Statehood The 31st state Sept. 9, 1850 Captial Sacramento State Motto Eureka! Origin of State Name The name was probably derived from a popular Spanish novel published in 1510 which described a fictional island paradise named California. State Nickname The Golden State The nickname refers to the gold rush, which played a central role in California's entry into the Union. Interesting Facts In 1542 Spanish explorer Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo sailed into San Diego Bay, then continued north along the coast, making frequent trips ashore to claim land for Spain. Eugene O'Neill National Historic Site, in Danville, marks the home of the only Nobel Prize winning playwright from the United States. The lowest elevation in the western hemisphere is located in California's Death Valley National Park, which also regularly records the highest temperatures in the country.