Before it became California the area was known as Cooks Close and was part of the grounds of the 14th century Grey Friars monastery.

[citation needed] In 1867, printing and publishing firm, Hazell, Watson and Viney, opened an inkworks in a disused silk mill in California.

In 1878, this was moved to purpose built premises on the Tring Road (opposite the current site of Tesco), which closed in 1952.

[citation needed] In 1924, the Bishop of Oxford transferred lands owned in California into the hands of the Municipal Borough of Aylesbury, which in 1929 was partially used in the construction of a new church and parsonage house, which is currently located on Penn Road.

As of November 2006 the building work has nearly finished and it is likely that the hamlet will be forgotten as it has been completely swamped by Aylesbury's development.