Liland, it's one town: Rough and Ready. Doncha just love that? It was actually an independent nation for about three months from April - July of 1850. The residents seceded because of taxes on mining claims and lack of law enforcement. Apparently the citizens dissolved their tiny republic just in time for Fourth of July celebrations.

Mining wrecked a lot of things (and people) in California, but it also left a rich and sometimes bizarre history.