Which of the following states is associated with the early Spanish missions in the U.S.?

The early Spanish missions in the United States are most closely associated with California. Starting in the late 18th century, Spanish missionaries, particularly those from the Franciscan order, established a series of missions along the California coast. These missions were built primarily to convert Native Americans to Christianity and to expand Spanish territorial claims in North America. The most famous of these is Mission San Diego de Alcalá, established in 1769, which was the first of the 21 California missions. Other significant missions include Mission San Juan Capistrano and Mission Santa Barbara, which played crucial roles in the spread of Christianity and European culture among indigenous populations.

Although Texas also had Spanish missions, particularly in areas like San Antonio, California's mission system was more extensive and heavily emphasized the cultural and agricultural development of the region. The missions in California had a lasting impact on the state's culture, architecture, and economy, distinguishing them in the context of Spanish influence in North America.