Rankin Ranch

Historical marker location:

5723 County Road 483, Walker Basin, California

( Marker is at the intersection of Caliente-Bodfish Road (County Road 483) and Walker Basin Road, on the left when traveling south on Caliente-Bodfish Road.)

Marker installed: 2013

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.