is a suburb of Sacramento. It is very family oriented with many parks and bike trails. The average income of this city is one of the highest in California, however, this city is known throughout California for being very affordable. Roseville holds the Galleria mall, which is the second biggest in Northern California, and has many stores for those of the higher class.[citation needed] |
48 |
Santa Clara |
116,468 |
Santa Clara |
![Santaclaraconventioncenter.jpg](https://web.archive.org/web/20120504194507im_/http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a6/Santaclaraconventioncenter.jpg/200px-Santaclaraconventioncenter.jpg) |
Santa Clara is located in the center of Silicon Valley, and is home to the headquarters of Intel, Applied Materials, Sun Microsystems, NVIDIA, Agilent Technologies, and many other high-tech companies. |
49 |
Vallejo |
115,942 |
Solano |
![Vallejo Ferry Terminal.jpg](https://web.archive.org/web/20120504194507im_/http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2a/Vallejo_Ferry_Terminal.jpg/200px-Vallejo_Ferry_Terminal.jpg) |
Vallejo was home of the Mare Island U.S. Naval Shipyard, one of the most important naval shipyards in the country, from the 1850s until its closure in the 1990s. It was also very briefly the capital of California in 1852. It is the largest city in Solano County. |
50 |
Victorville |
115,903 |
San Bernardino |
![Route 66 Motel Sign - Victorville, CA.jpg](https://web.archive.org/web/20120504194507im_/http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/10/Route_66_Motel_Sign_-_Victorville%2C_CA.jpg/200px-Route_66_Motel_Sign_-_Victorville%2C_CA.jpg) |
|
51 |
El Monte |
113,475 |
Los Angeles |
![Friendly El Monte.jpg](https://web.archive.org/web/20120504194507im_/http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/47/Friendly_El_Monte.jpg/200px-Friendly_El_Monte.jpg) |
|
52 |
Berkeley |
112,580 |
Alameda |
![Berkeleyfromclaremont800x600.jpg](https://web.archive.org/web/20120504194507im_/http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8e/Berkeleyfromclaremont800x600.jpg/200px-Berkeleyfromclaremont800x600.jpg) |
Home to the University of California, Berkeley. |
53 |
Downey |
111,772 |
Los Angeles |
![Downey City Hall.jpg](https://web.archive.org/web/20120504194507im_/http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/82/Downey_City_Hall.jpg/200px-Downey_City_Hall.jpg) |
Hometown of Tampa Bay Rays star Evan Longoria. |
54 |
Costa Mesa |
109,960 |
Orange |
![OC-Performing-Arts-Center.jpg](https://web.archive.org/web/20120504194507im_/http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/95/OC-Performing-Arts-Center.jpg/200px-OC-Performing-Arts-Center.jpg) |
|
55 |
Inglewood |
109,673 |
Los Angeles |
![2008-0914-RandysDonuts.jpg](https://web.archive.org/web/20120504194507im_/http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1d/2008-0914-RandysDonuts.jpg/200px-2008-0914-RandysDonuts.jpg) |
Home of Randy's Donuts. |
56 |
San Buenaventura (Ventura) |
106,433 |
Ventura |
![Mission San Buenaventura.jpg](https://web.archive.org/web/20120504194507im_/http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/90/Mission_San_Buenaventura.jpg/200px-Mission_San_Buenaventura.jpg) |
|
57 |
West Covina |
106,098 |
Los Angeles |
![Wcovina.jpg](https://web.archive.org/web/20120504194507im_/http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/7/7c/Wcovina.jpg/200px-Wcovina.jpg) |
|
58 |
Norwalk |
105,549 |
Los Angeles |
![Norwalk Transit Bus and Bee.jpg](https://web.archive.org/web/20120504194507im_/http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a4/Norwalk_Transit_Bus_and_Bee.jpg/200px-Norwalk_Transit_Bus_and_Bee.jpg) |
|
59 |
Carlsbad |
105,328 |
San Diego |
![Calsbad-late-night.jpg](https://web.archive.org/web/20120504194507im_/http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e0/Calsbad-late-night.jpg/200px-Calsbad-late-night.jpg) |
|
60 |
Fairfield |
105,321 |
Solano |
![Solanocountygovoffice.jpg](https://web.archive.org/web/20120504194507im_/http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/09/Solanocountygovoffice.jpg/200px-Solanocountygovoffice.jpg) |
