While most people think of California when the words “Gold Rush” are uttered, Georgia had it’s very own rush back in the day. In fact, Georgia was one of the first places in the United States to have a gold rush. With over a million dollars in gold reported by the Philadelphia Mint, see for yourself was life was like in Georgia during the 1800s.

The prospects of gold throughout the United States were of utmost importance for many prospectors who eventually ended up heading west to California.

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However, what many people forget is that Georgia was home to its very own Gold Rush back before the prospect of California was even on the radar.

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The Georgia Gold Rush was the second most significant gold rush in the United States, taking a back seat to North Carolina.

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Beginning in the 1820s near Dahlonega, there were reports of gold in the North Georgia mountains.

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Gold was officially discovered in 1830, which caused an abundance of mining operations to spring up here and there, causing some serious problems for the land itself.

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While gold was being mined at nearly every stream in northern Georgia, significant damage was done due to the hydraulic mining techniques in the 1920s.

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Despite the reports that over $1m in gold were received by the Philadelphia Mint from 1830-1837, mining came to an abrupt halt at the beginning of the Civil War.

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Visitors to Georgia today can visit the beautiful city of Dahlonega to learn more about the history of the gold rush throughout the state.

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Have you learned about the history of the Georgia Gold Rush before? Share with us your thoughts in the comments section! Also, if you want to immerse yourself is a gold rush experience, check out where you can actually dig for gold in Georgia.

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Flickr Neal Wellons

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