Was there gold in them there hills? Yes.
Long before San Diego became known for its beaches, research labs, and urban growth, the mountains to the east briefly thrived with the promise of gold. California’s statewide Gold Rush began in 1848, but San Diego County’s own rush arrived two decades later, sparked by a discovery that reshaped the backcountry almost overnight.
In late 1869, Fred (A. E.) Coleman, a formerly enslaved cattleman working in the region, found placer gold in a creek near what is now Julian. When Coleman shared his find, prospectors quickly descended on the area, kicking off what is often referred to as the Julian–Banner gold rush. By early 1870, mining camps were forming so quickly that entire settlements appeared, peaked, and declined within months.
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