Fairfield is the county seat of Solano County, but not the largest city in the county, which is Vallejo. |
61 |
Richmond |
103,701 |
Contra Costa |
![Point Richmond, Richmond, California.jpg](https://web.archive.org/web/20120504194507im_/http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/c/cc/Point_Richmond%2C_Richmond%2C_California.jpg/200px-Point_Richmond%2C_Richmond%2C_California.jpg) |
|
62 |
Murrieta |
103,466 |
Riverside |
![Murrieta01.JPG](https://web.archive.org/web/20120504194507im_/http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/bf/Murrieta01.JPG/200px-Murrieta01.JPG) |
Formerly just a small town outside of Temecula, Murrieta has become one of the fastest growing cities in the state. |
63 |
Burbank |
103,340 |
Los Angeles |
![Burbankeast.jpg](https://web.archive.org/web/20120504194507im_/http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/46/Burbankeast.jpg/200px-Burbankeast.jpg) |
|
64 |
Antioch |
102,372 |
Contra Costa |
![Elcampanilthratre.jpg](https://web.archive.org/web/20120504194507im_/http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/d/dc/Elcampanilthratre.jpg/200px-Elcampanilthratre.jpg) |
|
65 |
Daly City |
101,123 |
San Mateo |
![Daly City.jpg](https://web.archive.org/web/20120504194507im_/http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7e/Daly_City.jpg/200px-Daly_City.jpg) |
San Francisco's southern neighbor, Daly City houses the famous Cow Palace (which many people mistakenly believe is in San Francisco), as well as the largest Filipino population outside of The Philippines. |
66 |
Temecula |
100,097 |
Riverside |
![Old Town Temecula.jpg](https://web.archive.org/web/20120504194507im_/http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/eb/Old_Town_Temecula.jpg/200px-Old_Town_Temecula.jpg) |
The heart of Southern California Wine Country. Goes by the motto of "Old Traditions, New Encounters". |
67 |
Santa Maria |
100,062 |
Santa Barbara |
![Foxen.jpg](https://web.archive.org/web/20120504194507im_/http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/03/Foxen.jpg/200px-Foxen.jpg) |
Santa Maria is known for their famous Santa Maria Style BBQ, the world's best strawberries, Allan Hancock College, and St. Joseph High School (Santa Maria, California). Santa Maria is also known for its township with Orcutt, CA and for great Central Coast weather. It is also the largest city in Santa Barbara County, California. |
68 |
El Cajon |
99,478 |
San Diego |
![Cuyamacacollegesign.jpg](https://web.archive.org/web/20120504194507im_/http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c0/Cuyamacacollegesign.jpg/200px-Cuyamacacollegesign.jpg) |
|
69 |
Rialto |
99,171 |
San Bernardino |
![1907 First Christian Church.jpg](https://web.archive.org/web/20120504194507im_/http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6a/1907_First_Christian_Church.jpg/200px-1907_First_Christian_Church.jpg) |
|
70 |
Clovis |
97,218 |
Fresno |
![Pollasky Ave. Clovis.JPG](https://web.archive.org/web/20120504194507im_/http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3a/Pollasky_Ave._Clovis.JPG/200px-Pollasky_Ave._Clovis.JPG) |
|
71 |
San Mateo |
97,207 |
San Mateo |
![MCB-san-mateo-aerial.jpg](https://web.archive.org/web/20120504194507im_/http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/68/MCB-san-mateo-aerial.jpg/200px-MCB-san-mateo-aerial.jpg) |
|
72 |
Compton |
96,455 |
Los Angeles |
![Compton martin luther king monument.jpg](https://web.archive.org/web/20120504194507im_/http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5b/Compton_martin_luther_king_monument.jpg/200px-Compton_martin_luther_king_monument.jpg) |
An inner-suburb of Los Angeles, Compton is home to Richland Farms, one of the last urban farming communities in the Los Angeles metro area. Richland Farms is often caught in the battle between Compton's rich agricultural past and ideas for a brighter future than the crime-ridden image Compton has attained. This brighter future includes shopping centers with big box retailers, lofts, and a landscape that resembles the suburban communities to which many former city residents have moved.[citation needed] |
