Columbia International Affairs Online
CIAO DATE: 8/5/2007
The Third California: The Golden State's New Frontier
2007 March
Abstract
The “Third California” extends from the outer suburbs of greater Los Angeles to the foothills of the high mountains of Northern California. It covers a vast and diverse series of places, from urbanized areas like Sacramento to great suburban regions to some of the most fertile agricultural regions in the world. To a large extent, what defines the Third California is how it contrasts with the increasingly congested, expensive, and physically hemmed in coastal region. Virtually all the fast-growing regions of the state, from Riverside-San Bernardino to the south to the burgeoning suburbs around Sacramento are located in this area. To capitalize on this growth, and to secure its place as a font of opportunity in the state, the Third California must appeal to skilled workers and industries, address the needs of undereducated, primarily Hispanic workers, and build on the optimism that has led many newcomers to the region.
