Final answer:
The statement 'Mexicans and other people living in the California region did NOT know about the existence of gold in the area prior to 1848' is False.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement in question is False. Mexicans and indigenous people living in the California region were aware of the presence of gold even before 1848. Gold had been mined in small quantities by indigenous groups for centuries. Additionally, Spanish explorers in the 18th century had also reported finding gold in the region. However, it was the discovery of gold at Sutter's Mill in 1848 that sparked the California Gold Rush and brought widespread attention to the presence of gold in California.
Learn more about California Gold Rush