America's big cities are becoming increasingly diverse – and California's urban centers are leading the way.

The state was home to seven of the country's 10 most diverse big cities in 2018, according to a U.S. News analysis of recent census data. Those cities span the state, and include Stockton, Sacramento, Fresno, Oakland, San Jose, Long Beach and Los Angeles.

The diversity of California's cities mirrors the demographics of the state, which is home to large immigrant enclaves from more than 60 countries, and where no one racial or ethnic group makes up a majority of the population. Yet California's urban areas – which contain 94% of the state's population and each with their own unique challenges – are worth a closer look as the rest of the country edges toward "majority-minority" status and more people identify as multiracial.