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The five gold rushes in the USA were as follows: The first occurred in GEORGIA in 1829: There is recorded documentation of a North Carolina gold discovery in 1799, before 1829 in Georgia. There were earlier accounts of gold mining in Georgia between 1560 and 1690, but they were poorly documented and based on rumors passed along by Indians in the area. The 1828 gold discoveries that led to the 1829 mining in Georgia , produced gold that was almost literally lying on the ground waiting to be found. Along with the report of finding a 3 ounce nugget, stories of rather great imagination spread the news like wild fire. Soon “Gold Fever” had taken over. link to georgia-gold-rush. The second occurred in CALIFORNIA in 1849: In 1848 at Sutter’s Mill the discovery was made that started the great California rush in 1849. Mexico had just released governmental control of California to the United States, but Washington was 3,000 miles away and had little local governing influence. What quickly became known as the Mother Lode was an incredibly rich vein of gold that ran from Bear Valley north for approximately 300 miles. Over 500 mining camps, and towns, grew quickly throughout the mother lode area as news of the gold spread. Miners flocked in from the east coast of the USA, as well as from all over the world and the population of California was estimated to be as high as 300,000 during the rush. The history of that time is as rich as the gold that was recovered, and made it the most colorful of the gold rushes. A drive through the mother lode country is a favorite for tourists today. link to forty-niners. The third occurred in ALASKA in 1900: Gold was discovered on Anvil Creek in 1898, and the town of Anvil City was founded. News of the discovery reached the gold fields of the Klondike that winter. When gold was discovered on the beach sands of Anvil City in 1899, the news about the gold quickly reached the lower United States. Thousands of people poured into the area, and the population of 10,000 grew quickly. Tent cities were established along the beaches in 1900 from Cape Rodney to Cape Nome, a distance of about 30 miles. In 1901 the name was changed from Anvil City to Nome, and the city was incorporated. link to Alaska. The fourth occurred during the GREAT DEPRESSION of the 1930’s: October 29, 1929 was the day in America known forever after as Black Tuesday, the day the American stock market on wall street in New York crashed. The great depression followed, which affected cities all over the world. The depression had devastating effects in both the industrialized countries and those which exported raw materials. International trade declined sharply, as did personal incomes, tax revenues, prices and profits. Cities all around the world were hit hard, especially those dependent on heavy industry. Construction was virtually halted in many countries. Farming and rural areas suffered as crop prices fell by 40 to 60 percent. Logging areas had perhaps the most striking blow because the demand fell sharply for their product and there were few employment alternatives. Without jobs or money to feed their families, men turned to prospecting for gold. Nearly all of the gold bearing areas from the earlier gold rushes of the country became active again until the WWII years. It was much harder work than factory jobs, but it was the only source for money to survive on. link to Depression. The fifth, and last of the gold rushes, a slower moving rush, was created by RECREATIONAL PROSPECTING which started in the 1960’s: The attraction that gold has is universally known , but the thrill of finding gold must be experienced. This gold rush got going strong back in 1969 when the GPAA (Gold Prospectors Association of America) was formed. These days, there are as many as a quarter of a million recreational gold prospectors enjoying the great outdoors with their families on any given weekend throughout the USA. The gold is a natural resource that belongs to all of us. GO FIND IT . . YOU’LL LOVE IT ! link to Recreational. The gold rushes themselves are a most colorful phenomenon of USA history. Please click on this link for a look at the life cycle of the gold rushes.
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