California, the Golden state

Anaheim, San Diego, Long Beach, Santa Ana, San Jose

Anaheim, founded by Germans in 1857 as an experiment in communal living, is now a magnet for pleasure seekers. The number one resident is Disneyland, drawing millions of visitors to the city each year. In an area once dominated by citrus and walnut groves, the city of Anaheim is one of the most popular tourist and convention centers in the United States.

Overall rankings for select categories:

• Women professionals #169
• Educational attainment #78
• Breast cancer #114
• Divorce rate #64

San Diego, located on a beautiful bay that shares the same name, is the second-largest city in California. The city features an easily navigable central area, a scenic bay, 42 miles of beaches and plentiful parks and museums. Portuguese navigator Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo claimed the bay for Spain in 1542. In 1769, Franciscan father Junipero Serra established the first California mission, San Diego del Alcala, which today makes for a beautiful day trip. In 1822, Mexico won control of San Diego after it declared its independence from Spain. The city was taken by the United States in 1846 during the Mexican War. San Diego's magnificent climate and proximity to Mexico have made tourism a significant part of the city's economy.

Overall rankings for select categories:

• Women professionals #164
• Educational attainment #31
• Breast cancer #125
• Divorce rate #107

Over 430,000 people inhabit this scenic harbor town on San Pedro Bay, which serves as a year-round resort noted for its long, wide beaches and active marina. Long Beach has grown rapidly as a result of the high-tech and aerospace industries in the surrounding area. Points of interest include an aquarium, the now anchored ocean liner Queen Mary and a historic adobe ranch house, built in 1844, which is now a museum. Four artificial oil islands sit in the harbor and still produce a steady flow.

Overall rankings for select categories:

• Women professionals #188
• Educational attainment #102
• Breast cancer #162
• Divorce rate #71

Located in the fertile Santa Ana valley of Southern California, this suburb of Los Angeles began as a farm trade and processing center for the surrounding region and was connected to Los Angeles in 1878 by the Southern Pacific Railroad. Santa Ana has a world-renowned museum that displays early Native American and Spanish artifacts.

Overall rankings for select categories:

• Women professionals #141
• Educational attainment #172
• Breast cancer #112
• Divorce rate #5

San Jose, the third-largest city in California is located in the Santa Clara Valley, 50 miles south of downtown San Francisco. Founded in 1777 by Spanish colonizers, it was named Pueblo de San Jose de Guadalupe in honor of Saint Joseph and after the Guadalupe River on which the pueblo town was situated. San Jose was the first city to be established in California. After California became a U.S. territory in 1847, San Jose was the state capital from 1849 to 1852 and developed commercially as a supply base for gold. Today, in addition to being home to more than 50 wineries throughout the valley, San Jose is the capital of Silicon Valley, the international center of high technology. Over the last 20 years, San Jose has stepped up the competition with area rival San Francisco at a frantic pace, building new museums, civic centers, lush open-air parks and bringing the city's first major professional sports team, the San Jose Sharks National Hockey team.

Overall rankings for select categories:

• Women professionals #198
• Educational attainment #44
• Breast cancer #97
• Divorce rate #62