1. On September 22, 1885, the first gas lamp was lit in Pasadena. This event marked the beginning of the city's electrification, which would lead to its development into a booming metropolis.

2. September 22, 1927, saw the opening of the southern terminus of the Ridge Route in Castaic, California. This highway, which linked Los Angeles with the San Joaquin Valley, was a crucial transportation route until it was replaced by the Golden State Freeway.

3. In 1976, on this day, California Governor Jerry Brown signed a bill authorizing the establishment of the California Conservation Corps. This organization, which trains young people in conservation and natural resource management, has helped restore California's ecology and protect its natural heritage.

4. September 22, 1987, was the day that the Loma Prieta earthquake struck the San Francisco Bay Area. This earthquake, which measured 6.9 on the Richter scale, caused widespread damage and killed 63 people.

5. On September 22, 2004, the California State Assembly passed a law banning the use of cell phones while driving without a hands-free device. This law, which aimed to reduce accidents caused by distracted driving, was one of the first of its kind in the United States.