Northern California: Meaning (information, definition, explanation, facts)

Northern California (sometimes NorCal) refers to the northern portion of the state of California, roughly covering all of those counties except for the eight counties which make up Southern California.

Northern California includes the region's largest city, San Jose and its suburbs in the Silicon Valley. Other major cities include Oakland, Sacramento (the state capital) and San Francisco.

Northern California is home to two of the most-prestigious universities in the United States, Stanford University and the University of California, Berkeley. Other universities include the University of California, Davis, Humboldt State University, University of the Pacific, California State University, Sacramento, and California State University, Chico.

It is characterized by its beautiful coastline, mediterranean climate, relatively low population density (apart from the San Francisco Bay Area and metropolitan Sacramento), and redwood forests.

NorCal Regions

• Silicon Valley
• San Francisco Bay Area
• North Bay
• East Bay
• South Bay
• The Peninsula
• Wine Country
• Gold Country
• Santa Clara Valley
• Emerald Triangle
• Sacramento Valley
• Lower San Joaquin Valley