Kelseyville, California

Kelseyville, California
CDP
Downtown Kelseyville
Location within Lake County and the state of California
Coordinates: 38°58′41″N 122°50′22″W
Country	United States
State	California
County	Lake
Area
• Total	2.891 sq mi (7.487 km2)
• Land	2.885 sq mi (7.472 km2)
• Water	0.006 sq mi (0.015 km2)  0.20%
Elevation	1,384 ft (422 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	3,382
• Density	1,200/sq mi (450/km2)
Time zone	UTC-8 (Pacific (PST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-7 (PDT)
ZIP code	95451
Area code	707
FIPS code	06-38044
GNIS feature ID	0277532

Kelseyville is a census-designated place (CDP) in Lake County, California, United States. Kelseyville is located six miles (9.7 kilometers) southeast of Lakeport, at an elevation of 1,384 feet (422 meters). The population was 3,353 at the 2010 census, up from 2,928 at the 2000 census.

History

The area has been formerly designated by European-American settlers Kelsey, Kelsey Creek, Kelsey Town, Peartown, and Uncle Sam. The "Kelsey" variations came from Andrew Kelsey, the first white settler in Lake County. Kelsey was killed in 1850 in an uprising against him by a band of native Pomo people whom he had enslaved. This episode ended with the Bloody Island Massacre. The place was called Uncle Sam after Mount Uncle Sam, the name settlers gave to Mt. Konocti. The Uncle Sam post office opened in 1858 and changed its name to Kelseyville in 1882.

As of early 2024, a process is moving forward to change the name of the unincorporated town (CDP) to Konocti. The process started in 2020 and is expected to be resolved by late 2024.

In the centuries before Europeans arrived, the Eastern Pomo and Clear Lake Wappo people lived along the shores of Clear Lake. In addition to the plentiful fish caught in the lake and streams, they hunted waterfowl and gathered berries, seeds, clover and acorn. The Pomo and Wappo built homes and canoes of tule reeds found at the lakeshore.

Charles Stone and Andrew Kelsey were reportedly the first Anglo-American colonists in the region arriving in the fall of 1847 to graze cattle and horses purchased from Californio landholder Salvador Vallejo. Stone and Kelsey enslaved the Pomo and Wappo people, forcing them to work under threat of torture and death. Many native people died of starvation and neglect. Stone and Kelsey were also known to rape native women and girls. Kelseyville became the first white settlement in Lake County. The first blacksmith shop was opened by a blacksmith named Benham in 1857. It was not until 1864 that a second business was opened, a store owned by T. F. Fall. That same year, another general store and a boarding house was opened by Rosenbreau and Pace.

Geography

Kelsey Creek runs through the town and ends in Clear Lake. The Kelseyville zip code also encompasses the Big Valley, Soda Bay, Riviera Heights, Buckingham, Glenview, Glenbrook, Riviera West and Kelseyville Riviera neighborhoods. The community also encompasses Clear Lake State Park and Mount Konocti County Park.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 2.9 square miles (7.5 square kilometers), with over 99 percent of it being land.

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
2000	2,928		—
2010	3,349		14.4%
2020	3,382		1.0%
U.S. Decennial Census

2010

The 2010 United States Census reported that Kelseyville had a population of 3,353. The population density was 1,159.9 inhabitants per square mile (447.8/km²). The racial makeup of Kelseyville was 2,213 (66.0%) White, 22 (0.7%) African American, 51 (1.5%) Native American, 32 (1.0%) Asian, 2 (0.1%) Pacific Islander, 888 (26.5%) from other races, and 145 (4.3%) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1,337 persons (39.9%).

The Census reported that 3,349 people (99.9% of the population) lived in households, 4 (0.1%) lived in non-institutionalized group quarters, and 0 (0%) were institutionalized.

There were 1,224 households, out of which 438 (35.8%) had children under the age of 18 living in them, 574 (46.9%) were opposite-sex married couples living together, 173 (14.1%) had a female householder with no husband present, 75 (6.1%) had a male householder with no wife present. There were 80 (6.5%) unmarried opposite-sex partnerships, and 13 (1.1%) same-sex married couples or partnerships. 323 households (26.4%) were made up of individuals, and 163 (13.3%) had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.74. There were 822 families (67.2% of all households); the average family size was 3.31.

The population was spread out, with 883 people (26.3%) under the age of 18, 298 people (8.9%) aged 18 to 24, 783 people (23.4%) aged 25 to 44, 912 people (27.2%) aged 45 to 64, and 477 people (14.2%) who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38.0 years. For every 100 females, there were 101.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.2 males.

There were 1,329 housing units at an average density of 459.7 per square mile (177.5/km²), of which 785 (64.1%) were owner-occupied, and 439 (35.9%) were occupied by renters. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.7%; the rental vacancy rate was 7.0%. 1,992 people (59.4% of the population) lived in owner-occupied housing units and 1,357 people (40.5%) lived in rental housing units.

2000

As of the census of 2000, there were 2,928 people, 1,095 households, and 724 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 905.5 inhabitants per square mile (349.6/km²). There were 1,175 housing units at an average density of 363.4 per square mile (140.3/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 76.98% White, 0.14% Black or African American, 2.66% Native American, 0.89% Asian, 14.58% from other races, and 4.75% from two or more races. 28.76% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 1,095 households, out of which 33.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.9% were married couples living together, 14.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.8% were non-families. 27.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.66 and the average family size was 3.24.

In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 28.4% under the age of 18, 7.5% from 18 to 24, 26.7% from 25 to 44, 20.6% from 45 to 64, and 16.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.8 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $24,363, and the median income for a family was $28,958. Males had a median income of $26,758 versus $20,036 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $15,651. About 12.8% of families and 15.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.7% of those under age 18 and 11.1% of those age 65 or over.

Economy

Kelseyville is part of the North Coast American Viticultural Area. The Kelseyville area also includes parts of the Kelsey Bench and Red Hills AVAs. Other notable crops include walnuts, pears, olives, and cannabis. The community is home to the largest producer of organic saffron in California, Peace and Plenty Farm., as well as the Konocti Harbor Resort & Spa.

Kelseyville is also home to several wineries, an olive mill, packing facilities, as well as to Stokes Ladders, an orchard and industrial ladder manufacturer. Several wine tasting rooms and a brewpub are located in downtown Kelseyville.

Since 1993, the town hosts the annual Kelseyville Pear Festival on the last Saturday in September.

Governance

In the California State Legislature, Kelseyville is in the 2nd Senate District, represented by Democrat Mike McGuire, and in the 4th Assembly District, represented by Democrat Cecilia Aguiar-Curry.

Federally, Kelseyville is in California's 4th congressional district, represented by Democrat Mike Thompson.

Landmarks

Stone and Kelsey Home

Charles Stone and Andy Kelsey built a home in the 19th century at Main St. and Bell Hill Rd. Local Native Americans were enslaved to build the home. In the fall of 1849, these native people revolted and killed Stone and Kelsey, who are buried at the former site of the home. It is designated as California Historical Landmark No. 426.

Media

The first newspaper in Kelseyville was The New Era, published in 1890. In 1901, The Kelseyville Sun was started by McEwen & McEwen. In 1912, they sold The Sun to E. E. Bryant. The Sun publication ceased in 1942.

External links

• Visit Kelseyville