California Gold Rush 1849 By ryanl14 Jan 24, 1848 Discovery of Gold at Sutter's MIll Dec 5, 1848 Disocvery of Gold Confirmed by President Polk Jan 1, 1850 San Francisco Population Over 30,000 Apr 1, 1850 Foreign Miners Tax Established Sep 9, 1850 California Becomes a State Jan 1, 1852 Miner's Earnings Decrease, Signalling the Decline of the Gold Rush