California became the thirty-first state of the United States on September 9, 1850, as part of the Compromise of 1850. Admitted as a free state, it avoided the expansion of slavery into its territory. The discovery of gold in 1848 had triggered the California Gold Rush, rapidly increasing the region’s population and economic importance. Located on the Pacific Coast, California grew into one of the most populous and economically powerful states, known for its diverse geography, agricultural output, entertainment industry, and technological innovation.