Sacramento became a city thanks to the efforts of John Sutter, who built Sutter’s Fort which offered protection. The other person was John Marshall who discovered the gold at Sutter’s Mill in Coloma in 1848. The gold rush spurred the commercial growth of the city and were nick named the 49ers. Sacramento became a transportation hub, with the First Transcontinal Railroad, riverboats, wagon trains, stagecoaches, and the Pony Express.

In 1850 California received its statehood. The capitol had previously been in San Jose, Vallejo, and Benicia. In 1854 Governor John Bigler moved the capitol to Sacramento. Sacramento became the first city California in 1850.