Abandoned Mining Settlement

The Abandoned Mining Settlement in the hills of Hidden Creek was the origin point for the modern day town. Now abandoned, parts of the settlement are a hiking point for locals and tourists although most of the town and mines are closed off to the public for safety reasons.

History
San Francisco had been a tiny settlement before the rush began. When residents learned about the discovery, it at first became a ghost town of abandoned ships and businesses, but then boomed as merchants and new people arrived. The population of San Francisco exploded from perhaps about 1,000 in 1848 to 25,000 full-time residents by 1850. Miners lived in tents, wood shanties, or deck cabins removed from abandoned ships. Wherever gold was discovered, hundreds of miners would collaborate to put up a camp and stake their claims. With names like Rough and Ready and Hangtown (Placerville, California), each camp often had its own saloon and gambling house.

The Settlement, Present Day
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