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Why isn't Los Angeles the capital of California?

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Los Angeles actually was, at least by law, the capital of Alta California during the last years of Mexican rule. It was made so by a decree of the Mexican senate on May 23, 1835 [1]. The same decree also officially elevated Los Angeles from a pueblo to a city. read more

After California became a US territory, there are various reasons why it didn't make sense for Los Angeles to be the capital, including the big one that Joe Roberts already mentioned: the Gold Rush, which closely followed the Mexican-American War and propelled California into quick statehood, shifted the population center of California decisively to the north for the rest of the 19th Century. read more

Because the capital was picked long before LA became the major metropolis it is now. In fact the most important city in CA in the 19th Century was San Francisco. Capitals are seldom picked just due to size but rather vice-versa. That is to say capitals often become large simply because they are the capital. Atlanta Georgia is a good example of this. read more

Los Angeles is California's largest city. Under Spanish rule, the capital of California had been Monterey, where the first Constitutional Convention and state elections were held in 1849. After 1850, when California's statehood was ratified, the legislature met in San Jose, Vallejo, and Benicia. read more

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