Sebastopol, Nevada County, California facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sebastopol, California
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 Sebastopol, California
Location in California
Sebastopol, California
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | California |
| County | Nevada |
| Elevation | 1,913 ft (583 m) |
Sebastopol was an old mining town in California. It was located on the San Juan Ridge, about 13 miles north of Nevada City. It sat between two other towns, Sweetland and North San Juan, at a height of about 2,000 feet. Today, you won't find many signs of the old town, but the area is home to many rural houses and ranches.
The Story of Sebastopol
How Sebastopol Got Its Name
Sebastopol was named in 1854. It got its name from the city of Sebastopol, which was under a famous attack during the Crimean War at that time. When it was first named, the town only had three houses. We don't know if it had another name before that.
Life in the Early Town
Because Sebastopol was located between two bigger towns, Sweetland and North San Juan, it never had many businesses. One historian said it was mostly "the homes of the owners of the American and Gold Bluff mines." An observer described it as a "pleasant little valley" with "cultivated green" landscapes and "few white cottages." The most interesting part was a large garden and orchard owned by Andrew Hartman.
For a while, Sebastopol did have a store, a saloon, a butcher shop, a sawmill, a boarding house, and a hotel. However, many of these businesses were sold because of debt. This shows that it was hard for businesses in Sebastopol to compete with the larger towns nearby. In 1880, 165 people lived there. But even then, some people called it "a little residence town" for miners.
A Great School for Kids
One thing Sebastopol was proud of was its school. The school district started in 1872. Before that, its 44 students went to school in North San Juan. The people of Sebastopol built a schoolhouse that cost $2,300. It was considered one of the best in the county, even for a small town. They also bought a bell for $250 and worked to fix up the school grounds.
Travel and Communication
Sebastopol also had a church called the Miners' Church, which was built in 1857. The town was served by major express lines, like Langton's Pioneer Express. This line connected Sebastopol to towns like Downieville, Marysville, Nevada City, and Virginia City. There was also a stagecoach line, first Dornin's and later Menner's, which offered regular trips between North San Juan and French Corral.
Gold Mining in Sebastopol
Rich Mining Area
Sebastopol was in a very rich mining area. One newspaper even called it the "celebrated Sebastopol diggings." An early miner named Lemuel C. McKeeby arrived in 1853. His memories tell us about mining in Sebastopol before large water systems were built for big-scale mining. His mining claim, first called McKeeby's Diggings, became the Gold Bluff Company. This was one of the main mines in the area.
The American Mining Company
The most important mine was the American Mining Company, which opened in 1852. It was located just west of Sebastopol, looking over the Middle Yuba River. This mine was known for its "hydraulic claim." This means it used powerful jets of water to wash away gravel and find gold. It was one of the first mines to use this method as more water became available.
The first major water ditch, called the Miner's Ditch, arrived in 1856. In 1870, the American Mining Company helped build the Eureka Ditch. This ditch brought water from high up the Middle Yuba River to Sebastopol. This greatly increased the water supply and made it cheaper. By 1871, the American Mine had washed away 6 million cubic yards of gravel. This work brought in $1 million in gold!
Beyond Mining
Even when mining was doing well, people in Sebastopol started to rely on more than just gold. A newspaper noted that people had "ceased to place their reliance solely upon the productions of the mines." This was clear from the many beautiful cottages and farms. Orchards, which are fruit tree farms, were very common.
Why Sebastopol Declined
The End of Hydraulic Mining
Sebastopol's good times ended when a judge named Sawyer made a rule. This rule stopped miners from dumping their mining waste into the Yuba River or its smaller streams. This decision quickly stopped hydraulic mining. There were some attempts to find gold in quartz rock, and people reported finding new quartz veins. However, the town never became as rich as it once was.
People Leaving Town
People started to leave Sebastopol, often selling their homes for very low prices. One person sold his house, barn, and land for only $22. This shows how cheap property became after the judge's decision. Another sign of the town's decline was the school. In 1884, it had 39 students, but by 1888, only 24 students remained.
A Fading Memory
In 1894, a newspaper called the Union reported on the "old and dilapidated town of Sebastopol." It said that Sebastopol was "dead." Looking at the broken and moss-covered roofs reminded people of the "good old days" when hydraulic mining was booming. Two years later, the newspaper was even sadder. It said that a traveler would hardly believe Sebastopol was once a busy place. Even the old church looked "careworn" with moss on its roof.
Sebastopol Today
Today, you won't see any clear signs of the old town of Sebastopol. Instead, the area is filled with rural homes and ranches.
