California is an inner-suburb of Derby to the south west of the city in between the A516 (Uttoxeter New Road) and A5250 (Burton Road). Though the name frequently appears on ordnance survey maps, it is seldom used amongst locals who prefer to refer to the area as 'Stocky' (short for Stockbrook Park which is situated here). The area is home to Bemrose Community School and some of the Halls of Residence for the University of Derby. There are two playing fields nearby; Stockbrook Park and Rykneld Recreation Ground ('the Rec'). Many of the houses in the area are red-brick terraces and there are many pubs nearby including the Great Northern, Junction Tavern, The Rowditch and The Bedford Arms. Towards the south of the area is neighbouring Rowditch which is home to a large student population. Whilst many of the nearby inner-suburbs of Derby including the West End and Morley Estate have undergone recent gentrification, California has largely retained its traditional character.
