How many prospectors immigrated up to British Columbia during the gold rush?

• A. 20,000
• B. 1,000
• C. 5,000
• D. 450 originally came to Victoria in 1858

Answer: (D)

The main idea here is recognizing how the BC gold rush began with a very small initial influx of people. When news of gold reached the area, about 450 prospectors were the first to sail to Victoria in 1858 to stake claims and establish the flow of claim seekers. This figure represents the starting point of immigration for the gold rush, before much larger crowds arrived as the fever spread and more discoveries were made.

So, while thousands and even tens of thousands would come to various gold fields in the following years, the earliest, specific count tied to the onset of the rush in British Columbia is the roughly 450 who first arrived in Victoria in 1858. The other numbers listed aren’t the initial wave, which is why they aren’t the best fit for this particular question.