1876 artwork by Henry Mitchell, via Wikipedia Commons
California ranks fifth among states and provinces with markers in this database. California is a state in the United States of America located in the American West. It is also in the Pacific Coastal region. California is some 164 thousand square miles in size with a population of around 39.5 million people. The state is divided into 58 counties and all of them have entries in this database. In California we have discovered historical markers in 1,031 cities and towns lying in 1,285 different ZIP Codes.
There are at least 11,185 historical markers in California, by our count. We have cataloged 11,176 historical markers and 451 war memorials—each individually presented on 11,539 illustrated, annotated, and searchable pages of the Historical Marker Database. Pages for historical markers from this state make up 5.3% of our total. In addition, we are reasonably certain of another nine historical markers in California that we don’t yet have, and instead show on our Want List. Our correspondents have been finding and adding hundreds of markers a month to the database from all over the world, so next time you visit this page you will probably find that the numbers here have changed.
Click or scan to see this page online.
The first California marker in the database, First Congregational Church of Pescadero, was added March 7, 2006. It was photographed in Pescadero in San Mateo County and was erected in 1984. The last one added was submitted on May 7, 2024, and titled Ysidro Reyes Adobe. It is in Los Angeles in Los Angeles County and had been erected in 1952. Keeping in mind that the erection date of many markers in the database is not known, the earliest historical marker we know of in California was erected in 1837. It was this one: Peter Lebec, and one of our correspondents found it in Lebec in Kern County on September 5, 2008.
Californians don’t want to forget their Industry and Commerce history. How do we know? Because there are more historical markers in the database from California about Industry and Commerce—2,806 of them—than about any other historical topic. A close second is Settlements and Settlers with 2,596 markers.
The first marker added to the database with the Industry and Commerce topic was Pomona Water Power Plant, added March 9, 2006. It had been erected in 1955 near Mt. Baldy Village in Los Angeles County. The last one submitted was submitted on May 7, 2024, and titled The Hollywood Bowl. It had been erected in Los Angeles in Los Angeles County. The earliest marker erected with the Industry and Commerce topic that we have listed was erected in 1889. It is A.J. Stevens Monument, found in Sacramento in Sacramento County on March 26, 2009.
What is the most interesting historical marker in California? What we know is that Venice Canals is the most viewed entry in the database from California since it was added in 2021. It is located in Los Angeles in Los Angeles County. This year so far, the most viewed Californian entry is also located in Los Angeles. It is Busch Gardens.
Counties, Cities and Towns
The California county with the most historical markers listed in this database is Los Angeles County, with 1901 of them. It is followed by San Francisco City and County with 722 markers. The Los Angeles area of Los Angeles County has the highest number of markers within its limits, 1123. In San Francisco City and County the area with the most markers, 722, is San Francisco.
Checking the database for the city or town in California with the most markers we again find Los Angeles at the top of the list with 1123 markers in or near it. And San Francisco also shows up again in next place, with 722 markers. For the ZIP Code with the most markers it’s 90012 at the top of the list with 164 markers in its delivery area. (ZIP Code 90012 is assigned to Los Angeles CA including the Federal delivery area.) It is followed closely by ZIP Code 95060 with 156 markers. (95060 is assigned to Santa Cruz CA including the Bonny Doon, Paradise Park, and Scotts Valley delivery areas.)
Historical Markers Near These California Cities and Towns
Getting back to Los Angeles County, the first marker added to the database from there, Pomona Water Power Plant, was added March 9, 2006, and was also the first one submitted in all of California. It was erected in 1955 near Mt. Baldy Village. The last one submitted—also the last one submitted in all of California—was uploaded on May 7, 2024, and is titled Ysidro Reyes Adobe and was erected in 1952, in Los Angeles. The earliest marker erected in Los Angeles County that we have listed was erected in 1900. It was Spanish–American War Memorial, found in Los Angeles on August 23, 2023.
The California Historical Resources Commission is currently in charge of the familiar official landmark designation brass plaques found all over the state. You will also find official markers erected by the California State Park Commission, a predecessor. We have 219 of their markers in the database.
In addition, E Clampus Vitus—not government affiliated—also erected numerous historical markers in California, and we have 1,572 of their California markers in the database. Also, a number of counties have erected historical markers on their streets and roads and within their public areas, as have some cities and towns.
March 28, 2017
A Historical Resources Commission Historical Marker
Then there are federal government agencies that put up historical markers, especially in national parks and other areas under their jurisdiction. And finally, there are the numerous public and private organizations and individuals that erect markers. Some do this as a continual endeavor, and others once in a while, to mark something, someone, or someplace they find important or interesting. When one of our correspondents comes across one that satisfies our criteria, we add it to the database.
Off the Beaten Path
You’ll find that even the smallest, least populated, or most rural areas of California have been marked with history. Check out Sutter County, Glenn County and Kings County. We've only found, respectively, 10, 10, and 8 historical markers there. Visiting one or more of these parts of California might make for a pleasant road trip, and maybe you’ll discover more historical markers while you’re there. If you do, perhaps you’ll take the time to photograph them and, when you get home, become an HMdb correspondent by adding them to the database. Happy Hunting!
