The name Greenwood not only identified the town site, but the vast valley to the west was known as Greenwood Valley. This area quickly became the Greenwood Mining District and once extended to the North Fork of the American River. In the years to come the Greenwood Mining District was developed into one of the richest gold producing regions in California. And while industrialized mining in this area lasted strongly into the 20th century, during the early days of the Gold Rush people remained transient when mining was any man's game, and anyone could stake a claim.