What are some key facts about the California Gold Rush?

The California Gold Rush occurred in 1849. The discovery of gold nuggets in the Sacramento Valley in 1848 led to a mass influx of prospectors and migrants, raising the non-native population of the territory from 1,000 to approximately 100,000 people by the end of 1849.

The Gold Rush peaked in 1852, with approximately $81 million worth of gold extracted. By the time the rush ended, prospectors found and claimed over $2 billion worth of precious metals. As the population grew, mining towns popped up all over the state, while San Francisco became the hub metropolis for the state.

Due to the influx of people, California petitioned for statehood, entering the United States as a state in 1850.