Ready Reference Files

California State Emblems or Symbols

This information was verified August 2000. The most up-to-date information on current official emblems can be found in the California Government Code.

Great Seal

• Information is on a separate page

State Animal

• California Grizzly Bear (Ursus californicus) (Blue Book. p. 21)
• Adopted in 1953 (Gov. sec. 425)
• This bear was hunted to extinction in California, the last reported killing in 1922. (Hart. p. 39)
• It is this bear that was pictured on the Bear Flag used in the Bear Flag Revolt and that is pictured on the State Seal and the State flag. (Hart. p. 40)

State Bird

• California Valley Quail (Lophortyx californica) (Blue Book. p. 24)
• Designated 1931 (Gov. sec. 424.5)
• The quail won over twenty-four other birds nominated by the California Audubon Society (Shearer. p. 172)

State Colors

• Blue and gold (Blue Book. p. 25)
• Adopted in 1951 (Gov. sec. 424)
• Ribbons in these colors are sometimes used with the State Seal by the Secretary of State. They are also the colors of the University of California. (Blue Book. p 25)

State Dances

• Dance: West Coast Swing Dance (Gov. sec. 421.5)

  "West Coast Swing Dancing, also known as Swing, Whip, or Jitterbug, came into being in the early 1930's in response to new musical forms then sweeping the land...Devotees of this art come from every conceivable ethnic, religious, racial, and econimic backround. Age is no factor...West Coast Swing is an American dance which is danced to American music. It originated in California and is danced in competition nationally and internationally." (Section 1 of Stats.1988, c.1645.)

• Folk Dance: Square Dance (Gov. sec. 421.5)
• Both designated in 1988 (Gov. sec. 421.5)

State Fish [?]

• South Fork Golden Trout (Salmo agua-bonita) (Blue Book p. 23)

  Designated in 1947 (This information was listed in the California Blue Book of 1975. However, it is not mentioned in the Government Code section on State Emblems, 2000 )

• See State Marine Fish below

State Flag

• Information on separate page

State Flower

• The Golden Poppy (Eschsholtzia californica) (Blue Book. p. 22)
• Designated in 1903. (Gov. sec 421).
• Since 1973, April 6 of each year is designated California Poppy Day. (Gov. sec.421) (Shearer. p. 130)

State Fossil

• Sabre-Tooth Tiger (Smilodon californicus) (Blue Book. p. 25)
• Remains of this meat-eating predator have been found at the La Brea tar pits. (Blue Book. p. 25)
• Designated 1973 (Gov. sec. 425.7)

State Gemstone

• Benitoite (Gov. sec. 425.3)
• Designated 1985 (Gov. sec. 425.3)

State Insect

• California Dog-face Butterfly (Zerene eurydice) (Blue Book p. 25)
• Found only in California (Blue Book. p. 25)
• Sometimes called Flying Pansy (Blue Book. p. 25)
• Designated 1972 (Gov. sec. 424.5)

State Marine Mammal

• California Gray Whale (Eschrischtius robustus) (Blue Book. p. 25)
• Designated in 1975 (Gov. sec. 425.5)

State Marine Fish

• Garibaldi (Hypsypops rubicundus) (Gov. sec. 425.6)
• Designated in 1995 (Gov. sec. 425.6)

State Mineral

• Gold (Blue Book. p. 25)
• Designated in 1965 (Gov. sec. 425.1)

State Motto

• "Eureka", which is Greek for "I have found it." (Blue Book. p. 25)
• Designated in 1963, (Gov. sec. 420.5)
• This motto had been used earlier. It appears on the Great Seal of California, designed in 1849. It refers to the discovery of gold in California. (Shearer. p. 25)

State Nickname

• The "Golden State" (Gov. sec. 420.75)
• Named for both the discovery of gold and for the fields of golden poppies (Blue Book. p.25)
• Adopted 1968 (Gov. sec. 420.75)

State Prehistoric Artifact

• Chipped Stone Bear (Gov. sec. 425.8)
• Designated 1991 (Gov. sec. 425.8)

State Reptile

• Desert Tortoise ( Gopherus agassizii ) (Blue Book. p.25)
• Designated in 1972 (Gov. sec. 422.5 )

State Rock

• Serpentine (Blue Book. p.25)
• Designated in 1965 (Gov. sec. 425.2 )

State Soil

• San Joaquin Soil (Gov. sec. 425.9)
• Designated in 1997 (Gov. sec. 425.9)

  "...San Joaquin Soil is approximately 50,000 to 250,000 years old and was derived from and deposited by the runoff of swollen streams during the glacial period, from mountain glaciers in the Sierra Nevada." (Gov. sec 425.9 (a) )

State Song

• Information on separate page

State Tree

• Two species of California Redwood ( Sequoia sempervirens, Sequoia gigantea)(Shearer. p. 147)
• Designated in 1937 (Gov. Sec. 422)

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Sources:

• California Blue Book, 1975 [California Office of State Printing, 1974.]
• California Government Code. secs.420 -- 429.8
• Hart, James D. A Companion to California. Berkeley, CA. University of California Pr. 1987.
• Shearer, Benjamin F. and Barbara S. Shearer. State Names, Seals, Flags, and Symbols. Westport, Ct. Greenwood Press, 1994.

Verified by: RAP 8/00

Disclaimer:
While the Library has verified the information presented in these files in what it considers to be reliable and authoritative sources, it cannot take responsibility for nor guarantee the accuracy of the information presented.