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John Sutter and James Marshall Make Plans
John Sutter and James Marshall make plans to build a sawmill on the American River. -
James Marshall Discovers Gold
James Marshall (along with a lesser known Peter L. Wimmer) discovers gold at Sutter's new sawmill. -
Mexican-American War Ends
The United States and Mexico sign the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, bringing a formal end to the war. In the treaty, it states that California will be given to the U.S. people living in the territory. -
First Chinese Workers Come
The brig "Eagle" brings the first Chinese workers to San Francisco, California. -
"The Californian" Reports Gold
"The Californian" reports gold is being found at Sutter's sawmill in adequate quantities; however, most people in San Francisco have their doubts. -
News Reaches Hawaiian Islands
News of the gold in California reaches the Hawaiian Islands, offshore to the west of California. Exact date unknown. -
News Reaches Oregon Country
News of the gold in California reaches Oregon, north of California. Migrants from Oregon began moving south towards California. Exact date unknown -
News Reaches Chile
News of the gold in California reaches Chile. Not many Chileans are interested until the schooner "Adelaide" arrived from California on September 12 with gold dust worth 2,500 dollars. -
The "New York Herald" Prints Item
The "New York Herald" prints an item about the discovery of gold in California. -
Mexican Migrants Arrive in California
Mexican migrants begin to arrive in California to search for gold. Exact date unknown. -
$500,000 in Gold Bound for US Mint
A ship carrying 500,000 dollars worth of gold is bound for the U.S. Mint, departing from San Francisco. -
President James K. Polk Confirms Gold
In President James K. Polk's State of the Union Address, he confirms the accounts of gold in California. -
News Reaches Australia
News reaches Australia about the gold in California after reprints of Hawaii's newspapers about the gold . -
End of 1848
By the end of 1848, approximately 5,000 people were mining for gold in California; the entire non-native population of California is approximately 20,000. Exact date unknown. -
Citizen of San Francisco Agree on Government
At a meeting, the citizens of San Francisco agree to elect delegates to a convention to form a government for Upper California. -
The California Constitutional Convention Begins
The California Constitutional Convention begins at Colton Hall in Monterey, California. 48 delegates draft the first state constitution. -
California Approves Constitution
Californian voters approve the Constitution of the State of California. -
End of 1849
The population of California is approximately 100,000 people at the end of 1849. About 35,000 of those came by sea, 3000 of those were sailors who deserted ships, and 42,000 of those came over land. There are approximately 40,000 miners in California; the entire non-native population is approximately 100,000. -
California Admitted Into the Union
California is admitted into the Union as the 31st state. -
End of 1850
Approximately 50,000 miners are in California by the end of 1850. -
End of 1852
The entire non-native population of California is approximately 220,000 people. -
End of 1857
By the end of 1857, the gold industry in California is stable at approximately 45 million dollars per year. This may have been due to the rise of river, quartz mining, and hydraulic mining techniques.
