View source for Keyesville, California

{{Short description|Unincorporated community in California, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}

{{Infobox settlement
<!--See the Table at Infobox Settlement for all fields and descriptions of usage-->
<!-- Basic info  ---------------->
|name          = Keyesville
|other_name             =
|native_name            =  
|nickname               = 
|settlement_type        =[[Unincorporated area|Unincorporated community]]
|image_skyline          = 
|imagesize              = 
|image_caption          = 
|pushpin_map            =California
|pushpin_label_position =bottom
|pushpin_mapsize        =
|pushpin_map_caption    =Location in California
<!-- Location ------------------>
|subdivision_type       = Country
|subdivision_name       =[[United States]] 
|subdivision_type1      = State
|subdivision_name1      = [[California]]
|subdivision_type2      =County
|subdivision_name2      = [[Kern County, California|Kern County]]
|subdivision_type3      =
|subdivision_name3      = 
|<!-- Politics ----------------->
|established_title      =  <!-- Settled -->
|established_date       = 1854
|coordinates            = {{coord|35|37|33|N|118|30|39|W|region:US-CA|display=inline,title}}
|elevation_footnotes    =  <ref name=gnis>{{gnis|1660837}}</ref>
|elevation_m            =868 
|elevation_ft           =2848
|footnotes              = {{Designation list|embed=yes|designation1=California|designation1_number=98}}
}}
'''Keyesville''' (formerly, '''Keysville'''<ref name=gnis /> and '''Hogeye'''<ref name=CGN>{{California's Geographic Names|1056}}</ref>) is an [[unincorporated area|unincorporated community]] in [[Kern County, California|Kern County]], [[California]].<ref name=gnis /> It is located {{Convert|2|miles|}} west of [[Lake Isabella, California|Lake Isabella]] and the [[Kern River Valley]], at an elevation of {{Convert|2848|feet|}}.<ref name=gnis /> Keyesville, founded in 1854 is named for Richard M. Keyes, whose discovery of gold in 1853 started the [[Kern River Gold Rush]].<ref name=gnis /> The Keyesville Townsite has been privately owned since the late 1800s and is currently encircled by BLM land [[Bureau of Land Management]].

==History==
Gold was discovered here in 1853 and the town became a gold hub of Southern California. Still located on the site are the original Post Office, Gold Assayer's office, Mercantile Building, Blacksmith Shop, and one of the brothels. Among the more famous visitors to Keyesville was Grizzly Adams and the "Shootin' Walkers", a family of gunslingers who took up residence here and built the Walker Cabin just outside of the Keyesville townsite, which still stands today. A petition to the commander of [[Visalia, California#History|Camp Babbitt]] about the depredations of the local Native Americans led to the [[Keyesville Massacre]] nearby on 19 April 1863. The townsite is registered as [[California Historical Landmark]] #98.<ref name=CHL>{{cite ohp|98|Keyesville|2012-10-07}}</ref>

==Natural history==
Keyesville lies in the lower elevation [[Greenhorn Mountains]]. There are scattered trees and brushy [[chaparral]] slopes surrounding it.<ref>William B. Secrest. 2004. ''California feuds: vengeance, vendettas & violence on the Old West coast'', page 172 of 336 pages</ref> A number of [[wildflower]]s are in evidence in this part of the Greenhorn Mountains, including the yellow mariposa lily, ''[[Calochortus luteus]]'', which species is at the southern limit of its range within the Greenhorn Mountains.<ref>C. Michael Hogan. 2009. [http://www.globaltwitcher.com/artspec_information.asp?thingid=97686 ''Yellow Mariposa Lily: Calochortus luteus'', GlobalTwitcher.com, ed. N. Stromberg] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111004094242/http://www.globaltwitcher.com/artspec_information.asp?thingid=97686 |date=2011-10-04 }}</ref>

==California Historical Landmark==
The California Historical Landmark reads: 
:''NO. 98 KEYSVILLE - From 1853 until 1870, Keysville was a center of both placer and quartz gold mining. On the knoll just below the townsite may still be seen the outlines of an earthworks fort, built to meet a possible Indian attack in 1863.''<ref>[https://www.californiahistoricallandmarks.com/landmarks/chl-98 californiahistoricallandmarks.com Landmark chl-98]</ref><ref>[https://ohp.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=21423 Cal California parks Historical Landmarks]</ref>

==See also==
* [[California Historical Landmarks in Kern County]]
*[[California Historical Landmark]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://www.blm.gov/visit/keysville-special-recreation-management-area Keysville Special Recreation Management Area] - [[Bureau of Land Management]]

{{Kern County, California}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Unincorporated communities in Kern County, California]]
[[Category:Greenhorn Mountains]]
[[Category:Kern River Valley]]
[[Category:California Historical Landmarks]]
[[Category:Populated places in the Sierra Nevada (United States)]]
[[Category:Unincorporated communities in California]]


{{KernCountyCA-geo-stub}}