This chapter presents the sedimentary story of the California Continental Borderland. We describe the form of the borderland, examine its dimensions and context, review its geologic history, and examine the sources of sedimentary materials. We then review the oceanographic, climatic, and bathymetric factors controlling the distribution and accumulation of particulates in the depositional centers. We conclude by summarizing a set of basin models and point out some possible ancient analogs. As we proceed, major research questions are noted.