California Gold Rush and Western Mining Booms (1848–1880)

1. Gold discovered at Sutter’s Mill, Coloma

   Jan 24, 1848Labels: James W, Sutter's Mill

   • Library Congress
   • Britannica

2. Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo signed

   Feb 2, 1848Labels: Treaty of, United States

   • National Archives
   • Britannica

3. Mass migration of “Forty-Niners” begins

   Jan 1, 1849Labels: Forty-Niners, San Francisco

   • Britannica
   • Britannica US

4. California constitutional convention convenes at Monterey

   Sep 1, 1849Labels: California Constitutional, Colton Hall

   • CA SOS Archives

5. Delegates sign California Constitution

   Oct 13, 1849Labels: California Constitution, Convention Delegates

   • CA SOS Archives

6. Foreign Miners’ Tax Act imposes $20 monthly fee

   Jan 1, 1850Labels: Foreign Miners', California legislature

   • Foreign Miners Tax

7. California enacts Act for the Government and Protection of Indians

   Apr 22, 1850Labels: Act for

   • CA Legislature
   • Act Overview

8. California admits as the 31st U.S. state

   Sep 9, 1850Labels: California Statehood, Millard Fillmore

   • US House History

9. Foreign Miners’ License Tax reinstates lower monthly tax

   Jan 1, 1852Labels: Foreign Miners', California law

   • Foreign Miners Tax

10. Hydraulic mining first used near Nevada City

    Jan 1, 1853Labels: Hydraulic Mining, Edward Matteson

    • Hydraulic Mining

11. California Supreme Court issues People v. Hall decision

    Jan 1, 1854Labels: People v, California Supreme

    • People v Hall

12. Post office established at North Bloomfield (Humbug)

    Jun 1, 1857Labels: North Bloomfield, Humbug Post

    • North Bloomfield

13. Comstock Lode discovery ignites Nevada silver rush

    Jun 1, 1859Labels: Comstock Lode, Nevada Silver

    • BLM
    • Comstock Lode

14. North Bloomfield Mining and Gravel Company established

    Jan 1, 1866Labels: North Bloomfield, San Francisco

    • NBGMC
    • Sierra Gold Parks

15. Malakoff drainage tunnel completed for hydraulic debris disposal

    Nov 15, 1874Labels: Malakoff Drainage, Malakoff Diggins

    • Malakoff com

16. Sawyer Decision restricts hydraulic mining debris

    Jan 7, 1884Labels: Sawyer Decision, Woodruff v

    • Malakoff Park
    • Woodruff v NBGMC