1846- California is sparsely populated
Jan 24, 1848- Marshall discovers gold in the American River, near Sacramento
Mar 15, 1848- The California Star newspaper reports on the discovery of gold
Aug 19, 1848- The New York Herald newspaper reports on the gold, becoming the first paper on the East Coast to to so
Dec 5, 1848- President James Polk confirms the discovery of gold
Apr 1849- 30,000 Gold Rushers wait for the prairie to harden in Missouri so they can go to California
Sep 1849- California requests statehood
1850- San Franciscos population totals 30,000, up from 1,000 before the Gold Rush
Jan 24, 1848- Marshall discovers gold in the American River, near Sacramento
Mar 15, 1848- The California Star newspaper reports on the discovery of gold
Aug 19, 1848- The New York Herald newspaper reports on the gold, becoming the first paper on the East Coast to to so
Dec 5, 1848- President James Polk confirms the discovery of gold
Apr 1849- 30,000 Gold Rushers wait for the prairie to harden in Missouri so they can go to California
Sep 1849- California requests statehood
1850- San Franciscos population totals 30,000, up from 1,000 before the Gold Rush
![Picture](/uploads/5/2/1/3/52132025/2237084.gif?250)
The population map to the left shows the concentration of Gold Rushers in California. San Francisco had a population of under 1,000 before the Gold Rush. One year later, that population had increased to over 30,000.
This map shows the route that the Gold Rushers travelled to get to California. The trip was very difficult and they had to wait for the prairie to dry in Missouri before they could even make the trip.