“The Golden State” became the official California nickname in 1968. “Between California’s explosive growth following the discovery of gold in 1848, the fields of golden poppies that appear each spring throughout the state, the golden gate bridge, and the clear, golden coastal sunsets over the Pacific – California truly is the golden state! Gold is also one of California’s official state colors and the state mineral.“
Things are just a little different now, but it seems only appropriate that the nickname remain the same.