Sebastopol was a historic mining community located on the San Juan Ridge, about 13 miles north of Nevada City.

"[3] One observer described it as: "A pleasant little valley is that in which the hamlet of Sebastopol lies—pleasant because of the cultivated green of its circumscribed landscape, and the few white cottages that make up the unpretending village.

The most attractive object the traveler sees at Sebastopol is the large garden and orchard of Andrew Hartman...."[4] It did have, at least for a while, a store,[5] a saloon,[6] a butcher,[7] a sawmill,[8] a boarding house [9] and a hotel.

They have furnished a bell for the same at a cost of $250, besides other incidentals, including labor in arranging the grounds, planting trees etc., all by taxation and voluntary contributions.

It was served by all the major express lines including Langton's Pioneer Express, which ran to Downieville, Marysville, Nevada City and Virginia City, as well as towns in between, and Dornin's, later Menner's, stage line with frequent service between North San Juan and French Corral.

His claim, first called McKeeby's Diggings, became the Gold Bluff Company, one of the principal mines in the area.

In 1870, the American Mining Company was a principal in the construction of the Eureka Ditch, bringing water from high up the Middle Yuba to Sebastopol.

Today Sebastopol is 'dead,' and by glancing upon some of the broken and moss-covered roofs it reminds one of the good old days when hydraulic mining was in full blast and the roar of the monitor sent sweet music throughout the Ridge towns.

"[24] Two years later, the Union was even less kind: "The traveler would hardly believe that in the days of hydraulic mining this was a thriving little place and many of the houses which were then occupied are now dilapidated.