73 |
South Gate |
94,396 |
Los Angeles |
|
|
74 |
Vista |
93,834 |
San Diego |
![View of South Santa Fe.jpg](https://web.archive.org/web/20120504194507im_/http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/3/3b/View_of_South_Santa_Fe.jpg/200px-View_of_South_Santa_Fe.jpg) |
|
75 |
Mission Viejo |
93,305 |
Orange |
![Snow at Lake Mission Viejo 005.jpg](https://web.archive.org/web/20120504194507im_/http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/81/Snow_at_Lake_Mission_Viejo_005.jpg/200px-Snow_at_Lake_Mission_Viejo_005.jpg) |
|
76 |
Vacaville |
92,428 |
Solano |
![Aerial view of Vacaville, California.jpg](https://web.archive.org/web/20120504194507im_/http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/18/Aerial_view_of_Vacaville%2C_California.jpg/200px-Aerial_view_of_Vacaville%2C_California.jpg) |
|
77 |
Carson |
91,714 |
Los Angeles |
![HomeDepotCenter1.jpg](https://web.archive.org/web/20120504194507im_/http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/75/HomeDepotCenter1.jpg/200px-HomeDepotCenter1.jpg) |
Location of the Home Depot Center, housing both of the Major League Soccer teams for Los Angeles, the Los Angeles Galaxy and Chivas USA. |
78 |
Hesperia |
90,173 |
San Bernardino |
![HesperiaCA.JPG](https://web.archive.org/web/20120504194507im_/http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/03/HesperiaCA.JPG/200px-HesperiaCA.JPG) |
|
79 |
Redding |
89,861 |
Shasta |
![Sundialbridge1.png](https://web.archive.org/web/20120504194507im_/http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/aa/Sundialbridge1.png/200px-Sundialbridge1.png) |
Located on the banks of the Sacramento River, Redding is the largest city in California north of Sacramento. It is the gateway to numerous recreation areas including Shasta Lake, the Trinity Alps, and Mount Shasta. It is also home to the Sundial Bridge, designed by Santiago Calatrava, which is also the world's largest sundial. |
80 |
Santa Monica |
89,736 |
Los Angeles |
![Santa monica beach dehk.jpg](https://web.archive.org/web/20120504194507im_/http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f2/Santa_monica_beach_dehk.jpg/200px-Santa_monica_beach_dehk.jpg) |
Home of the world famous Santa Monica Pier. |
81 |
Westminster |
89,701 |
Orange |
![Asian Garden Little Saigon.jpg](https://web.archive.org/web/20120504194507im_/http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c6/Asian_Garden_Little_Saigon.jpg/200px-Asian_Garden_Little_Saigon.jpg) |
|
82 |
Santa Barbara |
88,410 |
Santa Barbara |
![Santa Barbara mission CA1.jpg](https://web.archive.org/web/20120504194507im_/http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ea/Santa_Barbara_mission_CA1.jpg/200px-Santa_Barbara_mission_CA1.jpg) |
One of the oldest and most noted cities in California and the original site of one of four Alta California Spanish Presidios, Santa Barbara is now home to the most visited ecclesiastical structures in the Western United States,[citation needed] Mission Santa Barbara. It is also widely considered to be one of the most desirable spots to live in, due to its downtown Moorish-Spanish style architecture, coastal weather, beautiful mountain backdrops and numerous sandy beaches. |
83 |
Chico |
86,187 |
Butte |
![Bidwell Mansion 2006 11 IMGP0863.JPG](https://web.archive.org/web/20120504194507im_/http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/53/Bidwell_Mansion_2006_11_IMGP0863.JPG/200px-Bidwell_Mansion_2006_11_IMGP0863.JPG) |
Chico is the retail hub of the mid-Sacramento Valley and is home to institutions such as Bidwell Park, California State University Chico, and Sierra Nevada Brewing Company. |
84 |
Whittier |
85,331 |
Los Angeles |
![Southern Pacific Railroad Depot, Whittier.JPG](https://web.archive.org/web/20120504194507im_/http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5b/Southern_Pacific_Railroad_Depot%2C_Whittier.JPG/200px-Southern_Pacific_Railroad_Depot%2C_Whittier.JPG) |
|
85 |
Newport Beach |
85,186 |
Orange |
