Pleasant Valley, Baker County, Oregon
Encyclopedia
Pleasant Valley is an unincorporated
community in Baker County
, Oregon
, United States. It is located about 13 miles southeast of Baker City
on U.S. Route 30, slightly bypassed by Interstate 84
.
Pleasant Valley was a way station on the Place Toll Road in 1865, and later a freight station on the railroad in 1884. Early Oregon Trail
settlers farmed in the area. Pleasant Valley post office was established in 1868 and only operated for two months. An office with the same name was established in 1890 and closed in 1962. According to the authors of Oregon Geographic Names
, the community later consisted only of a motel and a Union Pacific Railroad
station. By 2001, the motel had been converted into a residence.
The Pleasant Valley area is the home of several stone quarries that supplied the tuff
stone commonly used for building material in Baker City. At one time Pleasant Valley was a community with enough population and settled arable land surrounding it to warrant a school district. School District #12 was organized by superintendent W. F. Payton in 1874, with a two-room school house
serving grades 1 through 8. The district added classes for high-school-age students for a few years before consolidating with the Baker City school district in 1949. The third and last schoolhouse was constructed of the nearby native stone and was later converted to a residence. In 1900, the community had a Christian Church
congregation. Today the community is considered a ghost town.
44.6704356°N 117.6210419°W
Unincorporated area
In law, an unincorporated area is a region of land that is not a part of any municipality.To "incorporate" in this context means to form a municipal corporation, a city, town, or village with its own government. An unincorporated community is usually not subject to or taxed by a municipal government...
community in Baker County
Baker County, Oregon
Baker County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oregon. It is included in the 8 county definition of Eastern Oregon. It is named for Edward Dickinson Baker, a senator from Oregon who was killed at Ball's Bluff, a battle of the Civil War in Virginia in 1861. It was split from the eastern part...
, Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
, United States. It is located about 13 miles southeast of Baker City
Baker City, Oregon
Baker City is a city in and the county seat of Baker County, Oregon, United States. It was named after Edward D. Baker. The population was 9,828 at the 2010 census.-History:...
on U.S. Route 30, slightly bypassed by Interstate 84
Interstate 84 in Oregon
In the U.S. state of Oregon, Interstate 84 travels east–west, following the Columbia River and the rough path of the old Oregon Trail from Portland east to Idaho. For this reason, it is also known as most of the Columbia River Highway No. 2 and all of the Old Oregon Trail Highway No. 6 . It...
.
Pleasant Valley was a way station on the Place Toll Road in 1865, and later a freight station on the railroad in 1884. Early Oregon Trail
Oregon Trail
The Oregon Trail is a historic east-west wagon route that connected the Missouri River to valleys in Oregon and locations in between.After 1840 steam-powered riverboats and steamboats traversing up and down the Ohio, Mississippi and Missouri rivers sped settlement and development in the flat...
settlers farmed in the area. Pleasant Valley post office was established in 1868 and only operated for two months. An office with the same name was established in 1890 and closed in 1962. According to the authors of Oregon Geographic Names
Oregon Geographic Names
Oregon Geographic Names is an authoritative compilation of the origin and meaning of place names in the U.S. state of Oregon. , the book is in its seventh edition and is compiled and edited by Lewis L. McArthur, who took over from his father, Lewis A. McArthur, as of the fourth edition...
, the community later consisted only of a motel and a Union Pacific Railroad
Union Pacific Railroad
The Union Pacific Railroad , headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, is the largest railroad network in the United States. James R. Young is president, CEO and Chairman....
station. By 2001, the motel had been converted into a residence.
The Pleasant Valley area is the home of several stone quarries that supplied the tuff
Tuff
Tuff is a type of rock consisting of consolidated volcanic ash ejected from vents during a volcanic eruption. Tuff is sometimes called tufa, particularly when used as construction material, although tufa also refers to a quite different rock. Rock that contains greater than 50% tuff is considered...
stone commonly used for building material in Baker City. At one time Pleasant Valley was a community with enough population and settled arable land surrounding it to warrant a school district. School District #12 was organized by superintendent W. F. Payton in 1874, with a two-room school house
One-room school
One-room schools were commonplace throughout rural portions of various countries including the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom, Ireland and Spain in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. In most rural and small town schools, all of the students met in a single room...
serving grades 1 through 8. The district added classes for high-school-age students for a few years before consolidating with the Baker City school district in 1949. The third and last schoolhouse was constructed of the nearby native stone and was later converted to a residence. In 1900, the community had a Christian Church
Christian Church
The Christian Church is the assembly or association of followers of Jesus Christ. The Greek term ἐκκλησία that in its appearances in the New Testament is usually translated as "church" basically means "assembly"...
congregation. Today the community is considered a ghost town.
External links
- Image of former Pleasant Valley Motel from Picasa
44.6704356°N 117.6210419°W