Samuel Neal

Historical marker location:

1727 Oroville-Chico Hwy, Durham, California

( Marker can be reached from Oroville-Chico Hwy.)

Marker installed: 1996

1816 1859.

The California Gold Rush of 1849 brought a huge influx of people to the state. In just two years, the population of San Francisco grew from 1,000 to 25,000. However, only a small percentage of gold-seekers actually struck it rich, and many ended up in debt or poverty.