California is a census-designated place and community in St. Mary's County, Maryland, United States. The population was 11,857 at the 2010 census, an increase of 27.4% from the 2000 census. California continues to grow with the spread of population out from the older adjacent community of Lexington Park and the growth in both technology-related and defense-related jobs at the Patuxent River Naval Air Station. There are department stores and numerous shopping centers situated along Maryland Highway 235 ("Three Notch Road"). Maryland Route 4 crosses Highway 235 in California, providing access to the wide Governor Thomas Johnson Bridge and the popular weekend resort town of Solomons, Maryland on the opposite side. Bridge-bound traffic is infamous for backing up during rush hour.HistoryThe community was named after the state of California.GeographyCalifornia is located at.According to the United States Census Bureau, California has a total area of 14.8sqmi, of which, 12.8sqmi of it is land and 1.9sqmi of it (12.64%) is water.DemographicsAs of the census of 2010, there were 11,857 people residing in California in 4,327 households. The population density was 928.1 people per square mile (358.3/km²). There were 4,697 housing units and a 71.8% home ownership rate. The racial makeup was 70.7% White, 18.3% Black, 5.7% Hispanic or Latino, 4.6% Asian, 0.5% Indigenous American, and 0.1% Pacific Islander.