Ballot Measure To Rename Kelseyville In Lake County Heats Up A Month Before The Election

For decades, the debate over the name Kelseyville in Lake County, which is around a two hour drive Northwest of Sacramento, has been very divisive. The city itself was named after Andrew and Benjamin Kelsey, the two first European American settlers in the area. The Brothers, who first came to the area in the 1840’s from Kentucky as part of the pioneer wagon trains, were part of the Bear Flag Revolt in 1846 and settled the next year nearby Clear Lake in what is today Lake County.

However, the brothers also, like many Californios in the area, began to enslave many local Native Americans, as well as participate in the torture and murder of a few. Andrew Kelsey, in particular, was noted for this, and in 1849, was killed when the Pomo and Wappo Indians led an uprising. Kelsey’s murder started a string of conflicts and battles, ending in 1852 when the Native Americans finally signed away their rights to the land. While the Indians and even other settlers noted the Kelsey’s more violent methods, the Kelsey name grew popular in the 1860’s as more Kelsey relatives moved to the area. For a few decades the city even had a naming duel with the town also being called Uncle Sam by many after the nearby Mount Konocti, which was called Mount Uncle Sam at the time. However, by 1882, Kelseyville won out.

While the name was used for a century afterwards with little to no issue, by the 1980’s new movements for a name change began. Over the last several decades, more and more support came for a petition to rename Kelseyville because of the Kelsey brothers’ dark past with the native population. Many local tribes also became involved, and by 2020, a ballot petition began forming. Last year, the United States Board on Geographic Names (USBGN) was also contacted by petition groups, chiefly Citizens for Healing, seeking to change the name of the town to Konocti, after the nearby mountain. A group, Save Kelseyville, began opposing such a name change and began fighting against it.

That all led to this year where an official measure, Measure U, was put on the ballot for November. While the measure won’t given an immediate name change, the Lake County Board of Supervisors will, if passed, recommend to the California Advisory Committee on Geographic Names to change the name. While the Board may still recommend for the change even if the measure is defeated, the outcome may still influence the state on what they decide, especially if the majority of people there want to keep the name.

Since the announcement of the measure, Kelseyville has been divided. Citizens for Healing, tribes, and other have pushed for the name change. According to the official argument in favor of Measure U “This initiative calls for the support of all Lake County residents as we seek to rename the Town of Kelseyville to Konocti. This land has been home to Native tribes since time immemorial, with a history that deeply connects us all both in the joy and the pain our ancestors have known.

“The town of Kelseyville bears the name of Andrew Kelsey, a figure associated with the suffering endured by the Pomo people during the 1800s. This name
serves as a painful reminder of a time when our ancestors faced unimaginable hardships. By voting YES to change the name, we can begin a healing process that unites our communities. It’s a step towards fostering an environment of love, forgiveness, and growth for both current and future generations, showing that Lake County is a place where we honor and respect the history and the people who have shaped it.”

Kelseyville or Konocti

However, Save Kelseyville has had about the same amount of success as those wanting the name change, with recent polls showing around 30%-30% with 40% currently undecided on the name change. In their official stance, those wanting to keep the name of the town have said they don’t condone what Andrew Kelsey did, but instead tie the name to the town itself that grew in the decades following the founding. Others also noted the cost of changing the name, which would result in very pricey sign changes, digital changes, and other areas in the city needing a name change that the city may not be able to afford.

“For generations, indigenous people have called this area home. We honor their heritage and connection to the area,” said Save Kelseyville. “We are unwavering in our condemnation of the mistreatment of the Native Americans by Andrew Kelsey. Our dedication to Kelseyville is not tied to any historical individual. It is centered on the prosperous community that has developed over the years. 

​”We believe in building a vibrant and inclusive community that thrives in the present and will continue to flourish. We welcome the combined efforts of all community members to keep this town working together. Save Kelseyville places great importance on unity and empathy, recognizing that preserving our community is invaluable.”

Kelseyville isn’t the only city or geographic area that has had a name challenge in recent years. Some have been successful, such as the such as the name change of the Squaw Valley Ski Resort and Confederates Corners changing their name in 2018. Others haven’t been successful, such as the  possible name change of the city of Fort Bragg not happening. For Fort Bragg, the City Council even noted that the name change would cost them nearly $300,000.

For voters in Lake County, stuck between sensitivity and history, many don’t know which way to turn.

“I’m looking at this like how the Washington Redskins and Cleveland Indians changed their name recently,” said Dave, a resident of Kelseyville, to the Globe on Thursday. “Those teams had a different name before the controversial one, there was years of debate, then there was change.

“A lot of us want a middle ground here. Like, keeping the Kelsey name alive through something or letting us vote on the name change. We were Uncle Sam for awhile, then Kelseyville, now some want Konocti. Ok. Put the city names on a ballot, including some residents want, then we pick it. If it stays Kelseyville, ok. If it’s Konocti, ok. But just let us have more of a say in this. We live here too.”

Rosa, another resident, also added that “I don’t like Kelseyville and I don’t like Konocti. This area has been under Native American, Spanish, Mexican, and American control. Look at all the Spanish and English names dotting the state. It really shows the melting pot here. A name needs to reflect that history. Kelseyville and Konocti do, but both have big issues.

“We’ve joked that we keep the name Kelseyville, but change after who it is named for, like Kelsey Grammer. No one can argue against that one. Kong County up in Washington actually did something like that. You can kind of sense the frustration we have.”

Kelseyville residents are to vote on a name change on November 5th.