Southern California's population encompasses three major metropolitan areas, each of which have over 3 million people; the Los Angeles Metropolitan Area with over 12 million inhabitants, the San Bernardino-Riverside Metropolitan Area with over 4 million inhabitants, and the San Diego Metropolitan Area with over 3 million inhabitants. The region is home to approximately 24 million people (more than half of California's population) and is the nation's second most populous region behind the urban seaboard of the Northeastern United States. Below are a few major incorporated cities as well as a few county seats in Southern California.
The city of San Diego is the second largest city in California and the eighth largest in the country with an estimated population of 1,336,865 as of 2008. The metropolitan area is centered around the city of San Diego gracefully curved around the San Diego Bay free from the smog that plagues most large cities due to its proximity to the ocean.
Long Beach is a large city located in southern California, USA, on the Pacific coast. It is situated in Los Angeles County, about 20 miles (32 km) south of downtown Los Angeles. Long Beach borders Orange County on its southeast edge. Long Beach is the 36th-largest city in the nation and the sixth-largest in California. As of 2008, its estimated population was 492,682.
Bakersfield is the county seat.and the most populous city in Kern County, California, and the 50th- most populous city in the United States with a population of 354,480. Bakersfield has a very diverse economy. Kern County is the most productive oil producing county, and the fourth most productive agricultural county (by value) in the United States. Other industries include natural gas and other energy extraction, aerospace, mining, petroleum refining, manufacturing, distribution, food processing, and corporate/regional headquarters.
Santa Ana is the county seat and most populous city in Orange County, California, and the 53rd-most populous city in the United States with a 2007 estimated population of 339,555 (the California Department of Finance puts the city's 2009 estimated population at 355,662). Founded in 1869, Santa Ana is located in Southern California on the Santa Ana River, 10 miles (16 km) away from the California coast. The city is part of the Los Angeles–Long Beach–Santa Ana metropolitan area which.
Anaheim is a city in Orange County, California. As of January 1, 2009, the city population was about 348,467, making it the 10th most-populated city in California and ranked 54th in the United States. The city anticipates that the population will surpass 400,000 by 2014 due to rapid development in its Platinum Triangle area as well as in Anaheim Hills area. Anaheim is the second most populous city in Orange County (after Santa Ana) and second largest in terms of land area (after Irvine), and it is known for its theme parks, sports teams, and convention center.