California is the birthplace of Levis jeans. In 1848, California became a U.S. territory. That same year California's destiny was shaped by the discovery of gold along the Sacramento River, and the rush was on. Prospectors, speculators, and settlers all descended on California. Statehood soon followed in 1850. The rush never really ended. In the 20th century, the "Golden State" has been a land of promise for newcomers of every stripe.