The California Republic is a republic of the Pacific coast of North America, consisting of the peninsula named Baja California and as far up the Pacific coast as Mount Shasta. The country is officially bilingual and boasts a multicultural population of Hispanic, Caucasian and Asian people. Founded by Spanish settlers, California was part of Mexico until the mid-19th century until a growing independence movement, fostered by American and Asian settlers who had been attracted by the Gold Rush, achieved its independence from Mexico in 1859. California's population is approximately 30% Caucasian and 10% Asian in addition to the Hispanic/Latino majority.