Southern California

Southern California, often called SoCal, is a major geographic and cultural region. It occupies the southern portion of the U.S. state of California.

The region is generally defined as the area south of the latitude 35°45'N. This line follows the northern boundaries of San Luis Obispo, Kern, and San Bernardino counties. Some people define the region using different natural barriers. These include Point Conception and the Tehachapi Mountains. These mountains form a significant barrier for weather, plants, and animals.

Geographically, the region is composed of ten specific counties. These are Los Angeles, San Diego, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, Kern, Ventura, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, and Imperial.

The landscape of Southern California is very diverse. Much of the coastal region is densely populated and urban. This includes the Greater Los Angeles area and San Diego County.

In contrast, large parts of the region are sparsely populated deserts. The Colorado Desert and the Colorado River sit on the eastern border with Arizona. To the northeast, the Mojave Desert shares a border with Nevada. The southern edge of the region forms part of the international border with Mexico.

This creates a unique mix of crowded cities and empty, dry lands.

Southern California contains several massive metropolitan areas. Three of these form the Greater Los Angeles Combined Statistical Area (CSA). This massive urban grouping contains over 18 million people. It is the second-biggest CSA in the United States, following the New York CSA. The Los Angeles metropolitan area includes Los Angeles and Orange counties. It has a population of 13.3 million people. The Inland Empire includes Riverside and San Bernardino counties. It has a population of 4.3 million people. The Oxnard–Thousand Oaks–Ventura area has 0.8 million people.

There is also a larger Southern California Megaregion. This extends into Las Vegas, Nevada, and south into Tijuana, Mexico.

History shows that people have long debated how to organize this land. In the 1850s, some residents wanted separate statehood from Northern California. They were unhappy with land laws and taxes. In 1859, the California State Legislature passed the Pico Act.

This act proposed creating the Territory of Colorado in the south. Nearly 75 percent of Southern California voters approved the plan. However, the American Civil War began in 1860. This conflict prevented the proposal from ever reaching a vote in Washington, D.C. Later, in 2020, the state government used its own regional groupings. During the pandemic, Governor Gavin Newsom grouped ten counties into a Southern California region for health orders.

The region is a global center for several major industries. The motion picture, television, and music industries are centered in the Los Angeles area.

The Hollywood district is famous for its connection to the film industry. Many major companies are headquartered here. These include The Walt Disney Company, Sony Pictures, Universal Pictures, MGM, Paramount Pictures, and Warner Bros.

Southern California also has a massive surf and skateboard culture. Many famous companies like Vans and Quiksilver are based here. The region hosts major action sports events like the X Games and the U.S. Open of Surfing.

Climate plays a huge role in how people live in the region. Most of Southern California has a Mediterranean-like climate.

This means the area has warm, dry summers and mild, wet winters. Freezing temperatures are rare in the lower elevations. However, rain is often infrequent. When it does rain, it can be very heavy and cause flash floods. The mountains receive a different type of weather. They receive plenty of snowfall during the winter months.

This allows for mountain resort communities like Big Bear Lake. These areas are popular for skiing and snow sports.

Population density varies greatly across the different landscapes. While the deserts are empty, the urban areas are some of the most crowded in the country. As of the 2020 census, Southern California had 23.76 million residents.

Los Angeles is the most populous city in California. It is also the second-most populous city in the United States. San Diego is the second-most populous city in the state. These large populations create a complex system of highways and suburbs. The region's growth continues in areas like the Antelope Valley and the Coachella Valley. This makes Southern California a vital part of the United States' economic and cultural landscape.