Californio settlers
Californios are the descendants of the Spanish and Mexican settlers of Alta California, who colonized present-day California from the 18th to 19th centuries. The present-day American state of California was once part of New Spain and Mexico, and most of Alta California's earliest settlers were mestizo agricultural settlers and retired soldiers of mixed Iberian and Native American heritage (while others were of African and indigenous backgrounds); most of the criollo minority of Alta California were either Franciscan priests or army and government officials. Several English, American, and French immigrants settled in California after becoming Mexican citizens, gaining land either through marriage or by independent land grants. By 1845, there were 10,000 Californio settlers in Alta California. In 1846, the start of the Mexican-American War led to Anglo-American settlers in California, fearful of retaliation from the Californio authorities, launching the Bear Flag Revolt against the Mexican government. Several Californios fought on both sides of the conflict, and, after the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo and the Mexican Cession, many leading Californios, such as Pio Pico, continued to prosper under US rule. Many Californios lost their lands as the result of the Gold Rush of 1849-1855, and most Californio communities voluntarily segregated themselves from Anglo communities and intermarried with later Mexican immigrants. By 2004, around 300,000-500,000 Californians claimed descent from the original Californio settlers.