Kelsey, California

{{Short description|Unincorporated community in California, United States}}

{{For|the town in Lake County formerly with this name|Kelseyville, California}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}

{{coord|38|47|56|N|120|49|15|W|display=title}}

{{Infobox settlement

|name = Kelsey

|other_name =

|native_name =

|nickname =

|settlement_type =Unincorporated community

|image_skyline =

|imagesize =

|image_caption =

|pushpin_map =California#USA

|pushpin_label_position =bottom

|pushpin_mapsize =

|pushpin_map_caption =Location in California

|pushpin_image=California Locator Map with US.PNG

|subdivision_type = Country

|subdivision_name =United States

|subdivision_type1 = State

|subdivision_name1 = California

|subdivision_type2 =County

|subdivision_name2 = El Dorado County

|subdivision_type3 =

|subdivision_name3 =

|

|established_title =

|established_date =

|coordinates = {{coord|38|47|56|N|120|49|15|W|region:US-CA|display=inline}}

|elevation_footnotes = {{gnis|262114}}

|elevation_m =586

|elevation_ft =1923

|footnotes =

|population_as_of = 2010

|population_footnotes =

|population_total = 473

}}

Kelsey (formerly Kelsey's Diggings) is an unincorporated community in El Dorado County, California. It is located {{convert|2|mi|km}} north of Chili Bar,{{California's Geographic Names|507}} at an elevation of {{Convert|1923|ft|m}}.

A post office operated at Kelsey from 1856 to 1872, from 1875 to 1903, with several moves, and from 1920. The name honors Benjamin Kelsey, who came to California in 1841 and discovered gold at the site in 1848. Kelsey at one time had 24 saloons, 12 stores, six hotels, two barber shops, and a makeshift court of justice.{{cite news |last=Smith |first=Joe |date=31 Jul 1960 |title=Solomon's record as judge was challenged by action of Plenasis |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/618037169/?terms=kelsey&match=1 |work=The Sacramento Bee |location=Sacramento, CA |access-date=26 Dec 2023}}

Kelsey was among the first settlements of the California gold rush, with the first homes built in 1849. A schoolhouse was built in 1858, and rebuilt in 1903; it remained in service until 1984.{{cite news |last=Bridge |first=Catherine |date=22 May 1994 |title=Townsfolk aim to rebuild Kelsey's past |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/626648155/?terms=kelsey&match=1 |work=The Sacramento Bee |location=Sacramento, CA |access-date=26 Dec 2023}}