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California: elevation, cities and highest point

California has 39,355,309 people (2025) and 58 counties. Its highest point is Mount Whitney, at 14,494 ft, and its lowest, Death Valley, at -282 ft. Here you’ll find the elevation of its capital, its cities over 250,000 people and its summit, with a map of its counties.

By the Mapsfera Team

Population (2025)
39,355,309
The most populous of the 50 states
Land area
155,860 sq mi
The 3rd largest state
Counties
58
According to the Census (2025)
Capital
Sacramento
At 27 ft · the 48th highest state capital
Highest point
14,494 ft
Mount Whitney · the 2nd highest of the 50 state high points
Lowest point
-282 ft
Death Valley

Map of California’s counties

Santa Clara Orange Fresno Madera Imperial Stanislaus Amador Marin Sonoma Solano Merced Nevada Santa Cruz Tuolumne Tulare Contra Costa Butte Placer Napa Plumas Del Norte Alpine San Luis Obispo Trinity Alameda Colusa San Mateo Mendocino Yolo El Dorado Yuba Glenn Riverside San Joaquin Sutter San Bernardino Calaveras Siskiyou Tehama Lake Mariposa Sacramento Ventura Lassen Modoc Los Angeles Mono San Benito Kings San Diego Kern San Francisco Humboldt Shasta Inyo Sierra Monterey Santa Barbara Riverside · 829 ft Bakersfield · 404 ft Fresno · 312 ft Los Angeles · 284 ft Anaheim · 159 ft Santa Ana · 113 ft San Jose · 81 ft Chula Vista · 66 ft San Diego · 63 ft San Francisco · 55 ft Irvine · 54 ft Oakland · 42 ft Long Beach · 33 ft Sacramento · 27 ft Stockton · 12 ft Mount Whitney · 14,494 ft
  • Capital’s county
  • County with a city page
  • City, by elevation
  • Highest point
Printable blank map

Elevation

The capital, Sacramento, sits at 27 ft (8 m): the 48th highest of the 50 state capitals. California’s highest point, Mount Whitney, is 223 mi away in a straight line and 14,467 ft higher.

Between its highest point (14,494 ft) and its lowest (-282 ft) there’s 14,776 ft of relief, according to the USGS table. Of the 50 state high points, California’s is the 2nd highest.

California has 15 cities with a page. The highest is Riverside, at 829 ft, and the lowest is Stockton, at 12 ft: 817 ft apart.

California borders 3 states. Their highest points are Humphreys Peak, in Arizona (12,633 ft), Boundary Peak, in Nevada (13,140 ft), and Mount Hood, in Oregon (11,239 ft): California’s is the highest of the 4. Their capitals: Phoenix (1,088 ft), Carson City (4,680 ft), and Salem (157 ft).

  1. Mount Whitney 14,494 ft
  2. Riverside 829 ft
  3. Bakersfield 404 ft
  4. Fresno 312 ft
  5. Los Angeles 284 ft
  6. Anaheim 159 ft
  7. Santa Ana 113 ft
  8. San Jose 81 ft
  9. Chula Vista 66 ft
  10. San Diego 63 ft
  11. San Francisco 55 ft
  12. Irvine 54 ft
  13. Oakland 42 ft
  14. Long Beach 33 ft
  15. Sacramento 27 ft
  16. Stockton 12 ft

Population

California had 39,355,309 residents on July 1, 2025, according to Census Bureau estimates, 0.5% fewer than in April 2020 (39,555,703). Across 155,860 sq mi of land, that’s 253 people/sq mi.

Its most populous place is Los Angeles, with 3,869,089 people. The Census counts 1,617 cities, towns and census-designated places (CDPs) in California.

The most populous places in California
Place Population Land area Elevation
Los Angeles 3,869,089 471 sq mi 284 ft
San Diego 1,406,106 326 sq mi 63 ft
San Jose 989,814 178 sq mi 81 ft
San Francisco 826,079 46.7 sq mi 55 ft
Fresno 555,549 116 sq mi 312 ft
Sacramento 536,449 98.6 sq mi 27 ft
Long Beach 450,469 50.7 sq mi 33 ft
Oakland 440,838 56.0 sq mi 42 ft
Bakersfield 422,165 150 sq mi 404 ft
Anaheim 341,008 50.3 sq mi 159 ft

Neighboring states

Tools

Map of Sacramento County A county on the map with all its cities and towns, ready to print. Blank map of California counties Blank, with names or to color in, on Letter or A4. US county map Population, income and area of every county on a color-coded map. What county am I in? Your county, city and ZIP code, from your location. US time zone map What time it is in each state and where the clocks change. Elevation of a point Look up any town in California and see its elevation.

Frequently asked questions

What is the highest point in California?

Mount Whitney, at 14,494 ft, according to the USGS table. It’s the 2nd highest of the 50 state high points.

What is the lowest point in California?

Death Valley, at -282 ft, according to the same USGS table.

What is the elevation of Sacramento, the capital?

27 ft above sea level, at its reference point in the USGS gazetteer. It’s the 48th highest state capital.

What is the highest city in California?

Of the cities with a page (the capital and those over 250,000 people), Riverside, at 829 ft. Some smaller towns are higher: look them up with the point elevation tool.

How many counties does California have?

58, according to the Census Bureau in 2025.

Sources

  • Population, land area and counties: U.S. Census Bureau (Vintage 2025 estimates and 2025 Gazetteer), public domain.
  • Highest and lowest points: USGS, “Elevations and Distances in the United States” (and, for Denali, the 2015 survey), public domain.
  • City elevations: USGS 3DEP at each city’s GNIS point, public domain.
  • County map: U.S. Census Bureau, 2025 Cartographic Boundary Files (1:500,000).

Methodology and sources · Spotted a mistake? Let us know