Gold Rush!

At the time, California was largely rural, part of a swath of land in the West that the U.S. had gained at the end of the Mexican-American War (1846-1848). Some Mexican and Spanish settlers called it home, along with about 150,000 Indigenous people whose ancestors had lived there for thousands of years. 

But the lure of gold quickly changed that. “It opened the American West to large numbers of people much sooner than anyone expected,” says Brands.

Within months, people started arriving by boat from the nearby Oregon Territory, as well as from Mexico, Chile, and Peru. By 1849, tens of thousands of fortune seekers were pouring into California. They became known as the forty-niners. Many also came from the Eastern U.S. in covered wagons and on foot. 

Word even spread to China. The Asian nation had been plagued by war and economic hardships. About 25,000 people left there for California, which many called gam saan, or gold mountain. This marked the first wave of Asian immigration to the U.S.

At the time, California was largely rural. It was part of an area of land in the West that the U.S. had gained at the end of the Mexican-American War (1846-1848). Some Mexican and Spanish settlers called it home. So did about 150,000 Indigenous people whose ancestors had lived there for thousands of years.

But the appeal of gold quickly changed that. “It opened the American West to large numbers of people much sooner than anyone expected,” says Brands.

Within months, people started arriving by boat from the nearby Oregon Territory. People also arrived from Mexico, Chile, and Peru. By 1849, tens of thousands of fortune seekers were pouring into California. They became known as the forty-niners. Many also came from the Eastern U.S. in covered wagons and on foot.

Word even spread to China. The Asian nation had been plagued by war and economic hardships. About 25,000 people left there for California. Many of them called California gam saan, or gold mountain. This flow of people marked the first wave of Asian immigration to the U.S.

By 1855, the Gold Rush was nearly over. But San Francisco, Sacramento, and other new cities continued to thrive. 

The rapid increase in population paved the way for California to gain statehood in 1850, just two years after becoming U.S. land. (New Mexico and Arizona, which had been acquired at the same time, did not become states until 1912.)

“California’s entry into the United States was a key factor in the growing economic power of the nation,” says Gold Rush expert James Delgado. 

This period fueled the growth of roads and bridges, and eventually the development of the transcontinental railroad between 1863 and 1869. Many Chinese immigrants who came for gold helped build the railroad. 

Today California is the nation’s most populous state—and one of the most diverse. Gold Rush immigrants “changed the face of California and of the larger country,” says Brands. “Their influence is felt today.” 

By 1855, the Gold Rush was nearly over. But San Francisco, Sacramento, and other new cities continued to thrive.

The rapid increase in population paved the way for California to gain statehood in 1850. That was just two years after becoming U.S. land. (New Mexico and Arizona, which had been acquired at the same time, did not become states until 1912.)

“California’s entry into the United States was a key factor in the growing economic power of the nation,” says Gold Rush expert James Delgado.

This period fueled the growth of roads and bridges. Eventually, it led to the development of the transcontinental railroad between 1863 and 1869. Many Chinese immigrants who came for gold helped build the railroad.

Today California is the nation’s most populous state. It also is one of the most diverse. Gold Rush immigrants “changed the face of California and of the larger country,” says Brands. “Their influence is felt today.”