Pre-statehood history of California â€" from pre-history to September 1850, within the present day state borders of California.
The borders encompass the historic homelands of the Indigenous peoples of California, in numerous tribal territories present for over 10,000 years.
The region was claimed for Spain in 1542, later becoming a Spanish colony (1768â€"1821), a territory of independent Mexico (1821â€"1848), and a provisional territory of the U.S. (1848-1850).
California became a U.S. state on September 9, 1850.
