Rough and Ready is a census-designated place in Nevada County, California, United States.

[2] It is located west of Grass Valley, California, approximately 62 miles (100 km) from Sacramento.

A. Townsend, named the company after General Zachary Taylor (nicknamed "Old Rough and Ready") who had recently been elected the 12th President of the United States.

Captain Townsend had served under Taylor when he commanded the American Forces during the Black Hawk War (1832).

The post office at Rough and Ready was established by February 1851; the first postmaster was Marcus Nutting.

The fire went on to burn well over a hundred homes and more than 33,000 acres in Nevada County, including structures in and around Rough and Ready.

There were 477 housing units at an average density of 150.5 inhabitants per square mile (58.1/km2), of which 332 (77.6%) were owner-occupied, and 96 (22.4%) were occupied by renters.

[13] Federally, Rough and Ready is in California's 1st congressional district, represented by Republican Doug LaMalfa.