In 1845, California was a sparsely populated, remote, colonial outpost. Not counting the 100,000 unassimilated Indians who continued to live independently, Californias population of 17,900 (10,000 assimilated Indians, 7,000 Spanish/Mexican descen dants, 700 Americans, and 200 Europeans) was largely clustered along the coast from San Diego to Sonoma.1 Monterey and Los Angeles were its cultural centers, while San Francisco, then known as Yerba Buena, was only a small hamlet of a few hundred people. On the eve of the Gold Rush, the missions had been secularized and decaying for more than a decade. Most economic activity was organized around the ranchos, large cattle ranches that produced hides and tallow, the two leading commodities that connected California with the outside world. Along with soap making, the processing of hides and tallow were the only activities that might be described as in dustrial. The hides, minimally dressed and processed, were sold to foreign mer chants. Cattle brought from $4 to $6 per head, reflecting the value of their hides and fat.2 Ample supply and very limited demand made the meat almost worthless. The export of hides, tallow, and small quantities of wheat, soap, lumber, and gold financed imports. Imported products and local crafts provided Californians with a simple but comfortable life.

The Gold Rush and the Beginnings of California Industry

The Charleston: An Industrial Milestone

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The Charleston: An Industrial Milestone