U.S. 51st State “South California” Proposed

Riverside County Board Supervisor Jeff Stone envisioned the State of California to be two. He said the division would not one between northern and southern California, but internal and coastal California. “This would divide the state in a way that makes political sense: liberals in coastal California and conservatives in east California,” he adds. “It would allow the liberals to increase taxes to pay for those services they want, and the conservatives to reduce regulations and taxes in their state.”

Yahoo News:

Stone’s idea has some merit, some analysts say. It addresses the problematic balance of power between Sacramento and California localities, as well as the political reality that the 13 counties in Stone’s secession drive are far more conservative than the rest of the state. But the vision remains legally and politically unrealistic, many add, and is perhaps not the best solution to the problems it seeks address.

Map by Chris Clarke

In addition to Riverside County, the counties targeted for secession would be Fresno, Imperial, Inyo, Kern, Kings, Madera, Mariposa, Mono, Orange, San Bernardino, San Diego, and Tulare, which include about 13 million people total.