Big Valley, Lassen County, California facts for kids
Big Valley is a small, quiet place in Lassen County, California. It's called an unincorporated community because it doesn't have its own local government like a city or town. Instead, it's managed by the county. As of 2007, about 1,600 people lived there. Big Valley is located about 3 miles (5 kilometers) northeast of a town called Bieber. It sits high up, about 4,124 feet (1,257 meters) above sea level.
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Discovering Big Valley's Past
Big Valley has an interesting history, especially connected to the exciting time of the California Gold Rush. Many communities in California grew because people were looking for gold.
How Big Valley Began
The area that became Big Valley started to grow in the late 1800s. People were moving to California, and some settled in this beautiful valley.
Early Services in the Community
Even though it was a small place, Big Valley had important services for its residents. A post office was open in Big Valley for a few years, from 1873 to 1875, and then again from 1876 to 1877. This helped people send and receive letters and packages.
The Big Valley Gazette Newspaper
The community even had its own newspaper! It was called the Big Valley Gazette. This newspaper was printed for a very long time, from 1893 all the way until 1956. Newspapers like this were important for sharing local news and stories.
What "Big Valley" Means
The name "Big Valley" actually describes the land itself. It refers to the large geographic valley located between mountain ranges. This valley is naturally drained by two important waterways: the Pit River and Ash Creek. These rivers helped shape the landscape and supported life in the area for many years.
