Alta California was formed in
1804 from the northern half of the
Spanish colony of California, later becoming a
Mexican territory after independence from Spain. During the
Mexican-American War, Alta California was successfully invaded and annexed by the
United States, becoming the American state of
California in
1850.
The last Mexican Governor of California was Pio Pico[?], who served until 1846.
See also: Baja California, Spanish colonization of the Americas, California missions. List of California Governors