What was the significance of the gold rush?

The gold rush brought together tremendous numbers of American citizens and immigrants from around the world to California, which was not a very important state before the gold rush. The growing population opened up many opportunities in economism. Manufacturing, trading, merchant businesses, agriculture, entertainment market, and financial institutions flourished, all because of the gold rush. San Francisco especially gained much of the benefits of the gold rush, for it evolved from a tired, small village to a economically successful, busy city. The gold rush also brought diversity to California. Europeans, Asians, Mexicans, and free black slaves all clashed in this one state, each person bringing their own cultures and beliefs. Without the gold rush, California wouldn't be the stable, diverse, strong, and famous state it is today.