California, Pennsylvania, United States

🇺🇸 California is a borough on the Monongahela River in Washington County, Pennsylvania, United States, and part of the Pittsburgh metropolitan area since 1950. California is the home of California University of Pennsylvania. Founded in 1849, the borough was named for the territory of California following the Gold Rush.

History When founded in 1849, the town was named California, though Columbia and Sagamore were names that were also suggested for the new town. Before there were mayors in California, there were burgesses, the first of whom was Solomon Sibbitt. • East Pike Run Township merged with California Borough in 1953. • The former Vigilant Mine in California once produced the largest single lump of coal in the world. • California was once home to the largest soft coal mine in the world when Vesta # 4 opened in 1893. • The unincorporated town of Philipsburg used to sit on land that is now occupied by Pennsylvania Western University or PennWest (formerly known as California University of Pennsylvania before July 2022). This includes the Philipsburg Cemetery, which is still in use and includes a number of graves of Civil War soldiers. • The first house built in California is next to the California Post Office on Second Street. The Molly Fleming House, Jennings-Gallagher House, Malden Inn, Old Main, California State College and former Pennsylvania Railroad Passenger Station are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The California Boatyards played an important role in building steamboats for western expansion.

Surrounding and adjacent neighborhoods California has seven land borders, including Fallowfield Township to the north, Long Branch and Elco to the north-east, Coal Center to the mideast, West Brownsville to the south-east, Centerville from the south to the west-southwest, and West Pike Run Township to the west. Across the Monongahela River in Fayette County, California runs adjacent with Newell and Jefferson Township.

Education • Pennsylvania Western University or PennWest (formerly known as California University of Pennsylvania prior to July 2022 and earlier as California State College of Pensylvania).