Forty thousand people arrived by ship at the San Francisco harbor in 1849—only 700 were women. By 1850, only 8 percent of the (non-indigenous) population in California were female. What made the few and brave venture westward? Something that they might not have had at home: independence, a chance to forge their own identities, and opportunities for new ventures. With so few women in the mining towns, men had a hard time managing the tasks and necessities of daily life that they were not accustomed to handling—sewing, cooking, washing, and cleaning. Now, domestic tasks that were typically a woman's domain (for no pay), were in great demand and profitable—often very profitable. Savvy women quickly assessed the situation and provided their services, many of them becoming successful business women. The Gold Rush years had a notable number of women-owned businesses such as cooking and laundry establishments, hotels, saloons, and brothels. Women also became newspaper editors, book sellers, and entertainers. One form of entertainment was prostitution, and these ladies of the evening fared very well financially—some were reported to earn $200-$500 a night! (To put this in perspective- women could generally earn 50 cents to $1 per week offering domestic help in eastern states.) The miners would pay handsomely--in gold of course--for the company of a woman. One famous courtesan charged an ounce of gold for men to just sit next to her! Yes, opportunities were plentiful and enterprising women made the most of them. Head to our stories for a closer look at some of the famous women of the California Gold Rush!