Forty-Niners

The Forty-Niners were a group of prospectors and settlers who arrived in California during the late 1840s, mainly around 1849, in pursuit of gold during the California Gold Rush. Their arrival marked a significant influx of people seeking wealth, which rapidly transformed California's economy and population. The movement was driven by the discovery of gold at Sutter's Mill in 1848, prompting many to migrate westward. The Forty-Niners played a key role in establishing towns and infrastructure, shaping California into a burgeoning state. Their efforts symbolize the early American pursuit of opportunity and economic growth through exploration and resource exploitation.