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Bishop, Washington
Bishop, Washington is located in Washington (state)
Bishop, Washington
Bishop, Washington
Location in Washington (state)
Bishop, Washington is located in the United States
Bishop, Washington
Bishop, Washington
Location in the United States
Country United States
State Washington
County Whitman
Established 1913
Time zone UTC-8 (Pacific (PST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC-7 (PDT)

Bishop is what we call an "extinct town" or a ghost town in Whitman County, located in the U.S. state of Washington. It's a place where people once lived and worked, but now it's empty.

The Story of Bishop

How Bishop Began

Bishop was officially started in 1913. It was a small community that grew up in Whitman County. The town got its name from the Bishop brothers, who were early settlers in the area. They were among the first people to make their homes there.

The Post Office and Its End

A very important part of any town is its post office. Bishop had its own post office, which opened in 1913, the same year the town was established. A post office was vital for people to send and receive letters and packages. It connected the community to the outside world.

However, the post office in Bishop didn't stay open for very long. It closed its doors in 1925. When a town's post office closes, it often means that fewer people are living there. It can be a sign that the town is shrinking.

Why Towns Become Ghost Towns

Bishop became a ghost town because people eventually moved away. This can happen for many reasons. Sometimes, the main industry that supported the town, like farming or mining, might decline. Other times, new roads or railways bypass the town, making it harder for people to get there. When people leave, businesses close, and eventually, the town becomes empty. Bishop is one example of many small towns that no longer exist in the United States.

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