List of cities and towns in California

List of cities and towns in California details the populated places within the most populous U.S. state. California contains 482 incorporated cities and towns, which operate under either a charter or general law from the state government. The state's major urban centers are global hubs for technology, entertainment, and international trade, anchored by vast metropolitan areas like the Los Angeles metropolitan area and the San Francisco Bay Area. Municipal incorporation is governed by the California Constitution and the California Government Code, with local governance provided by entities such as the Los Angeles City Council and the San Francisco Board of Supervisors.

Largest cities by population

The ten most populous incorporated cities in California, based on 2020 Census data, are dominated by Southern California and the San Francisco Bay Area. Los Angeles is the largest, with a population exceeding 3.8 million, followed by San Diego, San Jose, and San Francisco. Other major cities in the top ten include Fresno in the Central Valley, Sacramento as the state capital, Long Beach, Oakland, Bakersfield, and Anaheim, home to Disneyland Resort. These cities form the cores of major combined statistical areas such as Greater Los Angeles and the San Jose–San Francisco–Oakland, CA Combined Statistical Area.

Alphabetical list of incorporated places

An alphabetical listing includes all 482 incorporated municipalities, from Alameda to Yreka. Notable entries span from major ports like Los Angeles and Long Beach to renowned tourist destinations such as Santa Monica, Palm Springs, and Monterey. The list also encompasses historic Gold Rush towns like Placerville, technology centers like Cupertino (headquarters of Apple Inc.), and capital cities like Sacramento. Each city's legal status is defined by actions of the California Legislature or local boards of supervisors.

List of cities and towns by county

California's 58 counties each contain a distinct set of incorporated places. Los Angeles County, the most populous, contains 88 cities including Los Angeles, Glendale, and Burbank. The San Francisco Bay Area spans several counties, with San Mateo County containing cities like Daly City and San Francisco County being coextensive with the City and County of San Francisco. Other significant county groupings include Orange County with Anaheim and Santa Ana, San Diego County with San Diego and Chula Vista, and Alpine County, which has no incorporated places.

Historical population of major cities

The demographic growth of California's cities has been shaped by events like the California Gold Rush, the construction of the First transcontinental railroad, the Post–World War II economic expansion, and the rise of the Silicon Valley tech industry. Los Angeles saw explosive growth in the early 20th century, surpassing San Francisco after the opening of the Los Angeles Aqueduct. San Jose's population multiplied dramatically following the expansion of companies like Fairchild Semiconductor and Intel. Meanwhile, Sacramento grew steadily as the state's governmental center, and Fresno expanded as an agricultural hub in the San Joaquin Valley.

Unincorporated communities and census-designated places

Beyond incorporated cities, California contains thousands of unincorporated communities governed directly by county boards, such as the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors or the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors. Many are officially designated as census-designated places (CDPs) for statistical purposes by the United States Census Bureau. Notable CDPs include Arden-Arcade near Sacramento, Florence-Graham in Los Angeles County, and Castro Valley in Alameda County. Other significant unincorporated areas include East Los Angeles, Altadena, and the resort community of Lake Tahoe.

California Cities *