Wanderlust World Wanderlust World
* California was sparsely populated with a small Indigenous population.
* The main sources of wealth were agriculture, ranching, and fishing.
* The population was largely dispersed, with small settlements and towns scattered throughout the state.
* California's economy was slow-paced and not diversified.
* There was little interest in the region from outside the United States.
After the discovery of gold:
* California experienced a massive influx of people, known as the "Gold Rush."
* California's population exploded, with San Francisco becoming the largest city west of Mississippi River.
* Cities grew rapidly and new towns and settlements sprang up quickly to support the needs of miners.
* California became a major center of economic activity, attracting a diverse group of people from around the world.
* The discovery of gold accelerated California's transition into a state, which it officially became in 1850.