| Kelsey | |
| Settlement Type: | Unincorporated community |
| Pushpin Map: | California#USA |
| Pushpin Label Position: | bottom |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location in California |
| Pushpin Image: | California Locator Map with US.PNG |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Type1: | State |
| Subdivision Name1: | California |
| Subdivision Type2: | County |
| Subdivision Name2: | El Dorado County |
| Coordinates: | 38.7989°N -120.8208°W |
| Elevation M: | 586 |
| Elevation Ft: | 1923 |
| Population As Of: | 2010 |
| Population Total: | 473 |
Kelsey (formerly, Kelsey's Diggings) is an unincorporated community in El Dorado County, California. It is located 2miles north of Chili Bar, at an elevation of 1923 feet (586 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.[1]
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.[2]
The Black Oak Mine Unified School District serves Garden Valley.[3]
The Köppen Climate Classification subtype for this climate is "Csa"(Mediterranean Climate).[4]