Final answer:
Between 10,000 to 15,000 people of various ethnic backgrounds lived in California in 1846.
Step-by-step explanation:
The number of Americans living in California in 1846, before the gold rush, is uncertain. The region was sparsely populated at the time, with estimates of somewhere between 10,000 to 15,000 people of various ethnic backgrounds residing in California. This included Americans who had moved to California in search of better opportunities, as well as Native Americans, Mexicans, and immigrants from other countries.
Learn more about American population in California before the gold rush