Since the first appearance of oranges at the Franciscan missions in the early 19th century, citrus agriculture has been an inextricable part of California's heritage. From the 1870s to the 1960s, oranges and lemons were dominant features of the Southern California landscape. The Washington navel orange, introduced by homesteader Eliza Tibbets at Riverside in the 1870s, precipitated the rise of a citrus belt stretching from Pasadena (in the San Gabriel Valley) to Redlands (in San Bernardino County). Valencia oranges dominated Orange County south of Los Angeles, while lemons thrived in coastal settlements such as Santa Paula. With the arrival of transcontinental railroads in the citrus heartland by the 1880s, Californians had access to markets across the United States. This was followed by the subsequent establishment of an impressive central organization in the form of the California Fruit Growers Exchange, and oranges became the state's most lucrative crop. Observers did not exaggerate when they dubbed the southern portion of the Golden State an orange empire.

This handbook blends outstanding photographs and informative essays to survey some 100 endangered species in California--mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, insects, molluscs, crustaceans, and fish--which volunteer environmental groups and government agencies are trying to save.

Exploring the Chinese contribution to Californian society, approximately 1,100 entries list sites of historical or cultural significance. The book is arranged by region and by county, with sites listed in alphabetical order. Special attention is drawn to place names, street orientation, the cemetery and Feng Shui, the Hollywood Walk of Fame, levels of official recognition, Ch'ing Ming, the Tree of Heaven, and the changing of names or the naming of unnamed places. McDannold taught geography for over 25 years, and has served as president of the Chinese Historical Society of Southern California. Annotation copyrighted by Book News Inc., Portland, OR