| Some historians say that if the Mayflower
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| | California into a number of small states.
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| had landed on California's coast instead
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| | This suggestion is deemed to be a
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| of the eastern seaboard, the state would
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| | tongue-in-cheek suggestion that would
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| have been divided into several small
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| | Balkanize California into small states
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| states, similar to the New England
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| | lacking adequate resources and virtually
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| region.
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| | no power nationally.
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| Consider that it takes longer to drive
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| | Perhaps the most radical suggestion, and
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| from California's northern border to its
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| | also done facetiously, would make
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| southern boundary than it does to travel
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| | California a separate nation. This
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| on the opposite coast from Maine through
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| | proposal was the brainchild of San Jose
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| six New England states to Washington,
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| | Mercury newsman Ted Bredt, who noted that
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| D.C.
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| | California's resources and financial
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| There have been at least 26 different
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| | potential were larger than those of many
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| proposals to split California.
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| | nations.
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| The issue to divide California first
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| | In 1849, Jose Antonio Carrillo, a
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| arose when those in the southern part of
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| | southern delegate to the Constitutional
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| the state wanted the Capital there, while
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| | Convention, proposed a split of
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| those in the northern part of the state
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| | California at San Luis Obispo. The
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| likewise wanted it.
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| | southern part of the state would become a
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| The location of the Capital, it was
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| | territory, while the northern part would
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| believed, would dictate the area that
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| | become a state.
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| would receive the most political
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| | Other delegates at the Constitutional
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| considerations.
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| | Convention proposed including what is now
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| Disvisionists first wanted to divide
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| | California, but also Nevada, Utah, and
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| California and locate the capitol either
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| | Arizona in the new state. This proposal
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| in Monterey, Los Angeles, or in San
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| | was rejected out of hand as it would
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| Diego. Northerners felt they were being
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| | create a state too large.
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| overtaxed to pay for Southern
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| | In 1852, some Californians near the
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| California's education, social programs,
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| | Oregon border expressed their strong
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| and justice system.
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| | dissatisfaction over high taxes, poor
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| Another divisive issue between the north
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| | mail service, and the lack of military
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| and the south was the matter of water.
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| | protection against California Indian
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| The south was dependent on the north for
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| | tribes. They wanted to form the State of
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| its water. Northerners felt the dams and
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| | Shasta.
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| facilities necessary to transport water
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| | There were attempts by one northern
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| to the south were causing unwanted
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| | California area to separate from
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| geographic and climatic changes. Some
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| | California altogether. This was in 1856,
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| felt even the earthquakes, such as one in
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| | when Isaac Newton Roop, the founder of
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| Oroville in 1975, were a result of the
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| | Susanville, and Peter Lassen, the
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| construction of water facilities.
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| | explorer for whom Lassen County was
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| Advocates of dividing the state voiced a
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| | named, sought to form an independent
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| common grievance: California was just too
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| | territory.
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| big, and, therefore ungovernable.
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| | This territory would be made up by parts
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| In 1864, a state-splitting measure was
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| | of both northern California and of
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| placed on the ballot, approved by voters,
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| | Nevada, which they would call Nataqua, a
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| signed by the Governor, and sent to
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| | word meaning woman in the local Indian
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| Congress. Congress did not approve it.
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| | language.
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| No state in the U.S. has been split into
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| | Later, in 1854, resolutions were drafted
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| two or more regions since 1862, when the
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| | to form the State of Klamath, which would
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| western part of the state of Virginia
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| | include portions of Northern California
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| opposed Virginia's secession from the
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| | and of Southern Oregon.
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| Union in 1861, and Congress recognized it
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| | Also in 1854, San Bernardino Assemblyman
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| as the state of West Virginia.
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| | Jefferson Hunt introduced a bill for the
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| Most proposals to divide California would
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| | creation of a new state of Columbia,
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| split the state horizontally into two
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| | covering the area from Santa Cruz to the
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| parts, either at the Tehachapi Mountains
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| | Mexican Border.
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| or at a northern point just above or
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| | It is unlikely that California will ever
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| below Sacramento. There was at least one
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| | be divided. Any proposal aimed at
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| suggestion, however, that the state be
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| | splitting the state must gain the consent
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| divided vertically into East and West
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| | of the legislature, and then be approved
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| California.
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| | by Congress as well.
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| Another suggestion proposed dividing
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| | Still, the state-splitting issue is
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| California into three states, North,
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| | likely to emerge many times in the
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| South, and Central California.
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| | future, as it is an easy way for a
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| Still another proposal would divide
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| | politician to get space in the press.
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