![Balboa-beach.jpg](https://web.archive.org/web/20120504194507im_/http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5f/Balboa-beach.jpg/200px-Balboa-beach.jpg) |
Newport Beach is one of the most affluent cities in the United States. The city is one of the largest and most influential in Orange County.[citation needed] |
86 |
San Leandro |
84,950 |
Alameda |
![San Leandro Marina 07830.JPG](https://web.archive.org/web/20120504194507im_/http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f9/San_Leandro_Marina_07830.JPG/200px-San_Leandro_Marina_07830.JPG) |
Historically a town with dozens of huge cherry farms and a Spanish missionary ranch, San Leandro today is a rapidly growing city of worldwide industries and a suburb of Oakland. |
87 |
Hawthorne |
84,293 |
Los Angeles |
|
Hawthorne is known to rock and roll fans as the home of Brian, Carl, and Dennis Wilson of the Beach Boys. The Wilson brothers' boyhood home was demolished in the late 1980s during the construction of the Century Freeway, although it was honored by the dedication of the Beach Boys Historic Landmark (California Landmark 1041) in May 2005. |
88 |
San Marcos |
83,781 |
San Diego |
![SanMarcospan.jpg](https://web.archive.org/web/20120504194507im_/http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3f/SanMarcospan.jpg/200px-SanMarcospan.jpg) |
|
89 |
Citrus Heights |
83,301 |
Sacramento |
![Sunrise Mall - inside.jpg](https://web.archive.org/web/20120504194507im_/http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a3/Sunrise_Mall_-_inside.jpg/200px-Sunrise_Mall_-_inside.jpg) |
|
90 |
Alhambra |
83,089 |
Los Angeles |
![Alhambra, CA.jpg](https://web.archive.org/web/20120504194507im_/http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a4/Alhambra%2C_CA.jpg/200px-Alhambra%2C_CA.jpg) |
|
91 |
Tracy |
82,922 |
San Joaquin |
![11th and Central Tracy California 14-May-2006.jpg](https://web.archive.org/web/20120504194507im_/http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5e/11th_and_Central_Tracy_California_14-May-2006.jpg/200px-11th_and_Central_Tracy_California_14-May-2006.jpg) |
|
92 |
Livermore |
80,968 |
Alameda |
![LLNL Aerial View.jpg](https://web.archive.org/web/20120504194507im_/http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/35/LLNL_Aerial_View.jpg/200px-LLNL_Aerial_View.jpg) |
Home of Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. |
93 |
Buena Park |
80,530 |
Orange |
![Buena Park Sign.jpg](https://web.archive.org/web/20120504194507im_/http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/23/Buena_Park_Sign.jpg/200px-Buena_Park_Sign.jpg) |
Home of Knott's Berry Farm. |
94 |
Lakewood |
80,048 |
Los Angeles |
![Lakewood ca city hall.jpg](https://web.archive.org/web/20120504194507im_/http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e9/Lakewood_ca_city_hall.jpg/200px-Lakewood_ca_city_hall.jpg) |
|
95 |
Merced |
78,958 |
Merced |
![Bob Hart Square clock1.jpg](https://web.archive.org/web/20120504194507im_/http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9f/Bob_Hart_Square_clock1.jpg/200px-Bob_Hart_Square_clock1.jpg) |
|
96 |
Hemet |
78,657 |
Riverside |
![Hemet City Hall.jpg](https://web.archive.org/web/20120504194507im_/http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/90/Hemet_City_Hall.jpg/200px-Hemet_City_Hall.jpg) |
|
97 |
Chino |
77,983 |
San Bernardino |
![Mama's--Chino, California.jpg](https://web.archive.org/web/20120504194507im_/http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2e/Mama%27s--Chino%2C_California.jpg/200px-Mama%27s--Chino%2C_California.jpg) |
|
98 |
Menifee |
77,519 |
Riverside |
|
|
99 |
Lake Forest |
77,264 |
Orange |
![LakeForestCA photo D Ramey Logan.jpg](https://web.archive.org/web/20120504194507im_/http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/60/LakeForestCA_photo_D_Ramey_Logan.jpg/200px-LakeForestCA_photo_D_Ramey_Logan.jpg) |
|
100 |
Napa |
76,915 |
Napa |
![Napa River floodwall USACE.JPG](https://web.archive.org/web/20120504194507im_/http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e2/Napa_River_floodwall_USACE.JPG/200px-Napa_River_floodwall_USACE.JPG) |
|