California ranks fifth among states and provinces with markers in this database. California is a state in the United States of America located in the American West. It is also in the Pacific Coastal region. California is some 164 thousand square miles in size with a population of around 39.5 million people. The state is divided into 58 counties and all of them have entries in this database. In California we have discovered historical markers in 1,031 cities and towns lying in 1,285 different ZIP Codes.
There are at least 11,185 historical markers in California, by our count. We have cataloged 11,176 historical markers and 451 war memorials, each individually presented on 11,539 illustrated, annotated, and searchable pages of the Historical Marker Database. Pages for historical markers from this state make up 5.3% of our total. In addition, we are reasonably certain of another nine historical markers in California that we don’t yet have, and instead show on our Want List. Our correspondents have been finding and adding hundreds of markers a month to the database from all over the world, so next time you visit this page you will probably find that the numbers here have changed.
Click or scan to see this page online.
The first California marker in the database, First Congregational Church of Pescadero, was added March 7, 2006. It was photographed in Pescadero in San Mateo County and was erected in 1984. The last one added was submitted on May 7, 2024, and titled Ysidro Reyes Adobe. It is in Los Angeles in Los Angeles County and had been erected in 1952. Keeping in mind that the erection date of many markers in the database is not known, the earliest historical marker we know of in California was erected in 1837. It was this one: Peter Lebec, and one of our correspondents found it in Lebec in Kern County on September 5, 2008.
Californians don’t want to forget their Industry and Commerce history. How do we know? Because there are more historical markers in the database from California about Industry and Commerce, 2,806 of them, than about any other historical topic. A close second is Settlements and Settlers with 2,596 markers.
The first marker added to the database with the Industry and Commerce topic was Pomona Water Power Plant, added March 9, 2006. It had been erected in 1955 near Mt. Baldy Village in Los Angeles County. The last one submitted was submitted on May 7, 2024, and titled The Hollywood Bowl. It had been erected in Los Angeles in Los Angeles County. The earliest marker erected with the Industry and Commerce topic that we have listed was erected in 1889. It is A.J. Stevens Monument, found in Sacramento in Sacramento County on March 26, 2009.
What is the most interesting historical marker in California? What we know is that Venice Canals is the most viewed entry in the database from California since it was added in 2021. It is located in Los Angeles in Los Angeles County. This year so far, the most viewed Californian entry is also located in Los Angeles. It is Busch Gardens.
Counties, Cities and Towns.
The California county with the most historical markers listed in this database is Los Angeles County, with 1901 of them. It is followed by San Francisco City and County with 722 markers. The Los Angeles area of Los Angeles County has the highest number of markers within its limits, 1123. In San Francisco City and County the area with the most markers, 722, is San Francisco.
Checking the database for the city or town in California with the most markers we again find Los Angeles at the top of the list with 1123 markers in or near it. And San Francisco also shows up again in next place, with 722 markers. For the ZIP Code with the most markers it’s 9 0 0 1 2 at the top of the list with 164 markers in its delivery area. (ZIP Code 9 0 0 1 2 is assigned to Los Angeles CA including the Federal delivery area.) It is followed closely by ZIP Code 9 5 0 6 0 with 156 markers. (9 5 0 6 0 is assigned to Santa Cruz CA including the Bonny Doon, Paradise Park, and Scotts Valley delivery areas.)
Getting back to Los Angeles County, the first marker added to the database from there, Pomona Water Power Plant, was added March 9, 2006, and was also the first one submitted in all of California. It was erected in 1955 near Mt. Baldy Village. The last one submitted, also the last one submitted in all of California, was uploaded on May 7, 2024, and is titled Ysidro Reyes Adobe and was erected in 1952, in Los Angeles. The earliest marker erected in Los Angeles County that we have listed was erected in 1900. It was Spanish–American War Memorial, found in Los Angeles on August 23, 2023.
The California Historical Resources Commission is currently in charge of the familiar official landmark designation brass plaques found all over the state. You will also find official markers erected by the California State Park Commission, a predecessor. We have 219 of their markers in the database.
In addition, E Clampus Vitus, not government affiliated, also erected numerous historical markers in California, and we have 1,572 of their California markers in the database. Also, a number of counties have erected historical markers on their streets and roads and within their public areas, as have some cities and towns.
Then there are federal government agencies that put up historical markers, especially in national parks and other areas under their jurisdiction. And finally, there are the numerous public and private organizations and individuals that erect markers. Some do this as a continual endeavor, and others once in a while, to mark something, someone, or someplace they find important or interesting. When one of our correspondents comes across one that satisfies our criteria, we add it to the database.
Off the Beaten Path.
You’ll find that even the smallest, least populated, or most rural areas of California have been marked with history. Check out Sutter County, Glenn County and Kings County. We've only found, respectively, 10, 10, and 8 historical markers there. Visiting one or more of these parts of California might make for a pleasant road trip, and maybe you’ll discover more historical markers while you’re there. If you do, perhaps you’ll take the time to photograph them and, when you get home, become an HMdb correspondent by adding them to the database. Happy Hunting!
California ranks fifth among states and provinces with markers in this database. California is a state in the United States of America located in the American West. It is also in the Pacific Coastal region. California is some 164 thousand square miles in size with a population of around 39.5 million people. The state is divided into 58 counties and all of them have entries in this database. In California we have discovered historical markers in 1,031 cities and towns lying in 1,285 different ZIP Codes. 
