<Tr> <Th> Government </Th> <Td> County government </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Subdivisions </Th> <Td> Communities, Charter city </Td> </Tr> <P> The state of California is divided into 58 counties . The region was first divided into twenty - seven counties on February 18, 1850 . These were further sub-divided to form sixteen additional counties by 1860 . Another fourteen were counties formed through further sub-division from 1861 to 1893 . The last, Imperial County, was formed in 1907 . California is home to San Bernardino County, the largest county in the contiguous United States, as well as Los Angeles County, the most populous county in the United States . </P> <P> More counties in California are named for saints than in any other state . </P>

How many counties in the state of california