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Student-created content originally broadcast on Hillsdale College's student radio station, WRFH 101.7 FM.
You're listening to State Facts on Radio Free Hillsdale 101.7 FM. I'm your host, Nate Gallagher, and I'm joined by Hillsdale's resident Californian, Nicole Sighiartau. How are you doing today, Nicole?
Nicole Sighiartau:I'm doing pretty good, Nate. How are you?
Nate Gallagher:I'm good. So where are you from in California?
Nicole Sighiartau:I am from the Orange County area, which is in Southern California, kind of nestled, like, in the middle of Los Angeles and San Diego.
Nate Gallagher:What is the capital of California? Sacramento. When was California admitted to the union?
Nicole Sighiartau:It was right after the gold rush, so I think I'm gonna say 18 50.
Nate Gallagher:September 9, 1850.
Nicole Sighiartau:Oh, okay. That's cool. That's, like, coming up. Do you
Nate Gallagher:know what number it was admitted?
Nicole Sighiartau:31st.
Nate Gallagher:How about the population as of 2022?
Nicole Sighiartau:39,000,000. You
Nate Gallagher:guys are, like, super big.
Nicole Sighiartau:We are. We have a lot of illegal immigrants, so that kind of phrases the population quite a bit.
Nate Gallagher:How about the nickname of the state?
Nicole Sighiartau:We are the golden state, although we're slowly becoming less golden, in my opinion.
Nate Gallagher:So do you have, like, a lot of, like, old miney stuff, or do you, like or has that have been, like, bulldozed over for construction?
Nicole Sighiartau:Most of the mining operations were in Northern California, so it's really not a big thing in the southern part of the state. But, like, if you go up to the Sacramento area by Sutters Mill, which is, like, where gold was first found, I believe they still have a lot of that relics in history. Our 4th grade history, like, for the whole entire state, focuses a lot on the gold rush, but we're not insane minors or anything, if that's what you're asking.
Nate Gallagher:How about the state motto?
Nicole Sighiartau:The state motto is eureka, which means I found it, and that's kind of because of the gold rush. Because everyone find gold and be like, Eureka.
Nate Gallagher:How about the state animal?
Nicole Sighiartau:The grizzly bear, which is featured prominently on our flag. And it's actually interesting because California doesn't have any grizzly bears anymore. They stopped existing there a long time ago. But we do have, lots of black bears. And if you go into the Sierra Sierra Nevada Mountains or Yosemite National Park specifically, they have all these boxes where you're supposed to put your food called bear boxes.
Nicole Sighiartau:And, yeah, I've seen quite a few bears in that area before, and they're very docile and kinda boring. Like, they're just walking around and not doing a whole lot.
Nate Gallagher:How about the state flower?
Nicole Sighiartau:Oh, the state flower is the California poppy. They're beautiful. We don't have a ton in Southern California. Normally, in the springtime, March is peak flower season in California primarily because it does get hot in the summer. So they'll they'll all die off.
Nicole Sighiartau:But, I normally go try to find poppies in my local areas, and we don't have a ton. If you want really good poppies, I've heard you have to go up towards Santa Barbara, which I've been in the fall, but I've never been there around springtime. So I should really do that to go find some poppies.
Nate Gallagher:How about the state tree?
Nicole Sighiartau:Oh, the state tree is the redwood, and we have a whole national park dedicated to the redwoods. And I went when I was really little. I was, 6 or 7. I mean, my parents just took me to all the national parks, but I remember going with some extended family and just walking around these trees, and they were so incredibly tall. Like, it it truly is insane how tall they are.
Nate Gallagher:How about the state fish?
Nicole Sighiartau:It's the golden trout. It's the golden trout, sticking with the gold theme.
Nate Gallagher:You guys got a lot of gold stuff, which you'd expect. Personally, I expect more from, like, Colorado because, like, nuggets.
Nicole Sighiartau:Yeah. Well, so it's interesting. I went fishing with my dad one time when I was 11, right before, like, you had to get a fishing license. We kinda pushed my age with the fishing license. I'm just exposing myself at this point.
Nicole Sighiartau:But anyway, within 30 minutes, I had caught the limit, which was 6 fish, and they were all trout, and so we had 6 massive trout for just my dad and I. And I also don't like to eat trout, so then my dad got to eat 6 trout for dinner.
Nate Gallagher:You're like a master fisherwoman. How how is this possible?
Nicole Sighiartau:I'm not, though. I just got so lucky because then we went again the next day. And I still caught 6, but it took a lot longer.
Nate Gallagher:Well, I think that's all the time we have. Thanks for coming on the show, Nicole.
Nicole Sighiartau:Thank you so much for having me. This was so fun.
Nate Gallagher:I've been Nate Gallagher with State Facts on Radio Free Hillsdale 101.7 FM. See you next time.