1. California officially became a state on July 1, 1850, marking its admission to the Union. Prior to this, California was a territory under Mexican and Spanish rule.

2. On July 1, 1965, the California Equal Pay Act went into effect, making California the first state to have a law requiring equal pay for equal work regardless of gender. The act was a major milestone in the fight for gender equality in the workplace.

3. In 2018, California became the largest state in the US to legalize recreational marijuana on July 1. This move followed years of debate and was seen as a major victory for marijuana proponents.

4. On July 1, 1913, the California Alien Land Law went into effect, which prohibited immigrants from owning or leasing farmland in the state. The law was later expanded to include all types of property and was not fully repealed until 1956.

5. The annual Rose Bowl football game, which is one of the most famous sporting events in the US, has taken place on January 1 since 1902. However, in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the game was postponed and instead played on July 1. It was the first time in history the Rose Bowl was not held on New Year's Day.